Fertility & Pregnancy News

Dads Play Bigger Role in Fetus Development Reported June 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Fathers may contribute more to the conception and development of a fetus than previously thought. A recent study from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah, found the father's sperm delivers much more complex genetic material than once thought. Particular genes are … [Read more...]

Poor Sleep in Late Pregnancy Tied to Tougher Labor NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - First-time mothers who get little sleep late in pregnancy may have a longer labor and higher odds of a cesarean section than women who are more well-rested, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among the 131 women they followed, those who … [Read more...]

Attacking Autism: Earlier DiagnosisReported February 03, 2009 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. A new case is diagnosed every 20 minutes in the United States, but getting to a diagnosis can be a frustrating battle. New breakthroughs may be the key to early … [Read more...]

Canada's fertility rate at 10-year high: StatsCan Reported September 26, 2008 Canada's fertility rate reached a 10-year high in 2006, when women aged 30 to 34 had more babies than women aged 25 to 29 for the first time, Statistics Canada said Friday. The total fertility rate — the average number of children per women — rose to 1.59 in 2006, up from 1.54 in 2005, the … [Read more...]

Predicting Premature Birth July 16, 2007 Science Daily — With pre-term births a major international health problem, scientists are reporting an advance toward developing a much-needed, noninvasive test for predicting when pregnant women are about to deliver early. Oregon Health Science University’s Srinivasa R. Nagalla and colleagues there and at the … [Read more...]

Diabetes Before Pregnancy Doubles in Women, Teens Reported April 28, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More women and teens are developing diabetes before they become pregnant. A new study from Kaiser Permanente looked at 175,249 teenagers and adults who gave birth in Southern California between 1999 and 2005. It finds twice as many cases of pre-pregnancy diabetes during the six … [Read more...]

Screening for Down's Syndrome Reported November 10, 2005  (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study takes a closer looks at screening methods used to identify Down's Syndrome in a developing fetus. Researchers explain first trimester screening for Down's Syndrome using ultrasonography has been widespread since its introduction in the 1990s. However, second trimester screening … [Read more...]

Abnormal Placentas Predict Early Cardiovascular Disease Reported November 18, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In a recent study headed by Joel Ray, M.D., from the University of Toronto in Canada, researchers found women with a maternal placental syndrome during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature cardiovascular disease. A maternal placental syndrome may be caused by … [Read more...]

A women's health specialist In Papua New Guinea says a poorly manufactured birth control pill could result in unwanted pregnancies. Radio Australia's Firmin Nanol reports that the professor of gynaecology at the University of PNG's Medical School says a birth control pill being given to women is of poor quality. Professor Glen Mola says the pill, Planak, made in Indonesia … [Read more...]

CMV Vaccine for NewbornsReported October 29, 2007 MINNEAPOLIS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Most adults have had the virus known as CMV, or cytomegalovirus, and they probably didn't even know it. But if an unborn baby is infected with the virus -- through his or her mother -- the consequences are very serious. CMV is the second leading cause of mental retardation, after Down … [Read more...]

Fish benefits outweigh risks for pregnant women, study finds Reported September 10, 2008 Pregnant women who want to eat the best diet for their babies worry about fish. Fish are rich in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid essential to brain growth, but many of the most commonly eaten fish are contaminated by mercury, a toxin that can damage the developing … [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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

1 in 4 pregnant women smoke Reported November 11, 2007 ONE in four pregnant women in Tasmania are risking their unborn babies' health by smoking. Startling 2005 figures released by Tasmania's Health and Human Services Minister Lara Giddings has triggered a warning for mothers who are endangering their unborn babies' health. The statistics show that … [Read more...]

Brazil Health Conference Rejects Abortion in Suggestions for Government Reported November 21, 2007 Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- Delegates to a national health conference in Brazil have rejected including abortion in a list of health care policy recommendations for the nation's government. Abortion advocates have been working overtime there … [Read more...]

UNICEF: Extreme Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborn Babies in Developing Countries Reported January 15, 2009 TORONTO, ONTARIO - Women in the world's least developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries, according to UNICEF's latest The State of the World's Children report, … [Read more...]

Smoking in pregnancy damages baby's chromosomesMar 08, 05 Mothers who smoke when they're pregnant may cause genetic damage in their babies, findings from a new study suggest. In fact, one common type of chromosome damage linked to maternal smoking is known to increase the risk of blood cancers. While smoking is known to have a number of … [Read more...]

Diabetes Drug Slows Early Puberty in Girls Reported June 23, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – There’s new help for young girls who are at risk of going through puberty early and developing insulin resistance – a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. A new report shows the diabetes drug metformin delays the onset of menstruation and decreases the development of insulin resistance. The … [Read more...]

Abortion and breast cancer - get the word out - NCI StudyMarch 7, 2007 There is probably no more hotly debated topic today than abortion. And a lot of people are tired of hearing about it. The bottom line tends to be that most people want to do what they want without consequence. But that is just not reality. ALL choices have … [Read more...]

Few docs ask about alcohol in pregnancy Reported May 15, 2008 Few pediatricians routinely ask about alcohol use during pregnancy and only 12 per cent give advice consistent with national health guidelines, a study has found. Professor Elizabeth Elliott said a four-year national investigation of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) by the Australian … [Read more...]

Predictive Pain Tests Good Before Surgery Reported October 26, 2005   (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Simple tests before surgery can predict the intensity of pain patients will have and how much medication they will need after the surgery. Peter H. Pan, M.D., from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., says, "Requirements for pain medication and the … [Read more...]

Preeclampsia is a disorder that affects up to 300,000 women in the United States each year. The disease is characterized by high blood pressure and protein-rich urine in expectant women, and it can cause serious harm to both mother and child. With three kids ages 12, 4, and 2, Charis Johnson has her hands full -- but she’s not complaining. “My kids, are my world,” Charis … [Read more...]

Use of morning-after pill doubles if sold over counter, study findsTuesday, March 29, 2005 Making the so-called "morning-after pill" available without a prescription has more than doubled demand for the drug in British Columbia, and suggests that emergency contraception is greatly underused in the rest of the country, according to a new … [Read more...]

Fish oil in pregnancy cuts asthma risk Reported July 09, 2008 Mothers who take fish oil supplements in late pregnancy could reduce the chance of their child developing asthma, a new study claims. Currently in Ireland, around 20% of children are affected by asthma. The findings also indicate that fish oil supplements lower the risk of pre-term … [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...]

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...]