Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Study finds clear link between children conceived during winter and risk of autism

An examination of the birth records of the more than 7 million children born in the state of California during the 1990s and early 2000s has found a clear link between the month in which a child is conceived and the risk of that child later receiving a diagnosis of autism.

6 May 2011

Columbia Laboratories net revenues increase 74% to $12.5 million

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. today reported financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.

5 May 2011

Secretary of State Clinton launches collaborative mobile application to advance maternal health

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday launched the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action, a "mobile application development partnership aimed at delivering free health care information and tips to pregnant women and mothers around the world via cell phone," Federal Computer Week reports.

5 May 2011

Save the Children releases annual global mother's index

Afghanistan is "the worst place to be a mother, with women having a life expectancy of 45 years - the world's lowest - and one of every 11 women dying in childbirth," according to Save the Children's annual State of the World's Mothers report, the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports.

4 May 2011

Opinions: U.S. development aid, commitment to women; R&D partnerships and development

Once again, Save the Children's State of the World's Mothers report has ranked Afghanistan, where one in 11 women die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, the worst place in the world to be a mother, which "is not surprising," Ret. Army Col. John Agoglia, who served as director of the Counterinsurgency Training Center-Afghanistan in Kabul from 2008-2010, writes in a Politico opinion piece.

4 May 2011

TPO antibodies linked to abnormal thyroid levels in women after giving birth

Almost 1 in 20 women who gives birth will go on to develop thyroid problems within two years, according to a new study presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Rotterdam. This could have significant implications for the future health of the mother and child, as well as potentially presenting problems for future pregnancies.

4 May 2011

Pregnancy via egg donation for women with Turner's syndrome potentially risky

Pregnancy via egg donation for women with Turner's syndrome is potentially risky, both for the mother and the child, according to a multi-centre study presented today at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Rotterdam.

4 May 2011

Herbal remedies commonly used in infants without efficacy & safety guarantees: Study

According to a new U.S. government study parents commonly give infants teas or herbal supplements said to soothe “fussiness” even though there's no good evidence that the products work. The market is flooded with these teas and botanical products with ingredients like chamomile, ginger and fennel that are marketed for easing infants' tummy troubles, fussiness and sleep problems. However there is no evidence that these are effective and safe.

4 May 2011

Roundup: Mass. officials wrestle with municipal health care issues

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he and legislative leaders are in fundamental agreement over what should be included in a municipal health care bill, even while there remains disagreement on the specifics. The House approved a measure last week that would largely strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights over health care benefits. The Senate is expected to act in the coming weeks.

4 May 2011

Experts say best teacher for a young mother is her baby

The best teacher for a young mother is her baby, contend experts who train social workers to interact with first-time moms.

3 May 2011

Opinions: Population growth; global HIV response; global malaria fight; child brides

International population dynamics are a "ticking time bomb, which we cannot afford to neglect any longer," George Tsereteli, president of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development, writes in a New Europe opinion piece.

3 May 2011

State roundup: Assisted living hazards in Fla.; Ariz.'s Medicaid limits

Despite some efforts to ease the blow to pediatric health care providers, Texas' proposed budget cuts will most likely have a disproportionate effect on children's hospitals.

3 May 2011

Pregnant women with H1N1 more likely to have low birth weight baby

In 2009, the United States was gripped by concern for a new winter threat: the H1N1 strain of influenza. According to research conducted through that winter, pregnant women were right to be concerned.

3 May 2011

Watson launches Generess Fe low-dose oral contraceptives in the U.S.

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the U.S. commercial launch of Generess Fe 0.8 mg/25 mcg, a new low-dose oral contraceptive option that's highly effective at preventing pregnancy and proven to provide users with short, lighter, predictable periods.

2 May 2011

Prenatal exposure to BPA linked with wheezing in children

If a pregnant woman is exposed to bisphenol A, especially during the first trimester, her child may be at higher risk of wheezing early in life, according to a study to be presented Sunday, May 1, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver.

2 May 2011

Obese pregnant women are less able to fight infections

Pregnant women who are obese are less able to fight infections than lean women, which could affect their baby's health after birth and later in life, according to research to be presented Sunday, May 1, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver.

2 May 2011

BPA exposure during early pregnancy may increase risk of wheezing in children

Exposure to the chemical bisphenol A during early pregnancy may be associated with wheezing in children, according to a Penn State College of Medicine researcher.

2 May 2011

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center to present research studies at 2011 ATC

Available for expert commentary on the latest research findings presented at the 2011 American Transplant Congress in Philadelphia, April 30 to May 4, is Dr. Sandip Kapur, chief of transplant surgery and director of kidney and pancreas transplant programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and a leading authority on transplantation.

30 Apr 2011

Extensive folic acid fortification of foods prevents neural tube defects in neonates

Neural tube defects in neonates are common in Germany compared with the rest of Europe. Extensive folic acid fortification of foods in Germany might prevent these in 85-100% of cases, Wolfgang Herrmann and Rima Obeid argue in this issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011; 108[15]; 249-54).

30 Apr 2011

Free medical clinic at Tacoma Dome to serve more patients

This Saturday's massive free medical clinic for the uninsured at the Tacoma Dome will add 250 more patient appointments as a result of an outpouring of support from medical and non-medical volunteers.

30 Apr 2011