A small but concerning number of women exposed to a commonly used MRI contrast agent early in their pregnancy; likely before many of them are aware that they are pregnant, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. The results support adherence to effective pregnancy screening measures; to help reduce inadvertent exposures to these…
Preeclampsia is a leading contributor to illness and death for women during and immediately following pregnancy. There are very few ways to prevent the blood pressure-related condition; which has increased in the United States by 25% over the past two decades. In the new study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association;…
Iron deficiency in pregnancy is a common problem that often goes unrecognized; and untreated due to a lack of knowledge of its implications and competing clinical priorities. To enhance screening and management of iron deficiency in pregnancy; a research team at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital developed a quality improvement toolkit, called IRON MOM. However, the…
On average, a 1 milligram-per-liter increase in maternal urinary fluoride; was associated with a 4.5-point lower IQ score in boys by the time they reached ages 3 to 4, researchers report. “Four and a half IQ points is of substantial societal and economic concern;” said senior researcher Christine Till, an associate professor of psychology at…
Mildly disrupted sleep is common and bothersome but should not be confused; with the much more serious problem of insomnia which impacts more than 20 % of women during their pregnancy. Likely because mild sleep problems are so common during pregnancy, many health-care providers dismiss reports of insomnia; leaving women to manage the condition on…
A new Pharmacology Research & Perspectives study found no harm to newborns from opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) during pregnancy compared with no treatment. Opioid use disorder is characterized by the persistent use of opioids despite the adverse consequences of its use. Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) can stabilize women and reduce the risk of relapse to illicit…
Pregnancies by taking isotretinoin, branded as Accutane, despite two decades of restrictions and precautions. So in 2006, the FDA imposed iPLEDGE, a stringent registry program one that dermatologists immediately called a burdensome, confusing mess. Pledge brochures say the registry data is used to assess the effectiveness of the program and improve it. But the FDA…
It is well known that tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use during pregnancy; are associated with poor birth outcomes, yet many women continue to use these substances during pregnancy. Researchers at Western University and its affiliate Brescia University College have now shown that depression is the single largest driver of substance use during pregnancy; highlighting the…
African American women are at a two to three times greater risk of experiencing illness; injury or death during pregnancy compared to other racial groups in the United States. “Researchers have hypothesized that it is because women are experiencing instances of racism and skin tone within the health care system,” said Assistant Professor Jaime Slaughter-Acey…
The device, which uses the same commercial sensors used in smartphones to horizontally or vertically orient the device; can record vibrations sent through a mother’s abdomen when her baby’s heart beats or when the fetus squirms and kicks. Lauded by physicians, the device could potentially reduce an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths per year worldwide. The…
In many parts of the world maternal and child health outcomes are increasingly impact by indirect causes; many of which are related to nutrition. Women with diabetes, anemia or who are overweight are at a higher risk of childbirth-related complications. Their newborns, in turn, are also at a higher risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes…
New research suggests that babies born autumn and winter are at increased risk of developing mental health disorders; as mothers giving birth during these seasons have higher levels of the stress-related hormone, cortisol. The study, which is the first to report results on the effects of the seasons on maternal salivary cortisol levels in late…