Pregnancy

This hub brings together authoritative articles covering the spectrum of pregnancy, maternal health, and fetal development. The collection encompasses topics ranging from the earliest signs of pregnancy to postpartum care, including trimester-specific changes, common symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and the management of complications. Readers will find evidence-based guidance on maternal nutrition, exercise, mental health, and medical conditions affecting pregnancy, such as thyroid disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. The articles also address genetic and infectious disease considerations, fetal movement and monitoring, and the latest insights into maternal brain and mood changes. This resource is designed to support healthcare professionals, expectant parents, and researchers with up-to-date, trusted information for every stage of the pregnancy journey.

What Does a Doula Do and How Does Doula Support Improve Birth Outcomes?

Doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.

Overview

Explore expert-reviewed articles on pregnancy symptoms, complications, fetal development, nutrition, and maternal health. This hub delivers evidence-based information for clinicians, parents, and anyone seeking reliable guidance during pregnancy.

Foot Conditions and Pregnancy

Back Pain in Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Organic Food

How does Pregnancy Affect Breast Cancer Risk and Survival?

How Much Should My Baby Move During Pregnancy?

What Causes Miscarriage?

Safety, Not “Sharing,” Must Guide Visitor Policies for Cesarean Surgery

Extended Breech, Flexed Breech and Footling Breech

Does Morning Sickness Occur at Other Times of Day?

Pregnancy Denial

What is hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness)?

See more featured articles »

Constipation in Pregnancy

Dangers of Vitamin Deficiency During Pregnancy

Breastfeeding During Pregnancy

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy

Zika Virus in Pregnant Women

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy Treatment

Is it Safe to Exercise During Pregnancy?

Raspberry Leaf Tea In Pregnancy: Safety, Benefits, and Research Insights

What is the Third Stage of Labor?

Lupus and Pregnancy

Diabetes and Pregnancy

How Soon Can You Have Sex After Having a Baby?

What is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP)?

How is the Sex of a Fetus Determined?

Recurrent Miscarriage Epidemiology

Pregnancy Myths

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy

Diagnosis of fatty liver of pregnancy

What is the Quadruple or Combined Test?

Why is Caffeine Dangerous During Pregnancy?

Benefits of Nut Consumption During Pregnancy

Obesity in Pregnancy

Eczema During Pregnancy

Fibromyalgia and Fertility / Pregnancy

What is Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy?

Maternal Immune Activation During Pregnancy

Pregnancy: 29 - 32 weeks

Pregnancy: 9 - 12 weeks

Pregnancy: 17 - 20 weeks

Voice Changes and Pregnancy

Pregnancy: over 40 weeks

Fetal Movements in Pregnancy

Maternal Birthing Positions

The Constituents of Breast Milk

Breast and Nipple Changes During Pregnancy

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Heartburn in Pregnancy

Pregnancy: 33 - 36 weeks

Pregnancy: 13 - 16 weeks

Hair Growth in Pregnancy

What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Supplements During Pregnancy

Piles (Haemorrhoids) in Pregnancy

Breast Changes After Birth

Breeched Birth: Caesarean Section or Vaginal Delivery?

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy: 25 - 28 weeks

What is Amniotic Fluid Embolism?

The Genetics of Pre-Eclampsia

Complications during Pregnancy

Medical Complications of Twins, Triplets and Multiples

Pregnancy: 21 - 24 weeks

Pregnancy: 37 - 40 weeks

Recurrent Miscarriage Causes

Pregnancy: 0-8 weeks

Can Men Improve the Chances of a Successful Pregnancy?

Osteoporosis and Pregnancy

Is “Mom Brain” Real? The Science Behind Memory, Mood, and Motherhood

Pregnancy and Infectious Diseases

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy

The Role of Estrogen in Pregnancy

Smoking and Pregnancy

What is the Triple Screen in Pregnancy?

What Causes an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Study identifies new genes linked to severe pregnancy sickness

The USC research team that recently identified the hormone-encoding gene GDF15 as a key driver of pregnancy sickness has identified 9 additional genes linked to its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

14 Apr 2026

SARS-CoV-2 rarely reaches first-trimester placentas but still disrupts early pregnancy immunity

Researchers analyzing 761 first-trimester pregnancies found that SARS-CoV-2 was rarely detected in placental tissues, suggesting in utero transmission early in pregnancy is uncommon. However, maternal infection was linked to immune dysregulation at the maternal-fetal interface, altered trophoblast signaling, and inflammatory changes that could affect placental development.

14 Apr 2026

Study finds when parents are depressed may shape children’s mental health for decades

A long-running UK cohort study found that exposure to parental depression from pregnancy through young adulthood was linked to higher odds of depression and anxiety in adult offspring. Maternal depression in late pregnancy was uniquely associated with later psychotic symptoms, while paternal associations emerged more clearly from mid-childhood onward.

14 Apr 2026

Postpartum Medicaid expansion improved coverage but showed limited care changes

The federal policy requiring states to keep Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic extended postpartum Medicaid coverage nationwide and sharply increased the number of individuals remaining insured after childbirth, according to a Rutgers Health researcher.

13 Apr 2026

Steroid hormones, BMI and stress influence puberty timing in girls

Higher levels of key steroid hormones-combined with elevated stress and body mass index (BMI)-are associated with earlier onset of puberty in girls, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

13 Apr 2026

Weight gain timing affects long-term health outcomes

When in life we gain weight can have a significant impact on our health many years later. In a study involving over 600,000 people, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have investigated how changes in weight between the ages of 17 and 60 are linked to the risk of dying from various diseases

11 Apr 2026

Maternal signals help synchronize babies’ circadian rhythms before birth

Humans and most other organisms have internal biological clocks that track the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. These clocks help time our sleep, metabolism and other essential body functions over the course of a day, creating daily patterns called circadian rhythms.

11 Apr 2026

Early epigenetic changes shape infant gut microbiome development

The gut microbiome and epigenetics-molecular switches that turn genes on or off-are intertwined, and both contribute to neurodevelopment, finds a study publishing April 10 in the Cell Press journal Cell Press Blue.

10 Apr 2026

When omega-3 may help mental health and when they may not

Investigating omega-3 fatty acids, this review highlights their impact on mental health, inflammation, and the potential for therapeutic use in disorders.

10 Apr 2026

High prenatal PFAS exposure linked to increased childhood asthma risk

PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic substances that can be found in many products and foods, including firefighting foam.

9 Apr 2026

Study shows long-term weight benefits for breastfeeding mothers

Breastfeeding does not only affect your weight while you are breastfeeding. Women gain up to 6.5 kilos less on average later in life if they breastfeed for at least three months, according to a new study.

9 Apr 2026

Smoking during pregnancy raises children’s mental health risk

Smoking during pregnancy may increase children's mental health issues, with implications for internalizing and externalizing symptoms throughout development.

9 Apr 2026

Microplastics found in human bile may be associated with gallstones

Findings show microplastics in bile may trigger cellular senescence, suggesting a link to gallstone disease and highlighting the need for further research.

9 Apr 2026

New cell atlas reveals biological links to pregnancy complications

The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage.

8 Apr 2026

Urgent care clinics move to fill abortion care gaps in rural areas

Providing abortions was the last thing Shawn Brown thought she'd be doing when she opened an urgent care clinic in this remote town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

8 Apr 2026

Can diet influence thyroid disease? A major review points to Mediterranean-style eating

This review found that thyroid health depends on more than iodine alone, with selenium, iron, zinc, vitamins, omega-3s, and overall eating patterns all shaping thyroid function and autoimmunity. It also concluded that Mediterranean-style diets are linked to more favorable thyroid outcomes, while unnecessary restrictive diets offer little benefit without a clear medical indication.

7 Apr 2026

This Northern Cheyenne doula was about to start getting paid — then Medicaid cuts hit

Misty Pipe had about an hour before her shift began at the post office. She used that time to check in on a new mom who lives a few miles outside this town at the heart of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

7 Apr 2026

Prenatal smoking linked to broader mental health issues in children

Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study funded by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

6 Apr 2026

Requests for “unvaccinated” blood lead to delays and patient harm

The trend for unvaccinated blood donations raises concerns about patient safety and resource efficiency, emphasizing the need for better transfusion protocols.

6 Apr 2026