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Pregnancy news
New study highlights maternal-fetal TORCH infection risk
The TORCH complex is a group of pathogens that can cause infections with mild or silent symptoms in an expecting mother, but in a developing fetus can lead to serious complications that include stillbirth, lifelong disability, ...
Jun 6, 2026
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Maternal RSV vaccine cuts infant hospitalizations by 70%, study shows
A study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC published in JAMA Network Open, found that vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during pregnancy reduced the risk of hospitalization in ...
Jun 5, 2026
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Low-dose aspirin may offset premature birth risk linked to extreme heat
Mounting evidence links extreme heat to preterm (often called premature) birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth, indicating that rising temperatures are contributing to worse health outcomes for pregnant people and newborns. ...
Jun 5, 2026
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Brain surgery for pituitary tumor helps Illinois mom have second baby
A suburban Chicago woman who feared she might never have another child is now celebrating a growing family after brain surgery at Northwestern Medicine.
Jun 5, 2026
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Motherhood leaves lifelong brain marks via dopamine-linked epigenetic switch, mouse study suggests
Becoming a mother changes the brain not just temporarily, but for life. Pregnancy and the postpartum period trigger lasting changes in the maternal brain through the brain chemical dopamine, producing long-term benefits to ...
Jun 4, 2026
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After early pregnancy loss, 'what if' thinking affects 72% within first week
When a person goes through a traumatic experience, they often find themselves thinking that what happened could have been different or even avoided. This process, known as counterfactual thinking, is an automatic psychological ...
Jun 4, 2026
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To reduce anxiety during pregnancy, make sleep a priority
Postpartum and perinatal depression are known challenges for those going through pregnancy, but there has been less focus on the more prevalent disorder of anxiety.
Jun 3, 2026
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Study shows how the fetal environment may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes
Researchers at Umeå University have shown in a new study that the environment in the womb can leave lasting imprints on the immune system and influence the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, even when the genetic background ...
Jun 3, 2026
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Babies with older siblings have a higher infection risk, but are less protected through vaccination
Parents know how easily coughs, colds and other infections can move through a household after a child picks up a bug at childcare or school.
Jun 3, 2026
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Acetaminophen reaffirmed as first-line medication for treating pain and fever during pregnancy
Acetaminophen remains the recommended first-line medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy, according to an updated statement from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). A comprehensive review of the available ...
Jun 2, 2026
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Baby brain myth fades as 300 new parents match non-parents on cognition
The largest and most comprehensive study of memory and cognition in new parents has found no evidence for "baby brain" in mums and dads. New mums often complain about having "baby brain," where memory and cognition become ...
Jun 1, 2026
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Gestational diabetes shares strong genetic links with type 2 diabetes
New evidence has emerged showing that diabetes developed during pregnancy is likely an early manifestation of type 2 diabetes, triggered by the stresses pregnancy places on the body. In the largest study of its kind, University ...
Jun 1, 2026
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Natural birth pressure is harming new mothers' mental health
Pressure on women from antenatal classes, social media and health care professionals to have a natural birth is causing lasting psychological harm when it does not go to plan, new research shows. The University of Reading ...
Jun 1, 2026
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Early interventions can help women achieve optimal weight gain during pregnancy, review suggests
Both too little and too much weight gain during pregnancy are associated with serious maternal and child health outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, death, preeclampsia, and unplanned cesarean delivery. Women ...
May 31, 2026
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Most new moms get the baby blues. But it could be something more serious: postpartum depression
Moments after Jenna Carberg gave birth to her daughter, doctors put the baby on her chest.
May 31, 2026
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Light movement in pregnancy linked to lower risk of complications
Moving more and sitting less could lower the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers uncover a substantial genetic component to postpartum psychosis
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have uncovered a substantial genetic component to postpartum psychosis, a rare but severe psychiatric illness that occurs in the days to weeks after childbirth. The ...
May 29, 2026
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Maternal health knowledge strong, but gaps remain, survey finds
Most Americans know that how well a mother takes care of herself before and during pregnancy affects the health of a baby, but many people remain unclear about some specific maternal health recommendations, including when ...
May 29, 2026
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Weight-shaming from loved ones during pregnancy can hinder healthy habits
Criticism about their weight from their loved ones—partners, family, and friends—may make it harder for women to stay active and eat well during pregnancy and after giving birth, a University of Alberta study shows. Surveys ...
May 28, 2026
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Machine learning closes research gaps in drug safety during pregnancy, research shows
A report in the Journal of Medical Internet Research shows developments in the evidence gap in drug safety during pregnancy in its News and Perspectives section. In "How Machine Learning Can Help Close Evidence Gaps for Drug ...
May 27, 2026
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Nearly half of maternal deaths in Pennsylvania occur more than 6 weeks after giving birth
For too many women, the journey to motherhood ends in death. Maternal mortality—the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth—is not a rare tragedy. Globally, the maternal mortality rate is unacceptably ...
May 27, 2026
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Wearable ultrasound patch for high-risk pregnancies could improve care
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have created a soft, wearable ultrasound patch that can continuously monitor a fetus for hours at a time—and it can do so consistently even as the fetus and umbilical cord ...
May 26, 2026
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Climate change‑related heat increases the risk of premature birth in 13 countries: New study
Picture a sweltering summer's day. Now imagine enduring the heat while eight months pregnant. Uncomfortable, to say the absolute least.
May 26, 2026
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Prenatal alcohol exposure linked to 45% higher hazardous drinking risk at 16
Teens who were exposed to alcohol in utero are more likely than their peers to engage in risky behaviors—most notably, hazardous drinking and underage sex, a combination that could perpetuate the intergenerational transmission ...
May 26, 2026
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Kids exposed to prenatal alcohol lack diagnosis and aid, Finnish study finds
The Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities estimates that between 600 and 3,000 children are born in Finland each year with permanent developmental damage caused by maternal alcohol consumption ...
May 26, 2026
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