Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Exposure to environmental estrogens during development of the prostate gland in the male fetus may lead to later prostate cancer risk

A study in the June 1 issue of Cancer Research presents the first evidence that exposure to low doses of environmental estrogens during development of the prostate gland in the male fetus may result in a predisposition to prostate cancer later in life.

1 Jun 2006

Control your diabetes for life

The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in U.S. adults age 20 and older has risen from about 5.1 percent to 6.5 percent.

31 May 2006

Working too much as bad as smoking for pregnant mums

New research says that pregnant women who work more than 32 hours a week in stressful jobs risk the health of their unborn child.

30 May 2006

Abortion pill a big hit in Britain

Records in Britain show that as many as 10,000 women had an abortion at home last year, using abortion drugs.

30 May 2006

Even small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ

It is common knowledge that heavy drinking during pregnancy can affect the intelligence of children, but little is known about the effects of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy on a child's IQ.

29 May 2006

IVF puts woman and fetus at risk of placenta disorder

Researchers say that women who have IVF treatment are more likely to suffer a potentially life-threatening condition than those who conceive naturally.

25 May 2006

Comprehensive care for complex, high-risk pregnancies

As many as 3 percent of all pregnancies result in the birth of a baby with chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome or structural anomalies such as congenital heart disease.

23 May 2006

Increased number of twin births could be down to dairy rich diets

According to new research in the U.S., a diet high in dairy products can greatly increase a woman's chances of having twins.

21 May 2006

Plan B - Lancet has a go at the FDA

A well known international medical journal has called on the acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to adopt an independent stance and follow the best judgment of it's expert staff and scientific advisers, even when that means incurring the wrath of patients' groups, industry, Congress, and even the White House.

21 May 2006

NIH panel says little benefit to be gained by taking multivitamin supplements

According to a National Institutes of Health panel there is little evidence to support that taking multivitamin supplements is of any benefit to healthy adults.

21 May 2006

Wake-up call - the cost of caffeine in pregnancy

The link between the caffeine intake of expectant mothers and low birth-weight babies is being explored in a groundbreaking study which will, for the first time, link caffeine intake with individual variations in metabolism - or breakdown - of caffeine.

17 May 2006

Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy in relation to child development

Many cultures hold that stress during pregnancy affects a woman's unborn child. However, there has been surprisingly little research on the topic.

17 May 2006

Inducing labor increases risk of developing chorioamnionitis

Women who have their labor induced or are given medication to stimulate contractions are at greater risk of developing chorioamnionitis

16 May 2006

Access to emergency hormonal contraception from community pharmacists and family planning clinics

Pharmacies who provide fast and convenient access to the morning-after pill could be helping to prevent 10 per cent more unwanted pregnancies, according to a study in the latest British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

16 May 2006

Women advised to lose weight before getting pregnant a second time

Doctors should advise overweight moms considering another pregnancy to take off extra weight first because they are at greater risk of having big babies, a new Saint Louis University study finds.

16 May 2006

Full year of treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine helps infants and children with toxoplasmosis

The first long-term study shows that treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine (two anti-parasitic drugs) during the first year of life leads to a lasting reduction in brain and eye damage for children with congenital toxoplasmosis.

16 May 2006

Cancer-causing chemicals associated with tobacco smoke found in the urine of nearly half the babies of smoking parents

When mum or dad puffs on a cigarette, their infants may inhale the resulting second-hand smoke. Now, scientists have detected cancer-causing chemicals associated with tobacco smoke in the urine of nearly half the babies of smoking parents.

12 May 2006

Abortion pill in trouble again

Clostridium sordellii is a rare germ that has killed four women who took the abortion pill RU-486 and has also been implicated in the deaths of at least 11 other women following childbirth or miscarriage.

11 May 2006

Study examines antidepressant therapies for pregnant women

The glossy images of pregnancy often show a woman radiant with happiness. "There is a belief that pregnancy is a state of bliss," said Rachel Manber, PhD. "That's not necessarily the case."

11 May 2006

Healthy habits and appropriate treatments help prevent stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a major source of disability in the United States. Every year about 700,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke, resulting in nearly 158,000 deaths.

10 May 2006