Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Estrogen-responsive cells found to heighten gut pain in females

Researchers uncovered how estrogen heightens gut sensitivity in females by activating PYY-secreting L-cells, which stimulate serotonin release from EC cells. This paracrine circuit intensifies pain signaling and may explain the sex bias in conditions like IBS.

16 Jun 2025

Mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy linked to lower birthweight

Exposure to mycotoxins – a broad group of harmful substances produced by mold – during pregnancy may impact placental function, which could result in lower birthweight in humans, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

16 Jun 2025

Study links gestational hypertension to increased seizure risk in offspring

A new study led by researchers at University of Iowa Health Care has revealed a significant association between high blood pressure during pregnancy (gestational hypertension) and an increased risk of seizures in children.

16 Jun 2025

Low levels of arsenic in public water linked to adverse birth outcomes

Babies born to mothers potentially exposed to low levels of arsenic in public drinking water-even at levels below the federal safety standard-were more likely to be born preterm, with lower birthweight, or be smaller than expected, according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and funded by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

16 Jun 2025

Paternal mental health found to impact child development

Experts from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago affirm the need to screen new fathers for mental distress, recognizing the mounting research that underscores the importance of fathers in child development.

16 Jun 2025

Kennedy’s HHS sent Congress ‘junk science’ to defend vaccine changes, experts say

A document the Department of Health and Human Services sent to lawmakers to support Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to change U.S. policy on covid vaccines cites scientific studies that are unpublished or under dispute and mischaracterizes others.

13 Jun 2025

Prenatal exposure to forever chemicals linked to higher teen blood pressure

Children exposed before birth to synthetic compounds called "forever chemicals" had higher blood pressure during their teenage years, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

13 Jun 2025

Maternal diet during pregnancy shapes decision-making in preteens

The study highlights the impact of maternal diet on child neurodevelopment, linking nut consumption to better decision-making and fish to impulsivity.

12 Jun 2025

Personalized model offers better blood pressure estimates from ankle measurements

A new method improving the accuracy of interpreting blood pressure measurements taken at the ankle could be crucial for people who cannot have their arm blood pressure measured.

12 Jun 2025

Prenatal air pollution exposure related to subtle fetal brain changes

Fetuses more exposed to certain air pollutants show changes in the size of specific brain structures, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

11 Jun 2025

New hypothesis links caffeine to lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome

After decades of stalled national progress in reducing the rate of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), a category of infant mortality that includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), researchers at Rutgers Health have proposed an unexpected solution: Caffeine might protect babies by preventing dangerous drops in oxygen that may trigger deaths.

11 Jun 2025

Large cohort study reassures on mRNA vaccine safety for early pregnancies

A large prospective cohort study in Germany found no statistically significant increase in major birth defects following first trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. While slightly higher rates of some anomalies were observed in vaccinated pregnancies, no consistent patterns or causal links emerged.

11 Jun 2025

Early signs of breastfeeding failures after premature birth

A study on breastfeeding after premature birth identifies key factors affecting milk composition and volume, emphasizing the need for early support for mothers.

10 Jun 2025

Measles poses serious risks for pregnant people amid rising cases in Canada

Measles is on the rise in Canada and poses serious risks to pregnant people and their newborns, yet discussion about how to protect this vulnerable group is notably lacking.

9 Jun 2025

Study reveals mechanisms behind antibiotic-related immune disruptions in infants

In 2017, scientists at Cincinnati Children's revealed that using antibiotics to protect newborns from dangerous infections often comes with a long-term consequence-a permanently underdeveloped immune system that can make children prone to poor outcomes from future lung infections.

9 Jun 2025

Glycan mapping reveals what keeps the vaginal microbiome healthy

Glycan-bacteria binding profiles in the vaginal microbiome provide insights into reproductive health, highlighting targets for infection prevention strategies.

9 Jun 2025

Preeclampsia linked to long-term cerebrovascular damage and worsened stroke outcomes

Pre-eclampsia (PE), a serious hypertensive disorder that affects approximately 3–8% of pregnant women, is known to have long-lasting effects on the maternal vascular system.

6 Jun 2025

New COVID variant NB.1.8.1 spreads across continents amid calls for vigilance

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring the emergence of a newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of the Omicron family. This variant was first identified in January 2025 and has rapidly spread across Asia and into other regions, including parts of the United States.

6 Jun 2025

Stanford scientists grow vascularized heart and liver organoids

For over a decade, scientists have been growing organoids - small clusters of cells that mimic a particular organ - to serve as miniature biological models.

6 Jun 2025

Maternal exposure to metals rewires infants’ gut and resistance genes

Prenatal exposure to trace elements like selenium, copper, and arsenic can significantly alter the infant gut microbiome, metabolism, and antibiotic resistance gene patterns. These changes appear as early as three months and evolve during the first year of life.

5 Jun 2025