Pregnant and feeling the blues? A recent study suggests that prenatal depression (depression during pregnancy) might be linked to an increased risk of heart and blood vessel issues for up to two years after giving birth. The study funded by the US National Institutes of Health suggests that experiencing depression during pregnancy may raise the…

A recent study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University has found that consuming THC (the main active ingredient in cannabis) during pregnancy could have negative effects on fetal development and lead to long-term health problems for the child. Published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics, the research was carried out using a non-human…

An article at ScienceDaily discusses a comprehensive analysis of almost 100 studies that highlights the importance of dietitian involvement in managing weight gain during pregnancy. The research team, led by maternal health expert Professor Shakila Thangaratinam from the University of Birmingham, analyzed data from nearly 35,000 participants across 99 studies published over the past 30…

An article titled “The Science Behind the Brain-Altering Impact of Your First Pregnancy” by Lucy Jones discusses the profound changes that occur in a woman’s brain during and after pregnancy. Jones, who experienced these changes firsthand, delves into the science behind why she felt like a completely different person after giving birth. The author compares…

An article from WebMD discusses recent research that has found a link between exposure to certain chemicals, known as “forever chemicals”, and low birth weight and obesity. “Forever chemicals” is a term used to describe a group of about 15,000 chemicals known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are used in a wide range of…

A new study has been published about a technique called “umbilical cord milking”. This is a method where blood from the umbilical cord is moved into a newborn’s body. It’s particularly beneficial for babies who are “nonvigorous” – meaning they’re a bit weak, pale, and not breathing much. In the past, doctors found that this…

A new discovery has been made by a team of researchers led by Marlena Fejzo, an obstetrics researcher. They believe they’ve found the cause of morning sickness, a common symptom experienced by pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester. In some cases (about 2% or 1 in 50 pregnancies), morning sickness can become severe, a…

A new study digs deep into the role of maternal age in the development of non-chromosomal congenital anomalies (NCAs)—basically, birth defects that aren’t related to chromosomes. The research, conducted in Hungary, involved over 31,000 cases and compared them to 2.8 million live births in the country. The findings suggest that both very young and older…

This research paper investigates how certain genetic markers in a baby’s umbilical cord blood may be linked to rapid weight growth in the first year of life. These findings could give us clues about early life conditions and their link to diseases later in life, such as childhood obesity. The study pooled data from six…