http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/Pregnancy-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Fri, 25 May 2012 06:57:14 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-risk-of-autism-or-developmental-delay-if-stricken-with-fever-during-pregnancy-101721-1.htm Mothers afflicted with fevers during their pregnancies run more than twice the chance of having a child with autism or developmental delay than mothers who have no such condition, find researchers. Taking medication to treat fever can counter its effect, the team of UC Davis researchers said. "Our study provides strong evidence that controlling fevers while pregnant may be effective in modifying the risk of having a child with autism or developmental delay," said Ousseny Zerbo, lead author of the study, who was a Ph....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-risk-of-autism-or-developmental-delay-if-stricken-with-fever-during-pregnancy-101721-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/excess-weight-before-and-during-pregnancy-can-result-in-larger-babies-101675-1.htm Researchers including one of Indian origin say that women with excess weight, both before pregnancy and gained during pregnancy, may be at risk of having larger than average babies, which can result in increased risk of cesarean section or trauma during delivery. It is also found that women with diabetes in pregnancy or gestational diabetes are at increased risk of having a large-for-gestational-age baby. Called macrosomia, it is defined as an infant whose weight is above the 90th percentile ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/excess-weight-before-and-during-pregnancy-can-result-in-larger-babies-101675-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/weight-management-with-diet-can-reduce-complications-during-pregnancy-101420-1.htm Following a healthy calorie controlled diet during pregnancy is safe for women who are overweight and obese. Reducing weight can help lower the risk of serious complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and premature birth, according to a study published on BMJ. In the UK, more than half the women of reproductive age are overweight or obese, and across Europe and the US, up to 40% of women gain more than the recommended weight in pregnancy. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/weight-management-with-diet-can-reduce-complications-during-pregnancy-101420-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-anti-hiv-drug-tenofovir-is-safe-to-take-during-pregnancy-101354-1.htm A study by a team of international researchers published in this week's iPLoS Medicine/i shows pre-birth exposure to the anti-HIV drug tenofovir does not adversely affect pregnancy outcomes and does not increase birth defects, growth abnormalities, or kidney problems in infants born to African women who are HIV positive, supporting the use of this drug during pregnancy. The researchers led by Diana Gibb from the MRC Clinical Trials Unit in London, UK, analyzed data collected on pregnancy ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-anti-hiv-drug-tenofovir-is-safe-to-take-during-pregnancy-101354-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/key-clues-to-a-dangerous-complication-of-pregnancy-uncovered-101126-1.htm Important new clues behind peripartum cardiomyopathy - a form of heart failure that develops late in pregnancy or shortly after delivery have been uncovered by scientists. Peripartum cardiomyopathy results in a frightening turn of events that can leave new mothers suffering from a lifelong chronic heart condition Research provides the first clear evidence that peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a vascular disease, brought about by an imbalance of angiogenic proteins in the heart during the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/key-clues-to-a-dangerous-complication-of-pregnancy-uncovered-101126-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/smoking-during-pregnancy-may-augment-the-chances-of-autism-in-children-100916-1.htm Researchers claim that children might suffer from high functioning autism if their mothers resorted to smoking during pregnancy. Professor Amy Kalkbrenner, the lead author from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health stated, "It has long been known that autism is an umbrella term for a wide range of disorders that impair social and communication skills." She further added, "What we are seeing is that some disorders on the autism spectrum, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/smoking-during-pregnancy-may-augment-the-chances-of-autism-in-children-100916-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/hormone-adrenomedullin-may-help-predict-ectopic-pregnancy-100830-1.htm Hormone adrenomedullin may help predict tubal ectopic pregnancy, shows study published in iJournal of Clinical Endocrinology (and) Metabolism/i. TEP is a condition where the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes instead of in the uterus. In pregnant women, cilia (small protuberances) pulsate, or beat, to propel an embryo through the fallopian tubes towards the uterus. Defects in ciliary beats and muscle contractions may predispose a woman to TEP. With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/hormone-adrenomedullin-may-help-predict-ectopic-pregnancy-100830-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/anti-hiv-drug-use-during-pregnancy-does-not-affect-infant-size-birth-weight-study-100791-1.htm According to findings from a National Institutes of Health network study, infants born to women who used the anti-HIV drug 'tenofovir' as part of an anti-HIV drug regimen during pregnancy do not weigh less at birth and are not of shorter length than infants born to women who used anti-HIV drug regimens that do not include 'tenofovir' during pregnancy. Children born to the tenofovir-treated mothers, however, at 1 year of age, were slightly shorter and had slightly smaller head circumference-about ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/anti-hiv-drug-use-during-pregnancy-does-not-affect-infant-size-birth-weight-study-100791-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/experts-say-prescription-drug-use-in-pregnancy-is-unclear-100653-1.htm Not enough is known about the adverse effects caused by prescription drugs during pregnancy on the developing fetus. These findings are contained in a new review published in iThe Obstetrician (and) Gynaecologist/i (iTOG/i) today (27 April). The majority of women take prescriptions for pregnancy-related complaints and minor infections. However, a small proportion of women receive medication for treatment for chronic diseases such as asthma, depression or hypertension. The prevalence ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/experts-say-prescription-drug-use-in-pregnancy-is-unclear-100653-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obese-and-underweight-women-risk-complications-during-pregnancy-100352-1.htm A new study of more than 3000 expectant mothers has confirmed that both obese and underweight women are at risk of developing problems during pregnancy, labor and complications for the baby's health. Researchers at University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, in Granada, have identified the risks in pregnancy related specifically to obesity and have compared them to underweight women to confirm that extreme slimness also carries a risk. "During pregnancy, obesity is linked to hypertension, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obese-and-underweight-women-risk-complications-during-pregnancy-100352-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/canadian-study-to-determine-whether-weight-gain-during-pregnancy-could-lead-to-above-average-birth-weight-100283-1.htm Canadian researchers are hoping to check whether overweight or obese mothers are more likely to give birth to above average weight babies according to a report published in the Journal of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. The report is part of the journal's Health Care Reform series. Off-label prescribing is the practice of using prescription medications for indications that have not received regulatory approval. The practice is suspected to be a factor of preventable adverse medication ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/canadian-study-to-determine-whether-weight-gain-during-pregnancy-could-lead-to-above-average-birth-weight-100283-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/reason-behind-high-blood-pressure-in-pregnancy-discovered-100111-1.htm Changes in the gene expression of a key enzyme has been blamed for rise in blood pressure that increase the susceptibility to forming blood clots in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. These findings could provide clues to the best treatment approaches for high blood pressure and the formation of blood clots that can block blood flow to a pregnant woman's internal organs and lead to organ failure. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have been working to determine ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/reason-behind-high-blood-pressure-in-pregnancy-discovered-100111-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-warns-obese-women-to-lose-weight-before-pregnancy-100087-1.htm A new study has warned obese women to lose their body weight before pregnancy, as they are more likely to give birth to smaller babies, making them more vulnerable to diseases. "We can see fat sequestered in the placentas of obese mothers when it should be going to the baby to support its growth. The nutrient supply region in the placenta of an obese mother is half the size of that of a normal-weight mother, even when both are eating the same healthy diet," said Yuan-Xiang Pan, a U of I professor of nutrition....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-warns-obese-women-to-lose-weight-before-pregnancy-100087-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/abnormalities-in-embryo-dna-methylation-may-cause-early-pregnancy-loss-99524-1.htm bInsufficient maintenance methylation in the embryo, and not in the mother, is associated with abnormal embryonic development in human early pregnancy loss, according to a Chinese study published in the journal BMC Medicine. /b Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL) is the medical term for miscarriage or abortion within the sixth week of conception. Although chromosomal abnormality in the embryo, endocrine diseases in the mother, immunologic factors or even environmental influences may cause ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/abnormalities-in-embryo-dna-methylation-may-cause-early-pregnancy-loss-99524-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-diet-history-questionnaire-in-pregnancy-99444-1.htm bA study in Japan indicates that a diet history questionnaire has acceptable accuracy and reproducibility in assessing vitamin B12 and folate intake in pregnant women/b. Vitamin B12 and folate are two important micronutrients in the diet that are essential during pregnancy for the normal development of the fetus. It is important that these micronutrients be taken in adequate amounts for proper development of the fetus. How does one assess if the intake of these micronutrients ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-diet-history-questionnaire-in-pregnancy-99444-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-ups-heart-attack-risk-99351-1.htm Recent study says that pregnant women are at higher heart attack risk. The changes brought about by pregnancy, including the dramatic shift in hormones and increased volume of blood being pumped through the body, can increase a woman's risk of heart attack during pregnancy and in the 12 weeks after delivery. There is limited clinical information about how to optimally treat-and perhaps, more importantly, how not to treat-heart attacks during pregnancy and post partum. This study, which ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-ups-heart-attack-risk-99351-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-after-breast-cancer-treatment-safe-or-not-99172-1.htm A new study presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Vienna has dismissed popular belief that it is not safe to become pregnant after receiving treatment for breast cancer. There has been a widespread belief that getting pregnant after being treated for breast cancer could see a recurrence of the cancer due to high levels of hormones during pregnancy. However researchers led by Dr Hatem Azim from Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels found no evidence that becoming pregnant was the reason for the recurrence....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-after-breast-cancer-treatment-safe-or-not-99172-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/research-reveals-what-makes-a-successful-pregnancy-99147-1.htm A new study that explains what goes into the making of a successful pregnancy reveals fertility problems, recurrent miscarriages, and pregnancy complications can occur when maternal immunological tolerance of the fetus is impaired. Gerard Chaouat and colleagues from Inserm et Assistance Publique et Universite Paris Sud Orsay, Hopital Antoine Beclere, Clamart Cedex, France (now in Hopital Saint Louis, Paris), trace the evolution of the science of reproductive immunology to show how the current ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/research-reveals-what-makes-a-successful-pregnancy-99147-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-perked-up-jessica-simpson-sex-appetite-99045-1.htm With only a couple of weeks to deliver a baby, Jessica Simpson has revealed that her sex life has been revved during her pregnancy. The Fashion Star mentor, 31, opened up about her steamy sessions with footballer fiance Eric Johnson on radio show 'On Air With Ryan Seacrest'. "I am definitely 'feeling intimate," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying on the show. "I'm kind of unstoppable right now. The Big O is, like, the biggest O ever!" she said. She also explained that former NFL pro Johnson, 32, is : "Always ready....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/pregnancy-perked-up-jessica-simpson-sex-appetite-99045-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/chicken-pox-during-pregnancy-is-risky-98945-1.htm The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada are recommending that pregnant women or women planning to conceive should know whether they are immune to chickenpox as the varicella zoster virus poses a high risk both to the pregnant women and to their fetuses.The recommendations suggest that women who are planning to conceive and who are not immune to the virus should be vaccinated at least 4-weeks before conception. While, women who are already pregnant should not be vaccinated during ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/chicken-pox-during-pregnancy-is-risky-98945-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/mothers-lifestyle-during-pregnancy-linked-to-childhood-obesity-98861-1.htm New evidence has linked womb environment to childhood obesity.On testing the umbilical cord blood scientists at Newcastle University found changes around the DNA in the genes that are linked to body weight. They linked these changes to a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) in children aged about 9-years. These changes may result from exposure to environmental factors like pollution or mother's diet, hormones or exposure to stress, smoking particularly in the womb and during early childhood.Lead researcher Dr....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mothers-lifestyle-during-pregnancy-linked-to-childhood-obesity-98861-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/backache-linked-to-zero-exercise-during-pregnancy-98549-1.htm Postural changes during the pregnancy months is when back pain problems begin in over 50 percent of cases, the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) has said. Out of 510 patients reporting back pain, nearly 43 percent were women. Among them, nearly 82 percent had done no exercises at all during pregnancy. "Complaints of backache during and immediately after pregnancy are very common. The increasing weight and the forward shift of the centre of gravity add to the problem," said H.S. Chhabra, medical director of the south Delhi-based ISIC....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/backache-linked-to-zero-exercise-during-pregnancy-98549-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/effect-of-antidepressant-treatment-during-pregnancy-98472-1.htm Maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) appears to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms, reduced fetal growth and increased risk of preterm birth, reveals report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry. SSRIs are commonly prescribed to treat depression but information about their potential unintended effects on the unborn child is limited, the authors write in their study background. Hanan El Marroun, Ph.D., of Sophia Children's Hospital ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/effect-of-antidepressant-treatment-during-pregnancy-98472-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/chances-of-pregnancy-increased-for-ivf-patients-by-new-equipment-design-98228-1.htm A new system for processing embryos during IVF treatment has greatly improved the chances of pregnancy - by more than a quarter. Pioneered by a Newcastle team of fertility experts at the University and within the NHS, the innovative design of interlinked incubators provides a totally enclosed and controlled environment within which every step of the IVF process can be performed. Research published today in the journal IPLoS ONE/I reveals that the introduction of the new system into ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/chances-of-pregnancy-increased-for-ivf-patients-by-new-equipment-design-98228-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-pregnancy-complications-and-heart-disease-risk-97745-1.htm Women with pregnancy complications are at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, say researchers. "We wanted to learn about possible explanations as to why women with pregnancy complications tend to have more heart disease later in life," said Abigail Fraser, M.P.H., Ph.D., School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Researchers studied 3,416 pregnant women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the early 1990s....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-pregnancy-complications-and-heart-disease-risk-97745-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/lack-of-vitamin-d-during-pregnancy-tied-to-speech-problems-in-kids-97606-1.htm Researchers have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and speech problems in children. Women who suffer from Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy are twice at risk of giving birth to children who may face difficulties with speech. The study, the largest of its kind, looked at Vitamin D concentrations during the pregnancies of more than 740 women, whose children were followed up regularly until 17 years. Andrew Whitehouse, associate professor at the Telethon Institute for Child ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/lack-of-vitamin-d-during-pregnancy-tied-to-speech-problems-in-kids-97606-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/high-levels-of-cadmium-lead-in-blood-linked-to-pregnancy-delay-97312-1.htm A recent study states that higher blood levels of cadmium in females and lead in males, delayed pregnancy in couples. Cigarette smoke is the most common source of exposure to cadmium,, a toxic metal found in the earth's crust, which is used in batteries, pigments, metal coatings and plastics. Smokers are estimated to have twice the levels of cadmium as do non-smokers. Exposure also occurs in workplaces where cadmium-containing products are made, and from the air near industrial facilities that emit cadmium....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/high-levels-of-cadmium-lead-in-blood-linked-to-pregnancy-delay-97312-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/age-does-not-influence-risks-of-pregnancy-via-egg-donation-among-women-96962-1.htm A study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers has suggested that although women over age 50 who become pregnant via egg donation are at an elevated risk for developing complications, their complication rates are similar to those of younger recipients. The study is to be published in the February 2012 issue of the IAmerican Journal of Perinatology/I. This is contrary to epidemiological data suggesting that these women are at greater risk of certain complications of pregnancy, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/age-does-not-influence-risks-of-pregnancy-via-egg-donation-among-women-96962-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/fish-oil-capsules-during-pregnancy-protects-babies-against-eczema-96899-1.htm Taking fish oil capsules during pregnancy may protect your baby from eczema, according to scientists at the Adelaide University.Tests of 700 pregnant women with a family history of eczema showed that children whose mothers had taken Omega-3 supplements during pregnancy, were 1/3rd less likely to develop the dry-skin condition, compared with women who took a placebo.Scientists believe that Omegap-3 fatty acids passed on via the placenta, affect the unborn baby's immune system which protects against eczema....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/fish-oil-capsules-during-pregnancy-protects-babies-against-eczema-96899-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/babys-heart-may-be-damaged-if-overweight-mothers-smoke-during-pregnancy-96862-1.htm Research published online in IHeart/I says that mums-to-be who are both overweight and smoke during their pregnancy risk damaging their baby's developing heart. Congenital heart abnormalities are some of the most common defects found at birth, with around eight in every 1000 babies affected. A likely cause is only found in 15% of cases. The authors base their findings on an analysis of almost 800 babies and foetuses who were born with congenital heart abnormalities, but no other defects, between 1997 and 2008....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/babys-heart-may-be-damaged-if-overweight-mothers-smoke-during-pregnancy-96862-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/does-early-growth-outcomes-of-children-depend-on-food-supplements-during-pregnancy-a-study-from-bangladesh-96698-1.htm bIt is well known that a pregnant woman needs good nutrients, but in a developing country like Bangladesh it is common to find pregnant malnourished 'carrying' women./b Not much is known about the optimal timings for feeding an underweight or low BMI pregnant woman or about the effects of bMultiple Micronutrients Supplement/b (MMS) interventions on postnatal child growth. A study was undertaken in Bangladesh to evaluate the effect of prenatal food and multiple micronutrients intervention....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/does-early-growth-outcomes-of-children-depend-on-food-supplements-during-pregnancy-a-study-from-bangladesh-96698-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/private-clinics-can-advertise-pregnancy-services-on-tv-96536-1.htm Recent regulations will permit clinics to advertise pregnancy services on television and radio. Earlier, the not-for-profit pregnancy services had the permission to advertise pregnancy services on television and radio. The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) said that private clinics which charge for pregnancy services, including abortions, will now be permitted to advertise on television and radio. Through their advertisements they can offer a variety of "post-conception advice services" ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/private-clinics-can-advertise-pregnancy-services-on-tv-96536-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Pregnancy-Drug-DES-Found-to-Increase-Risk-of-Certain-Types-of-Cancer-96506-1.htm A pregnancy drug that was popularly prescribed during 1938 and 1971 has been found to increase the risk of certain cancers among the children and grandchildren of the women who had taken the drug. Known as diethylstilboestrol, or DES, the drug was falsely believed to reduce the risk of miscarriage among pregnant women. However the drug was banned by the FDA after it was found to increase the risk of a certain type of vaginal cancer among the children of women who had taken the drug. More than (Dollor) 1....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Pregnancy-Drug-DES-Found-to-Increase-Risk-of-Certain-Types-of-Cancer-96506-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Many-Teens-Unaware-That-Unprotected-Sex-Leads-to-Pregnancy-96420-1.htm A recent survey carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that more than a third of teenage mothers who did not use protection when having sex admitted that they had no idea they could get pregnant. The survey polled more than 5,000 teenage girls in 19 states who gave birth due to unplanned pregnancies between 2004 and 2008. The researchers found that over half of the girls did not use any protection the last time they had sex. While the researchers from CDC did ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Many-Teens-Unaware-That-Unprotected-Sex-Leads-to-Pregnancy-96420-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Unsafe-Pregnancy-Terminations-on-the-Rise-96291-1.htm A dramatic increase is seen in the proportion of unsafe abortions, says report published by The Lancet. Between 1995 and 2003, the number of abortions around the world for every 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 fell from 35 to 29. But in 2008, the rate was almost unchanged, at 28 per 1,000, due to a surge in abortions in developing countries. This rose from 44 percent of the total in 1995 to nearly one in two -- 49 percent -- in 2008, inflicting a traumatic toll in death and injury....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Unsafe-Pregnancy-Terminations-on-the-Rise-96291-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Alcohol-Consumption-Increases-Risk-of-Fetal-Alcohol-Syndrome-Especially-During-First-Trimester-96247-1.htm Expectant mothers should avoid drinking as they can increase the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. A recent study has also found that the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome was highest if a pregnant woman consumed alcohol during the second half of her first trimester of pregnancy. "The take-home message is that there's not a low threshold level below which drinking alcohol doesn't raise the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, said study author Dr. Christina Chambers of the University of California, San Diego....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Alcohol-Consumption-Increases-Risk-of-Fetal-Alcohol-Syndrome-Especially-During-First-Trimester-96247-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Early-Food-Supplementation-During-Pregnancy-Improves-Child-Growth-96208-1.htm bEarly food supplementation during pregnancy improves early child growth. It has a positive impact on preventing stunting during the first five years./b The burden of fetal under-nutrition is carried by developing countries across the world. The immediate survival and lifelong health of infants are adversely affected by fetal under-nutrition. Previous studies had highlighted the need for improving maternal diet through micronutrient rich foods. Nutritional status of mother is known ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Early-Food-Supplementation-During-Pregnancy-Improves-Child-Growth-96208-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Commercialization-of-Pregnancy-Via-Fetus-Parties-is-a-Worrisome-Trend-96109-1.htm The recent increase in fetus parties is a worrisome tread as it highlights the commercialization of pregnancy, says Professor Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives. Prof Warwick said that it also highlights the fact that women now have different expectations about childbirth, "I think the worrying trend towards the commercialization of pregnancy and trend in 'fetus parties' can add to the burden and can increase the expectation for mothers which midwives then have to deal ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Commercialization-of-Pregnancy-Via-Fetus-Parties-is-a-Worrisome-Trend-96109-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Anti-depressants-During-Pregnancy-Ups-High-Blood-Pressure-Risk-in-Newborns-96031-1.htm Women who take anti-depressants during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to babies with persistent pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the lungs, according to a study published today on BMJ. Persistent pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the lungs leading to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. It is a rare, but severe disease with strong links to heart failure. The study, carried out by researchers at the Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Anti-depressants-During-Pregnancy-Ups-High-Blood-Pressure-Risk-in-Newborns-96031-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Research-Inflammation-may-Link-Obesity-and-Adverse-Pregnancy-Outcomes-95971-1.htm Many immunological mechanisms ensure the successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and imbalance in these mechanisms is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In a review published in iAdvances in Neuroimmune Biology,/i researchers from the Institute of Life Science, College of Medicine at Swansea University in the UK examine the impact of maternal obesity on the inflammatory responses in tissues of both the mother and the child. "While great progress has been made ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Research-Inflammation-may-Link-Obesity-and-Adverse-Pregnancy-Outcomes-95971-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Diabetes-During-Pregnancy-may-Fuel-ADHD-Risk-95618-1.htm Diabetes during pregnancy and poor social background may boost attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) risk in children, reveals study. To examine the association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and low socioeconomic status with neurodevelopment and ADHD outcomes, Yoko Nomura, M.D., Ph.D., of Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, and colleagues, compared offspring of mothers with and without GDM in an economically diverse sample. "Gestational diabetes mellitus ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Diabetes-During-Pregnancy-may-Fuel-ADHD-Risk-95618-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Maternal-Stress-During-Pregnancy-Impairs-Child-Health-Study-95285-1.htm bMaternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy may be a common risk factor for impaired child health, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. /b Many studies have established that prenatal stress in the form of life and emotional stress to the mother during pregnancy can have a lasting negative impact on the behavior and biology of the offspring. The children of such mothers have an increased risk of malformations, asthma, and mental and behavioral disorders....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Maternal-Stress-During-Pregnancy-Impairs-Child-Health-Study-95285-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/How-Pregnancy-Changes-Brain-of-Would-Be-Mother-Demystified-95228-1.htm A new study has revealed that reproductive hormones may prepare a woman's brain for the demands of motherhood by helping her becomes less worked up by stress and more in tune to her baby's needs. Although the hypothesis remains untested, psychologist Laura M. Glynn of Chapman University surmised that this might be why moms wake up when the baby stirs while dads snore on. Other studies confirm the truth in a common complaint of pregnant women: "Mommy Brain," or impaired memory before and after birth....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/How-Pregnancy-Changes-Brain-of-Would-Be-Mother-Demystified-95228-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Mum-Spent-Last-3-Months-of-Pregnancy-Lying-Upside-Down-to-Prevent-Miscarriage-95150-1.htm A 29-year old mother in Coventry, England, spent the final three months of her pregnancy lying upside down in order to prevent miscarriage. Donna Kelly was told that she had a weak cervix and five months into her pregnancy she was warned by the doctors that there was a very high chance that she could lose the baby. Mrs Kelly had suffered from a number of miscarriages previously and was asked to spend all of her days until delivery on a hospital bed that was tilted so that her feet were high up ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Mum-Spent-Last-3-Months-of-Pregnancy-Lying-Upside-Down-to-Prevent-Miscarriage-95150-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Virgin-Mary-With-Pregnancy-Test-Kit-on-a-Billboard-Flares-Outrage-95001-1.htm Image of a shocked Virgin Mary gasping while she examines a pregnancy testing kit displayed on a Church billboard has infuriated onlookers in New Zealand causing an outrage. The large poster outside St Matthew's in the City, a prominent Anglican church in Auckland, was designed by an advertising agency and depicts Mary in the style of a classical Renaissance painting. A caption competition on the church's website has already drawn some questionable responses. Suggestions include "Yay! ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Virgin-Mary-With-Pregnancy-Test-Kit-on-a-Billboard-Flares-Outrage-95001-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Asthma-Drugs-During-Pregnancy-May-Be-Risky-for-Kids-94896-1.htm Women who use inhaled glucocorticoids for the treatment of asthma during pregnancy may not increase disease risk in offspring, but may increase the risk of developing endocrine and metabolic disturbances, according to a new study. In a population-based cohort study, 65,085 mother-child pairs from the Danish National Birth Cohort were followed up in real time from early pregnancy into childhood. "Maternal use of inhaled glucocorticoids for asthma during pregnancy was not related to an increased ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Asthma-Drugs-During-Pregnancy-May-Be-Risky-for-Kids-94896-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/New-Safety-Warnings-for-Antipsychotic-Drugs-in-Pregnancy-94893-1.htm A new safety warning regarding the use of antipsychotics (APs) during pregnancy has been issued by the FDA. With this announcement, the overall safety of prescribing antipsychotic drugs during pregnancy is under suspicion once again. The peak age of onset of psychiatric disorders in women occurs during the childbearing years from 20 to 40. A significant proportion of affected women are exposed to psychotropic medication at some point during their pregnancy. Ethical complications limit the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/New-Safety-Warnings-for-Antipsychotic-Drugs-in-Pregnancy-94893-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Malaria-Infection-in-First-Trimester-Increases-Risk-of-Miscarriage-94880-1.htm A new study published in the journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases warns that even a single episode of malarial infection during the first trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of a woman suffering from miscarriage. More than 16,500 women in Thailand took part in the study conducted by researchers from the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit who found that suffering from malaria in the first trimester increased the risk of miscarriage by more than three times. The researchers also found that using ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Malaria-Infection-in-First-Trimester-Increases-Risk-of-Miscarriage-94880-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Pregnancy-Weight-Gain-Raises-Babys-Obesity-Risk-94825-1.htm A woman's excessive weight gain during pregnancy seems to increase birthweight and the baby's risk of obesity later in life, a new study suggests. The study revealed that both pre-pregnant weight (body mass index, BMI) and weight gain in pregnancy are important predictors of babies' birthweight. This is important since high birthweight may also predict adult overweight. Researchers led by Unni Mette Stamnes Koepp of the Department of Pediatrics at Soerlandet Hospital and the University ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Pregnancy-Weight-Gain-Raises-Babys-Obesity-Risk-94825-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Vitamin-D-is-a-Must-in-Pregnancy-94820-1.htm All pregnant and breastfeeding women must take vitamin D, a coroner in London has urged. Coroner Andrew Walker wrote a letter to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley after he held an inquest last week into the death of a three-month-old boy. In his letter, Walker said that the boy, Milind Agarwal, was taken to the doctor in July with symptoms of a probable viral infection. He was sent home with saline nasal drops. A later telephone consultation with another doctor led to his parents being advised to give him paracetamol....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Vitamin-D-is-a-Must-in-Pregnancy-94820-1.htm