Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Think raw milk is better for you? Pediatricians have a warning

Pediatricians urge against raw milk, highlighting its link to foodborne illnesses and advocating for pasteurized alternatives to safeguard children's health.

12 Oct 2026

HPV vaccines protect against cancer. Could they benefit pregnancy?

Findings from a nationwide study suggest HPV vaccination may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes, emphasizing its importance in reproductive health strategies.

12 Oct 2026

Women with bipolar disorder and regular cycles report worse premenstrual symptoms

Researchers have found that women with bipolar disorder who have regular menstrual cycles are more likely to report severe premenstrual symptoms than those with irregular cycles, according to preliminary research being presented at the 2026 ECNP Congress in Munich.

11 Oct 2026

Extreme heat threatens maternal health and newborn wellbeing worldwide

Extreme heat has led to a marked increase in the risks faced by pregnant women and their babies, according to a survey of 1,000 healthcare professionals in countries including Brazil, India and Zimbabwe.

11 Oct 2026

Prenatal training may reduce postpartum depression risk in women with previous births

Researchers have shown that prenatal training may reduce the risk of postnatal depression in women, - but only if they have previously had a baby. This surprising finding is presented for the first time at the ECNP Congress in Munich.

9 Oct 2026

Maternal cleaning habits during pregnancy reduce child developmental concerns

House dust can contain chemical and biological components, including phthalates, flame retardants, allergens, endotoxins, and microorganisms.

9 Oct 2026

New iron deficiency guidelines raise key blood test cutoffs

ASH 2026 guidelines redefine iron deficiency diagnosis with higher ferritin thresholds, aiming for better detection and management across diverse populations.

9 Oct 2026

HPV vaccination may protect against adverse pregnancy outcomes

Having received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine before pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of major pregnancy complications including preterm birth, with the greater reduction in risk seen among women vaccinated at an earlier age, finds a large Swedish study published by The BMJ today.

8 Oct 2026

Low uptake limits benefits of maternal RSV vaccination

Vaccination against a common respiratory virus during pregnancy lowers the risk of severe disease in babies by 74 per cent, but uptake in many countries remains low, a new review suggests.

8 Oct 2026

HPV vaccination linked to lower risk of pregnancy complications

The benefits of the HPV vaccine may extend beyond protection against cancer. In a study published in The BMJ, researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that women who had been vaccinated against HPV were less likely to experience several pregnancy and childbirth complications, particularly preterm birth.

7 Oct 2026

Epilepsy drugs may reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives

People with epilepsy who use certain hormonal birth control methods may be at risk for reduced contraceptive effectiveness because of interactions with certain antiseizure medications, according to a study published October 7, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

7 Oct 2026

Metformin in pregnancy does not raise developmental risk in children

Metformin use during pregnancy shows no link to developmental problems at school entry.

7 Oct 2026

Study links pregnancy complications to future heart and kidney disease

Women with a complication in the latest pregnancy, or in a previous pregnancy, face an elevated risk of developing cardiometabolic-renal conditions in subsequent years, suggests a UK study published online in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

6 Oct 2026

New insights into fetal DNA could improve prenatal testing

Understanding how fetal DNA travels in a pregnant woman’s blood could unlock the next generation of prenatal screening, according to a new paper published in Science Advances today.

6 Oct 2026

Early nutrition should be central to measuring human development

Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life should be a core measurement of development progress, argues former Ethiopian deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonnen following a week of debate on development issues at the United Nations General Assembly.

5 Oct 2026

Updated AAP guidance warns raw dairy poses severe health risks

Unpasteurized milk, cheese and other "raw" dairy products are unsafe to drink or eat, especially for young children and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to updated guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

5 Oct 2026

Black people in Canada face higher risk of severe maternal morbidity

Black people in Canada have an increased risk of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) - serious complications that can occur during pregnancy, labor or delivery, and postpartum - compared with White people, according to new research published in CMAJ.

5 Oct 2026

Enlicitide offers oral treatment option for patients avoiding cholesterol injections

In 2015, a new class of cholesterol-lowering injectable drugs called PCSK9-inhibitors was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a result of clinical research led by UT Southwestern.

5 Oct 2026

Patient navigators significantly improve postpartum care for low-income mothers

While the transition to motherhood can be challenging for anyone, barriers such as inadequate health literacy, unreliable transportation, navigating a complex health care system, limited access to childcare or insecure housing can be the tipping point between a new mom accessing needed care or going without it.

5 Oct 2026

Study finds delayed response to active controversy linking autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy

Most public health institutions failed to respond in a timely way to misinformation on social media that falsely claimed that acetaminophen during pregnancy is linked to autism, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition.

5 Oct 2026