Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Low birth weight and heart problems

Researchers who have followed 5,840 people from before birth to the age of 31 have found evidence suggesting that small size at birth and excessive weight gain during adolescence and young adulthood may lead to low grade inflammation, which, in turn, is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.

10 Apr 2008

miRNAs can control the fertility of female mice

Small molecules known as miRNAs, which are generated naturally by the body, regulate the conversion of genetic information into proteins.

9 Apr 2008

Cutting unnecessary treatment for blood disorder in pregnancy

A new test for identifying a mismatch between the blood of a pregnant woman and her baby is accurate, feasible, and could substantially reduce unnecessary treatment, finds a Bristol study published on bmj.com.

9 Apr 2008

Sleeping less in infancy linked to being overweight in preschool

Infants who sleep less than 12 hours per day have an increased risk of being overweight as preschoolers than those who sleep 12 hours or more, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on children and sleep.

8 Apr 2008

Exercise during pregnancy benefits fetuses as well as mothers

Studies have shown that exercise has a positive effect on mothers-to-be, and no detrimental impact on their developing offspring.

8 Apr 2008

Pregnant teens don't get no smoking message

According to a new study pregnant teenagers don't get the no smoking message and almost half of all Australian teenage prospective mothers continue to smoke during pregnancy.

7 Apr 2008

Prenatal syphilis screening rates: Are they being accurately reported?

Prenatal syphilis screening, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, medical professional organizations, and public health authorities, is critical to preventing still births and serious birth defects in babies of affected mothers.

4 Apr 2008

Pregnant mothers' diet linked to baby's obesity

Pregnant and lactating rats fed on a diet of hydrogenated fat during pregnancy and lactation had babies who were fatter than rats fed a normal diet, according to research published in Lipids in Health and Disease.

4 Apr 2008

New test could cut unnecessary treatment for blood disorder in pregnancy

A new test for identifying a mismatch between the blood of a pregnant woman and her baby is accurate, feasible, and could substantially reduce unnecessary treatment, finds a study published on bmj.com.

4 Apr 2008

Female vets run twice the risk of miscarriage

Female vets run twice the risk of miscarriage as a result of exposure to anaesthetic gases and pesticides, suggests a study published ahead of print in Occupational and Environmental Medicine .

4 Apr 2008

Continuous oral contraceptives better at easing pain, bleeding

Continuous oral contraceptives may be more effective than the standard 28-day birth control pills in suppressing the ovary, according to researchers.

4 Apr 2008

Seatbelts save fetuses

A new study could have a profound effect on fetal deaths and injuries caused by car accidents.

3 Apr 2008

Obese pregnant women use more health care services

Obesity during pregnancy is associated with greater use of health care services and longer hospital stays, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research.

3 Apr 2008

New study shows seat belts save the lives of unborn babies

New research from the U.S. has found that for pregnant women seatbelts protect the fetus in the event of an accident.

3 Apr 2008

Why synthetic estrogens wreak havoc on reproductive system

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine now have a clearer understanding of why synthetic estrogens such as those found in many widely-used plastics have a detrimental effect on a developing fetus, cause fertility problems, as well as vaginal and breast cancers.

1 Apr 2008

Grhelin hormone that controls hunger and appetite also linked to reduced fertility

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that in-utero exposure to the hormone grhelin, a molecule that controls appetite and hunger and nutrition, can result in decreased fertility and fewer offspring.

1 Apr 2008

Fewer babies born after Caesarean delivery

Women who have a Caesarean delivery for their first child go on to have fewer children than women who give birth in the traditional way.

1 Apr 2008

Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment

Do you feel numbness, burning pain or a tingling sensation in your hand or wrist that seems to increase at night; have difficulty holding objects without dropping them; or find it increasingly difficult to perform repetitive movements such as using your computer mouse or keyboard without pain?

31 Mar 2008

Softening of the skull bones in normal-looking babies might reflect vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy

Softening of the skull bones in normal-looking babies might reflect vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, according to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

26 Mar 2008