Pregnancy News - SciTechDaily

Pregnant with COVID? The Long-Term Risks You Need to Know

University of Utah Health — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 21:00:33 +0000

A study finds that about 10% of pregnant women contracting COVID-19 may develop long COVID, showing higher risks of long-term symptoms like fatigue and gastrointestinal issues. Factors such as anxiety, obesity, and financial hardship were linked to increased risk, and health practitioners are urged to be vigilant about these symptoms to provide proper care. Nearly [...]

The Hidden Dangers of Prenatal Cannabis Revealed

Leah Shaffer, Washington University in St. Louis — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 04:48:00 +0000

New research links prenatal cannabis exposure to potential developmental and mental health issues through changes in brain structure and function, based on findings from neuroimaging data. Scientists are trying to understand how cannabis may affect long-term neurodevelopment when people are exposed to it in the womb. Previous work by Washington University in St. Louis researchers [...]

The Truth About Fish and Pregnancy: What’s Safe and What’s Not

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:20:07 +0000

Researchers have developed a new model that assesses the risks and benefits of fish consumption, particularly during pregnancy, by considering the average mercury content in fish. This model, detailed in a new research study, shows that low mercury fish consumption can enhance neurodevelopment, while high mercury fish can be detrimental. The study highlights the need [...]

Is Your Pregnancy Diet Safe? The Latest Research on Fish and Mercury

University of Rochester Medical Center — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:00:17 +0000

Researchers have introduced a novel approach to evaluate the neurodevelopmental effects of fish consumption during pregnancy, focusing on the balance between mercury exposure and nutritional value. This study highlights the potential benefits of consuming low-mercury fish and the risks associated with high-mercury varieties. Nutritional Benefits and Risks of Fish Consumption During Pregnancy It may seem [...]

Troubling Consequences: Nanoparticles Found To Have Mysterious Effects on Unborn Children

Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:52:49 +0000

Researchers are investigating how nanoparticles from various products and environmental sources affect embryonic development by disrupting placental function and indirectly harming fetal tissue, despite the protective placental barrier. Human life begins with a single egg cell that grows into a human being with trillions of cells. To ensure that the highly complex development of tissues [...]

Millions Are at Risk – Fluoride Consumption During Pregnancy May Harm Fetal Brain Development

Keck School of Medicine of USC — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:16:48 +0000

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC carried out the first study in the U.S. exploring the connection between prenatal fluoride exposure and the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children. Almost 75% of the U.S. population gets drinking water with added fluoride, a measure initiated in 1945 to combat tooth decay. However, [...]

Stress in the Womb: Scientists Discover Link Between Pregnancy Hormones and Child IQ

European Society of Endocrinology — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 09:51:06 +0000

Research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology in Stockholm suggests that elevated cortisol levels in the third trimester of pregnancy could negatively affect the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores of 7-year-old boys. Surprisingly, cortisol levels in the blood are not associated with IQ scores in girls, but higher urine cortisone levels improved their scores. [...]

Pregnancy Workouts Alter Brain Chemistry to Fight Offspring Obesity

PLOS — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:00:23 +0000

A study reveals that maternal obesity in mice increases microRNA levels in the hypothalamus in offspring, leading to overeating. Maternal obesity impacts the eating behaviors of offspring via long-term overexpression of the microRNA miR-505-5p. This is according to a study published today (June 4th) in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Laura Dearden and Susan [...]

Scientists Discover New Health Benefits of Mangoes

Wild Hive — Sun, 12 May 2024 00:05:25 +0000

New NHANES study shows that diets containing mangos are linked to improved nutrition and higher Healthy Eating Index scores, beneficial for healthy pregnancies. Women who are trying to conceive, are currently pregnant, or are breastfeeding have unique nutritional requirements that are often not met by current diets. A recent study published in the journal Nutrients [...]

Severe Morning Sickness: Effective Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment

Canadian Medical Association Journal — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 13:47:55 +0000

Severe morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, impacts mother and baby health, with current treatments focusing on symptom management and avoiding cannabis. Hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness during pregnancy, can adversely impact both maternal and infant health. Detailed in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a new review offers clinicians insights into the causes, diagnosis, [...]

Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Risk of ADHD, Autism and Intellectual Disability in Children

European Psychiatric Association — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:21:41 +0000

A study indicates a strong association between prenatal cannabis use and heightened risks of ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability in offspring, stressing the need for public health education and preventive measures against cannabis use during pregnancy. A new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 reveals a significant association between prenatal cannabis use [...]

Revolutionary Relief: Esketamine Reduces Postpartum Depression by 75%

BMJ — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 06:19:29 +0000

Researchers suggest considering low-dose esketamine for individuals experiencing depressive symptoms during pregnancy. A clinical trial recently published in The BMJ reports that administering a single low dose of esketamine immediately postpartum can decrease the occurrence of major depressive episodes in individuals who experienced depressive symptoms while pregnant. The results suggest that low-dose esketamine should be [...]

New Columbia Study Links Pregnancy With Accelerated Aging

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:08:31 +0000

Each additional pregnancy in early adulthood was linked to an estimated acceleration of biological aging by 2.4 to 2.8 months. A recent study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health indicates that pregnancy might have an aging effect. Conducted with 1,735 young individuals in the Philippines, the findings reveal that women who have [...]

Alarming Surge in U.S. Maternal Mortality: Age Isn’t the Culprit, New Study Reveals

Northwestern University — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 17:16:45 +0000

Between 2014 and 2021, the overall rates of maternal mortality nearly doubled. A recent study from Northwestern Medicine reveals that the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is climbing rapidly. But it’s not due to the widely believed hypothesis that maternal mortality in the U.S. has increased largely because people are getting pregnant at older [...]

New Research Indicates That Popular Diabetes Drug Could Impact Brain Development During Pregnancy

German Center for Diabetes Research — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:18:55 +0000

As cases of gestational diabetes and metabolic disorders increase during pregnancy, the prescription of metformin has become more common. Despite understanding that this oral antidiabetic medication can pass through the placental barrier, its effects on a child’s brain development remain largely unclear. However, a cross-disciplinary team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) [...]

Metformin Danger During Pregnancy: Impact on Offspring Brain Development

German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:26:39 +0000

With the rise in gestational diabetes and metabolic disorders during pregnancy, metformin is also being prescribed more frequently. Although it is known that the oral antidiabetic agent can cross the placental barrier, the impacts on the brain development of the child are largely unknown. An interdisciplinary research team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition [...]

The Hidden Dangers of Everyday Plastics: Scientists Link Phthalates to 56,600 Preterm Births

NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:37:47 +0000

A recent study suggests that regular contact with chemicals found in plastic food packaging and numerous cosmetic products could be linked to approximately 56,600 premature births in the United States during 2018. According to the study’s authors, the medical expenses associated with these preterm births are projected to be at least $1.6 billion, potentially rising [...]

How Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Shapes Fetal Brain Development

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:48 +0000

First study to provide evidence of the direct impact of serotonin on the development of prefrontal cortex. A new study published today (February 16) in Nature Communications provides direct evidence that antidepressant use during pregnancy can impact a child’s brain development and contribute to the risk of mental health disorders later in life. The study, [...]

Guardians of the Womb: The Trophoblast Organoids Reinventing Fetal Safety

Tokyo Medical and Dental University — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:00:58 +0000

Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) overcome scientific roadblocks and develop a model to assess the biology of the human placental barrier. During pregnancy, the human placenta plays multiple essential roles, including hormone production and nutrient/waste processing. It also serves as a barrier to protect the developing fetus from external toxic substances. However, [...]

SYCE2 Genetic Variant Linked to 22% Higher Miscarriage Risk

deCODE Genetics — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:00:37 +0000

A significant study identifies a genetic variant in the SYCE2 gene that heightens the risk of miscarriage by 22%, shedding light on the genetic causes of pregnancy loss. Scientists at deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen and their collaborators from Iceland, Denmark, and the USA published a study today in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology [...]

Baby’s First Words on Hold: The Alarming Acetaminophen Connection Uncovered

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 01:55:17 +0000

Research from the University of Illinois links increased acetaminophen use during pregnancy to early childhood language delays. The study advises caution in using the drug for minor pains during pregnancy, while recognizing its necessity for serious pain or fever. Acetaminophen is considered the safest over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer available during pregnancy, and studies [...]

Triple Trouble: UCLA Study Reveals Startling Impact of COVID-19 on Newborns

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:21 +0000

Infants born to COVID-19 infected mothers face triple the risk of respiratory distress, according to UCLA research. Vaccinating mothers prior to infection significantly reduced the risk for full-term infants developing a breathing disorder that most often strikes premature newborns. New UCLA-led research finds that infants born full term to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 [...]

Marijuana in Maternity: Cannabis During Pregnancy Linked to Low Birthweight and Preterm Birth

Kaiser Permanente — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:02:42 +0000

Large Kaiser Permanente study adds to evidence about low birthweight, preterm birth, admission to neonatal intensive care. A large study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants found increased risk of low birth weight and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for babies whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy. The findings align with [...]

Morning Sickness Solution? Cambridge’s Breakthrough in Pregnancy Nausea Treatment

University of Cambridge — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:15:51 +0000

A study reveals that the hormone GDF15, produced by the fetus, is responsible for pregnancy sickness, paving the way for potential preventive measures and highlighting the need for better treatment and understanding of the condition. A Cambridge-led study has shown why many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy – and why some women, including [...]