Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Childhood heart health predicts lifelong well-being, study finds

Optimal heart health from birth through adolescence, as measured by a combination of metrics, leads to long-lasting cardiovascular and overall physical, cognitive and mental health, according to the systematic review published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

16 Jul 2025

New method expands access to patient-specific amniotic stem cells

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that amniotic fluid stem cells can be safely collected from vaginal fluid after childbirth rather than relying on more invasive methods that can pose some risk to the mother and fetus.

16 Jul 2025

U.S. could safely end routine adult tetanus and diphtheria shots, review suggests

The United States could safely drop tetanus and diphtheria booster shots for adults and save an estimated $1 billion a year, according to a new review led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

15 Jul 2025

OCT imaging sheds light on embryo transport mechanism in the oviduct

In a new mouse study, researchers have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to uncover new insights into how the fallopian tube transports preimplantation embryos toward the uterus for pregnancy.

15 Jul 2025

Night shift work linked to irregular periods and hormonal imbalances

Women who work night shifts may have an increased risk for irregular periods and hormonal imbalances, according to a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

14 Jul 2025

Early antibiotic exposure weakens infant immune development

A new study led by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) found that early-life exposure to antibiotics can impair an infant's developing immune system, and that a naturally occurring metabolite may hold the key to reversing that damage.

14 Jul 2025

Pregnancy increases rupture risk for brain arteriovenous malformations

At the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's (SNIS) 22nd Annual Meeting today, researchers presented findings about how pregnancy can worsen the rupture risk for brain arteriovenous malformations, abnormal connections between arteries and veins whose rupture can result in serious brain injury or death.

14 Jul 2025

Grandfather’s chemical exposure may influence granddaughter’s puberty timing

A grandfather's exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may impact the age when his granddaughter starts her first period, according to preliminary data being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life linked to cravings for sugary and fatty foods

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life, including during gestation and infancy, results in a higher preference for sugary and fatty foods later in life, according to an animal study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

New guideline recommends proper preconception care for women with diabetes

A joint guideline released today from the Endocrine Society and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) recommends women with diabetes receive proper preconception care and access to emerging diabetes technology and therapeutics to manage their blood sugar before, during and after pregnancy.

13 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025

Nearly one-third of UK maternal deaths tied to involvement of children's social care services

The involvement of children's social care services was a common factor in nearly a third of UK maternal deaths occurring during, or within a year of, pregnancy between 2014 and 2022, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

12 Jul 2025

Hepatitis C treatment gaps persist for children and new mothers

As the opioid epidemic has worsened in the United States, prevalence of hepatitis C has also increased. Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that damages the liver.

11 Jul 2025

Maternal depression found to disrupt key parenting behaviors

Mothers experiencing depression have considerable challenges across multiple parenting domains, according to a global systematic review published in the July issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry, part of the Lippincott portfolio from Wolters Kluwer.

11 Jul 2025

Research reveals high mortality risk for mothers involved with children’s social care

A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to Children's Social Care – higher than previously reported, new research reveals.

11 Jul 2025

Ultrasound technique enhances decision making for reduced fetal movement

It can be difficult to decide whether to expedite birth when a woman in the final stage of pregnancy perceives less fetal movements.

11 Jul 2025

Early-onset diabetes rates soar among young adults in Sweden

Early-onset type 2 diabetes nearly doubled in Sweden between 2006 and 2021, with the sharpest increases among young adults, ethnic minorities, and those with lower education. Projections show early-onset T2D could triple by 2050, posing a major public health challenge.

10 Jul 2025

TMP-SMX in early pregnancy increases risk of birth defects, new study shows

A large US cohort study found that using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for UTI in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of congenital malformations compared to β-lactam antibiotics. No increased risk was seen with nitrofurantoin or fluoroquinolones.

10 Jul 2025

Early skin-to-skin contact boosts breastfeeding in premature babies

More premature babies who had early skin-to-skin contact with their mother were being breastfed at the time of discharge from hospital and for up to one year afterwards. However, this is far from the only benefit.

10 Jul 2025