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19 May
Barriers to Maternity Care Are Very Real in the U.S., a New HealthDay/Harris Poll Finds
Many women in the U.S. say it can be difficult to access healthcare during pregnancy -- and they often feel forgotten after giving birth, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll finds.
Health News Results - 59
Future of 'Artificial Wombs' for Human Preemies to Be Weighed by FDA Advisors
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 19, 2023
- Full Page
Advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will weigh the possibilities and parameters of experiments with artificial wombs for premature human babies.
Scientists have already had some success with the concept in animals.
U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hits Another Historic Low
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 1, 2023
- Full Page
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 an...
Even Minor Traffic Accidents Can Raise a Woman's Odds for Birth Complications
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 21, 2023
- Full Page
“Baby on Board” warning stickers apply even when there's a mom-to-be in the vehicle, a new study argues.
Pregnant women involved in traffic collisions are at heightened risk of potentially serious birth complications, even if the wreck only involves minor injuries, r...
Young Americans Still Want Same Number of Kids, Just Not Right Now
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 17, 2023
- Full Page
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
Kids Born by C-Section May Have Weaker Response to Vaccines
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- November 16, 2022
- Full Page
Babies born via cesarean section may not mount as strong an immune response after some childhood vaccines compared to babies delivered vaginally, researchers suggest.
Antibody levels can be checked in blood or saliva, and babies born vaginally had higher levels of antibo...
Progress Against Stillbirths Has Stalled in U.S.
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- November 15, 2022
- Full Page
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 befor...
Pregnancy Is Most Dangerous for the Very Young
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- November 4, 2022
- Full Page
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 pregn...
Genes for Stillbirth May Be Passed Down by Male Relatives
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 19, 2022
- Full Page
Stillbirth is heartbreaking tragedy for parents, but exactly what raises the risk of it remains elusive.
Certain health conditions in a pregnant woman can be a factor, but new research came up...
Umbilical Cords Could Be Lifesavers for Fragile Newborns
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 19, 2022
- Full Page
When doctors deliver a healthy newborn, it's common to wait about a minute to clamp and cut the umbilical cord, giving the baby the benefits of extra cord blood as it begins its life outside the womb.
The same is not true for babies born limp, with minimal breathing. The...
Stories of Difficult Conception, Birth Can Boost Appreciation of Life
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 7, 2022
- Full Page
Stories about their difficult birth or their parents' fertility challenges can give adult children a more grateful, upbeat attitude towards their lives, British researchers suggest.
U.S. Births Rose in 2021 for First Time in 7 Years
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2022
- Full Page
It may not qualify as a baby boom, but U.S. births were up in 2021 for the first time in years.
New federal government data show a 1% increase in births from 2020, with more than 3.6 million births last year. It was the first increase in seven years.
U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis Hits Black Women Hardest
- Serena McNiff HealthDay Reporter
- May 23, 2022
- Full Page
With Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance and nearly half of all American states ready to practically ban abortion if the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court stands, the realities of giving birth in this country are being put under a microscope, and for good reason.
...
U.S. Rate for a Dangerous Pregnancy Complication Doubled in 12 Years
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- May 23, 2022
- Full Page
Rates of dangerous high blood pressure problems during pregnancy more than doubled in the United States between 2007 and 2019, a new study finds.
"The increase in pregnancy complications is alarming because these adverse pregnancy outcomes - including hypertension [high ...
Nurses Key to Spotting Postpartum Depression in New Moms
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- May 13, 2022
- Full Page
Nurses can be trained to detect postpartum depression in new mothers and could be crucial in spotting the condition early, researchers report.
Use Antibiotics Sparingly After Birth to Preserve Newborn's 'Microbiome'
- February 21, 2022
- Full Page
New research suggests that doctors should be cautious about giving newborns antibiotics because they can upset a baby's gut microbiome -- the balance of bacteria in...
Fertility Treatments Don't Raise Odds for Smaller, Preemie Babies
- Cara Murez
- January 12, 2022
- Full Page
Babies conceived through infertility treatment are more likely to be born early and small.
But there are reasons other than medically assisted reproduction to expla...
Could Pollution Help Decide Your Baby's Sex?
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- December 3, 2021
- Full Page
A boy or a girl? New research suggests that the air pregnant women breathe or the water they drink could play a role in their baby's sex.
The finding stems from t...
A New Way to Spot Pregnancy Risks?
- Robert Preidt
- November 2, 2021
- Full Page
Two placenta-related markers could reveal older women's risk of serious pregnancy problems such as stillbirth and premature or very small babies, British researchers say.
They analyzed blood samples and medical data from 527 pregnant U.K. women, including 158 in their 20...
'Forever Chemicals' Might Raise Risk of Pregnancy Complication
- Robert Preidt
- November 2, 2021
- Full Page
So-called "forever chemicals" might increase pregnant women's risk of a dangerous condition known as preeclampsia, researchers say.
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used and long-lasting chemicals found in the drinking water of many U.S. communities.
A n...
Depression, Anxiety Could Raise a Pregnant Woman's Odds for C-Section
- Cara Murez
- October 22, 2021
- Full Page
While anxiety and depression in pregnant women have already been linked to low birth weight and preterm birth, they may also contribute to higher rates of cesarean deliveries.
Researchers called the study among the largest to document a link between mood and anxiety diso...
Symptomatic COVID Could Bring on Emergency Delivery in Pregnant Women
- October 11, 2021
- Full Page
Pregnant women suffering from COVID-19 with symptoms are more likely to experience complications that call for an emergency delivery, a new study suggests.
On top of facing a slightly higher risk for needing an unexpected cesarean section, women with symptomatic COVID-19...
Breastfeeding Longer May Lower Postpartum Depression Risk
- Cara Murez
- October 1, 2021
- Full Page
Besides the long-established benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mom, a new study reports one more: Nursing could help chase the blues away.
It is linked to a lower risk for postpartum depression -- the so-called "baby blues" -- and nursing for a longer time may furth...
Pandemic Tied to Declining Birth Rates for U.S., Much of Europe
- Steven Reinberg
- September 20, 2021
- Full Page
Birth rates tend to fall during pandemics, and history is repeating itself with the COVID-19 scourge, researchers say.
Fewer babies have been born in much of Europe and the United States. Earlier in the pandemic, U.S. births declined 7%, a new study finds.
In Europ...
Are Stillbirths More Common in Women Infected With COVID?
- Cara Murez
- September 13, 2021
- Full Page
COVID-19 is surging in U.S. states with low vaccination rates, and these places may also be seeing a higher-than-usual number of stillbirths linked to the virus.
While the number of stillbirths is still very low nationally, doctors in the Deep South have noticed increase...
'Preemie' Babies More Vulnerable to Autism Diagnosis Later: Study
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 11, 2021
- Full Page
Babies born prematurely, even just a couple weeks early, may be at increased risk of autism, a large new study suggests.
It's long been known that autism, a developmental brain disorder, is more common among children who were born preterm -- before the 37th week of pregn...
Premature Delivery Raises Odds for Cerebral Palsy
- Robert Preidt
- July 30, 2021
- Full Page
Extremely premature babies have a much higher risk of cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions than full-term infants, a large Israeli study affirms.
Cerebral palsy -- the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination -- is the mos...
Mom's Weight-Loss Surgery Lowers Many Pregnancy Complications, Raises Others
- Robert Preidt
- July 27, 2021
- Full Page
Weight-loss surgery can be a double-edged sword for obese women who want to shed pounds before becoming pregnant: New research shows it lowers the risk of some complications, but it may increase the risk of others.
Investigators followed more than 20,000 women in Califo...
C-Section Babies Miss Out on Mom's 'Microbiome,' But Treatment Can Change That
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 23, 2021
- Full Page
When a baby is born, the mother's body provides a pathway into the world, but the journey also exposes them to beneficial bacteria that live in and on their mom. But that critical exchange doesn't happen during a cesarean section delivery.
Now, researchers report that sw...
Pandemic May Have Created a 'Baby Bust,' Not Boom
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- June 23, 2021
- Full Page
The pandemic not only cost hundreds of thousands of American lives, but it also appears to have triggered a deep drop in births, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.
Until 2020, the birth rate had been declining about 2% a year, but that rate dropped to 4% with the...
Will Pandemic Produce a Summer Baby Boom?
- Robert Preidt
- June 3, 2021
- Full Page
America, get ready for a baby boom.
That's the likelihood anyway, according to a new forecast that suggests a drop in pregnancy and birth rates seen during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic is about to be reversed.
"We expect a dramatic rebound soon," said st...
Mom's Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Affect Child's Stroke Risk Decades Later
- Robert Preidt
- June 1, 2021
- Full Page
Expectant mothers' high blood pressure heightens kids' risk of stroke later in life, a Swedish study finds.
"Our findings indicate that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are associated with increased risks of stroke and potentially heart disease in offspring up to ...
Global Warming Could Bring More Stillbirths, Study Warns
- Robert Preidt
- May 27, 2021
- Full Page
Rising temperatures caused by climate change could trigger a worldwide increase in stillbirths, researchers warn.
The team at the University of Queensland in Australia analyzed 12 studies on the subject. They found that exposure to extremely high temperatures throughout ...
Birth Order, Family Size May Affect Heart Health
- Cara Murez
- May 26, 2021
- Full Page
It's known that genetics and lifestyle can affect your heart health. Now, researchers say, your birth order and family size may also have an impact.
A new Swedish study found that first-born children had a lower...
Boys Born Very Prematurely May Age Faster as Men
- Steven Reinberg
- May 17, 2021
- Full Page
Boys who weigh less than 2 pounds at birth don't age as well as their normal-weight peers, a long-term study finds.
Canadian researchers have followed a group of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies and their normal-weight counterparts since 1977.
When partici...
U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Fall
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 5, 2021
- Full Page
The baby "boom" that some expected during last year's pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby "bust."
The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of ...
Being Born Even a Bit Early Might Hamper Child's Development
- Robert Preidt
- April 29, 2021
- Full Page
Being born even slightly premature might still raise a child's risk of developmental problems, a new study finds.
Preemies often have developmental issues, but previous research has tended to focus on those born extremely preterm (22-26 weeks' gestation), so less is know...
'Birthing Girdle' Shows Traces of Medieval Women in Labor
- Cara Murez
- March 12, 2021
- Full Page
In medieval Europe, when childbirth was highly perilous for both mother and child, women and those caring for them used various talismans to try to influence a safe delivery.
Not many of those relics have survived, but scientists have been studying one -- a parchment "bi...
Couples Everywhere Are Having More Twins
- Robert Preidt
- March 12, 2021
- Full Page
Yes, you really are seeing double -- more twins are being born now than ever before.
There are a number of reasons why, according to a new study.
Since the 1980s, twin births rose by a third worldwide -- from 9 to 12 per 1,000 deliveries. About 1.6 million twins ar...
New First Look at the Tiniest Babies' Lungs
- Robert Preidt
- March 8, 2021
- Full Page
Researchers who recorded the most detailed images ever made of newborns' lungs as they took their first breaths say the breakthrough could improve treatment of breathing problems in babies.
"Respiratory problems are the most common reason we need to treat babies in inten...
Fertility Treatments Might Affect Kids' Growth, But Not for Long
- Robert Preidt
- February 18, 2021
- Full Page
The growth patterns of kids born through fertility treatment differ initially from those conceived naturally, but those growth rates do catch up over time, a new study finds.
In-vitro fertilization and other forms of "assisted reproductive technology" (ART) has long been...
Newborn Brains Don't Process Emotions Like Adults
- Steven Reinberg
- October 29, 2020
- Full Page
Newborns don't have the brain circuitry to process emotions, a new study finds.
Brain scans of newborns found that the area of the brain that experiences emotions isn't connected in a mature way to areas that process visual or auditory stimuli, researchers say.
In ...
Newborn Brains Don't Process Emotions Like Adults
- Steven Reinberg
- October 28, 2020
- Full Page
Newborns don't have the brain circuitry to process emotions, a new study finds.
Brain scans of newborns found that the area of the brain that experiences emotions isn't connected in a mature way to areas that process visual or auditory stimuli, researchers say.
In ...
Births of Boys in Liberal Areas of Canada Fell After Trump Won: Study
- Kayla McKiski
- March 4, 2020
- Full Page
Experts have long known about a quirky postscript to stressful events like earthquakes and terrorist attacks: The ratio of boys and girls born temporarily turns upside down.
Now, Canadian researchers are reporting the same change in Ontario's birthrates following Rep...
First Baby Born From Use of Lab-Matured Frozen Egg
- Robert Preidt
- February 19, 2020
- Full Page
In what doctors call a breakthrough, a cancer patient in France gave birth to the first baby conceived from an immature egg that was matured in the laboratory, frozen, then later thawed and fertilized.
"We were delighted that the patient became pregnant without any d...
Small Babies Have High Risk for Heart-Lung Weakness as Adults: Study
- Robert Preidt
- February 18, 2020
- Full Page
Being small at birth after a full-term pregnancy could leave you gasping for breath later on in life.
Swedish researchers report that babies with low birth weights are more likely to have poor heart-lung (cardiorespiratory) fitness when they reach adulthood.
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AHA News: Baby Born With 'One-of-a-Kind' Heart Receives Transplant
- February 11, 2020
- Full Page
When a test showed a dangerous drop in the heart rate of Courtney Agnoli's unborn daughter, the doctor who urgently admitted her to the hospital said, "You aren't leaving here without a baby."
Doctors had already identified two critical congenital heart defects that...
Winter Baby? Summer Baby? Birth Season Might Affect Heart Health
- Robert Preidt
- December 19, 2019
- Full Page
Birthdays are a time of celebration. But, according to a new study, a spring or summer birth date could mean a higher risk of dying from heart disease.
The reasons aren't clear, but might include factors such as seasonal fluctuations in diet, air pollution levels, an...
Twins Are Becoming Less Common in U.S., for Good Reasons
- Steven Reinberg
- October 3, 2019
- Full Page
No, you're not seeing double as often these days: After decades of rising, twin births are declining in the United States.
Twin birth rates had been on the rise for 30 years, but dropped 4% between 2014 and 2018, health officials said in a new U.S. governm...
A Change of Address During Early Pregnancy May Not Be Best for Baby
- Alan Mozes
- July 31, 2019
- Full Page
If moving is never easy, then moving while you are pregnant has got to be a grueling experience.
But could it actually harm your baby? Yes, a new investigation warns.
The researchers found that switching homes during the first three months of pregnancy was ...
Racial Disparity in Care Starts With Youngest, Frailest Patients
- Amy Norton
- July 29, 2019
- Full Page
Many studies have uncovered racial gaps in health care in the United States, but now a new review confirms that the disparity begins at birth.
The review, of 41 studies, found that infants born to minority women typically received poorer care in the neonatal intensiv...