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19 May

Barriers to Maternity Care Are Very Real in the U.S., a New HealthDay/Harris Poll Finds

Many women in the U.S. say it can be difficult to access healthcare during pregnancy -- and they often feel forgotten after giving birth, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll finds.

13 Apr

Study Finds No Evidence Mild Covid During Pregnancy Affects Babies’ Brain Development

Infants whose mothers had mild or asymptomatic Covid during pregnancy experience normal brain development, according to new research.

27 Mar

What Causes a Miscarriage? Researchers Uncover New Clues.

A new study finds embryos from pregnancies that end is miscarriage develop at a slower rate than embryos that end in live births

Health News Results - 481

Teen Pregnancy May Raise Risk of Early Death

Teen pregnancy can change the trajectory of one's life, but now a new study suggests it could also shorten that life.

Canadian researchers report that women who were pregnant as teenagers were more likely to die before they reached the age of 31.

“The younger the person was when they became pregnant, the greater their risk was of premature death,” study first author

Study Questions 'Rising' Level of U.S. Maternal Deaths

For years, U.S. health officials have been sounding the alarm over a steady rise in pregnancy-related deaths among American women, with numbers that appeared to far outstrip those of other wealthy nations.

However, the statistics behind those trends could be flawed, researchers report in a new study.

Their detailed reanalysis of government data from 2002 through 2021 found that -- ...

1 in 6 Gun Deaths for Women Occur In or Around Pregnancy

A woman's risk of intentional death by firearm rises during and shortly after pregnancy, new research shows.

About 1 in 6 intentional firearm-related deaths in women of childbearing age occurred during pregnancy or within a year of childbirth, the study found.

Dr. Naima Joseph, of the Boston Medical Center...

Drug-Emitting Vaginal Ring Safely Protects Pregnant Women From HIV

A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows.

"We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lectu...

First Birth Control Pill Sold Over the Counter Hits Store Shelves Soon

The first over-the-counter birth control pill will soon be available in U.S. stores and online, the drug's maker plans to announce Monday.

Sold as Opill, the medication was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last May. Once it is officially for sale, a one-month supply will...

Could General Anesthesia in Pregnancy Raise Behavioral Issues in Kids?

Children exposed to anesthesia in the womb when their pregnant mom has surgery are more likely to suffer from behavioral issues later, a new study finds.

Exposure to general anesthesia before birth was associated with a 31% increased risk of diagnosis with a behavioral disorder as a child, researchers reported Feb. 29 in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 4, 2024
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  • CVS, Walgreens to Start Selling Abortion Pill in Some States

    CVS and Walgreens announced Friday that they will start dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone this month.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has certified the nation's two largest pharmacy chains to dispense mifepristone, and they plan to make the medication available first in states where abortion is legal.

    The chains will not dispense the medication by mail, they told news ...

    Number of Abortions Performed Per Month in U.S. Unchanged Since Fall of Roe v. Wade

    The historic overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 has not had any significant effect on the number of abortions performed each month in the United States, new data shows.

    The #WeCount report tracks abortion rates across the country for the nonprofit Society of Family Planning, a group promoting research on abortion and contraception.

    Mom's Grief During Pregnancy Could Pass Heart Trouble to Her Child

    Babies born to mothers who experience profound grief during pregnancy may be vulnerable to heart failure much later in life, new research suggests.

    "If future studies support our findings, the implementation of early screening for risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes in children born to mothers who experienced bereavement, as well as the adoption of preventive measures,...

    A Warming World May Mean More Premature Births

    Surging temperatures caused by climate change could lead to more premature births worldwide, a new study reports.

    Researchers found a strong association between exposure to extreme heat during the third trimester of pregnancy and the risk of premature delivery.

    “High night-time temperatures can disrupt circadian rhythms and potentially influence blood pressure, which may be an iss...

    Mental Health Issues a Prime Driver of Deaths for New Moms: Study

    Data from dozens of studies supports the notion that mental health crises are a big factor behind rising rates of maternal deaths during and around pregnancy in the United States.

    “We need to bring this to the attention of the public and policymakers to demand action to address the mental health crisis that is contributing to the demise of mothers in America," said

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 26, 2024
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  • Microplastics Found in Human Placentas

    Microscopic bits of plastic have been found lodged in tissues in much of the human body, and new research shows they are also infiltrating the placenta.

    All samples of placental tissue take from 62 women were shown to contain microplastics, a team at the Uni...

    1 in 3 Trans Masculine People Taking Testosterone Can Still Ovulate: Study

    A third of trans masculine people who have undergone testosterone therapy and have stopped menstruating are still ovulating, a new study suggests.

    That means they remain at risk for an unwanted pregnancy, despite the absence of periods, Dutch researchers concluded.

    It's not clear why ovulation ceases for some transgender people under these circumstances, and why it may continue for ...

    Mercury Levels in Tuna Haven't Budged Since 1971

    Mercury levels in tuna haven't changed since 1971, despite efforts to reduce emissions of the toxic metal into the environment, researchers report.

    Their analysis of nearly 3,000 tuna samples caught in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans between 1971 and 2022 revealed stable mercury concentrations in tuna during those five decades.

    The research team specifically looked at the tr...

    Wrong RSV Shots Given to Some Pregnant Women, Young Kids

    More than two dozen toddlers and at least 128 pregnant women received RSV vaccines they should not have gotten, U.S. health officials say.

    The mixup, reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, follows approval this winter of two vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The virus is p...

    Pregnancy Complications May Harm Child's Heart Health Long-Term

    Two of the most common pregnancy complications for women, high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, could jeopardize the future heart health of their children, a new study suggests. 

    Researchers found that the children of women who developed either or both of those conditions during pregnancy showed signs of less-than-ideal heart health before the age of 12. 

    “Throug...

    One in 10 Pregnant Women With COVID Will Develop Long COVID

    Nearly 1 in every 10 women infected with COVID during pregnancy will go on to develop long COVID, a new study says.

    A little more than 9% of pregnant women developed long COVID six or more months after their initial infection, according to findings presented Monday at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in National Harbor, Md.

    The most common symptoms included fatig...

    Fast Food Wrappings May Pass on  Toxic Chemicals to Pregnant Women

    Think twice if you're pregnant and craving a packaged pastry or a take-out burger and shake.

    That indulgence can do more than cause unwanted weight gain. A new study shows that phthalates, chemicals associated with plastics, can shed from packaging and even from plastic gloves worn by food handlers. 

    If consumed during pregnancy, those chemicals can harm the fetus, researchers ...

    Plastics Chemicals Tied to Preemie Births Add Billions in Medical Costs

    Preterm births linked to “hormone-disruptor” chemicals in plastics cost the U.S. health care system billions of dollars, a new study claims.

    Daily exposure to phthalates -- chemicals used to manufacture plastics -- might be tied to nearly 56,000 preterm births in the United States in 2018, researchers report.

    Estimated medical costs resulting from those early births run from&nbs...

    More Evidence COVID Shot in Pregnancy Is Safe, Healthy for Babies

    The COVID-19 vaccine given to pregnant women does no harm to their unborn babies, and can actually lower the risk of serious complications in newborns, a new study finds.

    Babies born to women who received the COVID vaccine had half the death rate of those born to unvaccinated moms, according to findings published Feb. 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

    N...

    Ultrasound Could Spot Placenta Issues Tied to Low Birth Weight

    Using ultrasound to measure blood flow in the placenta and the fetus could help spot issues tied to low birth weight, researchers report.

    As the Dutch investigators explained, about 10% of fetuses are determined to be "small for gestational age" after ultrasound examination in the womb.

    Some underweight newborns do just fine, but others may have a malfunctioning placenta, and that c...

    What Works Best to Help Pregnant Women Ease Off Opioids?

    There's one treatment for pregnant women addicted to opioids that's safer for their unborn child, a new study reports.

    Buprenorphine is associated with a slightly lower risk of birth defects overall compared to methadone, according to findings published recently in the journal JAMA Internal Medici...

    Six Million U.S. Women Became Pregnant Due to Rape, Coercion in Their Lifetimes: Study

    Becoming pregnant as a result of sexual violence is disturbingly common in the United States, a new study reveals.

    Nearly 6 million U.S. women have become pregnant as a result of rape or sexual coercion, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

    This equates t...

    FDA Approval of Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception Has Slashed ER Visits

    U.S. approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception like “Plan B” has had an unintended but positive side effect for America's hospitals, a new study shows.

    Emergency room visits related to “morning-after” contraception plummeted after the pills became easily available to adults in 2006, according to the report published Jan. 24 in the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 30, 2024
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  • Flame Retardant Chemicals Show Links to Preterm Birth

    Pregnant women exposed to flame-retardant chemicals could face an increased risk of premature birth, a new study warns.

    Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are commonly used as flame retardants in products like furniture, baby items, electronics, clothes and building materials, researchers said. The chemicals also make plastics more flexible.

    Manufacturers started using OPEs after flame r...

    High-Tech Ultrasound Might Predict Risk for Premature Delivery

    Ultrasound scans that pick up "microstructural" changes in a woman's cervix could point to her having a higher risk for preterm birth, researchers report.

    The scans were done as early as week 23 of pregnancy and could help assess risks for "preemie" delivery, even among first-time moms.

    Between 10% and 15% of births occur before term.

    “Today, clinicians wait for signs and sy...

    Nearly 65,000 Pregnancies From Rape Have Happened in States With Abortion Bans: Study

    THURSDAY, Jan. 25, 2024 (HealthDayNews) -- In the 14 states with abortion bans, there have been nearly 65,000 pregnancies resulting from rape during the time since those bans went into place, a new study estimates.

    To arrive at that troubling number, researchers turned to data from federal surveys on crime and sexual violence. Their findings were published Jan. 24 in the journal

    Women's Anxiety Rose in States Affected by Fall of Roe v. Wade

    Women are suffering more anxiety and depression in states that banned abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a new study shows.

    The court's Dobbs decision in June 2022 triggered laws banning abortion in 13 states.

    In the six months after, symptoms of anxiety and depression increased among women living in those states, particularly those ages 18 to 45, researchers r...

    COVID In Pregnancy Triples Baby's Odds for Respiratory Illness

    Babies born to COVID-infected mothers have triple the risk of developing a breathing disorder that normally affects preemies, a new study shows.

    Researchers found that exposure to the coronavirus while in the womb increased a newborn's risk of respiratory distress syndrome by sparking an “inflammatory cascade” in the infants that affected their breathing.

    “We found unusually h...

    Study Links Use of Acetaminophen in Pregnancy With Child Behavioral Issues

    Expecting moms who often turn to acetaminophen for their aches and pains are more likely to wind up with kids who have behavioral issues, a new study warns.

    Children between the ages of 2 and 4 were more likely to have attention and behavioral problems if their mothers frequently used acetaminophen during pregnancy, researchers found.

    “The kinds of behaviors the caregivers reporte...

    Infant Deaths Higher in States Where Abortion is Banned: Report

    Abortion bans are intended to preserve the lives of children, proponents say, but a new study has found infants are more likely to die in the states with the most restrictive laws.

    States with the tightest abortion laws had a 16% increased infant mortality rate from 2014 to 2018, compared to the states with the least restrictions on abortion, researchers said.

    “Given the current c...

    Mom's Opioid Use in Pregnancy Raises Child's Asthma, Eczema Risk

    Fetal exposure to opioids may change a baby's immune system, triggering a rise in risks for eczema and asthma through early childhood, new research shows.

    Children born to women who used opioids during pregnancy had much higher rates of eczema, as well as conditions such as "diaper rash," during infancy, Australian researchers report.

    These children also went on to have significantl...

    Hot, Humid Days During Pregnancy Might Affect a Child's Health

    Hot or humid days during pregnancy could influence the future heart health of your unborn child, a new study finds.

    The children of expecting moms exposed to high humidity tended to have a steeper increase in blood pressure through ages 3 to 10, researchers reported Jan. 8 in the journal

    Pregnancy-Linked Depression Tied to Shorter Life Spans for Women

    Women are far more likely to suffer an early death if they develop depression during or after pregnancy, a new Swedish study has found.

    Women who developed what's known as "perinatal" depression were generally twice as likely to die as women who didn't experience the mood disorder, researchers reported Jan. 10 in the BMJ.

    They also are six times more likely to commit suicid...

    Pregnancy-Linked Depression Could Have Links to Autoimmune Diseases

    Could the immune system play a role in why some women become depressed during and after a pregnancy?

    Swedish researchers have uncovered a "bidirectional relationship" between pregnancy-linked depression and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease.

    In other words, women who experienced depression specific to a pregnancy were mo...

    Pregnancy-Linked Depression Raises Odds for Suicide Years After Delivery

    Depression that emerges around the time of pregnancy raises a woman's risk for suicide sharply and for many years, new Swedish research shows.

    The study found that a new mom's odds for suicide soars seven-fold in the year after a diagnosis of perinatal depression -- depression that arises just before, during or after a pregnancy.

    The increase in risk isn't limited to the short-term,...

    Could Mom's Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy Lead to Language Delays in Kids?

    Acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol in the United States, is a go-to pain med for millions.

    However, a new study is raising doubts about its safe use by women who are pregnant.

    The researchers found kids born to women who used acetaminophen while pregnant had delays in language development, compared to children born to women who didn't use the drug.

    This isn't the first time ...

    'Substantial Demand' for Abortion Pills Ordered in Advance, Study Finds

    A U.S. online provider of the mifepristone/misoprostol abortion pill combo saw a ten-fold jump in orders when the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade was first leaked in 2022, a new study finds.

    Such orders declined a bit in the months after the decision was officially announced, but have risen once again as women remain uncertain about access to the controversial pil...

    Heart Effects of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Linger

    New research suggests the effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be long-lasting.

    Researchers found that women who developed high blood pressure during pregnancy had tell-tale signs of abnormal heart structure and function up to a decade later.

    "This study helps to clarify that, for some women, pregnancy is not just a 'stress test' that unmasks underlying cardiovascular...

    Xanax, Valium in Pregnancy May Raise Miscarriage Risk

    A class of sedatives called benzodiazepines, which include meds like Ativan, Valium and Xanax, could be linked to higher odds for miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, new research finds.

    The findings held even after accounting for possible confounding factors such as anxiety and insomnia, the Taiwanese research team said.

    Looking at data on about 3 million pregnancies, "we found t...

    Healthy Twins Born to Woman Who Was Pregnant in Each of Her Two Uteruses

    When Kelsey Hatcher's twins share their birth story someday, their tale will truly be one in a million.

    Hatcher, who gave birth at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has a rare double uterus and was pregnant with a baby in each one. After 20 hours of labor, she delivered two girls -- Baby A on Dec. 19 and Baby B on Dec. 20.

    “Never in our wildest dreams could we have pl...

    'Morning After' Pill Sales Surge on Day After New Years' Eve

    Even Valentine's Day apparently doesn't trump the start of a brand new year when it comes to getting frisky.

    Sales of the morning-after pill surged across the U.S. after New Year 2022, new research shows. Nearly 41,000 extra pills were sold in the following week, a period linked to increased risks of unprotected sex.

    Sales of emergency contraception also rose after other holidays su...

    Moms & Their Babies Often Share Birth Month - But Why?

    Women are more likely to have children in the same month as their own birth, and now researchers think they might know why.

    Births within immediate families tend to cluster within a given month, according to data on more than 10 million deliveries in France and Spain.

    Siblings tend to share the same birth month as their mom and each other, and also tend to share the same birth month...

    Supreme Court Will Rule on Availability of Abortion Pill

    The Supreme Court will review the ability of American women to easily access a commonly used abortion pill, the court announced Wednesday.

    Mifepristone has become central to the response by health care professionals and reproductive rights advocates to last year's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

    The pill can b...

    Scientists May Have Spotted the Cause, and Possible Prevention, of Morning Sickness

    Sudden nausea and then a quick run to a nearby bathroom: Pregnant women know all too well the misery of morning sickness.

    Now, British researchers believe they've pinpointed the root cause of the illness, and perhaps new ways to prevent it.

    Morning sickness may have roots in a hormone produced by the fetus, called GDF15, which appears to act on the mother's brain to cause her to fee...

    Using Marijuana While Pregnant Raises Complications Risk

    Marijuana use by expecting moms is associated with unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight babies, a new study finds.

    Further, heavier weed use is associated with higher risks for the pregnancy, the researchers added.

    “Cannabis use is not safe,” said senior researcher Dr. Robert Silver, a p...

    No Sign that Ozempic, Wegovy Pose Threat to the Fetus: Study

    The diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic does not appear to harm a developing fetus when taken by pregnant women, a new study reports.

    Researchers found no elevated risk of birth defects among newborns of women who took medications to control their type 2 diabetes, compared with those who took insulin.

    During the decade-long study, researchers saw an increase in people trying to co...

    High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy  Tied to Long-Term Heart Trouble for Hispanic Women

    Hispanic women who experience spikes in blood pressure while pregnant may also face higher heart risks years later, new research shows.

    These "hypertensive disorders of pregnancy" (HDP) -- conditions such as preeclampsia, eclampsia and gestational hypertension -- may even have a greater role to play in certain heart risks than regular high blood pressure, the researchers noted.

    “T...

    COVID Vaccines Curbed Pandemic-Linked Surge in Preemie Births

    COVID vaccines saved the lives and health of countless babies by preventing their premature births, a new study shows.

    COVID-19 initially caused an alarming surge in premature birth rates, but those returned to pre-pandemic levels following the introduction of vaccines, researchers found.

    These findings should help allay vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women, said researcher

    Mom's Mental Health in Pregnancy Could Affect That of Her Child

    A pregnant woman's mental health might have profound effects on the mind of her unborn child, a new evidence review warns.

    Children appear to be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues if their moms were highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy, researchers report.

    In particular, children were more likely to have ADHD symptoms or exhibit aggressive or host...

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