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UrduPregnant 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.
Tag: Pregnancy
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…
Pregnant Women with Severe COVID-19 Face Additional Risks and Early Delivery
Pregnant women with severe or critical COVID-19 and their unborn infants face increased health risks before and after delivery, a Rutgers study finds.
Meanwhile, the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, also found that pregnant women with mild cases of coronavirus disease 2019 had similar outcomes compared to those who were uninfected.
Excess folic acid during pregnancy harms brain development of mice
A study of pregnant mice found high levels of folic acid were associated with significant changes in brain development of offspring.
Experts available to comment on communicating support for pregnancy loss
Last week, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend shared the heartbreaking news that they had experienced pregnancy loss, shedding light on an issue that is not often discussed, even though up to 25 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. October…
Exposure to Vitamin D in the Womb Might Minimize Risk of High Blood Pressure for Children Born to Mothers with Preeclampsia
Children appear to be at greater risk of having high blood pressure when their mothers had the high blood pressure condition called preeclampsia during pregnancy—but this adverse association may be reduced or even eliminated for children who were exposed to higher levels of vitamin D in the womb.
Pregnant women and their fetuses have better outcomes after immediate surgery for complicated appendicitis
Pregnant women who underwent immediate surgery to treat a ruptured or abscessed appendix and their fetuses had significantly better outcomes than those whose condition was managed without an operation.
Interrupting disease modifying treatment for pregnancy in multiple sclerosis – effect on disease activity and serum neurofilament light chain
Background: Pregnancy in MS typically goes along with reduced disease activity in the third trimester, followed by an increase in relapse frequency postpartum. Neurofilament light chain levels in serum (NfL) is a specific biomarker of neuroaxonal injury. Increased NfL levels…
Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with adverse outcomes during middle childhood
Research from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis shows prenatal cannabis exposure may impact child behavior later in life.
Exercise During Pregnancy: A Prescription for Improved Maternal/Fetal Well-being
Evidence now supports the safety and health benefits of prenatal physical activity for pregnant women. Therefore, it is critical that women and exercise professionals shift their individual and collective perspective of prenatal physical activity away from the potential risks of…
‘One size fits all’ medication approach doesn’t work in pregnancy
New research led by the University of South Australia shows that a blanket approach to prescribing medication during pregnancy may put low birth weight babies at risk for the rest of their lives.
Psychological abuse: obstetric care must delve deeper
As domestic violence skyrockets amid COVID-19, women’s health experts are calling for compulsory training of obstetric health practitioners to ensure they can recognise the signs of coercive control for women in their care.
Breastfeeding’s Legacy May Protect Against Diabetes
DALLAS – Aug. 25, 2020 – Breastfeeding secures delivery of sugar and fat for milk production by changing the insulin sensitivity of organs that supply or demand these nutrients, a new study led by UT Southwestern scientists suggests. The findings, published in this month’s print issue of Diabetes, could explain how different tissues cooperate to start and maintain lactation and offer strategies to help improve breastfeeding success for mothers who have insufficient milk production.
Mother Transmitted COVID-19 to Baby During Pregnancy, UTSW Physicians Report
DALLAS – Aug. 20, 2020 – A pregnant mother who tested positive for COVID-19 transmitted the virus causing the disease to her prematurely born baby, UT Southwestern physicians report. Both were treated and recovered.
The Medical Minute: Cesarean birth raises questions about type of second delivery
Many women pregnant for a second time wonder if they can have a vaginal birth if they previously had a cesarean delivery. Penn State Health experts say it depends a great deal on their first birth experience.
Patients’ Access to Opioid Treatment Cumbersome
The “secret shopper” study used trained actors attempting to get into treatment with an addiction provider in 10 U.S. states. The results, with more than 10,000 unique patients, revealed numerous challenges in scheduling a first-time appointment to receive medications for opioid use disorder, including finding a provider who takes insurance rather than cash.
Sharp jump in stillbirths during COVID lockdown
A four-fold increase in stillbirths in a large UK maternity hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic might also be replicated in Australia and elsewhere due to guidelines which have discouraged face-to-face antenatal visits in recent months.
Penn State College of Medicine study explores the association of malaria, HIV with anemia during pregnancy
Pregnant women from sub-Saharan Africa with malaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a higher prevalence of anemia than pregnant women without infections according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The findings may have implications for reducing the risk of death in pregnant women and preventing low birth weights and neurocognitive impairment in their children as a result of anemia.
Miscarriage Risk Increases Each Week Alcohol is Used in Early Pregnancy
Each week a woman consumes alcohol during the first five to 10 weeks of pregnancy is associated with an incremental 8% increase in risk of miscarriage, according to a study published today by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers.
Surgery During Pregnancy for Gallbladder Infections May be Safer than Postponing
Although surgery during pregnancy is often feared, in the case of cholecystitis or acute gallbladder disease, surgery may lead to better outcomes for mom and baby.
Women’s higher resting metabolic rates in cold environments could be thyroid requirements for pregnancy, researcher says
Although other researchers have demonstrated that women who live in extreme environments produce more thyroid hormone to adapt to the cold, the Notre Dame study is the first to hypothesize a link with pregnancy.
Dealing with Crohn’s Disease During Pregnancy
“Because it affects them in their childbearing years, women need to know when it is safe to get pregnant,” says
Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a national expert on IBD and pregnancy and a physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, shares her expertise on Crohn’s disease and pregnancy.
Trial Finds Drug Safe and Effective in Treating Hep-C During Pregnancy
Critics of the universal hepatitis C screening argue that it’s wasteful to test pregnant women for a disease that can’t be immediately treated, but results of a small phase I clinical trial suggest otherwise: pregnancy could be an excellent time to diagnose and cure hepatitis C infection.
Coronavirus: What pregnant women should know
Nearly 4 million babies are born each year in the United States. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, pregnant women are concerned about their health and the health of their children.
Jet Aircraft Exhaust Linked to Preterm Births
Researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health have found that pregnant women exposed to high levels of ultrafine particles from jet airplane exhaust are 14% more likely to have a preterm birth than those exposed to lower levels.
Health, Bioethics Experts and Advocates Publish Guidance for Research on HIV, Co-infections in Pregnancy
The PHASES Working Group, co-led by researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins, launched ethics guidance at hivpregnancyethics.org, in a project dedicated to ending the evidence gap for pregnant women around HIV and co-infections.
Higher Manganese Levels in Early Pregnancy Linked to Lower Preeclampsia Risk
An analysis of data from more than 1,300 women followed prospectively through pregnancy found that women with lower levels of the essential mineral manganese in early pregnancy were more likely to develop the serious high blood pressure syndrome called preeclampsia in late pregnancy.
For the First Time, Study Identifies Time Trends in Pregnancy-Related Outcomes Among American Women with Type 1 Diabetes
Largest US database of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes provides a first-time, big picture view of mother’s health, and neonatal and delivery outcomes.
The analysis found a threefold increase in insulin pump use at the end of the study period, compared to the start of the study, but A1c levels remained steady across the 13-year period.
Over time the study showed a trend toward pre-pregnancy obesity and unhealthy maternal weight gain.
Ohio State Study: Exercise Increases Benefits Of Breastmilk For Babies
A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine finds even moderate exercise during pregnancy increases a compound in breast milk that reduces a baby’s lifelong risks of serious health issues such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
Defining Paths to Possible Mother to Child Coronavirus Transmission
UC Davis Health physicians defined the conditions of coronavirus transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy and delivery.