Fertility & Pregnancy News

Saving Little Lungs & Lowering CostsReported August 07, 2009 NASHVILLE (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Almost half a million babies are born too early in the United States every year and the cost of caring for them can reach into the millions of dollars. Now a tool used to help adults with sleep apnea is helping preemies breathe easier. Some doctors say the low-cost solution may … [Read more...]

Birth Rates for Older Women Rising -- Report ATLANTA (Reuters)--U.S. women in their 30s and early 40s had higher birth rates in 2003, while births among teenagers fell for the 12th straight year, federal health officials said on Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the rising birth rates among … [Read more...]

Does relaxation during childbirth work?   Reported June 01, 2009 Relaxation and breathing techniques do not reduce the need for drugs during childbirth, a new study indicates. The study from Sweden, which included more than 1,000 women and their partners, found that pre-pregnancy training in breathing, relaxation and … [Read more...]

The Background on Labor ContractionsReported November 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New insight into what happens to the uterus muscles during pregnancy may offer a therapy for preterm labor, the most serious complication of pregnancy in developing countries. During pregnancy, the muscles in the uterus are relatively inactive. When a woman goes into labor, the body is … [Read more...]

Planned relaxation of fertility laws fuels 'designer baby' fears December 21, 2007 A planned relaxation of fertility laws could usher in an era of designer babies, it was claimed last night. Critics said Government proposals to allow genetic experiments on human embryos for the first time will pave the way for genetically modified babies. The … [Read more...]

Understanding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Reported July 08, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – New research sheds light on what may be the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Scientists have developed a mouse model and discovered that an imbalance in the brainstem causes SIDS in mice. SIDS is the leading cause of death during the first year of life in developed … [Read more...]

Female genital cutting raises childbirth risksReported August 13, 2009 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women who underwent female genital cutting as girls are at increased risk of needing an emergency Cesarean section or suffering serious tears during childbirth, a new study finds. It is estimated that more than 130 million women worldwide have undergone female … [Read more...]

Baby Boys May Be at Risk From Mom's Bug Spray UseReported December 02, 2009 WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Male babies of women who use insect repellents during the first three months of pregnancy appear to be at increased risk for a birth defect called hypospadias, researchers report. This birth defect, which affects about two of every 500 male infants, involves … [Read more...]

Premature birth tied to later behavioral problems Reported December 17, 2009 NEW YORK - Children who were born prematurely and at a very low weight may have an increased risk of certain behavior problems and symptoms of depression and anxiety, research suggests. As the survival rates of very preterm newborns have improved in recent years, studies have … [Read more...]

Early Babies: How Soon is too Soon? Reported June 02, 2009 ST. LOUIS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's becoming a common trend: women choosing to deliver their babies early for convenience. Traditionally, the thought was anytime after 37 weeks was OK to deliver. However, recent research may have mothers and their doctors thinking twice before choosing to deliver before 40 weeks. … [Read more...]

Exercise in pregnancy linked to fatal raised blood pressure condition Reported December 02, 2008 The results of a study involving more than 85,000 pregnant women surprised researchers as it was thought exercise would have a beneficial effect. Pregnant women are recommended to take 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per day and the latest … [Read more...]

Fetal Cocaine Exposure has Lasting Effects Reported April 14, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Cocaine abuse by young women of childbearing age is a growing problem. Now, a new study done on monkeys indicates babies exposed to cocaine in the womb may have long lasting brain changes -- especially males. The research showed adult male monkeys who were exposed to cocaine in the womb … [Read more...]

More U.S., French Couples Traveling Abroad For Cheaper Fertility Treatment 08 August, 2007 Many U.S. women are traveling abroad for cheaper fertility treatments, while many French couples are seeking more accessible egg donors abroad, the AP/North County Times reports. In France, fertility treatment is available at no cost; however, the government has … [Read more...]

Good News for Preterm Babies Reported June 08, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – New research may offer hope for extremely preterm infants. Advances in medical interventions have resulted in higher survival rates for extremely preterm infants. In a study of more than 1,000 extremely preterm infants born in Sweden, researchers found encouraging data on live birth and survival … [Read more...]

Fish Advisories may do More Harm Than Good Reported October 21, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers say government advisories warning women of childbearing age about mercury exposure from fish consumption could be doing a lot more harm than good. Joshua Cohen, Ph.D., from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, says, "Fish … [Read more...]

Infertility clinics to be regulatedMar 27 [Health News] New Delhi, Mar 27 : Children born through use of donor egg or sperms will not have right to know the identity of their genetic parents and a child born to a single woman through artifical insemination would be considered legitimate, according to guidelines being mulled by Union … [Read more...]

Passive smoking increases sleep disturbance among pregnant women. 8 November, 2007 WESTCHESTER, Ill. Pregnant women exposed to passive smoking are more likely to have sleep disturbances such as subjective insufficient sleep, difficulty in initiating sleep, short sleep duration, and snoring loudly or breathing … [Read more...]

Post-Partum Depression More Common After Boys BornReported February 14, 2008 A new study says giving birth to a boy is more likely to lower a woman's quality of life and raises her risk of post-partum depression. A team from Univesite Nancy 2 in France found one-third of women had PPD four to eight weeks after giving birth. Three-quarters of those with depression had … [Read more...]

Harvard experts tout fertility dietReported November 12, 2007 NEW YORK - Women trying to get pregnant could boost their chances by adopting a "fertility diet" high in nuts and avocados while cutting down on coffee and alcohol, according to U.S researchers. Boston-based researchers found the majority of cases of infertility due to ovulation disorders in otherwise healthy … [Read more...]

Microbes Protect Against Future AllergiesReported December 10, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A pregnant woman's exposure to microbes may protect her unborn child from developing allergies later in life. Researchers in Marburg, Germany found exposure to environmental bacteria triggered a mild inflammatory response in pregnant mice that rendered their offspring resistant to … [Read more...]

Heavy women likelier to become pregnant while on the pill, study finds Dec. 29, 2004 Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to get pregnant while taking birth control pills than women of normal weight, new research finds.In the group of women studied, 5 percent of overweight women taking the pill got … [Read more...]

New Tool may Save Babies with Heart DefectReported November 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects. The tool was developed to aid doctors in preparing for the “Fontan" surgery. Babies who get the surgery have a developmental … [Read more...]

Family Genes Linked to Preeclampsia Preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening form of high blood pressure during pregnancy, can run in families, a new study shows. If untreated, preeclampsia can damage the mother’s liver or kidneys, deprive the fetus of oxygen, and cause maternal seizures (eclampsia). Sons and daughters born from … [Read more...]

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Helps PreemiesReported January 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Research shows preterm infant girls who received a high intake of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, had improvements in their neurodevelopment. Infants who receive an inadequate supply of nutrients during the newborn period are at risk for developmental disorders. DHA … [Read more...]

Pregnant Women Need Flu ProtectionReported September 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Both the seasonal flu and the swine flu are spreading fast across the United States. Pregnant women are at a greater risk of the flu’s harmful effects. Experts say mothers-to-be should take precautions to protect themselves. The H1N1 (swine) flu is caused by a virus. The typical body … [Read more...]

Russia: 64% of Pregnancies End in Abortion Reported October 01, 2008 ST. PETERSBURG, September 31, 2008 (LifeSIteNews.com) – Alarmingly high abortion rates in Russia are leaving an increasing number of women infertile, said Marina Tarasova, deputy head of the St. Petersburg Research Institute For Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Russian Academy of … [Read more...]

Scientists Create Monkey Stem CellsReported December 31, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The successful creation of the first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line from adult monkey skin may have important implications for direct reprogramming capabilities across different species. Previous studies have shown that induction of four key transcription factors can reprogram … [Read more...]

Four abortion clinics raided in BarcelonaNovember 26, 2007 A Civil Guard swoop on clinics in Barcelona arrested six people on Monday, in a case which is investigating alleged illegal abortions. El Mundo names the four clinics searched as the TBC, Emece, Ginemedex and Fundación Morón, which are all in the Tres Torres area of the … [Read more...]

Fewer expectant mothers report drinking while pregnant   Reported January 21, 2009 Fewer than one in ten pregnant women in Sweden report drinking alcohol when asked by maternity clinics, a new survey shows. Maja and Lukas top popular names list in Sweden (19 Jan 09)Physio cautioned for ovary examination (22 Dec 08) Sweden … [Read more...]

The Dos and Don'ts of Eating During PregnancyReported July 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Mothers' health in the days and weeks prior to conception may determine the offspring’s health much later in life, according to a group of new studies. These studies demonstrate maternal nutrition, protein intake and level of fat in the diet may cause changes in the developing fetus … [Read more...]