In medieval Europe, when childbirth was highly perilous for both mother and child, women and those caring for them used various talismans to try to influence a safe delivery. Not many of those relics have survived, but scientists have been studying one – a parchment “birthing girdle” – using non-invasive sampling and protein analysis. “Although…  read on >  read on >

Yes, you really are seeing double — more twins are being born now than ever before. There are a number of reasons why, according to a new study. Since the 1980s, twin births rose by a third worldwide — from 9 to 12 per 1,000 deliveries. About 1.6 million twins are born each year and…  read on >  read on >

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have prevented an anticipated outbreak of a rare polio-like syndrome in children, researchers report. Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a spinal condition that causes weakness in the limbs, impairs motor function and can lead to lifelong disabilities. It was first reported in the United States in 2012,…  read on >  read on >

If you’re drinking more, sleeping less, seeing downright scary numbers on your scale and fretting about the future, you’re far from alone, a new survey reveals. “We’ve been concerned throughout this pandemic about the level of prolonged stress, exacerbated by the grief, trauma and isolation that Americans are experiencing,” said Arthur Evans Jr., chief executive…  read on >  read on >

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, remains in breast milk for up to six weeks and may be harmful to infants, a new study warns. The researchers said the finding supports recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and others that women shouldn’t use marijuana while pregnant or breastfeeding. “Just as we now caution…  read on >  read on >

High blood pressure during pregnancy may lead to early death from heart disease, a new study suggests. There are several types of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) during pregnancy. Chronic hypertension means high blood pressure was already present before a pregnancy, but in gestational hypertension readings rise during pregnancy. A third form, called…  read on >  read on >

If you have surgery scheduled and you just found out you are infected with COVID-19, new research suggests you should push your operation back by at least seven weeks. Why? Because not doing so could raise your risk of postoperative death, British scientists warn. “We found that patients operated [on] 0 to 6 weeks after…  read on >  read on >

Breastfeeding mothers whose babies have food allergies often get conflicting advice from doctors on whether they should change their eating habits, according to a new study. “We found that guidance from health care practitioners for breastfeeding mothers in this situation was inconsistent,” said study lead author Dr. Hannah Wangberg, an allergist-immunologist in San Diego. “Of…  read on >  read on >