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 >
Pulling your hair out in frustration with your finicky youngster? Don’t blame your parenting style — genetics likely played a huge role in their eating habits, a new twins study FINDs. Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes, according to findings published Sept. 19 in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry. Further, finicky eating… read on > read on >
Each year, an average of 174 U.S. kids under the age of 5 lose their lives over causes linked to nursery products. Many of these tragedies could be prevented, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday issued a list of products deemed most hazardous. Leading the list by far: Any soft bedding added… read on > read on >
Would-be dads don’t have to worry that taking the epilepsy drug valproate will result in children with birth defects, a new review concludes. Valproate, an anti-seizure drug, is known to cause birth defects and developmental disorders when taken by pregnant women. But the drug does not appear to have the same impact on the fetus… read on > read on >
Breastfeeding through the first year of infants’ lives can lower their risk of asthma by colonizing their bodies with a healthy mix of microbes, a new study finds. Results show that breastfeeding beyond three months supported the gradual maturation of a baby’s gut microbiome, researchers reported Sept. 19 in the journal Cell. On the other… read on > read on >
The corner bodega or neighborhood Kwik-E-Mart could be fueling childhood obesity in the United States, a new study suggests. Children have a more than 50% increased chance of obesity if they live in a place without ready access to full-fledged grocery stores stocked with fresh and healthy foods, researchers report. These results show that access… read on > read on >
Deprivation, neglect and abuse during childhood can increase a person’s long-term risk of health problems, a new study warns. “Stress is implicated in nine of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States today,” said senior researcher Dr. George Slavich, director of the UCLA Laboratory for Stress Assessment and Research. “It’s about time… read on > read on >
A few cups of coffee each morning can help protect a person against heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, a new study says. Drinking three cups of coffee a day — or about 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine — lowered the risk of health problems linked to the heart or metabolism, researchers found.… read on > read on >
