An estimated one in four couples in developing countries encounter difficulties trying to conceive. In the United States, more than 7 million women have undergone …
Tag: pregnancy
Stanford microbiome research offers new clues to the mystery of preterm birth
Premature birth affects 450,000 U.S. babies each year and is the leading cause of newborn deaths. But in about half of cases, doctors never figure …
“The Mama Sherpas”: Exploring the work of nurse-midwives and their collaborations with doctors
As a doula, I'm pretty tapped into the birth community, and I've definitely noticed a trend toward midwifery care and low-intervention births. Indeed, a 2012 study showed …
Women with epilepsy face elevated risk of death during pregnancy and childbirth – but why?
Women with epilepsy face a higher risk of death and a host of complications during their pregnancies than other women, according to a new study …
Scientists create a placenta-on-a-chip to safely study process and pitfalls of pregnancy
These days it seems that just about anything can be recreated on a microchip. But still, I did a double-take when I read about the new …
Study of outcomes for early preemies highlights complex choices for families and doctors
A tiny fraction of babies born at 22 weeks of gestation survive to childhood without major impairments or disabilities, according to a study recently published …
Genetic testing, autism, and “fixing” the pathological body
How do we know what is pathological, versus what is normal? It seems obvious until you start thinking philosophically, which was the goal of a …
Project aims to improve maternal and newborn health in sub-Saharan Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa, maternal and neonatal outcomes are some of the worst in the world. What would happen to those numbers if 1,000 new obstetrician/gynecologists …
New obstetric hemorrhage tool kit released today
A few years ago, when my niece was born, my sister had a severe postpartum hemorrhage. I remember getting off the phone with my mom, …
A difficult decision that saved three young lives
I first met Lily Estrada and her identical triplets almost a year ago. The three babies, who were nearly ready to go home from Lucile …
Examining how fathers’ postpartum depression affects toddlers
Postpartum depression doesn't only affect moms, and new research shows that fathers who suffer from it have just as great an effect on their kids …
NIH puts focus on the placenta, the “fascinating” and “least understood” organ
Last week, the NIH announced its support for an initiative to study how new technologies can shed light on the placenta's function and health during …
Women who have a stillbirth are more likely to experience long-term depression, study shows
Any serious loss requires grieving time, and the birth of stillborn child is no exception. However, a recent study suggests that women who have experienced …
“2020 Mom Project” promotes awareness of perinatal mood disorders
Having a baby is a huge life alteration - who wouldn't be at least a bit anxious? The vast majority of women experience mood shifts …
Grandparents update their baby skills at children’s hospital
The past century has been flooded with trends and new information surrounding pregnancy, birth, and infant care. From doctors Spock, Lamaze, and Bradley in the …
Exercising during pregnancy may reduce children’s risk of hypertension
Regular physical activity during pregnancy has been shown to benefit both mom and baby: Past studies found that exercise can help expectant mothers manage weight …