Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Better infant growth linked to healthy prenatal diet following USDA guidelines

Findings indicate that a quality prenatal diet is crucial for healthy infant growth, potentially reducing risks of childhood obesity and promoting development.

25 Nov 2024

Freya Biosciences secures new investment to develop microbial immunotherapies for bacterial vaginosis

Freya Biosciences (Freya or the Company), a transatlantic biotech company specializing in women's health, today announces a $10.4 million strategic investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the foundation) with $1.4 million additional financing from current investor Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO).

25 Nov 2024

From womb to midlife: Prenatal immune disruptions reshape memory and cognitive aging

Prenatal exposure to maternal pro-inflammatory cytokines shapes memory and immune function in offspring, with sex-specific effects emerging over 50 years.

24 Nov 2024

Probiotics shown to mitigate effects of toxic fire-retardant chemicals

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are fire-retardant chemicals that are found everywhere - upholstery, carpets, curtains, electronics, and even infant products.

23 Nov 2024

Prenatal diet in line with USDA guidelines promotes healthy birthweights

Expectant mothers who maintain a diet that meets USDA dietary guidelines during pregnancy may be more likely to have infants with healthy birthweights, steadier growth patterns, and potentially a reduced risk of obesity later in childhood, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

23 Nov 2024

Maternal health complications on the rise in Illinois, study reveals

A new study from Northwestern Medicine reveals a troubling rise in severe maternal health issues and birth complications in Illinois from 2016 to 2023, closely linked to increases in chronic health conditions affecting pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, mental health disorders and especially obesity, which saw the largest increase in annual rates.

23 Nov 2024

First 'blueprint' of human skeletal development offers new insights into bone formation

The first 'blueprint' of human skeletal development reveals how the skeleton forms, shedding light on the process of arthritis, and highlighting cells involved in conditions that affect skull and bone growth.

21 Nov 2024

Study links prenatal immune activity to Alzheimer's risk in later life

Findings from a Mass General Brigham-led study that has followed participants since before birth may offer clues about the origins of Alzheimer's disease.

21 Nov 2024

Saliva microbes differ in pregnant women with stress and mental health symptoms

Research links oral cavity microbes to maternal mental health, revealing potential interventions during pregnancy to enhance psychological well-being.

21 Nov 2024

Rethinking dairy: Whole milk tied to healthier weight profiles

Whole milk intake is associated with lower body weight, BMI, and obesity risk in U.S. adults. This study challenges traditional low-fat dairy guidelines and highlights whole milk's potential role in healthy weight management.

20 Nov 2024

Study reveals slower fat gain in babies exposed to gestational diabetes

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard Medical School reveals surprising findings about how babies exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) grow during their first year of life.

20 Nov 2024

Pregnancy stress and mental health affect the oral microbiome

The number and type of microbes present in the saliva of pregnant women differ according to whether they are experiencing life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finds a study published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

20 Nov 2024

Antiseizure medications in pregnancy tied to child neurodevelopment risks

Researchers investigate how anti-seizure medication use during pregnancy may increase the risk of neuropsychological conditions in children.

20 Nov 2024

WHO grants Emergency Use Listing for LC16m8 mpox vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the LC16m8 mpox vaccine, making it the second mpox vaccine to be supported by WHO following the Director-General's declaration of an mpox public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 14 August 2024.

19 Nov 2024

Study finds equal safety in home and birth center births

In low-risk pregnancies, mothers and children are just as safe with a planned home birth as they are with a planned birth center birth, a national study led by Oregon State University researchers has shown.

19 Nov 2024

Exposure to everyday chemicals during pregnancy may raise asthma risk in children

A new study from researchers at Kumamoto University sheds light on a potential link between exposure to certain everyday chemicals during pregnancy and the development of asthma in children.

19 Nov 2024

Chewing gum to prevent preterm birth

Xylitol-containing gum during pregnancy significantly reduces preterm births and low birth weights, offering a simple solution for improving maternal health.

19 Nov 2024

Ultra-processed foods drive obesity and metabolic risks

Italian researchers reveal a strong link between ultra-processed foods and obesity, highlighting increased cardiometabolic risks in adults with higher UPF consumption. The findings call for urgent dietary changes to combat obesity and promote healthier lifestyles.

18 Nov 2024

A closely watched trial over Idaho’s near-total abortion ban continues Tuesday

Physicians are expected to take the stand in Idaho's capital on Tuesday to argue that the state's near-total prohibition of abortion care is jeopardizing women's health, forcing them to carry fetuses with deadly anomalies, and preventing doctors from intervening in potentially fatal medical emergencies.

18 Nov 2024

Monash researchers develop model to tackle weight stigma in pregnancy and beyond

People with larger bodies commonly face a pervasive, resilient form of social stigma, often facing discrimination in the workplace as well as in educational and healthcare settings.

18 Nov 2024