Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Children show high exposure to PFAS despite regulatory restrictions

These chemical compounds are highly stable and linger in the environment. Thanks to their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties, they are widely found in everyday items, such as non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, food containers and fire-fighting foams.

15 Sep 2025

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy cuts babies’ food allergy risk

Researchers found that mothers who closely followed a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding had infants with lower odds of developing food allergies. High fruit, vegetable, and full-fat dairy intake appeared protective, while higher poultry, red meat, and fish intake during pregnancy increased risk.

15 Sep 2025

Daily meal timing influences longevity risk in adults, study reveals

Researchers analysing Aging Cell data from over 33,000 US adults found a U-shaped link between daily eating window length and mortality. Eating for 11–12 hours per day was tied to the lowest risk, while very short (<8h) or long (≥15h) windows raised death risk, especially in older and White participants.

15 Sep 2025

Gestational diabetes poses substantial cognitive dysfunction risks for both mothers and offspring

A new synthesis of global evidence finds that experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy is linked with a decline in intellectual function among mothers, and may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

15 Sep 2025

Survey: Public support for MMR vaccine requirements in schools rises to 70%

Although Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on social media in April that the "most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," in a CBS News interview that month he said, "The federal government's position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine, but the government should not be mandating it."

13 Sep 2025

UCLA team develops engineered antibodies to fight cytomegalovirus infection

A UCLA research team has found a new way to prompt the immune system to kill cells infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a life-threatening infection that is particularly deadly in immunocompromised people.

13 Sep 2025

Watch: Why is having a baby so expensive in the US?

New moms all over social media are breaking down their incredibly expensive hospital bills after giving birth.

12 Sep 2025

Are GLP-1 drugs safe for women planning pregnancy?

A study reveals rising GLP-1 prescriptions in young women, highlighting low contraception use and potential risks for unintended pregnancies and fetal outcomes.

12 Sep 2025

Buprenorphine treatment produces greatest health gains and cost savings for mothers and infants

Over the last 20 years, substance use-related deaths have more than doubled for women of reproductive age. Overdose deaths are now a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S., and in some states, the leading cause.

11 Sep 2025

Common wearable devices could remotely monitor pregnancy-related health changes

A simple fitness tracker might hold the key to revolutionizing maternal healthcare. Scientists at Scripps Research have found preliminary evidence suggesting that common wearable devices such as the Apple Watch, Garmin and Fitbit could remotely monitor pregnancy-related health changes by tracking physiological patterns-like heart rate-that correlate with hormonal fluctuations.

11 Sep 2025

Postpartum mothers more likely to be cured of hepatitis C with bedside treatment

Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that damages the liver, can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death if left untreated.

11 Sep 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Countdown to government shutdown

Oct. 1 is the start of the next fiscal year, and unless Congress reaches agreement on continued spending, big parts of the government could shut down that day.

11 Sep 2025

Affirmative action critics refuse to back down in fight over medical bias training

Critics of affirmative action have launched a long-shot appeal aimed at stopping California from requiring training on unconscious bias in every continuing medical education class.

11 Sep 2025

Infection or stressful events during pregnancy may increase anxiety risk in offspring

Increased risk for anxiety may begin before birth, shaped by infection or stressful events during pregnancy, according to a new preclinical study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

11 Sep 2025

New funding opportunities aim to advance bipolar disorder research

Today, Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) announced the opening of a fourth round of funding opportunities for the Discovery Research program. BD² invites scientists across all disciplines to apply for up to $4.5 million per grant.

11 Sep 2025

Early parent-focused programs fail to reduce childhood obesity by age two

Existing approaches to parent-focused behavioral programs delivered up to 12 months of age which aim to combat childhood obesity are insufficient to improve body mass index (BMI) at approximately two years of age, according to the largest study to date on the topic published in The Lancet.

10 Sep 2025

Can cannabis use disrupt women’s fertility? New study finds strong evidence

Researchers found that THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, alters oocyte gene expression, spindle formation, and chromosome segregation, lowering embryo euploidy rates in IVF. This provides direct human evidence linking cannabis exposure to impaired female fertility outcomes.

10 Sep 2025