Over the past decade, rates of preterm birth in the United States jumped more than 10%, a new study of more than 5 million births shows. The rise dovetailed with an increase in some factors that make an early delivery more likely, including rates of diabetes, sexually transmitted infections and mental health conditions, along with… read on > read on >
Babies conceived through assisted reproductive technology are more likely to be born with a major heart defect, new research shows. That risk was 36% higher in babies conceived through techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some congenital heart defects are life-threatening. The increased risk is especially pronounced with multiple births, which are more common… read on > read on >
Grandma’s pill organizer. Fido’s pain medication. A tossed-away tissue. All are potential sources of opioid poisoning for young children, researchers at the New Jersey Poison Control Center report. Their five-year look at 230 cases of opioid exposure in children between 1 month and 6 years of age shows how easily they get their hands on… read on > read on >
If you think it isn’t important to start breastfeeding your newborn while still in the hospital, think again. New research shows that infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization right after birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood. The findings, to be presented Sunday at the American Academy… read on > read on >
Laws that ban assault weapons do indeed protect children from dying in mass shootings, but the same can’t be said for more common types of gun restrictions and regulations, new research shows. “Mass shootings are horrific events. We found that large capacity magazine bans may have the biggest effect on reducing child deaths in mass… read on > read on >
Four out of five pregnant women will become deficient in an essential nutrient, iron, by their third trimester, a new study finds. The researchers and other experts are now advocating that iron levels be routinely checked during a pregnancy for the safety of a mother and her baby. Right now, guidelines from the United States… read on > read on >
If a woman is already in a “prediabetic” state in her teen or college years, her odds for a serious complication of pregnancy later in life rises, new research shows. Ignoring prediabetes in teenagers “may represent a missed opportunity to avert pregnancy-related complications” later, said study lead author Katharine McCarthy. She’s an assistant professor of… read on > read on >
Pregnant women covered by Medicaid are less likely to get an ultrasound exam that can diagnose heart defects in a fetus, a new study finds. “The 20-week ultrasound is hugely important in detecting birth defects because it involves assessment of the baby’s major organs. All pregnant people must know that this test should not be… read on > read on >
Surrogate moms have a higher risk of pregnancy complications than other pregnant women, a new study finds. About 8% of surrogate mothers developed a severe complication like high blood pressure or serious bleeding during delivery, Canadian researchers report. By comparison, only 2% of women who conceive naturally and 4% of women who conceive via IVF… read on > read on >
Kids born during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have no higher risk of autism, even if they were exposed to COVID in the womb, a new study finds. The study offers reassurance to doctors and parents who’ve been worried about the developmental health of children born during the pandemic, said senior… read on > read on >
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