Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Piezo1 identified as key trigger for tension driven skin expansion

Investigators at Johns Hopkins Medicine report new evidence that the protein Piezo1 controls skin growth by detecting when skin is stretched and then coordinating the metabolic and immune changes necessary for growth.

5 Sep 2025

Cornell researchers develop device to simplify fertility treatment

In the quest to address infertility, Cornell University researchers have developed a groundbreaking device that could simplify and automate oocyte cumulus removal, a critical step in assisted reproductive technologies.

5 Sep 2025

Trump administration investigates Medicaid spending on immigrants in blue states

The Trump administration is taking its immigration crackdown to the health care safety net, launching Medicaid spending probes in at least six Democratic-led states that provide comprehensive health coverage to poor and disabled immigrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status.

5 Sep 2025

Estrogen supports kidney regeneration and protects women from chronic disease

A new study in mice provides insights into why females in their reproductive years appear to be relatively protected from chronic kidney disease, a leading public health concern.

4 Sep 2025

Targeting complement with an inhibitor may prevent preterm birth and protect the baby’s brain

A research team at the Medical University of South Carolina reports in Cells that the complement system, part of the body's natural immune defenses, is a key driver of inflammatory responses that contribute to fetal brain inflammation and preterm birth, the latter of which is the leading cause of complications and death in newborns.

4 Sep 2025

Extreme morning sickness found to carry heavy emotional and physical burden

A new study reveals the profound emotional and physical toll of extreme morning sickness, with more than half of affected women reporting they considered terminating their pregnancy, and 9 in 10 saying they had thought about not having more children.

3 Sep 2025

Single penicillin injection found to be as effective as three doses for early syphilis

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that a single injection of the antibiotic benzathine penicillin G (BPG) successfully treated early syphilis just as well as the three-injection regimen used by many clinicians in the United States and elsewhere.

3 Sep 2025

Sacubitril/valsartan shows benefit over enalapril in heart failure caused by Chagas disease

In patients with heart failure (HF) caused by Chagas disease, sacubitril/valsartan was superior to enalapril for the composite primary endpoint, predominantly driven by a significant reduction in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), according to late-breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2025.

3 Sep 2025

Advances in ultrasound improve prenatal detection of congenital heart disease

A new study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the journal from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, suggests that prenatal detection of congenital heart disease (CHD) has improved in recent years largely due to advances in ultrasound screening practices.

2 Sep 2025

Breastfeeding at six months boosts children’s IQ and academic skills into adolescence

Breastfeeding at six months was linked to higher IQ, better reading and math skills, and improved conversational abilities in children, according to the ALSPAC study. The findings, based on 42 significant outcomes, highlight long-term cognitive advantages but stop short of proving causality.

1 Sep 2025

New ESC guidelines prioritize women's autonomy in high-risk pregnancies

Updated ESC Guidelines, published today at ESC Congress 2025, put a focus on a woman's autonomy in making her own reproductive choices by promoting a transparent dialogue and shared decision-making for pregnancies that are high-risk for an adverse maternal and/or fetal event.

30 Aug 2025

Hormonal birth control influences emotion and memory in women

Hormonal birth control is a fact of life for millions of women. In the U.S. alone, more than 60 million women of reproductive age have used contraceptives according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most often to prevent pregnancy but also to manage conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and irregular cycles.

29 Aug 2025

Sharp rise in pertussis hospitalizations highlights need for timely vaccination

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a vaccine-preventable disease which continues to circulate even in areas where vaccination coverage is high, and outbreaks may still occur. A study published in Eurosurveillance and conducted at Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence, Italy, has found a sharp increase in hospitalisations for pertussis among children and adolescents (patients aged 16 years or under) in 2024.

29 Aug 2025

How well does a cesarean risk calculator work?

Validated cesarean prediction tool effectively assesses delivery risks, supporting clinicians and patients in making informed decisions about labor induction.

29 Aug 2025

Healthy gut bacteria capsules show long-term benefits for obese teenagers

Can a capsule of healthy gut bugs change the future of obesity treatment? New findings from the University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute suggest it might.

29 Aug 2025

Stress in mothers causes eczema in newborn mice through immune cell changes

Maternal prenatal stress in mice disrupts fetal mast cell programming, triggering eczema-like skin inflammation and heightened sensitivity after birth. The findings reveal how corticosterone-driven immune and neuronal changes in utero may set the stage for pediatric eczema risk.

28 Aug 2025