https://medicalxpress.com/pregnancy-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Pregnancy Exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy and early infancy is associated with slower growth of the thalamus later in childhood, according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. The findings, published in Environment International, suggest that heat exposure during the earliest stages of life may have lasting effects on brain development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-exposure-pregnancy-infancy-children-brain.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:13:20 EDT news703159963 Women diagnosed early in pregnancy with a fetus lacking adequate kidney function to make the urine that serves as vital amniotic fluid have long faced virtually no chance of the fetus's survival after birth. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-womb-fluid-infusions-fetuses-kidney.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:04 EDT news702747239 A study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that an intestinal disorder linked to malnutrition and stunted growth may be transmitted from one generation to the next via the small intestinal microbiome. Analyzing mouse models of the disorder using bacteria cultured from children who themselves suffer from stunting and its detrimental effects, the researchers identified specific bacteria responsible for the inflammatory chemical signals that are characteristic of the disease, which damages the lining of the intestine and impairs nutrient absorption. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-gut-bacteria-linked-malnutrition-younger.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:00:01 EDT news702746022 One-size-fits-all fetal growth charts used in the NHS to monitor babies' growth before birth often misclassify babies as being either too small or too large, which can lead to missed cases at risk of stillbirth or unnecessary interventions, finds a study of more than 3 million NHS births across England published by The BMJ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-size-fetal-growth-babies-large.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:30:06 EDT news702704509 Breast cancers diagnosed during the first three years after childbirth, particularly within the first year, may be biologically more aggressive than similar cancers in women who have never given birth, according to a new study led by investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-young-women-breast-cancer-years.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:40:04 EDT news702737916 An Australian study by researchers at Peter Mac has shown that the natural protection against breast cancer offered by childbearing is due to the influx of killer T cells to the breast. The research shows that the cells begin to populate the breast during pregnancy and are closely linked to the changes in the breast epithelial cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-pregnancy-killer-cells-breasts-cancer.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:00:08 EDT news702537966 Globally, nearly 1 in 3 pregnant women experience depression, with most receiving no treatment. When they do get support, they're often steered toward talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness as the default option. A comprehensive review of different options to help pregnant women with depression has shown that approaches such as yoga and omega-3 supplementation are as effective as psychological therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-yoga-omega-effective-psychological-therapy.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:20:03 EDT news702290151 The children of mothers born with heart defects face a higher risk of being developmentally vulnerable, meaning they face challenges related to physical health, emotional maturity and communication, according to a new study led by Muhammad Zakir Hossin of the Karolinska Institutet, published in PLOS Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-congenital-heart-defects-mothers-developmental.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:08 EDT news702204541 Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol) is one of the most widely used over-the-counter options for easing pain and reducing fever, including during pregnancy. More recently, safety concerns around use during pregnancy have gained attention, with claims of a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism in children increasingly appearing in news headlines and prime-time debates. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-pregnant-women-tylenol-year-sibling.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:26:25 EDT news702116735 Declining placental concentrations of a molecule that plays a key role in metabolism appear to trigger the end of pregnancy and hasten labor and delivery, suggesting a study co-led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The findings, published in Science, could lead to new ways to predict when pregnant women might give birth and who might be at risk for premature delivery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-steep-metabolic-coenzyme-trigger-preterm.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:00:08 EDT news701448482 Pregnant women with a severe form of nausea face increased risks for several pregnancy and birth complications, according to a new Stanford Medicine study of 2.5 million California births. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-severe-nausea-linked-pregnancy-birth.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:07 EDT news701412001