Pregnancy

Getting the flu vaccine while pregnant does not increase the odds that the fetus will die in the womb, according to a new study of tens of thousands of women in Norway. Although fetal deaths were rare during the study, they were more common in pregna...

Getting the flu vaccine while pregnant does not in...

Language development begins in the womb, during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy, a small new study of U.S. and Swedish infants suggests. Researchers noted that these skills can be demonstrated within the first few hours of life. "The mother has first ...

Language development begins in the womb, during th...

Women should wait at least one year after having weight-loss surgery before they try to get pregnant, researchers say. The obesity rate among women of child-bearing age is expected to rise from about 24 percent in 2005 to about 28 percent in 2015, an...

Women should wait at least one year after having w...

Banning smoking in enclosed public places may lead to lower rates of preterm birth, according to Belgian researchers who say the findings point to health benefits of smoke-free laws even in very early life. It is well known that smoking during pregna...

Banning smoking in enclosed public places may lead...

The coffee or other caffeinated beverages a woman drinks during her pregnancy might up the odds for a low birth weight newborn or an extended pregnancy, a new study says. The researchers included data on nearly 60,000 Norwegian women. "As the risk fo...

The coffee or other caffeinated beverages a woman ...

Multiple tests are needed to detect bacterial infections in newborns with a low birth weight, a news study suggests. The study authors looked at amniotic and umbilical cord blood samples from 44 premature infants who had low birth weights. Most of th...

Multiple tests are needed to detect bacterial infe...

Pregnant women exposed to particulate air pollution -- commonly known as smog -- have a significantly greater risk of having a baby with a low birth weight, according to a large new international study. Specifically, particulate air pollution refers ...

Pregnant women exposed to particulate air pollutio...

The number of birth defects among twins and triplets increased nearly two-fold in 14 European countries between 1984 and 2007, according to a new study. Researchers, who had information on more than 5.4 million births occurring over the 24-year perio...

The number of birth defects among twins and triple...

Women exposed to elevated levels of ozone air pollution in the first three months of pregnancy may be at increased risk for complications such as preeclampsia and premature birth, a new study suggests. Mothers with asthma may be most vulnerable, acco...

Women exposed to elevated levels of ozone air poll...

Women taking the epilepsy drug valproate (Depakote) while pregnant are at increased risk of having children with autism and other developmental problems, according to a small British study. Valproate is prescribed for epilepsy as well as certain psyc...

Women taking the epilepsy drug valproate (Depakote...

A nutritional supplement called myo-inositol may help protect women at risk for gestational diabetes, according to a small pilot study. Previous studies have shown that inositol supplements may help restore fertility in polycystic ovary syndrome, but...

A nutritional supplement called myo-inositol may h...

Children of mothers who take the antiepileptic drug valproate during pregnancy have lower IQ scores at age 6, a new study says. And the higher the dose of valproate during pregnancy, the greater the effect on a child's IQ, according to the report pub...

Children of mothers who take the antiepileptic dru...

A drug commonly used to treat severe cases of morning sickness does not appear to be linked to birth defects or other risks to the baby, a large new study suggests. The Danish researchers said the findings, reported in the Feb. 28 issue of the New En...

A drug commonly used to treat severe cases of morn...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have released new vaccine guidelines for 2013. One change is a recommendation for women to receive a dose of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine with each p...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventio...

Women who bleed heavily after giving birth aren't at any higher risk of most complications during their next pregnancy, according to a new UK study. Postpartum hemorrhage - when a woman loses at least half a quart of blood - typically occurs when the...

Women who bleed heavily after giving birth aren't ...

Mon, Feb 11, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy are at increased risk for heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes later in life, according to a new study. The increased risk was seen even in women who had o...

Mon, Feb 11, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Women who hav...

Women who took extra folic acid in the weeks before and just after becoming pregnant were less likely to have a child with autism, in a new study from Norway. Because lack of folic acid has been tied to brain and spinal cord birth defects, groups inc...

Women who took extra folic acid in the weeks befor...

Opening the windows at home may help pregnant women reduce their risk for preterm birth or low birth weight, a new study indicates. Researchers suggested the increase in fresh air could help protect expectant mothers from exposure to secondhand smoke...

Opening the windows at home may help pregnant wome...

Black women who are obese before they become pregnant or gain an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy are at greater risk for having an abnormally large baby, according to a new study. Macrosomia -- when an infant is born weighing more than 8....

Black women who are obese before they become pregn...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, when used as recommended, most insect repellents are considered safe during pregnancy. Since there are different types of active ingredients (pesticides) in insect repellents, remember to read the label...

Expert Answers Lori WolfeGenetic counselor Yes, wh...

Expert Answers Sara Riordangenetic counselor There's almost no information on how most kinds of chemicals used in the house or garden might affect your developing baby. While there's no data suggesting that any specific fertilizer causes birth defect...

Expert Answers Sara Riordangenetic counselor There...