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Pregnancy news
Racism and socioeconomic stress may alter pregnancy biology, leaving black women nearly three times more likely to die
Stresses experienced by black women, such as socioeconomic inequalities, may alter key processes in the body that predispose them to worse pregnancy outcomes than white women, a study by the University of Cambridge has found. ...
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Study finds new preeclampsia treatment may safely extend pregnancy
Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators have developed and successfully tested a new treatment for pregnant women with severe early preeclampsia, a leading cause of premature birth as well as maternal and fetal ...
Apr 27, 2026
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Cigarette exposure in the womb may amplify risk of metabolic disease in adulthood
People whose mothers smoked during pregnancy may benefit from paying extra attention to a healthy diet. According to a new study conducted in mice, the double-hit of maternal smoking and a high-fat, high-sugar diet during ...
Apr 27, 2026
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Daily blood pressure checks following birth could protect women after common pregnancy issue
Checking blood pressure daily at home could cut the risk of a future heart attack or stroke for new mothers who had high blood pressure during pregnancy, based on a study published in the journal Hypertension.
Apr 26, 2026
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Pregnancy condition sparks hidden blame, silent fear and lasting fallout for thousands of women
More than half of women with gestational diabetes are being subjected to "dangerous" stigma, taking a significant toll on their well-being. The new research led by King's College London and University College Cork has revealed ...
Apr 25, 2026
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Less than half of pregnant women with opioid use disorder receive meds
Less than half of pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive medications for OUD (MOUD) during pregnancy, according to a study published online April 22 in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Apr 24, 2026
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Evaluating effectiveness of maternal RSV vaccination and nirsevimab for severe RSV-related illness in infants
A new study found that infants receiving maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination or Nirsevimab after birth had significantly lower RSV infection and health care use compared to unprotected infants. It also ...
Apr 24, 2026
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Cancer during pregnancy has lasting psychological impact on the well-being of women, study finds
Women diagnosed with cancer in pregnancy face profound, long-term emotional and financial challenges, a new study from the University of Surrey finds. Researchers discover fragmented care and inadequate support exacerbate ...
Apr 23, 2026
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Mobile app-based coaching can support healthy weight gain in pregnancy, new study finds
Obesity during pregnancy has been steadily increasing worldwide. In the United States, over 60% of pregnant individuals enter pregnancy overweight or obese, and more than half go on to exceed recommended gestational weight ...
COVID-19 may leave placental damage, but virus disappears after maternal recovery
A new Yale study published in JAMA Network Open finds that the virus that causes COVID-19 does not linger in placental tissue weeks to months after a pregnant woman recovers from infection—offering important reassurance for ...
Apr 22, 2026
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Does stress during pregnancy affect offspring's metabolic health?
Physical activity during pregnancy enhances the metabolic health of offspring, but new research in mice indicates that prenatal stress blunts these benefits, at least in male offspring. The findings are published in The FASEB ...
Apr 22, 2026
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Five health conditions mothers can develop after giving birth
During pregnancy, a mother's body undergoes vast structural and functional changes. But what many might not know is that the after-effects of these changes can last long after giving birth—and can even result in the development ...
Apr 22, 2026
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Millions of US birth records uncover an autism risk surge tied to common drugs taken during pregnancy
A landmark study led by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and published in Molecular Psychiatry has identified a significant association between prenatal prescription of commonly utilized medications ...
Apr 20, 2026
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Reproductive justice framework is essential to addressing inequities in high-risk pregnancy care, argue researchers
A new commentary in Reproductive Health calls for fetal condition care to be reframed through a reproductive justice (RJ) lens, arguing that systemic inequities, not just medical factors, shape the options available to families. ...
Apr 18, 2026
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Early folic acid supplementation may halve the risk of birth defects in women using antiseizure medication
Women taking antiseizure medication for epilepsy have around a 45% reduced risk of major congenital anomalies in their children—if they initiate high-dose folic acid before pregnancy. This is the finding of a large Nordic ...
Apr 17, 2026
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Maternal RSV vaccination cuts infant hospitalization risk by over 80%, major study finds
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause severe respiratory illness in infants and young children, including lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is ...
Apr 17, 2026
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Cannabis sales and use are high in Michigan—but federal law means research lags behind
Have you been to a licensed cannabis dispensary lately? My team and I often visit them in the Greater Lansing area to invite cannabis users to participate in our studies. As soon as we walk in, we are met with a dazzling ...
Apr 17, 2026
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A major pregnancy scare collapses: Tylenol shows no autism risk in more than 1.5 million children
Acetaminophen, which also goes by names like paracetamol or Tylenol, is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is often prescribed during pregnancy to help with mild to moderate pain. Recently, there ...
Why blood pressure during pregnancy matters so much, especially for Black women
High blood pressure during pregnancy is a serious concern for any woman. In addition to posing a threat to the health of the mother and baby, disorders such as preeclampsia are early warning signs that a woman could develop ...
Apr 16, 2026
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Buprenorphine found to be a safe treatment for opioid addiction in pregnancy
Children born to mothers who used buprenorphine for opioid addiction during pregnancy do not have a greater risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and autism, compared with children whose mothers took methadone, ...
Apr 15, 2026
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Largest study of pregnancy sickness uncovers six new genetic links
The USC research team that recently identified the hormone-encoding gene GDF15 as a key driver of pregnancy sickness has identified nine additional genes linked to its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Six of ...
Apr 14, 2026
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Parental depression timing may shape adult children's mental health for decades
A new Yale study shows how the timing of depression in mothers and fathers affects mental health in their adult children. This includes influences on depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.
Apr 14, 2026
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Researchers discover what may be the root cause of preeclampsia—and how to fix it
Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy complication that affects roughly 1 in 10 pregnancies worldwide and, in the United States alone, around 5%–8% of pregnancies. The condition can lead to severe, long-term health ...
Apr 14, 2026
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Unlocking secrets of human development: How early nerve cell choices shape the peripheral nervous system
Millions of neurons branch throughout our bodies, keeping them in close communication with our brains. This peripheral network begins to take shape long before birth, as the cells of a growing embryo move into position and ...
Apr 14, 2026
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Pregnancy-related deaths rose during pandemic, remain elevated for Black women, study finds
Pregnancy-related deaths in the United States increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the greatest impact seen among Black women, a new study suggests. While rates have since returned to pre-pandemic levels for ...
Apr 14, 2026
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