The first vaccine designed to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by vaccinating their mothers during pregnancy has been backed by a panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On Thursday the independent committee of experts voted unanimously that the Pfizer-made vaccine was effective, and 10-4 that there was adequate data… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Free Fertility App Shared Info With Third Parties, FTC Says
Owners of the free fertility app Premom have settled with users after sharing health data without consent to other companies, including Google and marketing firms in China. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the $200,000 settlement with Premom owner Easy Healthcare. “Premom broke its promises and compromised consumers’ privacy,” said Samuel Levine, director of… read on > read on >
Vaping Could Up Teens’ Odds for Marijuana Use, Binge Drinking
Teens who use electronic cigarettes are significantly more likely than non-vapers to binge-drink and use cannabis, new research finds. Surveys of teens ages 13 to 18 revealed that vapers were 20 times more likely to use marijuana than teens who used no nicotine products. And those who vaped in the previous month were six times… read on > read on >
American Women Need More Maternity Leave, Access to Pregnancy Care: Poll
Pregnancy is a difficult and potentially dangerous time in a woman’s life, and U.S. women say they aren’t getting the support they need while they’re expecting, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has found. Nearly 2 in 5 women who are pregnant or have ever been pregnant (37%) say they have experienced barriers to getting needed care.… read on > read on >
FDA Panel to Vote on First RSV Vaccine Given in Pregnancy to Protect Infants
The first RSV vaccine designed to protect infants is under consideration by a panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An independent committee of experts will vote Thursday on whether to recommend the shot for pregnant mothers at 24 to 36 weeks gestation. “Before the pandemic, RSV was the No. 1 cause… read on > read on >
Even Preschoolers Can Help Save a Life, Heart Experts Say
If you’re old enough to dial 911, you’re old enough to be a lifesaver. Building lifesaving skills can start as young as age 4 and be expanded over the years, the American Heart Association and others advise in a new scientific statement. Children can be adept at these actions by middle school if they start… read on > read on >
Infertility in Men and Women: Its Causes and Treatments
Infertility can be a heartbreaking experience for couples who are desperate to have children, but doctors can help them figure out why they can’t conceive and then treat the problem. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. If the woman is 35 or older, then she is considered… read on > read on >
For Kids in Poorer Neighborhoods, a Move Can Ease Asthma
Kids whose families left distressed neighborhoods had significantly fewer severe asthma attacks, with improvements greater even than those seen with medication. New research found that children whose families participated in a program that enabled them to move to areas with less poverty, and better schools and parks had about 50% fewer severe attacks. After moving,… read on > read on >
COVID Pandemic May Have Heightened Women’s Fears Around Pregnancy
Many American women fear childbirth, and the COVID-19 pandemic did not calm those feelings, new research shows. “Our results showed really high rates of childbirth fear in our sample,” said Zaneta Thayer, co-author of a new study and an associate professor of anthropology at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Moreover, childbirth fear was linked to… read on > read on >
How Healthy Is a Vegan Mom’s Breast Milk?
Vegan moms can breastfeed their children and not worry that their breast milk is missing essential nutrients, a new study finds. Researchers from Amsterdam University Medical Center in the Netherlands tested the milk of vegan mothers, finding it contains sufficient levels of vitamin B2 and carnitine. “The maternal diet greatly influences the nutritional composition of… read on > read on >