Low-Fiber Diet During Pregnancy May Harm Baby's Brain

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• July 28, 2023
• Full Page

Too little fiber in Mom's diet during pregnancy may slow a baby's mental development, Japanese research suggests.

Animal studies have found that a low-fiber diet during pregnancy slows brain nerve function in offspring. The new study, published July 27 in the journal

During Pregnancy, the Less Caffeine the Better: Expert

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 23, 2023
• Full Page

When it comes to pregnancy and caffeinated drinks, less is best, says an expert, warning women to avoid energy drinks in particular.

“Energy drinks contain varying amounts of caffeine, so check nutrition labels to understand how much caffeine and other ingredients they...

Consumer Reports Warns of Mercury in Canned Tuna

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• February 10, 2023
• Full Page

Canned tuna is known to contain low levels of mercury, but a new Consumer Reports investigation has found spikes of the neurotoxin in some cans.

The organization tested five popular tuna brands, CBS News reported.

While the mercury levels were all within U...

Seafood in Pregnancy: To Eat or Not to Eat?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• January 24, 2023
• Full Page

Pregnant women hear a lot of “Do this” and “Don't do that” advice about what is safe to eat.

But one recommendation that's particularly important involves seafood: During pregnancy, women need to eat enough seafood to gain the health benefits, but not so much to ...

Another Mediterranean Diet Bonus: Healthier Pregnancies

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• December 27, 2022
• Full Page

The Mediterranean diet delivers plenty of health dividends, and new research now discovers it may lower complications during pregnancy.

Specifically, women who stuck to the diet had a 21% overall reduced risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, delivery...

Even a Little Coffee in Pregnancy Might Stunt a Child's Growth

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• November 1, 2022
• Full Page

Most pregnant women are told it's safe to have one cup of coffee a day because it won't trigger miscarriages or preterm deliveries, but new research suggests a surprising risk: Moms-to-be who consume caffeine, even in small amounts, may have shorter kids.

"The main takea...

First Good Evidence That Babies React to Taste, Smell in Womb

• By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 22, 2022
• Full Page

At the kitchen table, babies trying different foods might look eager or offended, depending on the flavor of what they are asked to eat.

It turns out infants may develop those taste differences while still in the womb, according to a new study that delivered the first di...

Majority of Pregnant U.S. Women Were Already in Poor Health: Study

• February 15, 2022
• Full Page

Once they're pregnant, women have a lot of checkups to make sure they stay healthy. But a mom's health preconception is vitally important, too, and a growing cause for concern.

Increasingly, moms in the United States are starting their pregnancies already having heart ri...

Mom's Pre-Pregnancy Weight Could Affect Odds for Child's Asthma, Allergies

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• November 19, 2021
• Full Page

Can your weight before pregnancy determine your baby's chances of developing asthma or allergies?

Yes, claims a study that looked at that question, as well as whether weight gain during pregnancy might have an impact.

"We did find that there was a link bet...

Healthy Eating Lowers Pregnancy Complication Risk

• Robert Preidt
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

If you're planning to get pregnant or already "eating for two," sticking to a healthy diet may reduce the risk of several common pregnancy complications, researchers say.

The new study included nearly 1,900 women who completed diet questionnaires at eight to 13 weeks of ...

FDA Warns of Bogus Fertility Claims for Some Supplements

• May 31, 2021
• Full Page

Women who are struggling to get pregnant, beware of false dietary supplements that claim to help cure infertility and other reproductive health issues.

Such supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and they could prevent patients from seeking...

When Diabetes Strikes in Pregnancy, Do Women Eat Healthier?

• Robert Preidt
• May 19, 2021
• Full Page

Women who develop diabetes in pregnancy don't tend to make healthy diet or exercise changes to help fight it, a new study finds.

That could have dire consequences: Gestational (pregnancy-related) diabetes raises the risks of high blood pressure in mothers, larger babies,...

Even a Little Coffee in Pregnancy Could Impact Newborn's Weight: Study

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• March 25, 2021
• Full Page

As little as half a cup of coffee each day might be enough to stunt the growth and birth weight of a baby in the womb, a new study claims.

Women who consumed an average 50 milligrams of caffeine per day -- equivalent to half a cup of coffee -- had infants that were 2.3 o...

Is Any Amount of Coffee Safe for Baby During Pregnancy?

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• February 12, 2021
• Full Page

Too much coffee during pregnancy could lead to kids with behavior problems later on.

That's the key takeaway from new research that examined 9,000 brain scans from 9- and 10-year-olds as part of the largest long-term study of brain development and child health.

"Th...

AHA News: Hoping to Find Out Her Baby's Sex, She Learned of a Serious Heart Defect

• American Heart Association News
• February 12, 2021
• Full Page

Latisha Wilborne was excited. She and her husband had tried for a year to get pregnant, and now, 20 weeks pregnant, she was at a doctor's visit with her two sisters where an ultrasound would determine if she was having a girl or boy. A party to celebrate the news was just days...

Moms' Obesity May Affect Fetal Brain Development

• Steven Reinberg
• August 12, 2020
• Full Page

Obesity during pregnancy may hinder fetal brain development, a new study suggests.

Development of brain areas involved in decision-making and behavior may be affected as early as the second trimester, New York University researchers said.

For the study, t...

Eating Fish in Moderation During Pregnancy Benefits Fetus: Study

• Robert Preidt
• March 20, 2020
• Full Page

Advice on eating fish while pregnant has flip-flopped over the years. Now, a new study suggests that the benefit of eating fish in moderation during pregnancy outweighs the risk.

Fish is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for a developing fe...

Vitamin D in Pregnancy Doesn't Curb Kids' Asthma

• Serena Gordon
• February 5, 2020
• Full Page

Taking higher doses of vitamin D during pregnancy doesn't appear to offer any protection against asthma in children, a new study finds.

The study, a follow-up to one done three years ago, looked at 6-year-old children whose mothers had taken extra vitamin D while th...

Pregnancy Weight Gain: What's Right for You?

• Len Canter
• August 2, 2019
• Full Page

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to unhealthy post-pregnancy weight for moms, and a higher risk of obesity and related conditions in their children. But not gaining enough weight has consequences, too.

Historical studies on children born during times...

Go Easy on Caffeine During Pregnancy, for the Sake of Your Baby's Liver

• Robert Preidt
• August 1, 2019
• Full Page

No matter how tired you get during your pregnancy, a new animal study suggests that countering your fatigue with too much coffee might harm your baby.

Female rats that were given caffeine during pregnancy had offspring with lower birth weights, altered growth and str...

Mediterranean Diet Has Big Benefits for Expectant Moms: Study

• Robert Preidt
• July 23, 2019
• Full Page

Could following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy help head off gestational diabetes and excess weight gain?

A British study says the answer is yes.

But the researchers added that the eating regimen -- which is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains,...

Seafood Offers Vital Nutrient for Expectant Moms and Babies

• Len Canter
• June 24, 2019
• Full Page

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods including fatty fish and flaxseed, may be best known for their link to heart health, but they're also vital for pregnant women and their babies.

These important nutrients have been linked to a reduced risk for depression for mom a...

Few Pregnant Women Get Right Amount of Nutrients

• Steven Reinberg
• June 21, 2019
• Full Page

For pregnant women, good nutrition is essential for their health and the baby's health. But many aren't getting adequate amounts of the vitamins and minerals they need, a new study finds.

On the other hand, some of actually taking higher levels of nutrients than is ...

Nursing Moms Who Eat Right Have Slimmer, Healthier Babies

• Robert Preidt
• May 30, 2019
• Full Page

Breastfeeding moms with healthy eating habits have slimmer infants, who could then be protected from obesity later, researchers say.

Rapid weight gain and fat accumulation during an infant's first six months of life is a risk factor for obesity later on, they explain...

New Link Between Mom-to-Be's Diet, Child's ADHD

• Robert Preidt
• March 29, 2019
• Full Page

Eating for two takes on added significance with a new study suggesting that a mother's diet during pregnancy could affect her child's risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Spanish researchers found a link between levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty...

Prenatal Vitamins Might Lower Risk of Second Child With Autism

• Serena Gordon
• February 27, 2019
• Full Page

Something as simple as taking prenatal vitamins during the first month of pregnancy might lower the odds of having a second child with autism.

As researchers explain in a new report, once one child has been diagnosed with autism, any subsequent children face a higher...

Mom's Prenatal Fish Oil Might Help Kids' Blood Pressure Later

• Robert Preidt
• February 22, 2019
• Full Page

Obese young children may have less risk for high blood pressure if their mother took the omega-3 fatty acid DHA -- found in fish oil -- during pregnancy, new research suggests.

The findings could be important since rising numbers of American children are obese and ex...

No Link Between Mom-to-Be's Diet, Baby's Allergy Risk

• Robert Preidt
• January 2, 2019
• Full Page

Avoiding certain foods during pregnancy does not reduce your child's risk of food allergies, a new analysis shows.

For the study, researchers examined data from a 2005 to 2007 survey of 4,900 pregnant women who were part of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Cen...