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COVID Vaccines Curbed Pandemic-Linked Surge in Preemie Births

COVID vaccines saved the lives and health of countless babies by preventing their premature births, a new study shows.

COVID-19 initially caused an alarming surge in premature birth rates, but those returned to pre-pandemic levels following the introduction of vaccines, researchers found.

These findings should help allay vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women, said researcher

Mom's Mental Health in Pregnancy Could Affect That of Her Child

A pregnant woman's mental health might have profound effects on the mind of her unborn child, a new evidence review warns.

Children appear to be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues if their moms were highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy, researchers report.

In particular, children were more likely to have ADHD symptoms or exhibit aggressive or host...

Two Uteruses, Two Babies: One Woman's Story

THURSDAY, Nov. 16, 2023 (Healthday News) -- The chances of a woman having two uteruses are rare, but the odds of becoming pregnant at the same time in each uterus are even more rare.

But one Alabama woman is experiencing just that.

Kelsey Hatcher was born with two uteruses, each with its own cervix -- known medically as uterine didelphys. She is expecting two baby girls, one in each...

Paid Family Leave May Lower Odds for Postpartum Depression

New mothers living in states with generous mandated paid family and medical leave are less likely to experience postpartum depression, a new study indicates.

They also are more likely to breastfeed their newborns.

“By increasing mothers’ ability to breastfeed and reducing postpartum-depressive symptoms, strong state paid family and medical leave laws provide a major boost to the...

U.S. Syphilis Cases in Newborns Rose 10-fold Over a Decade

An old scourge, syphilis, is returning with a vengeance in the United States, affecting not only adults but also the most vulnerable -- newborns.

Rates of congenital syphilis soared 10-fold between 2012 and 2022, according to new data released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The congenital syphilis crisis in the United States has skyrocketed at a...

COVID Vaccine Won't Raise Miscarriage Risk

TUESDAY, Nov. 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) – A new study provides deeper insight into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people planning to become pregnant.

Boston University researchers found no increased risk of early or late-term miscarriage resulting from either the male or the female partner getting a COVID-19 vaccination prior to conceiving.

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 7, 2023
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  • Getting COVID Shot During Pregnancy Helps Protect Newborns, CDC Study Finds

    When pregnant women get a COVID vaccine, it helps protect their newborns from the virus, a new government study shows.

    "These findings indicate that maternal vaccination during pregnancy could help prevent COVID-19--related hospitalization in infants too young to be vaccinated," researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote.

    Antibodies after COVID vaccin...

    Babies May Leave Cells Behind That Help Mom Prepare for Future Pregnancies

    One pregnancy may leave behind microscopic souvenirs that prepare a mom's immune system for the next one, a new study suggests.

    Experts said the research, carried out in lab mice, offers new insights into a longstanding puzzle: Why doesn't a pregnant woman's immune system attack the fetus, which is essentially a foreign invader?

    Scientists do not fully understand how that immune tol...

    Women Talking: Online Therapy Connects Postpartum Depression Patients With Survivors

    Lee-Anne Mosselman-Clarke knows firsthand what it's like to battle with postpartum mental health crises. She experienced difficulties after the births of her two children.

    “I have an 11 and 9 year old and I didn't actually know that I had postpartum anxiety with my oldest. He had very significant health problems and I just thought I am having an awful first journey as a new mum,” she...

    Telehealth Services Can Help Women Access, Understand Medical Abortion

    Even before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, many U.S. women lived far from a clinic where they could get abortion pills. Now, a new study suggests that telemedicine can help fill that gap.

    The study focused on one reproductive health clinic in Washington state, where abortion was legal at the time of the study and remains so. But even in states where abortion is available, ex...

    Antidepressants for Postpartum Depression Could Mean Better Mental Health for Kids, Too

    If you are a new mom struggling with postpartum depression, taking antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also bear benefits for your child's development.

    That's according to new research that found the medications were associated with improvements in a child's behavior up to five years after birth.

    Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, ...

    Appeals Court Upholds Restrictions on Abortion Pill

    The abortion pill mifepristone should remain legal in the United States, but with significant restrictions on access to it, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

    The decision, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, effectively sets ...

    Don't Use Certain Tests for Pregnancy, Ovulation, UTIs, FDA Warns

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that consumers should not use certain pregnancy, ovulation, urine, UTI and breast milk test kits over concerns that the tests may not be safe and effective.

    The tests in question were manufactured by Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), though they were branded under several names and may not include information about UMI on their packaging, the ...

    Vaping Might Beat Nicotine Patches in Helping Pregnant Women Quit Smoking

    It's well known that smoking in pregnancy can harm a developing baby's growth.

    Now, a new study suggests that using e-cigarettes may be more effective that traditional nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, in helping pregnant women kick the habit and reduce the risk of low birthweight.

    “E-cigarettes seem more effective than nicotine patches in helping pregnant women...

    How to Care for Your Heart During a Pregnancy

    Pregnancy triggers many changes to the body, but there's one that may surprise many women.

    A hidden change is that the heart has to pump, on average, nearly 50% more blood by the end of pregnancy than it did before pregnancy, and then it has to quickly go back to “normal operations” after delivery. While most pregnant women's hearts tolerate these changes well, pregnancy can serve as ...

    In National Survey, U.S. Ob-Gyns Say Care Has Worsened After Dobbs Decision

    The U.S. Supreme Court decision ending a nationwide right to abortion one year ago has made it harder for doctors to treat miscarriages and other pregnancy-related emergencies, a new report shows.

    The nonprofit organization KFF surveyed ob...

    Pfizer Warns of Looming Shortage of Long-Acting Penicillin for Kids

    Pfizer Inc. warned doctors this week of an impending shortage of Bicillin, its long-acting, injectable form of penicillin.

    The medication is not commonly used for children because alternatives such as amoxicillin are preferred over the Bicillin shot, the company explained in a stat...

    Pregnancy Seems to Ease MS Symptoms, and Research May Show Why

    Women with multiple sclerosis temporarily get much better when pregnant, and researchers now think they know why.

    Pregnancy causes a downshift in a woman's immune system, and it appears that this unintentionally improves symptoms associated with the autoimmune disorder MS, according to a new study published recently in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 15, 2023
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  • U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hits Another Historic Low

    Births to teen moms in the United States reached a historic low in 2022, dropping 3% from the previous year, a new government report shows.

    Teenage births fell among both younger teens, ages 15 to 17, and older teens, aged 18 to 19, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

    With ...

    Postpartum Depression: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatments

    Becoming a mother is an experience like no other -- a time of joy, anticipation and love. But, for some women, new motherhood can come with challenging emotions.

    Many women struggle with feelings of sadness, anxiety and overwhelming exhaustion. These emotional struggles, coupled with the physical demands of caring for a newborn, can be signs of a condition called postpartum depression (PP...

    Breast Cancer Survivors Can Safely Interrupt Therapy During Pregnancy: Study

    For young women who survive breast cancer, a new study offers some reassurance about pregnancy: Pausing hormonal therapy to have a baby does not raise the risk of a cancer recurrence, at least in the shorter term.

    A trial of more than 500 young women treated for breast cancer found no signs of harm from interrupting standard hormone therapy to have a baby. Over three years, patients' risk...

    Looking for an Ob/Gyn? Here's How

    It's important to find the right OB-GYN to guide you through some of life's greatest joys and troubles.

    An obstetrician-gynecologist works with women through family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, aging, menopause and sometimes life-threatening diseases. It's important that your personalities mesh.

    “You have to feel comfortable sharing intimate details of your life with this pers...

    Big Drop in U.S. Pregnancies Seen Since 2010

    Pregnancy rates in the United States suffered a steep decline during the last decade, new government data shows.

    The overall U.S. pregnancy rate fell by 12% between 2010 and 2019, according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

    The pregnancy rate among women aged 15 to 44 was 85.6 per 1,000 in 2019, down from 97.3 per 1,000 in 2010, ...

    Many Young Women Wouldn't Get Flu, COVID Shots in Pregnancy, Poll Suggests

    Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of COVID and flu vaccines during pregnancy, many young women are still doubtful, a new survey shows.

    Compared with older women and adult men, the poll found higher percentages of women ages 18 to 49 doubting that vaccination against these viruses during pregnancy is safe.

    The survey of 1,600 U.S. adults was conducted in January. Res...

    Survival Improves for Babies of America's Youngest Moms

    The death rate among babies born to teen moms has dropped over the past 25 years -- but racial disparities stubbornly persist, a new U.S. government study finds.

    Compared with the late 1990s, fewer babies born to teenage mothers are dying in their first year of life, according to the study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those improvements have been seen among ...

    Don't Let Allergies Get Out of Hand During Pregnancy

    Pregnancy should be a special time, but allergies can make you miserable.

    It is estimated that up to 20% of pregnant women suffer with allergies.

    In some cases, women may notice that their allergy symptoms become even more troublesome during pregnancy. This may be due to hormonal changes. Interestingly, some women's allergies stay the same or even disappear while pregnant.

    I...

    • Todd A. Mahr, MD, Executive Medical Director, American College Of Allergy, Asthma And Immunology HealthDay Reporter
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    • March 28, 2023
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    Planning for a Pregnancy? Don't Let Eczema, Psoriasis Get in the Way

    During pregnancy, women may need to consider different options for treating certain health issues.

    The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) offers some suggestions for pregnant women living with the common skin conditions eczema and psoriasis.

    “Women may consider their health care decisions differently during different stages of their lives,” said Chicago dermatologist

    Preeclampsia Could Slow Fetal Development, Study Finds

    Common pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia may slow infant development in the womb, according to a new study.

    This leads to newborns being biologically younger than their gestational age, according to researchers from universities across the United States who contributed to

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 28, 2023
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  • Complication Risks Rise in Pregnancies Among the Very Young

    Pregnant girls who are especially young, those only 10 to 15 years old, face increased risks for complications that include preeclampsia and C-section, according to new research.

    Investigators from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas also found that these young patients are more likely to have problems during pregnancy that are made worse by obesity.

    “

    Marijuana Use in Early Pregnancy Could Raise Risks to the Placenta

    New research links cannabis use in the first trimester of pregnancy to poor outcomes, closely related to functioning of the placenta.

    This is important information given that more U.S. states are legalizing marijuana for recreational use, researchers said. The study findings were presented Thursday at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, in San Francisco and online.

    <...

    TikTok Videos on Abortion Pills Are Largely Accurate: Study

    While you can't trust everything you read or see on social media, some information is reliable.

    Researchers from Duke University studied popular videos on the social media site TikTok. The videos offered information on ways to obtain a medication abortion.

    These were typically informative and useful, the study authors said.

    “When we started the study, we expected to find mor...

    Pregnant Women in Rural America Often Lack Health Insurance, Upping Risks

    New research suggests that pregnant women and new moms in rural U.S. areas are at greater risk of adverse outcomes, including death, because they are more likely to be uninsured.

    Women living in rural communities had lower rates of uninterrupted health insurance before, during and after pregnancy compared to those in urban areas, a University of Michigan study found.

    “Being uninsu...

    Pregnancy Complications Could Mean Lifelong Heart Risks for Women

    Major pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth, should be recognized as lifelong risk factors for women's heart disease, new research suggests.

    Women who experience any of the five major pregnancy complications have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease up to 46 years after delivery, says the study published Feb. 1 in the BMJ.

    The five compl...

    Smoking in Pregnancy Greatly Raises Odds for SIDS in Newborns

    Infants exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy are more than five times more likely to die unexpectedly compared to babies of nonsmokers, a new study says.

    "The message is simple. Smoking greatly elevates the risk of sudden unexpected infant death," said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 30, 2023
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  • Preeclampsia in Pregnancy a Bad Sign for Women's Future Heart Health

    A new study finds troubling information about a link between the pregnancy complication preeclampsia and future heart attack, even in younger women.

    Danish researchers found a fourfold higher risk of heart attack and stroke within just seven years after delivery. Risks continued to be elevated more than 20 years later, according to findings published Jan. 26 in the European Journal of...

    Young Americans Still Want Same Number of Kids, Just Not Right Now

    When birth rates fall in the United States, experts try to figure out what's happening.

    The fertility rate is at its lowest since the 1970s -- 1.71 per woman, according to a new study.

    But it's not that young people today don't want children, new research suggests. In fact,...

    Getting COVID in Pregnancy Greatly Raises a Woman's Odds for Death

    COVID-19 infection in pregnancy raises a woman's risk of death sevenfold and significantly elevates her odds for needing intensive care, a new study finds.

    Getting the virus during pregnancy also ups the likelihood of pneumonia, according to researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

    "This study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date suggesting that CO...

    Expecting? Stay Heart-Healthy for You and Your Baby

    It's never too late for an expectant mom to adopt healthy habits for her baby and herself.

    The American Heart Association (AHA) offers some heart-healthy tips.

    "Pregnancy is often a pivotal time in a woman's life from both short- and long-term perspectives," said Dr. Michelle Albert...

    Could Coffee Lower a Woman's Odds of Diabetes After Pregnancy?

    Women who had diabetes during pregnancy might want to treat themselves to another cup of joe.

    New research shows that drinking coffee may lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.

    Compared to the general female population, women who had gestational diabetes may have 10 times the risk for type ...

    States That Restrict Abortions Have More Maternal, Infant Deaths

    In U.S. states with more restrictive abortion policies, rates of pregnant women, new mothers and infants dying were higher, a new report finds.

    The analysis, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, found that states with heavily restricted...

    Breast Cancer Survivors Can Safely Pause Longer-Term Meds During Pregnancy

    Pausing longer-term hormonal therapies to have a baby will not raise a breast cancer survivor's risk of her tumor recurring, a new clinical trial concludes.

    Women whose cancer is fueled by female hormones such as estrogen often are treated with medications -- such as aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen -- that suppress those hormones or block their function, in an effort to keep the cance...

    Record Number of Fatal Drug ODs for Pregnant, Postpartum Women

    Pregnant and postpartum women are dying of drug overdoses in record numbers, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse, a new study shows.

    Deaths increased about 81% over the past four years, hitting a record high in 2020, according to researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.

    "We've seen significant increases in fatal and non...

    More States Are Allowing Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control

    Pharmacists can now. prescribe hormonal contraceptives in 20 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., giving women easier access to birth control, a new report says.

    Another 10 states have legislation in the works, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists, in Las Vegas.

    Having easy access to birth control has been a hot top...

    Paxlovid OK for Use in Pregnant Women Infected With COVID

    Moms-to-be can safely take Paxlovid to help keep their COVID infection from turning serious, a new study shows.

    Nearly everyone in a group of 47 pregnant women prescribed Paxlovid did well on the drug, which did not appear to interfere with their pregnancy in any significant way, researchers report in the Nov. 29 issue of the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 1, 2022
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  • Exposure to Zika Virus in Womb Might Alter Kids' Development

    Children exposed to the Zika virus may need more support as they start school, even if they were not diagnosed with Zika-related birth defects and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), a new study suggests.

    Children may still have differences in brain development, including those in thinking skills, mood and mobility, though researchers said some identified in the study may have been a measure ...

    About 1 in 35 U.S. Pregnancies Exposed to Opioids

    Researchers have found that nearly 3% of pregnancies in the United States were exposed to addictive opioid drugs.

    The finding stems from an analysis of data from 21,905 pregnant women in what's dubbed the ECHO program (Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes), a federally funded effort to investigate the effects of early life exposures on several key areas of child health.

    Acupuncture Might Ease Back Pain During Pregnancy

    Many women experience back pain during pregnancy and a new study review suggests an ancient treatment can help.

    Acupuncture provided significant relief of lower back and pelvic pain, according to an analysis of 10 trials from various parts of the world. The findings were published Nov. 21 in BMJ Open.

    "Acupuncture significantly improved pain, functional status, and quality ...

    Progress Against Stillbirths Has Stalled in U.S.

    U.S. stillbirth rates still need to be tackled at the local, state and national levels because efforts to reduce the risk have stalled, new research claims.

    Racial disparities remain as well, with Black women more likely to experience stillbirth (the loss of a baby before or during delivery) than white women.

    "Over the last 40 years, we have reduced certain risk factors for stillbi...

    For Pregnant Women and Their Newborns, COVID Vaccine Offers Better Protection Than Prior Infection

    Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 while pregnant provides higher levels of antibodies for both mom and baby than catching the virus does, a new study finds.

    When pregnant women received one of the two available mRNA vaccines, researchers found that the women had 10-fold higher antibody concentrations than those who were infected naturally.

    The research team from Children's Hospital o...

    Pregnancy Is Most Dangerous for the Very Young

    When preteen children or very young teenagers become pregnant, they face higher rates of complications and a greater risk of winding up in the intensive care unit than older teens do, a new study finds.

    The question about what happens when a young girl goes through pregnancy and delivery takes on more relevance after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June and subsequent abo...

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