Futurity.org » pregnancy

Weekend delivery safe for high-risk babies

Emily Boynton-Rochester — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:03:39 +0000

U. ROCHESTER (US) — Weekday delivery is no safer for babies born with a birth defect than weekend or evening deliveries, new research shows.

Presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual conference, the study finds that infants with birth defects that were delivered at night or over the weekend fared just as well as those delivered on a weekday.

Prenatal thyroid drugs don’t boost kids’ IQ

Chris Jones-Cardiff — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:03:39 +0000

CARDIFF (UK) — Children of mothers screened and treated for reduced thyroid function during pregnancy show no signs of improved IQ, new research shows.

Scientists took blood samples from more than 20,000 women at about 13-weeks of pregnancy to test for thyroid function who were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Egg’s wiggle may predict IVF success

Chris Jones-Cardiff — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:13:40 +0000

CARDIFF (UK) — A new technique successfully used in mice to identify embryos likely to result in a successful pregnancy could be used in humans, according to scientists.

The discovery by scientists at Cardiff University could potentially boost in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates and help to reduce the number of multiple births.

Myths and truths: Pregnancy, weight, and risks

Emily Boynton-Rochester — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:31:42 +0000

U. ROCHESTER (US) — Despite excessive caloric intake, many obese women are actually deficient in vitamins vital to a healthy pregnancy.

Together, obesity and pregnancy present a unique set of challenges that women and their doctors must tackle in order to achieve the best possible outcome for mom and baby.

Pregnancy stress may mean fewer boy babies

James Devitt-NYU — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:19:40 +0000

NYU (US) — Stress in the second and third months of pregnancy may affect the ratio of boys to girls being born, leading to a decline in the number of baby boys.

The findings from a new study of pregnant women following the 2005 Tarapaca earthquake in Chile also confirms previous findings that stress can shorten pregnancies and increase the risk of pre-term births.

Lead in moms hikes girls’ hypertension risk

Joy Myers-Michigan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:21:48 +0000

U. MICHIGAN (US) — Pregnant women who are exposed to lead may have teen daughters with a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a new study. The same is not true for sons.

“This study suggests that a common chemical pollutant—lead—can build up in mom’s bones and then increase their daughter’s risk of developing hypertension, the most important risk factor for stroke and heart disease,” says Howard Hu, professor of public health at the University of Michigan.

‘Invasion’ moved mammals from egg to womb

Bill Hathaway-Yale — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:04:34 +0000

YALE (US) — More than 100 million years ago, genetic parasites invaded the mammalian genome, changing the uterus in the ancestors of humans and other mammals from egg producers to a home for developing young.

A new study published online in the journal Nature Genetics describes the molecular changes that allowed mammals to carry their developing young within the safety of the womb rather than laying them in nests or carrying them around in pouches.

Fewer infant colds when moms take DHA

Jennifer Johnson-Emory — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:49:10 +0000

EMORY (US) — Infants whose mothers took DHA supplements during pregnancy had fewer colds and shorter illnesses at one, three, and six months of age, a new study finds.

“This is a large scale, robust study that underscores the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy,” says Usha Ramakrishnan, associate professor in the global health department at Emory University. “Our findings indicate that pregnant women taking 400 mg of DHA are more likely to deliver healthier infants.”

The randomized, placebo-controlled trial followed approximately 1,100 pregnant women and 900 infants in Mexico. The women were supplemented daily with 400 mg of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) supplements in the algal form or placebo from 18 to 22 weeks gestation through childbirth. Findings are reported in the journal Pediatrics.

PTSD linked to early, low-weight births

Jared Wadley-Michigan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:07:57 +0000

U. MICHIGAN (US) — Women with post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely to have smaller babies and deliver prematurely, new research shows.

PTSD is prevalent among women and can occur following traumatic events such as war, disaster, childhood maltreatment, rape, and battering. Women with low income and education tend to have higher rates of PTSD in pregnancy, as do African American women.

Pregnancy depression tied to past abuse

Tom Hughes-UNC — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:13:24 +0000

UNC-CHAPEL HILL (US) — Women with a history of eating disorders or abuse may be at higher risk of suffering from depression during and after pregnancy.

The findings, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, could help doctors identify at-risk patients and refer them to treatment early on.