Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Hormonal markers could lead to early detection of postpartum depression

Women who go on to develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have characteristic levels of neuroactive steroids, molecules derived from the hormone progesterone, in their blood during the third trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

30 Jan 2025

Study highlights delayed cancer diagnoses in pregnant women

Cancer symptoms can sometimes be misdiagnosed as normal pregnancy-related changes for women who are expecting, in some cases leading to a delay in treatment, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

30 Jan 2025

Mediterranean diet linked to better brain health in Hispanic/Latino adults

Closely following a Mediterranean diet was associated with having better brain health among Hispanic/Latino adults in a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025.

30 Jan 2025

Fresh embryo transfer may improve IVF success for women with low prognosis

Fresh embryo transfer may be a better option than use of frozen embryos for women with a low chance of having a healthy baby by vitro fertilization (IVF), suggests a trial from China published by The BMJ today.

30 Jan 2025

Breakthrough study highlights role of prenatal supplements in preventing infant mortality

Dongqing Wang, an assistant professor of Global and Community Health at George Mason's College of Public Health, is pioneering research in prenatal nutritional interventions.

29 Jan 2025

Confidence and communication key to condom use among teens

A new meta-analysis evaluating condom use across 249 studies and more than a quarter million U.S. teens finds that simply having knowledge about safer sex practices is not enough to encourage condom use.

29 Jan 2025

Multiple sclerosis linked to increased risk of perinatal mental illness

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) face a significantly higher risk of perinatal mental illness compared to those with other chronic conditions, according to a new study analyzing over 890,000 births in Ontario.

23 Jan 2025

Complete map of human DNA recombination unlocks secrets of genetic diversity

Scientists at deCODE genetics/Amgen have constructed a complete map of how human DNA is mixed as it is passed down during reproduction.

23 Jan 2025

Maternal vitamin D deficiency may accelerate fetal aging and impact newborn health

Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is linked to accelerated epigenetic gestational age in infants at birth, suggesting improper fetal development influenced by low vitamin D levels. The study also found associations between maternal age, birth height, and epigenetic aging, though cord blood vitamin D showed no significant impact.

22 Jan 2025

Research reveals 31% increased risk of long COVID in women

Females have a 31% higher associated risk of developing long COVID, with women aged 40 to 55 years having the highest propensity, according to a study led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) funded by the National Institutes of Health.

22 Jan 2025

Mental health risks higher for pregnant people with MS

Pregnant people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a higher chance of experiencing mental illness both during their pregnancy and in the first years after they give birth than those without MS, according to a study published in the January 22, 2025 online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

22 Jan 2025

Study uncovers blood signatures linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

New University of Virginia School of Medicine research revealing the fingerprints of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome within blood samples could open the door to simple tests to identify babies at risk.

22 Jan 2025

Maternal stress in early pregnancy affects long-term health of offspring

Maternal stress hormone levels during early pregnancy can have a lasting effect on the stress system of the offspring.

22 Jan 2025

How gut microbiota impacts childhood obesity

Gut microbiota plays a critical role in childhood obesity by influencing energy metabolism, inflammation, and appetite regulation, with emerging therapeutic strategies like probiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation showing promise.

21 Jan 2025

Pregnant women often left out of drug trials, study finds

A new study by researchers from the Brown University School of Public Health found that pregnant women are regularly excluded from clinical drug trials that test for safety, raising concerns for the efficacy of these medications for maternal and child health.

21 Jan 2025