Fertility & Pregnancy

Heavy women likelier to become pregnant while on the pill, study finds Dec. 29, 2004 Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to get pregnant while taking birth control pills than women of normal weight, new research finds.In the group of women studied, 5 percent of overweight women taking the pill got … [Read more...]

New Tool may Save Babies with Heart DefectReported November 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects. The tool was developed to aid doctors in preparing for the “Fontan" surgery. Babies who get the surgery have a developmental … [Read more...]

Family Genes Linked to Preeclampsia Preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening form of high blood pressure during pregnancy, can run in families, a new study shows. If untreated, preeclampsia can damage the mother’s liver or kidneys, deprive the fetus of oxygen, and cause maternal seizures (eclampsia). Sons and daughters born from … [Read more...]

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Helps PreemiesReported January 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Research shows preterm infant girls who received a high intake of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, had improvements in their neurodevelopment. Infants who receive an inadequate supply of nutrients during the newborn period are at risk for developmental disorders. DHA … [Read more...]

Pregnant Women Need Flu ProtectionReported September 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Both the seasonal flu and the swine flu are spreading fast across the United States. Pregnant women are at a greater risk of the flu’s harmful effects. Experts say mothers-to-be should take precautions to protect themselves. The H1N1 (swine) flu is caused by a virus. The typical body … [Read more...]

Russia: 64% of Pregnancies End in Abortion Reported October 01, 2008 ST. PETERSBURG, September 31, 2008 (LifeSIteNews.com) – Alarmingly high abortion rates in Russia are leaving an increasing number of women infertile, said Marina Tarasova, deputy head of the St. Petersburg Research Institute For Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Russian Academy of … [Read more...]

Scientists Create Monkey Stem CellsReported December 31, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The successful creation of the first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line from adult monkey skin may have important implications for direct reprogramming capabilities across different species. Previous studies have shown that induction of four key transcription factors can reprogram … [Read more...]

Four abortion clinics raided in BarcelonaNovember 26, 2007 A Civil Guard swoop on clinics in Barcelona arrested six people on Monday, in a case which is investigating alleged illegal abortions. El Mundo names the four clinics searched as the TBC, Emece, Ginemedex and Fundación Morón, which are all in the Tres Torres area of the … [Read more...]

Fewer expectant mothers report drinking while pregnant   Reported January 21, 2009 Fewer than one in ten pregnant women in Sweden report drinking alcohol when asked by maternity clinics, a new survey shows. Maja and Lukas top popular names list in Sweden (19 Jan 09)Physio cautioned for ovary examination (22 Dec 08) Sweden … [Read more...]

The Dos and Don'ts of Eating During PregnancyReported July 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Mothers' health in the days and weeks prior to conception may determine the offspring’s health much later in life, according to a group of new studies. These studies demonstrate maternal nutrition, protein intake and level of fat in the diet may cause changes in the developing fetus … [Read more...]

Abortion does not harm mental health, says study Reported 18 August, 2008 Women do not put their mental health at risk by having an abortion, according to an authoritative study that will undermine the campaign to tighten the UK's abortion laws. A comprehensive review of research by the American Psychological Association (APA), one of the world's most … [Read more...]

Pregnant women 'okay to exercise' Reported September 24, 2007 Women can safely participate in moderate activity during pregnancy unless they have experienced complications, an obstetrics expert has said. Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at baby charity Tommy's, recommends that pregnant women take steps to maintain their … [Read more...]

Unused Embryo DilemmaReported December 08, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Currently there are about 500,000 frozen, stored embryos in the United States. The debate about what to do with a frozen embryo after a couple is finished having children may be more complicated than it appears. In the largest study of its kind, 1,000 fertility patients shed light on the dilemmas … [Read more...]

IVF with donor eggs less successful in black womenReported May 08, 2009 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) using donated eggs vary by race and ethnic background, investigators said this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists in Chicago. The research team, headed by Dr. Tarun Jain at Chicago … [Read more...]

Disappointment with a baby's gender is a struggle few moms talk aboutReported November 10, 2009 LAS VEGAS — My good friend just found out she is pregnant with a boy. It is her first child, and instead of celebrating the good news, she cried during her ultrasound. That's because she really wanted a girl. Good mothers are supposed to say they are happy with a boy or a girl, … [Read more...]

Woman’s Diet Linked to Child’s Puberty Reported June 20, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A woman’s diet during pregnancy could have an impact on when her child goes through puberty. A new report from New Zealand finds a high fat diet during pregnancy and while a woman is nursing may cause early puberty in her children. That could lead to obesity when they get older. The study … [Read more...]

Anti-Depressants Raise Respiratory Risks in NewbornsReported February 09, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research out of the University of California, San Diego reveals mothers who use common anti-depressants during pregnancy may be putting their offspring at risk for a serious respiratory disorder. This baby study shows … [Read more...]

Booze linked to higher risk of premature babies Reported January 26, 2009 WOMEN who drink heavily in the first three months of pregnancy are more likely to have a premature baby, research suggests. Experts found that women who were binge drinkers could also put their babies at risk even if they stopped drinking after the first three months. … [Read more...]

New procedure to spot viable IVF embryos Reported May 14, 2008 Fertility researchers have developed a new procedure to be used in IVF treatment that could "revolutionise" success rates within two years. When couples attend fertility clinics for IVF, eggs from the woman are fertilised with sperm and the resulting embryos allowed to develop in … [Read more...]

Baby Quest: Fertility FrontiersReported February 1, 2008 LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- You can't stop a woman's biological clock. But now, researchers can stop her eggs from aging, which makes having a biological child a reality for women in their forties and fifties. Researchers are also trying to make pregnancy possible for women without a uterus. By her … [Read more...]

Blocking the inflammatory response to bacteria may hold the key to healthier babies. Researchers working in a mouse model report good results from a strategy aimed at defusing key receptors in the placenta that trigger inflammation when they sense the presence of bacteria. Inflammation can then led to early labor and increased risk of death for the infant, who may be born … [Read more...]

'Giant' 17-Pound Baby Born in Brazil A 38-year-old diabetic Brazilian woman has given birth to a 17lb baby. Delivered by cesarean section, the newborn weighs the same as the average six-month old. Doctor's say the child is in good health despite the fact that he is receiving oxygen for breathing problems and a glucose IV to maintain a … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Protects Tiny Intestines Reported July 03, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – An ingredient found in breast milk produced in the first few days after birth helps protect tiny intestines and get them ready for a lifetime of eating and drinking. British researchers discovered the effect of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor – or PSTI – by first testing breast milk … [Read more...]

Mothers tout benefits of breastfeeding Reported September 14, 2008 In the 2008 Breastfeeding Challenge, Canada registered the highest number of participants raising awareness over the importance of breastfeeding. "Every baby has a right to eat, and every woman has the right to feed their baby," said Maryanne King, the lactation consultant for the Prince Albert Parkland … [Read more...]

Chemicals in Everyday Items Linked to InfertilityReported February 02, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A group of chemicals used in many everyday items may be linked to infertility in women, a new study finds. Researchers in Europe found women who had higher levels of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in their blood took longer to get pregnant than … [Read more...]

Stress During Pregnancy Determines the Gender of the Baby November 22, 2007 Stress throughout pregnancy renders women more likely to give birth to a girl child rather than a boy, according to a new study. This is the first study to link everyday stress to a baby’s sex. During the study, the researchers gathered information on stress levels of the … [Read more...]

Antibiotic Doesn't Prevent Preterm LaborReported December 02, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research has some experts ruling out bacterial infection as a primary cause of premature births. Azithromycin is an antibiotic currently used worldwide to treat infections such as syphilis, chlamydia and Ureaplasma urealyticum, a bacterial infection researchers believed to be a … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding frenzy disrespects mums   Reported September 11, 2009 ON billboards and beaches, in city offices, at shopping malls and cafes, bulbous breasts in uplift bras are everywhere.   Yet put a breast to its biological purpose and wait for the uproar. "I don't p..s in public," one particularly vulgar responder wrote on a … [Read more...]

Omega-3 supplements can protect pre-term infants from developmental disorders Reported January 16, 2009 Sydney, Australia, January 16: Omega-3-rich fish oil supplements can enlace breast milk, reducing the risk of developmental problems in prematurely-born babies to almost half, notes an Australian study. The study focused on numerous … [Read more...]

Baby Quest: Making Babies: No Men Needed!Reported February 4, 2008 MIAMI, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Frozen sperm, frozen embryos, in vitro fertilization -- the fertility revolution keeps moving forward. Researchers say the next big thing in fertility is to grow sperm in the lab. It's already being done in mice and it could be just around the corner for humans. Stephen … [Read more...]