Using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other substances during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus, even when the risks are not always obvious, a West Virginia University psychiatrist warns. “Many substances can harm a fetus, including substances many falsely perceive to be harmless, like marijuana,” said Dr. Aliana Abascal of the Department of Behavioral Medicine and…  read on >  read on >

Busy moms might be sending their babies the wrong signal if they feed evening breast milk that was expressed in the morning, a new study suggests. The composition of breast milk changes throughout the day, including hormones thought to influence babies’ wake/sleep patterns, researchers reported today in Frontiers in Nutrition. A mother might unintentionally disturb…  read on >  read on >

Parents of college students headed back to campus might have some fundamental misunderstandings regarding their young adult’s mental health challenges, a new report said. About 1 in 5 college students reported that their mental health had declined since high school, according to the 2025 College Student and Graduate Behavioral Health Report  issued by UnitedHealthcare. In…  read on >  read on >

Expert consensus on the treatment of preschoolers diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is clear: Try behavioral therapies for six months before prescribing medications. However, a new study found this guideline was followed in only 14.1% of U.S. cases involving children ages 3 to 5.  “We found that many young children are being prescribed…  read on >  read on >

Hormone therapy for menopause might be able to boost memory, a new study says. What’s more, the specific type of hormone therapy used by a woman during and after menopause can have different effects on her memory, researchers found. Women using estradiol patches or gels had better test scores for episodic memory — long-term remembrance…  read on >  read on >

Breastfeeding offers many benefits, from emotional bonding to better nutrition and immune support. But for parents who need to pump and store breast milk, handling it safely is key. “Parents often feel nervous about food safety when handling and storing their breast milk,” said Dr. Patricia Campbell, a pediatrician and lactation consultant at Children’s Hospital…  read on >  read on >