https://medicalxpress.com/pregnancy-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Pregnancy 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 register-based study (SCAN-AED) involving Aarhus University Hospital. The study also finds that starting folic acid supplementation after pregnancy onset is not associated with any protective effect. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-early-folic-acid-supplementation-halve.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:00:03 EDT news695647099 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 has been a lot of discourse about its safety. Claims have been made suggesting that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of autism in children. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-major-pregnancy-collapses-tylenol-autism.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:04 EDT news695552971 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, finds a large US study published by The BMJ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-buprenorphine-safe-treatment-opioid-addiction.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:07 EDT news695466902 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 adopt their specialized roles. This crucial stage of human development can't be monitored directly, but by examining genetic clues that linger in adult cells, scientists have now gained surprising insights into the developmental origins of the peripheral nervous system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-secrets-human-early-nerve-cell.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:00:01 EDT news695404502 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. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-parental-depression-adult-children-mental.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:40:01 EDT news695401980 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 consequences for mothers and their babies. Despite its prevalence, though, the underlying cause has remained largely unknown. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-root-preeclampsia.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:40:01 EDT news695376782 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 these genes had not been previously linked to the condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-largest-pregnancy-sickness-uncovers-genetic.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:03 EDT news695310421 Humans and most other organisms have internal biological clocks that track the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. These clocks help time our sleep, metabolism and other essential body functions over the course of a day, creating daily patterns called circadian rhythms. Research shows that when these rhythms are disrupted—by jet lag, lack of sleep or irregular work schedules—people can suffer long-term negative health effects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-baby-body-clock-synchronize-local.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:40:01 EDT news695048979 Breastfeeding not only affects your weight while you are breastfeeding—women gain up to 6.5 kilos less on average later in life if they breastfeed for at least three months, according to a new study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-breastfeeding-months-weight-gain-decades.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:20:01 EDT news694946402 The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cell-analysis-clues-pregnancy.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:06 EDT news694775462 Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-prenatal-linked-emotional-behavioral-problems.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news694789472 Researchers have long associated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," with certain severe birth defects, but exactly how these pollutants harm a developing fetus has remained mostly a mystery. New research now provides the first clear molecular explanation, showing how one PFAS, called perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), can trigger craniofacial abnormalities before birth. The research was published today in Chemical Research in Toxicology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-chemical-disrupt-baby-facial.html Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:00:01 EDT news694094725 Exposure to extreme heat conditions is resulting in more babies being born with low birth weight, according to a new study involving Adelaide University researchers. The collaborative study, published in BMC Medicine, used health data from more than 85,000 mothers and babies in Pakistan to assess the impact of extreme heat on the size of infants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-extreme-climate-linked-smaller-babies.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:20:01 EDT news694337511 Perinatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy or in the period after childbirth, is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by women. The condition affects the well-being of the mother during both pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as the development of the child. Multiple factors influence maternal mental health and recently, emerging evidence suggests an association between antibiotic use and maternal mental health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pregnancy-antibiotic-affect-mental.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:20:01 EDT news694279741 Global maternal deaths have declined over the past three decades, yet progress has slowed in recent years and remains uneven across countries, according to new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 research published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health . https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-global-maternal-deaths-fell-countries.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:30:03 EDT news693738541 When the "eco-friendly" bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA), biodegrades, the resulting nanoplastics can accumulate in the fetuses of pregnant mice and interfere with fetal growth. Yichao Huang and De-Xiang Xu of Anhui Medical University, China, and Mingliang Fang of Fudan University, China, report these findings in a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-breakdown-products-eco-friendly-plastics.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:23 EDT news693666675 Maternal deaths rise by around 11% in countries that rely on US aid following a switch from a Democratic to a Republican administration, suggest the findings of a data analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health. This is equivalent to around 45 additional deaths for every 100,000 live births, eroding a fifth of the decline in global maternal deaths that has been achieved since 1985, conclude the researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-foreign-aid-analysis.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:30:03 EDT news693563401 Eating large amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked not only to reduced fertility in men, but also to slower growth in early embryos, and smaller yolk sacs, which are essential for early embryonic development, according to new research. The authors of the study, which is published in Human Reproduction, say their findings suggest that reducing the consumption of UPFs, especially around the time of conception and pregnancy, is better for both parents and embryos. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ultra-foods-linked-fertility-embryonic.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:00:02 EDT news693488659