Fertility & Pregnancy

Preventing Birth DefectsReported June 17, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – There are nearly 3,000 pregnancies each year in the United States where babies have birth defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube defects (NTD). Hispanic women have the highest rate of these defects when compared to other ethnic groups. However, according to the March of Dimes, a new … [Read more...]

Ireland's abortion ban violates rights: EU court   Reported June 11, 2011   Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion violates the rights of pregnant women to receive proper medical care in life-threatening cases, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday. The judgment from the court in Strasbourg, France, also harshly … [Read more...]

Caffeine Reducing Fertility in Women?Reported May 31, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb, according to a new study. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance … [Read more...]

Influenza Vaccine = Less Premature BirthReported June 2, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers say there might be a link in pregnant mothers who receive the inactivated influenza vaccine, leading to a reduced risk of a premature infant and the baby being small for gestational age, which is the number of weeks the baby has been in the uterus. The study found that … [Read more...]

Health Effects for Single MomsReported June 3, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Unmarried mothers face poorer health at midlife than do women who have children after marriage, according to a new study. This is the first U.S. study, led by Kristi Williams, associate professor of Sociology at the Ohio State University, to document long-term negative health effects for … [Read more...]

Thousands Flock to Las Vegas Clinic to Get PregnantReported May 25, 2011   LAS VEGAS -- It may not be the most common way to bring money into the local economy but through his work, a local doctor is bringing in millions to Las Vegas. Dr. Geoffrey Sher is a fertility expert and patients from all over the world spend thousands to visit his clinic in Las Vegas for … [Read more...]

Reunion Women’s Health & Birth Center helps women give birth naturallyReported May 20, 2011 “Natural birth” is a labor and birth free of drugs and most medical interventions. Natural birth is appropriate for any healthy mom and baby, and it’s the safest and healthiest way to deliver. Babies and moms are more alert at the birth and recovery from birth is … [Read more...]

Folate May Not Protect Against Premature Birth Reported May 20, 2011 But experts stress crucial nutrient still protects against birth defects In a study that included data on nearly 73,000 Norwegian women, researchers found that taking folate during pregnancy didn't appear to reduce the rate of premature births. Click here to find out more! … [Read more...]

Germany To Withhold Global Fund ContributionReported May 20, 2011 Protecting Pregnant Women From Malaria; FAO Food Price Warning; Polio Germany To Withhold $270M Pledge To Global Fund Pending Investigation Of Corruption Germany's development ministry on Wednesday "said its pledge of euro200 million ($270 million) will be … [Read more...]

Safer IVFReported April 18, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common way to help couples that struggle with infertility. However, IVF can increase the risk of multiples, which can lead to medical complications. Now, a new study shows there is a major decrease in risk and cost if single embryo transfers are mandated for IVF. Researchers … [Read more...]

Pregnant? Pesticides Affect Your Child’s IQReported April 25, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Moms-to-be who consume certain foods sprayed with pesticides may put their child at risk for having a lower IQ. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides (used widely on food crops) … [Read more...]

Genetic Errors Linked To Life-Threatening Pregnancy DisorderReported March 28, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire)-- Women who suffer from a condition called preeclampsia during pregnancy may be able to receive treatment for it in the future, thanks to new research that establishes a link between preeclampsia and autoimmune diseases. Preeclampsia accounts for 15 percent of all … [Read more...]

Moms Responsible For Big Brains In BabiesReported March 30, 2011 Brain growth in babies is linked to the amount of time and energy mothers ‘invest’, according to this study. The study of 128 mammal species, including humans, shows that brain growth in babies is determined by the duration of pregnancy and how long they suckle. The Durham University research … [Read more...]

Stress and Fertility TreatmentReported March 3, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) --75 percent of the general population experiences at least "some stress" every two weeks, and if you’re having problems conceiving through in vitro fertilization, it can only add to the abundant stress already tacked on from your daily life. Here’s some good news to help relieve those tight … [Read more...]

Pre-Baby BluesReported March 13, 2011 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Pregnancy is meant to be a joyous time. However, some women experience overwhelming 'baby blues' before the birth of their child. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy can result in premature birth, or low birth weight, and impact the child's health even into early school years. This study shows that a … [Read more...]

Prenatal smoking leads to psychiatric problemsReported May 04, 2010 Prenatal smoking can lead to psychiatric problems in children and increase the need for psychotropic medications in childhood and young adulthood, claims a new study. In the study, Finnish researchers found that adolescents who had been exposed to prenatal smoking were at increased risk for use of … [Read more...]

Preserving Parenthood In Kids Fighting Cancer Reported February 23, 2011 PHILADELPHIA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Chemotherapy helps save the lives of young cancer patients, but at the same time, some of these toxic treatments are also wiping out the possibility that survivors will someday become parents. But new procedures may preserve parenthood for even the youngest of … [Read more...]

Fetal Survival Improving in Norway Reported January 24, 2011 By David Douglas NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 19 - Fetal death rates have dropped considerably in recent decades, Norwegian researchers report in a December 23rd online paper in BJOG. As Dr. Aahshi A. Sarfraz told Reuters Health by email, "Fetal mortality rates have decreased … [Read more...]

When a C-Section Makes Sense Reported May 04, 2010 With her due date approaching and her unborn son pointed feet first, Fiona Simmonds tried every technique she knew of—acupuncture, raising her pelvis above her head and playing music near her belly—to encourage the baby to flip around and allow him be delivered normally. But in the end, the baby … [Read more...]

Pregnancy Weight Gain May Increase a Woman's Risk of Gestational Diabetes   Reported February 22, 2010 ScienceDaily (Feb. 22, 2010) — Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, may increase their risk of developing diabetes later in their pregnancy, according to a study by the Kaiser … [Read more...]

Risk of stillbirth increases fourfold in women using fertility treatment   Reported February 24, 2010 Women who conceive using fertility treatment run a fourfold higher risk of a stillbirth, warn researchers. They found extra risk for women having in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) … [Read more...]

What is the perfect age gap between children? Reported January 16, 2009 Is there a perfect time-distance between the first and second children? It turns out there are no absolutes What is the optimum age gap between children? Will a short gap incite furious sibling rivalry, or a long one risk your children never becoming friends? It's a tricky … [Read more...]

Weighing the risk and rewards of vaginal birth after a C-section Reported April 26, 2010 In my first pregnancy 21/2 years ago, I was induced at 39 weeks, labored for 29 hours, and ended up with an emergency C-section when I failed to make any progress toward actually giving birth. Since then, I have paid close attention to the … [Read more...]

Studies: high-dose vitamin D safe during pregnancyReported May 03, 2010 TORONTO — Taking high doses of vitamin D during pregnancy is safe and appears to reduce the risk of pre-term birth and infections, say the authors of a study that compared different amounts of supplementation in expectant mothers. But their recommendation that pregnant women should take 4,000 … [Read more...]

Why are mothers still dying in childbirth? Reported September 28, 2008 It is one of the world's greatest hidden epidemics, but the search for a solution is hopelessly underfunded. On average, every minute of every day a woman somewhere dies in childbirth or pregnancy, the overwhelming majority in developing countries. It is estimated that they number … [Read more...]

Pregnant mum's fatty diet bad for baby Reported December 11, 2010 TA pregnant mother’s diet could be inadvertently putting the health of her offspring at risk through her genes, says a new study. Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford found that mothers who eat a high fat diet before and through … [Read more...]

Study Suggests Link Between Diet Sodas, Preterm Delivery HealthDay Reporter by Kathleen Doheny healthday Reporter – Tue Aug 24, 7:09 pm ET TUESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Could drinking one or more artificially sweetened, carbonated diet sodas a day boost a woman's odds of premature delivery? A new study from Denmark suggests such a link. The … [Read more...]

Mums’ booze binges cause disorders in kids Reported August 17, 2010 Mothers are advised to breastfeed for the first six months of a baby's life, but a simple yet often untreated problem can sabotage their efforts, according to researchers. Called a tongue-tie, the problem occurs when the connective tissue under the tongue is too tight. A … [Read more...]

Mums’ booze binges cause disorders in kids Reported July 20, 2010 Binge drinking women are fuelling a surge in the number of babies born with learning disabilities, a British government adviser has warned. Professor Barry Carpenter said that there had been a 25 per cent rise in children with learning disabilities in the past five years, taking … [Read more...]

Potential drug for female sexual dysfunction encounters skepticism Reported June 23, 2010 GlassIf the media attention given to today's coverage of Food and Drug Administration documents is any indication, questions about flibanserin's effectiveness in treating female sexual dysfunction are about to increase. Questions about the condition itself … [Read more...]