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19 May

HealthDay Now: Maternal Mortality Crisis Hits Black Mothers Hardest

HealthDay’s Mabel Jong will be joined by Stacey D. Stewart, the president & CEO of March of Dimes, and Dr. Chereena Walker, a hospitalist and mother of two from Missouri who experienced severe complications during her pregnancies. Stewart and Walker will discuss the risks that pregnant women — particularly women of color — face in the United States.

Health News Results - 315

U.S. Pregnancy Deaths Drop Following Spike During Pandemic

After U.S. pregnancy deaths soared in 2021, they are on track to drop to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, a new government report shows.

While the decline from more than 1,200 pregnancy deaths in 2021 to 733 deaths in 2022 is positive news, experts said it’s still not enough when pregnancy deaths were already at high levels before COVID-19 emerged.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Contro...

Cardiac Arrest During Childbirth Is Rare, But Some Women Face Higher Risks

It's extremely rare, but the number of women suffering cardiac arrest during childbirth is rising in the United States as older, less healthy women have babies, a new study finds.

One in 9,000 women hospitalized during delivery has a cardiac arrest -- a higher rate than previously known, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say.

"We did the study, b...

Postpartum Anxiety: What It Is, Symptoms and Treatments

You may have heard of postpartum depression and “the baby blues,” but did you know that there’s another widely studied mental health condition called postpartum anxiety?

Dr. Erica Newlin, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Westlake, Ohio, said in a

  • Kirstie Ganobsik HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 13, 2023
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  • Could Walks in the Park Ward Off Postpartum Depression?

    New moms who live on tree-lined streets may be somewhat less vulnerable to postpartum depression, according to a new study — the latest to link "green space" to better mental health.

    The study, of medical records from more than 415,000 new mothers, found that those living in ...

    High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Tied to Thinking Problems Later

    A new study links high blood pressure during pregnancy with cognitive issues later in life, adding to known risks such as stroke and heart disease.

    Women with preeclampsia -- high blood pressure during pregnancy that may be accompanied by kidney or other organ damage -- may have even more cognitive decline later compared to those with gestational high blood pressure, which does not affect...

    Could Tiny Plastic Particles Reach the Fetus From Mom's Food? Rat Study Raises Concerns

    Most food and water contains "nano-sized" microplastics, and new animal research suggests these tiny particles pass from pregnant rats to their unborn offspring and may impair fetal development.

    The same could be true in humans, the study suggests.

    “Much remains unknown, but this is certainly cause for concern and follow-up study,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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  • Loneliness a Key Factor in Postpartum Depression

    When expectant or new moms experience depression, known as perinatal depression, loneliness may be a driving factor.

    “We found that loneliness was central to the experiences of expectant and new mothers with depression. We know that depression and loneliness are often interconnected — each one can lead to the other — and this may be particularly true for perinatal depression [which ...

    Preeclampsia Could Slow Fetal Development, Study Finds

    Common pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia may slow infant development in the womb, according to a new study.

    This leads to newborns being biologically younger than their gestational age, according to researchers from universities across the United States who contributed to

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 28, 2023
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  • Kids Born After Elective Induced Labor Performed Worse in School: Study

    You're 38 weeks pregnant and so uncomfortable you can barely move, so you ask your doctor if labor can be induced early.

    That's not necessarily a good idea, according to new research that found children born after elective induced labor may do worse in school.

    Dutch researchers found that 12-year-olds who as newborns were delivered after elective induced labor scored lower on tests...

    Delivering a Plus-Sized Baby Could Be Sign of Diabetes Risk

    Women who give birth to bigger-than-average babies are susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes later in life, a new study suggests.

    Large-for-gestational age infants are defined as those weighing 8 pounds or more, said lead study author Dr. Kartik Kailas Venkatesh, an assistant professor of epidemiology at...

    No Sign That ADHD Meds in Pregnancy Can Raise Odds for ADHD, Autism in Kids

    Children who were exposed to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications their moms took during pregnancy are not more prone to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD or autism, researchers report.

    The news may be welcome to women who’ve needed to take ADHD medication throughout their pregnancy.

    “We can see that the number of women of childbearing age who are...

    Wildfire Smoke May Send Pregnant Women Into Premature Labor

    Exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the risk of premature birth, new research suggests.

    For the study, the researchers reviewed birth certificates and hospital delivery data for more than 2.5 million pregnant women in California from 2007 to 2012, and used satellite images and ZIP codes to compare daily estimates of wildfire smoke intensity.

    The study found that from the four we...

    Marijuana Use in Early Pregnancy Could Raise Risks to the Placenta

    FRIDAY, Feb. 10, 2023 (HealthDay News) – New research links cannabis use in the first trimester of pregnancy to poor outcomes, closely related to functioning of the placenta.

    This is important information given that more U.S. states are legalizing marijuana for recreational use, researchers said. The study findings were presented Thursday at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal M...

    For Baby's Sake, Moms-to-Be Need the Whooping Cough Vaccine: CDC

    Pregnant women can help protect their newborns from whooping cough by getting a Tdap vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked cases of infant whooping cough between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2019.

    The researchers found a link between reduced rates of whooping cough in newborns under 2 months of age and Tdap (tetanu...

    Pregnant Women in Rural America Often Lack Health Insurance, Upping Risks

    New research suggests that pregnant women and new moms in rural U.S. areas are at greater risk of adverse outcomes, including death, because they are more likely to be uninsured.

    Women living in rural communities had lower rates of uninterrupted health insurance before, during and after pregnancy compared to those in urban areas, a University of Michigan study found.

    “Being uninsu...

    Smoking in Pregnancy Has Declined by a Third Since 2016

    There's good news for American mothers-to-be and their newborns: Rates of smoking during pregnancy have fallen by 36% since 2016, a new report finds.

    The percentage of pregnant women who smoked was already low in 2016 compared to decades past: 7.2%. But by 2021, that rate had fallen to just 4.6%. That's according to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), pa...

    Mom's Exposure to Dirty Air in Pregnancy Could Harm a Toddler's Development

    A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.

    Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

    “Our findings sug...

    She Used Pills to Medically Abort -- But Had a Dangerous Ectopic Pregnancy

    In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, access to surgical abortion became increasingly restricted in several states, pushing many women to pursue medication abortions.

    But the case of a 22-year-old who took mifepristone and misoprostol -- bought on the internet to end a pregnancy -- serves as a cautionary tale.

    She was about six week...

    Getting COVID in Pregnancy Greatly Raises a Woman's Odds for Death

    COVID-19 infection in pregnancy raises a woman's risk of death sevenfold and significantly elevates her odds for needing intensive care, a new study finds.

    Getting the virus during pregnancy also ups the likelihood of pneumonia, according to researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

    "This study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date suggesting that CO...

    Blood Test Might Warn of Dangerous Complication of Pregnancy

    An experimental blood test could one day provide early warning for a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, a new study reports.

    Placenta accreta occurs when the placenta — the food and oxygen source for a fetus — grows too deeply into the wall of a woman’s uterus.

    The condition can cause a woman to bleed to death following delivery, especially if it hasn’t been detecte...

    Another Mediterranean Diet Bonus: Healthier Pregnancies

    The Mediterranean diet delivers plenty of health dividends, and new research now discovers it may lower complications during pregnancy.

    Specifically, women who stuck to the diet had a 21% overall reduced risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, delivery of a small baby and stillbirth, researchers report.

    "We know adverse pregnancy outcomes are becoming more common ...

    States That Restrict Abortions Have More Maternal, Infant Deaths

    In U.S. states with more restrictive abortion policies, rates of pregnant women, new mothers and infants dying were higher, a new report finds.

    The analysis, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, found that states with heavily restricted...

    Risk of Newly Developed High Blood Pressure Rises After Pregnancy

    One in 10 women will develop high blood pressure for the first time in their lives during the year after they give birth to a child, a new study finds.

    “The study findings have implications for postpartum care, particularly among patients without a history of hypertension,” said study lead author Samantha Par...

    COVID in Pregnancy Can Vary — Get Vaccinated to Stay Safe

    When pregnant women contract COVID-19, one in 10 will have moderate, severe or even critical symptoms, a new study finds.

    So it's important they get their COVID vaccines, experts say.

    “Given that patients in all trimesters of pregnancy are susceptible to infection and severe respiratory illness from COVID-19, these findings add urgency to the need for vaccination of all pregnant i...

    Even a Little Drinking in Pregnancy Can Reshape Fetal Brain

    Exposure to even low levels of alcohol while in the womb can change the structure of the fetus' brain, according to Austrian researchers.

    The study results suggest that pregnant women should strictly avoid alcohol, one author said.

    “Unfortunately, many pregnant women are unaware of the influenc...

    U.S. Premature Births Hit Highs Not Seen in 15 Years

    More than 1 in every 10 births in the United States now occur prematurely, and the number of these more dangerous deliveries jumped by 4% during 2021, a new report from the March of Dimes shows.

    The premature birth rate has now reached 10.5% of all births — the highest level since 2007, according to the organization focused on maternal and infant health.

    In fact, rates of prematu...

    U.S. Home Births Reach Highest Level in Three Decades

    More pregnant women in the United States are choosing to deliver their babies at home rather than in hospitals, a trend that may have been influenced by the pandemic.

    A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published Thursday showed that 52,000 women gave birth at home in 2021, an incre...

    Progress Against Stillbirths Has Stalled in U.S.

    U.S. stillbirth rates still need to be tackled at the local, state and national levels because efforts to reduce the risk have stalled, new research claims.

    Racial disparities remain as well, with Black women more likely to experience stillbirth (the loss of a baby before or during delivery) than white women.

    "Over the last 40 years, we have reduced certain risk factors for stillbi...

    Pregnancy Is Most Dangerous for the Very Young

    When preteen children or very young teenagers become pregnant, they face higher rates of complications and a greater risk of winding up in the intensive care unit than older teens do, a new study finds.

    The question about what happens when a young girl goes through pregnancy and delivery takes on more relevance after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June and subsequent abo...

    Pregnancy Often More Stressful for Women With Autism

    Women who have autism are more vulnerable during pregnancy to depression and anxiety, according to a new British study.

    That makes it imperative that effective mental health screening and support is available to help this group, said lead researcher Sarah Hampton, from the University of Cambridge.

    ...

    Stress + Air Pollution a Bad Combo in Pregnancy: Study

    Protecting pregnant women from air pollution may improve the birth weight of their babies, a new study suggests.

    This is especially important for stressed-out mothers who live in neighborhoods burdened by poor air quality.

    A mother-to-be's exposure to both

    No Sign That Anesthesia in Pregnancy Affects Child's Later Development

    Moms who have had emergency surgery during pregnancy can rest assured that exposure to anesthesia is not linked to developmental issues in their children, a new study reveals.

    While surgery and anesthesia are typically avoided during pregnancy, up to 1% of pregnant women may require it for unexpected health

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 28, 2022
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  • New Biden Plan Would Help Pregnant Women Fight Opioid Addiction

    Pregnant women addicted to opioids have both a compelling reason to change and a harder time getting medications to battle their substance use disorder.

    Now, a new plan from the Biden administration would expand the use of medications to treat addiction in pregnant women through federal court and h...

    FDA Panel Votes for Removal of Drug Meant to Prevent Preterm Births

    A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Wednesday voted to recommend that a controversial drug meant to prevent premature births be pulled from the market.

    FDA officials have said they want to withdraw...

    FDA, Company Square Off in Hearing Over Drug Meant to Prevent Preterm Births

    In a three-day hearing that began Monday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will give the maker of a drug meant to prevent premature births a chance to show why its drug should not be pulled off the market.

    FDA officials have

  • Cara Murez
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  • October 17, 2022
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  • Pregnancy May Have Women Cutting Back on Smoking Before They Know They've Conceived

    Pregnancy can be a big motivator for women to stop smoking. Now a new study suggests that at least some pregnant smokers start cutting back even before they know they've conceived.

    The findings, researchers say, suggest there may be biological mechanisms during pregnancy that can bl...

    COVID Shot in Pregnancy Helps Baby, Even If Mom's Been Infected: Study

    Pregnant women who get COVID-19 and then get vaccinated before giving birth are more likely than other moms to pass protective antibodies to their newborns, new research shows.

    Babies can't get their own shots until they're

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 29, 2022
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  • Anxiety During Pregnancy Could Mean Earlier Delivery

    Too much anxiety isn't good for anyone, but a new study suggests it is particularly perilous for pregnant women because it can raise the chances of their child being born early.

    Given that finding, the researchers recommended that doctors screen for anxiety during the...

    Freezing Eggs Doesn't Make Future Pregnancy a Done Deal

    While an increasing number of women are freezing their eggs with the hope of having a baby later, a new study shows there are no guarantees.

    Being younger when having the egg retrieval procedure and freezing more...

    Most Pregnancy-Related Deaths in U.S. Could Have Been Prevented

    More than four out of five pregnancy-related deaths in the United States could have been prevented, according to a new federal government report.

    The researchers examined data from

    Umbilical Cords Could Be Lifesavers for Fragile Newborns

    When doctors deliver a healthy newborn, it's common to wait about a minute to clamp and cut the umbilical cord, giving the baby the benefits of extra cord blood as it begins its life outside the womb.

    The same is not true for babies born limp, with minimal breathing. The go-to plan for those babies, known as "non-vigorous" infants, has been to clamp the cord quickly and work on stabilizin...

    Pregnancy Undermines Body Image in Half of Women

    Many women are unhappy with how their bodies look both during and after pregnancy, and it's an issue that can trigger postpartum depression and eating disorders, a new study suggests.

    Researchers from...

    Infections During Pregnancy Show No Causal Link to Autism

    Research has suggested that kids born to moms who had the flu or another infection during pregnancy may be more likely to have autism, but a new study implies infection may not be the cause after all.

    "We found no evidence to suggest that infections contracted by mothers during pregnancy would cause autism in the child," said study author Martin Brynge. He's a doctoral student in the glob...

    Women With Migraines Face Higher Odds for Complications in Pregnancy

    A history of migraine headaches could make a woman more prone to pregnancy complications, such as issues with blood pressure or preterm birth, according to a new study.

    "We now know migraines may be an underrecognized risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes," said study co-author Dr. Natalie Bello, director of hypertension research in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los An...

    Pandemic Silver Lining: Drop in Infections That Cause Birth Defects

    The number of babies born with a virus that commonly causes birth defects may have dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research suggests.

    That was true in Minnesota, the first state to start screening all newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).

    In the five years leading up to the pandemic, about 1 in every 200 babies was born with CMV. That dropped to 1 in...

    Dirty Air Could Raise COVID Risks for Poor Pregnant Women

    While exposure to smog is a known risk factor for preterm birth and low-birth weight, new research suggests it also may heighten risk of COVID-19 infection for pregnant low-income women.

    Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the COVID test results for more than 3,300 pregnant women in New York and also assessed their long-term exposure to

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 8, 2022
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  • Pregnant Women Face Exposures to Dangerous Chemicals Daily

    Pregnant women are exposed to toxic chemicals in dishware, hair coloring, plastics and pesticides that can heighten their risk of cancer and harm child development, a new study warns.

  • By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 30, 2022
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  • Hypertension in Pregnancy Is Getting More Common for Gen Z Women

    Gen Zers and millennials are about twice as likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy than women from the baby boom generation were, a new study finds. This includes conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.

    It's usually believed that the odds of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy rise with the age of the mother, but after taking age into acco...

    Family History of Mental Illness Ups Odds for Postpartum Depression

    Pregnant women with a family history of any mental health condition may be at increased risk of depression after giving birth, a new research review finds.

    In an analysis of 26 studies, researchers found that women with a family history of psychiatric diagnoses were at heightened risk of

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 22, 2022
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  • Change to Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Helped Women

    Using a lower threshold to diagnose pregnancy-related diabetes does not seem to reduce the risk of having a big baby, on average — but some women do benefit, a new clinical trial suggests.

    Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when a pregnant woman's blood sugar levels are abnormally high. The condition can h...

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