News
Risk of death due to pregnancy is vastly underestimated
6+ hour, 17+ min ago (525+ words) Commonly cited statistics on the mortality risk of pregnancy when compared to abortion in the US are a vast undercount, according to a new study. Amid national discussions of the importance of abortion access for maternal health, the goal of…...
Wildfire smoke exposure in pregnancy may raise autism risk in kids
2+ day, 5+ hour ago (546+ words) Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study. The study in Environmental Science & Technology analyzed more than 200,000 births in Southern California…...
Vitamin C may protect fertility against harmful chemical
3+ week, 2+ day ago (300+ words) A new discovery reveals that vitamin C may help protect reproductive health from a harmful environmental chemical. Using a fish model, researchers found that exposure to potassium perchlorate, a chemical commonly used in explosives and fireworks, can harm sperm production,…...
How do some mammals hit pause on pregnancy?
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (381+ words) Some mammals can hit pause on a pregnancy and understanding how that happens could help us treat cancer, researchers report. Now, a new study in Genes & Development reveals how diapaused embryonic stem cells of mice maintain their ability to become…...
Hot, humid weather during pregnancy is more dangerous than heat alone
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (923+ words) Hot, humid conditions during pregnancy undermine child health much more than heat alone, according to new research. The dangers of heat and humidity are so well known it's become cliche to mention them. But the impacts can extend farther than…...
FDA drug trials are leaving out a lot of Americans
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (539+ words) A new study finds just 6% of clinical trials used to approve new drugs in the US reflect the country's racial and ethnic makeup, with an increasing trend of trials underrepresenting Black and Hispanic individuals. The findings arrive amidst a push…...
1 food swap alters breast milk in less than a week
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (501+ words) Swapping beef for a plant-based meat substitute changed breast milk composition in just six days'even when the rest of the diet was made up of whole, unprocessed foods'according to a first-of-its-kind study. The findings in the American Journal of Clinical…...
High temps may lead to delays in child development
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (285+ words) Climate change'including high temperatures and heat waves'has been shown to pose serious risks to the environment, food systems, and human health, but new research finds that it may also lead to delays in early childhood development. Published in the Journal…...
Drug for inducing labor works better at the right time of day
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (520+ words) Researchers have found that the effectiveness of oxytocin'a common medication used to induce or speed up labor'depends on the time of day it's administered, especially for patients with gestational diabetes. It's a discovery that could shift labor and delivery practices…...
Wildfire smoke tied to higher odds of preterm birth
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (549+ words) A new study links wildfire smoke to increased odds of preterm birth. About 10% of American babies are born prematurely. Birth before 37 weeks can lead to a cascade of health risks, both immediate and long-term, making prevention a vital tool for…...