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UrduThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) is embarking on a massive research project to shed light on early child development, including the health and developmental implications of opioid use during pregnancy. The very first task is to ensure the study — the HEALthy Brain and Child Development study (HBCD) — is on solid legal and ethical ground.
Tag: Pregnancy
Co-locating Contraceptive Services & Opioid Treatment Programs May Help Prevent Unintended Pregnancy
More than 75% of women with Opioid Use Disorder report having had an unintended pregnancy, but they are less likely to use effective contraception compared to women who do not use drugs. Results from a multi-year trial found that a two-part intervention featuring co-located contraceptive services in opioid treatment programs and financial incentives could offer an effective solution.
Women who Vape are More Likely to Have Low Birthweight Babies, Study Shows
Women who use electronic cigarettes during pregnancy are 33% more likely than those who don’t to give birth to low-birthweight infants, according to a new study by a team of researchers from UCLA and other institutions.
New Chair Named for Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
After a nationwide search, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, has been named chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health.
Higher Selenium and Manganese Levels During Pregnancy May Protect Babies From Future High Blood Pressure
Children who were exposed to higher levels of trace minerals manganese and selenium during their mothers’ pregnancy had a lower risk of high blood pressure in childhood, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Center Brings Doctors, Scientists Together to Improve Health of Mother and Child
The Center for Perinatal Discovery at UC San Diego brings doctors and researchers together for clinical, translational and basic research to better understand maternal health, environmental exposures, fertility, pregnancy and the health of children.
Mood matters: New app empowers mums to manage mental wellbeing
Recognising the symptoms of maternal anxiety and depression can be difficult, but with the help of a new app – developed by the University of South Australia and parent support group Village Foundation – thousands of women will be empowered to monitor their mental health, both during pregnancy and after birth.
The Latest Science on Staying Healthy During Pregnancy
Healthy habits are particularly important during pregnancy. Four new studies being presented at NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE look at how supplements, eating habits and physical activity can affect various aspects of health during pregnancy.
Secret Shopper Study Sheds Light on Barriers to Opioid Treatment for Women
After a 2020 Vanderbilt University Medical Center study showed women have a difficult time accessing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), investigators analyzed comments received from the study’s participants to further shed light on barriers to care, which included everything from long on-hold times to difficult interactions with clinic receptionists during phone calls seeking appointments.
Cannabis Legalization Could Lead to Health Disparities in Women of Reproductive Age
A Rutgers expert discusses how the legalization of cannabis could widen gaps in health and social equity for pregnant women, new mothers and their children.
Coenzyme Q10 May Protect against Possible Blindness from Mom’s Pregnancy Diet
New research in rats suggests a common antioxidant supplement may protect the next generation from a leading cause of blindness stemming from a high-sugar diet during pregnancy. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines are Immunogenic in Pregnant and Lactating Women, Including Against Viral Variants
In a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers evaluated the immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in pregnant and lactating women who received either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. They found that both vaccines triggered immune responses in pregnant and lactating women.
Pregnant Women Hospitalized for Covid-19 Infection Do Not Face Increased Risk of Death
Pregnant women who develop severe COVID-19 infections that require hospitalization for pneumonia and other complications may not be more likely to die from these infections than non-pregnant women. In fact, they may have significantly lower death rates than their non-pregnant counterparts.
New study suggests pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19 do not face increased risk of death
Pregnant women who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and viral pneumonia are less likely than non-pregnant women to die from these infections, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
Six facts women need to know about giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Giving birth is stressful enough. Adding a pandemic to the mix has only increased anxiety among today’s moms-to-be.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
PREGNANT AFTER THE FIRST DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE — NOW WHAT?
STUDY SHOWS VACCINES MAY PROTECT AGAINST NEW COVID-19 STRAINS … AND MAYBE THE COMMON COLD
EXPANDED DASHBOARD TOOL RANKS ACCESSIBILITY OF STATE VACCINE WEBSITES
How PCOS Can Frustrate Pregnancy Plans: National Infertility Awareness Week:
For the approximately 10% of women who live with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), giving birth often represents the end of an emotional and physical roller coaster marked by anxiety, uncertainty and dashed hopes.
CUR Psychology Division Announces 2021 Psychology Research Awardees
The Psychology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its Psychology Research Awards. The recipients are undergraduate students conducting original psychological research, who receive awards of up to $500 per project.
A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic
Becoming a parent is a major life transition at any time but in a pandemic it takes on a whole other experience as expectant mums and dads navigate the current health and social restrictions to protect the safety of their unborn child.
Childhood Brain Tumors Linked to Mother’s Exposure to Pesticides
A UCLA-led study published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research suggests that exposure during pregnancy to a wide variety of pesticides may lead to the development of central nervous system tumors during childhood.
Placental Stem Cells Show Promise for Treating Preemies’ Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Article title: Human placental-derived stem cell therapy ameliorates experimental necrotizing enterocolitis Authors: Victoria G. Weis, Anna C. Deal, Gehad Mekky, Cara Clouse, Michaela Gaffley, Emily Whitaker, Cole B. Peeler, Jared A. Weis, Marshall Z. Schwartz, Anthony Atala From the authors:…
COVID vaccination earlier in pregnancy leads to better antibody transfer to baby
Women who were vaccinated for COVID-19 earlier in their third trimester had a higher likelihood of passing protective antibodies to their newborn babies than women who received their vaccination closer to delivery, a new study from Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has found.
Exposure to harmful chemicals in plastic may contribute to postpartum depression
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may influence hormonal shifts during pregnancy as well as contribute to postpartum depression, according to a small study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Kids’ metabolic health can be improved with exercise during pregnancy: here’s why
BOSTON – (March 25, 2021) – A mechanism has been identified that explains how physical exercise in pregnancy confers metabolic health benefits in offspring. According to researchers, the key lies with a protein called SOD3, vitamin D and adequate exercise, with the outcomes possibly forming the first steps to designing rational diet and exercise programs to use during pregnancy and particularly when mothers may also be overweight or obese.
Propylparaben exposure during pregnancy, breastfeeding may reduce protection against breast cancer
Low doses of propylparaben—an estrogen-like chemical used as a preservative in personal care products and foods—can alter pregnancy-related changes in the breast in ways that may reduce the normal protection against breast cancer that pregnancy hormones convey, according to a new study being published in the Endocrine Society’s journal Endocrinology.
Majority of women can still give birth naturally if their water breaks early
About 11% of women who carry to term will experience prelabor rupture of membrane—a condition where the amniotic sac breaks open early, but labor doesn’t begin.
March Special Issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology Focuses on Women’s Health in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
The March issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology features new clinical research involving sex and gender, including effects of GI and liver conditions on pregnancy, gender disparities in diet and nutrition, Barrett’s esophagus incidence in women with scleroderma, factors influencing whether women pursue advanced endoscopy careers, endoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries, sex hormone association with increased prevalence of certain types of cancer, and more.
Type 2 diabetes: an unknown danger for women with gestational diabetes
While it’s an unfair reality that women who develop gestational diabetes are ten times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life, only a third of these women realise that they’re at high risk, according to new research by the University of South Australia.
There is no data indicating that the COVID-19 is unsafe for pregnant women.
Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. Also, many women of childbearing age have increased COVID-19 exposure risks, including healthcare providers and other workers providing essential services.
Pregnancy, stress, sleep issues, physiology among women’s unique cardiovascular concerns
Women face many female-specific risks for heart disease and stroke, including pregnancy, physical and emotional stress, sleep patterns and many physiological factors, according to multiple studies highlighted in this year’s Go Red for Women® special issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association, published online today.
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Associated with Risks of Structural Heart Changes a Decade After Delivery
The changes, which mainly affect the left ventricle of the heart, may predispose some women to ischemic heart disease and heart failure later in life.
Study: COVID-19 infection rates high in pregnant women
The study also showed that the number of COVID-19 infections in pregnant patients from nearly all communities of color in Washington was high. There was a twofold to fourfold higher prevalence of pregnant patients with COVID-19 infections from communities of color than expected based on the race-ethnicity distribution of pregnant women in Washington in 2018.
COVID-19 poses major challenges for mothers
A new study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy, birthing and postpartum experiences in the U.S. The most common issues included managing work/occupation obligations, separation from significant others during the birthing process and reduced access to lactation support.
Exercise during Pregnancy Protects Kids’ Future Health from Parents’ Obesity
New research in mice suggests that exercising during pregnancy may help prevent children—especially boys—from developing health problems related to their parents’ obesity. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology. It was chosen as an APSselect article for February.
Is it Safe to Get COVID-19 Vaccine while Pregnant?
Justin Brandt, an assistant professor in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and director of quality and safety for the department of OB/GYN, talks about the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and what pregnant women should consider when deciding whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Paid maternity leave has long-term health benefits
A study of women who were new mothers in the late 1970s found that those who were given longer, paid maternity leave lived healthier lives as they entered middle age.
History of Vaccines Offers Lessons on COVID-19 For Pregnant Women
DALLAS – Feb. 8, 2021 – Pregnant women, who are at increased risk of preterm birth or pregnancy loss if they develop a severe case of COVID-19, need the best possible guidance on whether they should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to an article by two UT Southwestern obstetricians published today in JAMA. That guidance can take lessons from what is already known about other vaccines given during pregnancy.
Exercise during Pregnancy Protects Kids’ Future Health from Parents’ Obesity
Article title: Exercise during pregnancy mitigates negative effects of parental obesity on metabolic function in adult mouse offspring Authors: Rhianna Che C. Laker, Ali Altıntaş, Travis S. Lillard, Mei Zhang, Jessica J. Connelly, Olivia L. Sabik, Suna Onengut, Stephen S. Rich,…
How to Find Mutated Sperm? Just Go FISH
A test developed by Berkeley Lab scientists can quickly and easily detect whether sperm cells are carrying chromosomal defects, an advance that will help men who have undergone cancer treatment father healthy children.
New clues on why pregnancy may increase risk of organ transplant rejection
A research study at the University of Chicago has found that in pregnancy, while the T cell response to a fetus becomes tolerant to allow for successful pregnancy, the part of the immune system that produces antibodies (known as the humoral response) becomes sensitized, creating memory B cells that can later contribute to the rejection of a transplanted organ.
Exposure to Metals Can Impact Pregnancy
Exposure to metals such as nickel, arsenic, cobalt and lead may disrupt a woman’s hormones during pregnancy, according to a Rutgers study.
Will Pregnant Women be Eligible for the COVID Vaccine? Experts Hope So
Will pregnant women be able to be vaccinated with the new COVID-19 vaccines? A panel of experts in maternal-fetal medicine recently made the case that they should at least have the option. Without explicit data on safety in pregnant women,…
Policies around pregnancy, birth during pandemic failing both patients and nurses
As an experienced nurse midwife, whose scientific research focuses on respectful and equitable care during pregnancy and childbirth, the University of Washington’s Molly Altman has been studying pregnancy and childbirth during the pandemic alongside colleagues across the UW and in…
Study on placenta membrane cells identifies new genetic markers associated with preterm birth
A new research study from the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center led by investigators at the University of Chicago has identified new genetic markers associated with gestational length, providing new insights into potential risk factors for preterm birth.
Research finds postpartum depression may last 3 years
A recent study found that a mother’s postpartum depression can last for a full three years after the birth of their baby and in some cases, get worse over time.
Does Race and Ethnicity Play a Role in Restless Legs Syndrome in Pregnant Women?
Researchers looked at whether race and ethnicity plays a role in instances of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in pregnant women in a new study published in the November 11, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
With Close Monitoring Throughout, Safe Pregnancy is Possible for Women with Interstitial Lung Disease
A new study shows that women with interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to autoimmune disease may not need to terminate their pregnancies provided they have close monitoring from their team of multidisciplinary physicians before, during and after pregnancy. Results of the research was presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting.
Researchers Find that Expansion of Medicaid Under the Affordable Care Act Improved Maternal Health for Low-Income Women
The period of time before pregnancy is critically important for the health of a woman and her infant, yet not all women have access to health insurance during this time. New research finds that the expansion of Medicaid for many states under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a positive impact on a variety of indicators of maternal health prior to conception.
UAB establishes uterus transplant program
UAB’s uterus transplant program is the first in the Southeast and fourth in the United States.
Researchers Explore COVID-19’s Effect on Pregnancy
Article title: Pregnancy and COVID-19 Authors: Elizabeth A.N. Wastnedge, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Sara R. van Boeckel, Sarah J. Stock, Fiona Denison, Jacqueline A. Maybin, Hilary O.D. Critchley From the authors: “From the current evidence base, it is difficult to draw…