News
U. S. fertility rate dropped to another record low in 2025, CDC report shows
3+ hour, 38+ min ago (365+ words) The U. S. fertility rate fell to 53. 1 births per 1, 000 women in 2025, down 1% from 2024. That's a new record low. The U. S. fertility rate has dropped to a record low, continuing a downward trend that has persisted for years. Last year, the fertility rate fell…...
Common chemicals used in plastics linked to millions of premature births
1+ week, 2+ day ago (433+ words) Exposure during pregnancy to phthalates, a common type of chemical used in many plastics, is linked to millions of preterm births worldwide, a new study finds. Chemicals commonly found in plastics contributed to nearly 2 million premature births worldwide in 2018, a…...
Breastfeeding is ideal for child and parent health but challenging for most families " here's how to find support
6+ mon, 5+ day ago (508+ words) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends caregivers breastfeed their child for up to two years. However, many new parents are unable to reach these breastfeeding goals and find it very difficult to get breastfeeding going. Combined with inadequate support, some…...
Babies understand deceit as early as 8 months old. By age 3, children are adept 'little liars"
3+ week, 2+ day ago (520+ words) Babies begin understanding deception as early as 8 months old, new research shows. As children get older, their attempts at deceit become more elaborate. Some children begin attempting to deceive their parents before their first birthdays, a new study suggests. About…...
Number of abortions in New Jersey has steadily risen since Roe v. Wade was overturned
3+ mon, 5+ day ago (523+ words) The number of abortions in New Jersey has steadily climbed since the U. S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion in 2022, a new report has found. New Jersey's abortion providers performed 4, 920 abortions in June, up 21% from 4, 060 in June 2022, when…...
Vaccine committee votes to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns despite outcry from health experts
4+ mon, 2+ day ago (830+ words) A CDC vaccine advisory committee voted to stop recommending that all newborns be routinely vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus " undoing a strategy that has nearly eliminated early childhood hepatitis B infections in the United States. The committee advising the…...
People test out parenthood by getting dogs " but not cats
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (379+ words) A study out of Taiwan finds that getting a dog raises the probability of having a baby by 33%, but getting a cat lowers it. It turns out that getting a dog may not serve as a substitute for having a…...
Is COVID during pregnancy linked to autism? What a new study shows, and what it doesn't
5+ mon, 1+ day ago (882+ words) Babies whose mothers had COVID-19 while pregnant were slightly more likely to have a range of neurodevelopmental diagnoses by age 3, a new study shows. A large study from Massachusetts has found that babies whose mothers had COVID-19 while pregnant were…...
Back pain during pregnancy is often dismissed as a passing discomfort, but it should be taken seriously
5+ mon, 16+ hour ago (938+ words) Many expectant mothers experience pain during pregnancy that is largely untreated. Many also are unaware of the harms it can cause, including depression and mental health challenges. About half to three-quarters of expectant mothers experience pain during pregnancy that is…...
Trump's claims on Tylenol's link to autism draw rebuke from scientists
6+ mon, 2+ week ago (764+ words) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump claim that using Tylenol while pregnant may cause autism. Scientists say research is inconclusive. President Donald Trump and his top health officials on Monday declared, without presenting definitive…...