Fertility & Pregnancy News

Birth defects on the rise in China's capital, health bureau says Reported September 15, 2009 BEIJING — The number of birth defects in China's capital has almost doubled in the last decade, the city's health bureau said. There were 170 birth defects per every 10,000 births in Beijing last year, compared with 90 per 10,000 in 1997, it said. … [Read more...]

China to provide free pre-pregnancy health screening Reported January 16, 2009 BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China will provide free pre-pregnancy health screenings to women who plan to become pregnant in order to prevent birth defects, China's National Population and Family Planning Commission announced here on Thursday. "Presently … [Read more...]

One baby with syphilis born every hour in China: study Reported May 06, 2010 HONG KONG — One child was born with syphilis every hour in China in 2008, researchers said Thursday, as new money from the country's growing economy fuels the world's fastest-growing epidemic of the disease. Syphilis was almost wiped out in China 50 years ago, but … [Read more...]

Nearly half of pregnant women in Southern China's poor areas do not get tested for syphilis, study shows Reported 12 November 2011 "Nearly half of pregnant women do not get tested for syphilis in poor areas of southern China where the sexually transmitted disease has seen a resurgence, researchers said Wednesday" in a study published in the … [Read more...]

Rise of abortion in young Chinese Women Reported May 12, 2011 According to a government tally, 9.2 million abortions were performed in 2008, up from 7.6 million in 2007. But the count only includes hospitals, and state media report the total could be as high as 13 million. If accurate, that would give China among the highest abortion rates … [Read more...]

Pollution linked to birth defects Reported 19th July 2011 Maternal exposure to coal smoke and pesticides severely increases the likelihood of giving birth to deformed babies, according to a recent Chinese study. The researchers focused on mothers living in one of central China's coal-producing regions, Shanxi province, and found birth … [Read more...]

Mother’s depression not linked to child’s growth Reported May 11, 2010 Young children whose mothers have long-lasting postpartum depression do not seem to suffer any ill effects on their growth and weight gain. Depression in women during pregnancy or the first year following delivery (post-partum) is on the rise with most of these … [Read more...]

Avoid stress and exercise lots during pregnancy Reported December 02, 2008 Pregnant women are taking the plunge and doing antenatal aquarobics as new research has shown that water workouts make labour less painful. Three-quarters of women who did aquarobics regularly during their pregnancy for the study did not need painkillers during … [Read more...]

Breastfed baby picks up yellow fever virus Reported February 12, 2010 A breastfed baby contracted the yellow fever vaccine virus in Brazil a week after its mother was immunised against the disease, report health officials today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The case is the first of its kind to be confirmed anywhere in the … [Read more...]

Dealing with the emotional drain of fertility problems Reported June 05, 2008 Maria Cardoso, 32, and her husband, Flavio, spent the first years of their marriage pursuing their master's degrees in business administration, enjoying their dual incomes and traveling the world together. Five years later, when the Palatine couple decided to … [Read more...]

Having a Baby: Exercise May Reduce Need for an Epidural Reported December 02, 2008 In addition to its other well-known benefits, exercise during pregnancy may help women reduce the need for anesthesia when they give birth, a small study has found. Researchers assigned 34 pregnant women to a water aerobics exercise program three times a week, 50 … [Read more...]

Aquarobics helps ease labour pains Reported December 18, 2008 Pregnant women are taking the plunge and doing antenatal aquarobics as new research has shown that water workouts make labour less painful. Three-quarters of women who did aquarobics regularly during their pregnancy for the study did not need painkillers during delivery, but 65 per … [Read more...]

Brazil has high rate of Caesarean births Reported August 20, 2008 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—When Joyce Provedel went into labor with her first child, she had planned on giving birth the age-old way, no matter how long it took or how much pain it meant. Her doctor, however, had his own ideas. He worked for one of Rio de Janeiro's most popular … [Read more...]

fitness news , Font size Fertility & Pregnancy Dying During Delivery - Heart Failure Kills Moms-To-Be   - Reported, March 15, 2012   (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Small for their gestational age, infants account for approximately 10 percent of births, and increased maternal risk for ischemic heart disease in women. Until now, … [Read more...]

The Pros and Cons of Inhaled Asthma Medicine for Pregnant Women   Reported December 22, 2011   (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Inhaled glucocorticoids used to treat asthma during pregnancy isn’t associated with an increased risk of most disease in offspring, but it could cause endocrine and metabolic disturbances, according to this study. In a … [Read more...]

Women with Lupus Can Have Successful Pregnancies   Reported November 9, 2011   (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Promising research may offer hope for women with lupus who once believed that pregnancy was too risky. According to this study, most women with stable lupus can have successful pregnancies. "There was a misconception, based on outdated experience, … [Read more...]

Rejuvenating Old Eggs   Reported October 28, 2011 By Alicia Rose DelGallo, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent   (Ivanhoe Newswire) – The accepted view of female reproduction includes a pre-determined amount of eggs in the ovaries. This population of eggs becomes depleted over time, resulting in infertility among older women. Jonathon L. … [Read more...]

Poor Sleep During Pregnancy Could Lead to Preemies   Reported November 2 2011   (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Poor sleep quality in both early and late pregnancy had been linked to an increased risk of delivering preterm, according to this study. "This supports the growing evidence that poor sleep is an important risk factor for preterm birth," Michele … [Read more...]

Woman Gives Birth After Completing Marathon   Reported 13 Oct 2011   27-year-old marathon runner Amber Miller was nearly 39 weeks pregnant when she completed the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, but instead of putting her feet up and having a good rest, she went straight to hospital to give birth: her contractions started within minutes of … [Read more...]