Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

No safe level of caffeine consumption for pregnant women

A new study shows that caffeine consumption by pregnant mothers could harm the fetus and baby. The new study titled, "Maternal caffeine consumption and pregnancy outcomes: a narrative review with implications for advice to mothers and mothers-to-be," was published in the latest issue of the journal British Medical Journal Evidence Based Medicine.

26 Aug 2020

Children born at high altitude smaller at birth and have stunted growth

A new study released this week by Ethiopian researchers shows that children who are born at higher altitudes, such as 1,500m (4,921 ft) above sea level, are more at risk of being smaller at birth and have a stunted growth compared to their counterparts born at lower altitudes. The research is published in the latest issue of the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

25 Aug 2020

Living at higher altitudes linked with greater rates of stunting

Residing at higher altitude is associated with greater rates of stunting, even for children living in "ideal-home environments" according to a new study from researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute and Addis Ababa University.

24 Aug 2020

COVID-19 mother transmitted virus to baby during pregnancy, report physicians

A pregnant mother who tested positive for COVID-19 transmitted the virus causing the disease to her prematurely born baby, UT Southwestern physicians report. Both were treated and recovered.

24 Aug 2020

No evidence pregnancy increases the risk of COVID-19 morbidity or severity

Albeit pregnancy is generally considered a significant risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outcomes, a recent study by a multinational team of researchers shows that symptoms are generally comparable between pregnant and non-pregnant cohorts of women – with the exception of gastrointestinal symptoms. This paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

23 Aug 2020

Whey protein from human breastmilk inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection

Many scientists have reported the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on pregnancy and the virus has been detected in breastmilk. Now a new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 shows that whey protein in human breastmilk efficiently prevents infection with SARS-CoV-2 as well as post-entry viral replication.

20 Aug 2020

Girls with anorexia nervosa can have stunted growth

Girls with anorexia nervosa can have stunted growth and may not reach their full height potential, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

20 Aug 2020

UIC's first-of-its-kind contraceptive receives FDA approval

A first-of-its-kind contraceptive developed at the University of Illinois Chicago has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

19 Aug 2020

Women's reproductive tract mediates post-mating sexual selection, shows study

The female reproductive tract has the final say in human mate choice, according to new research from the University of Eastern Finland.

19 Aug 2020

Scientists create miniature human heart model in the lab

A team of researchers from Michigan State University has created a miniature human heart model in the laboratory. For the first time in history, this mode is complete with all primary heart cell types and a functioning structure of chambers and vascular tissue.

19 Aug 2020

Gestational hypertension can increase risk of hot flashes during menopause

Women with high blood pressure during pregnancy are at an increased risk for chronic hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, and early cardiovascular death.

19 Aug 2020

Study: Vitamin D supplementation is associated with compositional changes in a baby's microbiome

New research from the CHILD Cohort Study has shed light on the influence of vitamin D supplementation on a baby's developing gut microbiome.

19 Aug 2020

Opioid use in women trying to conceive linked with lower chance of pregnancy

Opioid use among women trying to conceive may be associated with a lower chance of pregnancy, suggests a National Institutes of Health study. Moreover, opioid use in early pregnancy may be associated with a greater chance of pregnancy loss.

18 Aug 2020

Increased fructose intake during pregnancy can affect metabolism of offspring

An increased level of fructose intake during pregnancy can cause significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk composition and alter the metabolism of their offspring, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.

18 Aug 2020

Study reports potential therapeutic target for lethal heart defect in children

When children are born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), they require a series of major surgical procedures to survive. But even with a repaired heart, as many as one in four children die from complications before age 25.

18 Aug 2020

Loughborough expert predicts how COVID-19 will impact the birth weight of babies

Being pregnant is a wonderful experience, but at the same it can be incredibly stressful - throw a global pandemic into the mix and those nine months may see an expecting mother go from happy and joyful, to fearful and concerned.

15 Aug 2020

Pregnant mother's immune conditions linked to behavioral, emotional problems in children with autism

Children with autism born to mothers who had immune conditions during their pregnancy are more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems, a UC Davis Health study has found.

15 Aug 2020

Patients face challenges in getting treatment for opioid addictions

Women are having a difficult time getting into treatment for opioid addictions, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published today in JAMA Network Open.

14 Aug 2020

COVID-19 during pregnancy shows no affect on placental structure and pathology

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in August 2020 shows that the placenta in pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) does not show any signs of abnormality that can be attributed to the infection.

14 Aug 2020

COVID-19 lockdown on sexual and reproductive health in Australia

The COVID-19 pandemic spread to Australia early this year, triggering a national lockdown from March 22 to May 8, 2020. Non-essential travel was strongly discouraged unless to access essential goods and services, to receive or provide care, to exercise, or to attend work or education where these activities could not take place at home. This approach led to very few cases and deaths in Australia. However, the lockdown led to other forms of hardship. One of these areas is that of social and reproductive health (SRH).

13 Aug 2020