A Faster, Cheaper Test to Gauge the Risk of Premature Delivery?

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 1, 2021
• Full Page

A two-minute test can accurately detect vaginal bacteria associated with preterm birth, researchers have found, pointing to a possible way to identify pregnant women at increased risk of early delivery.

In the United States, about one in 10 babies are born preterm, accor...

Pandemic Grief Can Come Between Mothers and Their Newborns

• Cara Murez
• October 18, 2021
• Full Page

Among the many negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may be damage to the bond between mothers and their infants, researchers say.

Women who experienced grief and depression due to pandemic-related losses may find it more difficult to form this all-important emotiona...

Pregnancy, Delivery Safe for Women Born With Heart Defects

• Robert Preidt
• October 18, 2021
• Full Page

Women who were born with heart defects may get some reassurance from a new study that finds they face no heightened risk to health during a pregnancy and delivery.

According to the researchers, doctors may often advise these women against getting pregnant due to the pote...

Epidurals Not Linked to Autism in Children

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• September 29, 2021
• Full Page

Pregnant women who receive an epidural to ease their pain during labor aren't any more likely than others to have kids with autism, two new studies show.

Earlier research suggested this practice may increase autism risk in offspring, but the pair of studies should put th...

Pandemic Tied to Declining Birth Rates for U.S., Much of Europe

• Steven Reinberg
• September 20, 2021
• Full Page

Birth rates tend to fall during pandemics, and history is repeating itself with the COVID-19 scourge, researchers say.

Fewer babies have been born in much of Europe and the United States. Earlier in the pandemic, U.S. births declined 7%, a new study finds.

In Europ...

Are Stillbirths More Common in Women Infected With COVID?

• Cara Murez
• September 13, 2021
• Full Page

COVID-19 is surging in U.S. states with low vaccination rates, and these places may also be seeing a higher-than-usual number of stillbirths linked to the virus.

While the number of stillbirths is still very low nationally, doctors in the Deep South have noticed increas...

Mom-to-Be's 'Leaky' Heart Valves May Pose More Danger Than Thought

• Cara Murez
• September 9, 2021
• Full Page

Leaky heart valves can put pregnant women at serious risk, according to a large study that runs counter to established practice.

The condition used to be considered relatively harmless during pregnancy. But this analysis by Johns Hopkins University researchers of more th...

More College-Educated Women Are Having Children Outside of Marriage

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 7, 2021
• Full Page

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby in the baby carriage.

While that childhood rhyme used to be true, college-educated women in the United States are now more likely than ever to have a first baby outside marriage. They're also more likely than other w...

Wildfire Smoke Could Raise Odds for Preterm Delivery

• Cara Murez
• August 26, 2021
• Full Page

The health impact of wildfires is already huge, and new research suggests it might also raise a mom-to-be's risk for preterm birth, according to a new study.

Wildfire smoke contains high levels of PM 2.5, the deadliest type of pollution from particles so fine they can em...

Why Do Black, Hispanic Newborns Face Higher Health Risks?

• Robert Preidt
• August 25, 2021
• Full Page

All births are not created equal, new U.S. research reveals: Differences in the quality of hospital care contribute to a higher chance of complications among Black and Hispanic newborns compared to white and Asian infants.

The analysis of more than 480,000 live births at...

No Sign COVID Raises Odds for Preterm Delivery, Stillbirths

• Robert Preidt
• August 3, 2021
• Full Page

In a sign that the pandemic may have spared pregnant women and their newborns, a new Canadian study suggests there was no increase in preterm births or stillbirths during the first year of the pandemic.

Some studies found preterm birth rates in countries such as the Neth...

Stronger Hearts, Better Outcomes in Pregnancy: Study

• Cara Murez
• July 22, 2021
• Full Page

Thinking of starting a family? Start getting your heart in shape. New research suggests that how healthy a woman's heart is before conception affects outcomes in her pregnancy.

Study author Dr. Sadiya Khan said the findings make a case for more comprehensive heart assess...

C-Section Babies Miss Out on Mom's 'Microbiome,' But Treatment Can Change That

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 23, 2021
• Full Page

When a baby is born, the mother's body provides a pathway into the world, but the journey also exposes them to beneficial bacteria that live in and on their mom. But that critical exchange doesn't happen during a cesarean section delivery.

Now, researchers report that sw...

Migraines Tied to Higher Odds for Complications in Pregnancy

• Robert Preidt
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

Women who suffer from migraines may be more vulnerable to pregnancy complications, new research finds.

"Our study confirms that women who suffer from migraine are at a greater risk of a host of medical and obstetric complications. As such, we are [recommending] that thes...

Survey Finds Many Adults Don't Want Kids -- and They're Happy

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 21, 2021
• Full Page

Marriage and children may be the norm for most Americans, but a new study shows that many people are choosing to remain child-free -- and they're happy that way.

The study of 1,000 Michigan adults found that one-quarter had opted not to have kids. And, on average, their ...

Dads of 'Preemie' Babies Can Be Hit by Depression

• Robert Preidt
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

Postpartum depression strikes fathers of premature babies more often than previously thought, and it can linger longer in fathers than in mothers, a new study finds.

The researchers screened for depression in 431 parents of premature infants in a neonatal intensive care...

$10,000: What New Parents Might Pay for Childbirth, Even With Insurance

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 17, 2021
• Full Page

Having a baby is expensive. The cost of diapers, a crib, a car seat and all the other infant necessities can really add up, and now a new study shows that having a child comes with its own hefty hospital price tag for many U.S. families.

About one in six families in the ...

Will Pandemic Produce a Summer Baby Boom?

• Robert Preidt
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

America, get ready for a baby boom.

That's the likelihood anyway, according to a new forecast that suggests a drop in pregnancy and birth rates seen during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic is about to be reversed.

"We expect a dramatic rebound soon," said st...

Skin-to-Skin Contact Could Boost Survival of Very Premature Babies

• Robert Preidt
• May 28, 2021
• Full Page

In a finding that demonstrates the power of a mother's touch, new research shows that immediate and continuous skin-to-skin contact with mom reduces the risk of death for low-weight newborns in poorer nations.

"The idea of giving skin-to-skin contact immediately after de...

Good Bacteria Aren't Present in Baby's Gut Before Birth

• Steven Reinberg
• May 13, 2021
• Full Page

Bacteria don't set up house in the human gut until after birth, a new study finds.

Gut bacteria are vital for digestion and overall health, but when researchers examined the stool (meconium) from 20 infants collected during breech cesarean deliveries, they found these c...

Debunking Social Media Myth, Study Finds COVID Vaccine Won't Harm Placenta

• Steven Reinberg
• May 12, 2021
• Full Page

Contrary to misleading reports spread on social media, a new study finds the COVID-19 vaccine does no damage to the placenta in pregnancy.

In a study of placentas from patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy, researchers found no evidence of any harm....

U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Fall

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• May 5, 2021
• Full Page

The baby "boom" that some expected during last year's pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby "bust."

The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of ...

Giving Birth During the Pandemic? Facts You Need to Know

• Robert Preidt
• May 4, 2021
• Full Page

Giving birth during the coronavirus pandemic presents its own challenges, but the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) wants to reassure pregnant women that they need not panic.

Instead, they "should be comforted to know that the hospital is a very safe place to h...

Will Baby Have Allergies? First Poop Might Tell

• Cara Murez
• April 30, 2021
• Full Page

An infant will generate a lot of poop during the first year of life, but the very first one may offer key clues about the risk of developing allergies.

Researchers analyzed samples of meconium from 100 babies enrolled in the CHILD Cohort Study, a long-term health study o...

Being Born Even a Bit Early Might Hamper Child's Development

• Robert Preidt
• April 29, 2021
• Full Page

Being born even slightly premature might still raise a child's risk of developmental problems, a new study finds.

Preemies often have developmental issues, but previous research has tended to focus on those born extremely preterm (22-26 weeks' gestation), so less is know...

Low Risk of Mom Passing COVID to Newborn

• Robert Preidt
• April 26, 2021
• Full Page

The risk of mother-to-newborn transmission of COVID-19 is low, but the illness in pregnant women can trigger preterm birth, researchers say.

The new study looked at 255 babies born in Massachusetts last year to mothers with a recent positive test for COVID-19.

Only...

Epidural in Delivery Not Linked to Autism: Study

• April 19, 2021
• Full Page

In news that should reassure many pregnant women, having an epidural during childbirth won't increase the child's risk of autism, researchers report.

The new findings refute a widely criticized 2020 study that said epidurals were associated with a 37% higher risk of auti...

C-Section Babies Have Microbiome Deficit, But Catch Up Over Time

• Robert Preidt
• April 5, 2021
• Full Page

Infants born by cesarean section initially have less diverse gut bacteria than those delivered vaginally, but they catch up within a few years, new research reveals.

The researchers also found that it takes a long time for these bacteria colonies -- known as the gut micr...

OCD May Be More Common in New Moms Than Thought

• Robert Preidt
• March 26, 2021
• Full Page

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is more common among new mothers than previously thought, and it's often driven by worries about things that may happen to their newborns, a new study finds.

Many new moms may keep the issue hidden, the Canadian researchers said.

Postpartum Bleeding Doesn't Have to Mean Hysterectomy, Experts Say

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• March 24, 2021
• Full Page

Heavy bleeding following birth can threaten the life of the mother, and doctors at times turn to a hysterectomy to end the bleeding. But a new study suggests a less invasive, underused procedure might be a better, less drastic option.

Investigators determine...

Pandemic Has Pregnant Women 'Really Stressed,' Survey Shows

• Robert Preidt
• March 19, 2021
• Full Page

The pandemic is turning what should be a joyful time for pregnant women into a stress-filled experience.

Why? Fears that their infants might catch COVID-19 is one of the main reasons anxiety levels are soaring, a new survey finds.

Researchers from Washington State ...

Most Women Can Give Birth Naturally Even When Water Breaks Early: Study

• Robert Preidt
• March 17, 2021
• Full Page

Most women can have a natural childbirth even if labor doesn't begin soon after their water breaks, according to a new study.

This situation occurs in about 11% of pregnant women who carry to term. Labor is typically induced in such cases.

But University of Michiga...

Common Household Chemicals Tied to Preemie Births

• Robert Preidt
• March 15, 2021
• Full Page

Even when women do their best to have a safe pregnancy, chemicals commonly found in the home could still raise their risk for premature delivery, a new study shows.

The chemicals -- called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) -- are used as flame retardants in items li...

'Birthing Girdle' Shows Traces of Medieval Women in Labor

• Cara Murez
• March 12, 2021
• Full Page

In medieval Europe, when childbirth was highly perilous for both mother and child, women and those caring for them used various talismans to try to influence a safe delivery.

Not many of those relics have survived, but scientists have been studying one -- a parchment "bi...

Many Babies Acquire Oral HPV, Probably From Mom

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 11, 2021
• Full Page

Cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered a sexually transmitted infection, but a new study shows that many babies are born carrying the virus in their mouths.

"In brief, HPV infection can be acquired at early age or even at birth," said lead researche...

Antibiotics in Pregnancy Tied to Higher Odds for Asthma in Kids

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• February 11, 2021
• Full Page

Children whose mothers used antibiotics in pregnancy may have a slightly heightened risk of asthma, a new study suggests.

Experts were quick to point out the finding does not prove cause and effect, and the reasons for the antibiotic use -- rather than the drug -- might ...

MS Doesn't Put Women at Higher Risk During Pregnancy

• Robert Preidt
• February 3, 2021
• Full Page

In a finding that should reassure women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who want to have a baby, new research suggests the disease doesn't raise the risk of pregnancy complications.

"Women with multiple sclerosis may be understandably concerned about the risks of pregnancy...

COVID-19 Ups Complication Risks During Childbirth

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• January 20, 2021
• Full Page

Women who have COVID-19 during childbirth are more likely to face complications than moms-to-be without the coronavirus, researchers say.

Fortunately, the absolute risk for complications for any one woman is very low (less than 1%). But the relative risks for problems --...

'Awareness' Under C-Section Anesthesia May Be Less Rare Than Thought

• Robert Preidt
• January 13, 2021
• Full Page

It's a woman's worst nightmare: You're having a C-section under anesthesia, but you suddenly become aware of what is happening during your surgery.

Now, a new study shows that phenomenon, known as "accidental awareness," is more common than believed. In fact, it may occu...

Women May Transmit Cancer to Infants in Childbirth, Reports Suggest

• January 6, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2021 -- In extremely rare instances, newborns can contract cancer from their pregnant moms during delivery, a new case report suggests.

Two boys, a 23-month-old and a 6-year-old, developed lung cancers that proved an exact genetic match to cervical can...

Study Finds No Benefit From Supplemental Oxygen During Labor

• Amy Norton
• January 5, 2021
• Full Page

For decades, women have commonly been given oxygen during childbirth, but a new research review finds little evidence it benefits newborns.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women be given supplemental oxygen when fetal heart monitor...

Even Rich Americans Don't Get World-Class Health Care: Study

• Dennis Thompson
• December 31, 2020
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Dec. 31, 2020 -- Even the most privileged people in the United States with the best access to health care are sicker and more likely to die than average folks in other developed nations, a new study finds.

People living in the highest-income counties in the Uni...

Dads' Health Linked to Odds of Pregnancy Loss in Moms-to-Be

• Amy Norton
• December 23, 2020
• Full Page

A large new study suggests that men who plan to be fathers should try to get themselves in shape first.

Researchers found that when fathers-to-be had health conditions like high blood pressure or obesity, the odds that their partner might experience miscarriage or stillb...

Why a Newborn's First Breath Is So Important

• Cara Murez
• December 10, 2020
• Full Page

New research on what happens as a newborn is delivered and takes its first breath may shed light on a potential contributor to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

A team led by doctors from the University of Virginia School of Medicine discovered a signaling syste...

Too Many, Too Few Babies May Speed Aging in Women

• Cara Murez
• December 7, 2020
• Full Page

Pregnancy can be exhilarating or exhausting, and sometimes both at the same time. It may not come as a surprise to a woman who has experienced pregnancy once, twice or many times, that it can age her.

New research reveals that how many pregnancies a woman has may affect ...

Newborns Are at Low COVID Risk

• Robert Preidt
• November 11, 2020
• Full Page

Overall, babies have a low risk of severe COVID-19 infection, and transmission from mother to newborn is unlikely, new research suggests.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from all babies under 29 days old who had COVID-19 and had to be admitted to hospitals acros...

Pandemic Protocols Don't Stand in the Way of a Safe Delivery

• Steven Reinberg
• November 4, 2020
• Full Page

New infection prevention practices started during the coronavirus pandemic have actually shortened hospital stays for mothers and their babies, a new study finds.

The changes included screening the temperature of all patients and visitors, limiting the number of visitors...

Newborn Brain Bleeds Resolve by Age 2

• Robert Preidt
• November 3, 2020
• Full Page

Here's some good news for new moms: Babies born with asymptomatic brain bleeds have normal brain development by the time they reach the age of 2, researchers report.

MRIs were used to examine the brains of 311 newborns in the Early Brain Development Study at the Universi...

Big Babies May Face Higher Lifelong A-Fib Risk

• Robert Preidt
• October 19, 2020
• Full Page

Parents are usually pleased when their newborn seems big and strong, but new research suggests that large babies may be at higher risk for the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation later in life.

Atrial fibrillation (a-fib) is the most common heart rhythm disorde...

Newborns of Moms With COVID-19 Face Little Infection Risk: Study

• Steven Reinberg
• October 14, 2020
• Full Page

In some reassuring news on the coronavirus front, a new study finds that pregnant women with COVID-19 rarely infect their newborn.

That finding suggests that it may not be necessary to separate infected mothers from their infants and that moms can continue to breastf...