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Pregnancy news
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.
May 29, 2026
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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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Common epilepsy drug disrupts early brain growth in human organoids after 30-day exposure
It is known that the antiepileptic drug valproate increases the risk of developmental disorders in unborn children. A study conducted by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and ...
May 22, 2026
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ACC issues decision pathway for postpartum cardiovascular care
A new Expert Consensus Decision Pathway by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides recommended strategies for improving postpartum care for individuals with and at risk for short- and long-term cardiovascular disease ...
May 22, 2026
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Gestational diabetes increases risk of type 2 diabetes—even at normal weight
Gestational diabetes is a special type of diabetes that can affect pregnant women. The condition is defined as elevated blood sugar levels, without previously known diabetes. Treatment involves self-monitoring of blood sugar, ...
May 21, 2026
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Bacterial STIs reach record highs in Europe, and congenital syphilis cases nearly double
The latest Annual Epidemiological Reports from ECDC indicate a surge in bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe. In 2024, notifications of gonorrhea and syphilis, alongside congenital syphilis, reached ...
May 21, 2026
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Early birth safer for mother and baby in high blood pressure pregnancies, researchers find
Planned early birth for pregnant women with high blood pressure cuts maternal complications by nearly half and reduces the risk of stillbirth, without increasing the likelihood of cesarean section, according to data published ...
May 20, 2026
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How different SSRIs affect metabolism in early brain development
A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that different SSRI medications affect metabolic processes in developing nerve cells in distinct ways. Alterations in energy metabolism, oxidative stress and lipid profiles suggest ...
May 19, 2026
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Q&A: One in five moms face untreated perinatal mental illness
Twenty percent of women experience mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety during pregnancy and the first year of parenthood. Kara Zivin, a professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology at the University ...
May 19, 2026
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One in five pregnancies slipped past a critical test as congenital syphilis surged over 10 years
According to new research in CMAJ, one in five pregnant women in Ontario did not receive timely syphilis screening, which is critical for preventing syphilis infection in newborns (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
May 19, 2026
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Sleep disturbances during pregnancy associated with a risk of gestational diabetes
A study by Kuopio University Hospital and the University of Eastern Finland shows that sleep disturbances during pregnancy may be a significant risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
May 19, 2026
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Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds
In parts of the world where daily nutrition is unstable, pregnancy and newborn health are more precarious. A recent study led by epidemiologist Dongqing Wang of the George Mason University College of Public Health adds to ...
May 18, 2026
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Age does not appear to drive cardiovascular risk in pregnancy
Underlying cardiovascular risk, rather than older age, drives complications such as venous thromboembolism, cardiomyopathy and heart failure during pregnancy, according to new Weill Cornell Medicine research. The findings ...
May 18, 2026
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Abortion bans lead to worse outcomes for miscarriages
Research from Oregon Health & Science University sheds new light on the unintended consequences of the overturn of Roe v. Wade: worse medical care for miscarriages.
May 18, 2026
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Q&A: Why wealth fails to shield Black Americans from pregnancy risks
It's widely known that low-income Black women suffer far higher maternal health risks than low- income white mothers, often because they lack access to quality health care. But in a new book, UC Berkeley law professor Khiara ...
May 18, 2026
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Pregnancy is a chance to reshape family eating habits before the baby arrives
Pregnancy is often regarded as a time to prepare the nursery, but it is also a useful moment to get the kitchen ready.
May 17, 2026
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Prior C-sections more often led to vaginal birth at Black-serving hospitals, data show
Low-risk patients at predominantly Black-serving hospitals (BSH) who previously gave birth through Cesareans are likelier to attempt and successfully deliver vaginally in a subsequent pregnancy than they are at hospitals ...
May 16, 2026
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