Fertility & Pregnancy News

China's One-child Policy Reveals Complexity, Effectiveness July 15, 2007 Science Daily — The first systematic examination of China’s fertility policy and practice reveals that, despite government exemptions in rural areas, 63 percent of Chinese couples are strictly limited to one child. Furthermore, the policy has proven remarkably effective, with … [Read more...]

Depression Increases Preterm Delivery Risk Reported October 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research reveals there may be a significant link between depression during pregnancy and preterm delivery. Preterm delivery (delivery at less than 37 weeks gestation) is the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. It’s also the leading reason behind medical expenditure … [Read more...]

Domestic Violence Underreported by Doctors Reported November 25, 2005   (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows many doctors are not keeping track when patients report domestic violence. Researchers from Harvard in Boston along with several other institutions across the country analyzed the content of doctors' reports on patients who reported domestic violence in a … [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...]

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...]

'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...]

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...]

Long-term implant 'could cut unwanted pregnancy' Reported February 07, 2008 SEXUAL health experts say Australia should follow Britain's lead by urging young women to opt for the contraceptive implant instead of the oral pill, in a bid to reduce unplanned pregnancies. The radical $22 million plan being adopted by the British Government … [Read more...]

Birth Weight Determines Birthmark Risk Reported October 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study reveals low birth weight as the most significant factor for the development of common birthmarks called hemangiomas. “We believe the results of this study provide an explanation for this emerging pediatric health issue,” Beth Drolet, M.D., professor of dermatology and … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Babies Good for their HeartsReported November 07, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breastfeeding your babies can protect their hearts as they get older. A new report from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds breastfed babies are less likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) when they’re adults compared to babies that are bottle-fed. … [Read more...]

Certain Fruit Juices Shown to Have Strong Antioxidant QualitiesMarch 19, 2007 The benefits of specific types of fruit juice to fight against disease have been documented in a number of medical studies. Now, BBC News reports that a team of scientists from Glasgow University have identified purple grape, cranberry and apple juice as … [Read more...]

Crohn's and PregnantReported April 23, 2009 ROCHESTER, Minn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than half a million Americans have Crohn's disease -- a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract that causes stomach pain, diarrhea, low energy and joint pain. Many women worry the condition will keep them from becoming mothers, but new medicine is helping them have … [Read more...]

Mom's stress can put unborn baby at risk Reported August 12, 2008 If you're pregnant, think twice before taking on an extra project at work. Severe stress, even in the short term, might almost double the risk of having a stillbirth -- although stillbirths are rare. Stress has been linked to premature birth, high blood pressure and other health … [Read more...]

New Law to Provide for Free Birth ControlJuly 10, 2007 BUENOS AIRES - The Argentine Congress passed a new law on reproductive health that provides for free birth control methods and advice to women nationwide, and will help prevent teen pregnancy, back-alley abortions, cancer of the reproductive system and breasts, and the spread … [Read more...]

Warnings Botox can cause birth defects Reported January 27, 2009 Botox can cause birth defects, women contemplating the anti-wrinkle treatment have been warned. The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) on Tuesday urged its members to stick to national guidelines for the use of Botox. It follows reports last month of a case in … [Read more...]

Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy, USA 2002 Alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with health problems that adversely affect the mother and fetus; no level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been determined safe. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is recognized as the foremost preventable condition involving neurobehavioral and developmental … [Read more...]

C-sections Risky for Mother and BabyReported November 01, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Women who want to schedule a C-section may want to re-think that decision. New research from Latin America shows non-emergency caesarean births double the risk of illness or death compared to giving birth vaginally. Researchers looked at data from 97,307 deliveries in eight Latin American … [Read more...]

Emergency Contraception Does Not Reduce Unintended Pregnancy Rate July 15, 2007 Science Daily — The "morning after pill" may be a good option for individual women in crisis, but advance access to emergency contraception is no antidote for the national problem of unintended pregnancy. Contrary to the fears of critics, the presence of Plan B does not … [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...]

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...]

Pregnant women advised to avoid MaxumReported May 27, 2009 Health Canada is advising expectant mothers and breastfeeding women not take the supplements Maxum Matragen or Maxum Multi-Vite. The vitamin-mineral supplements by Seroyal International Inc., have been only approved for the general public but lack the required cautionary statement on the label regarding pregnant … [Read more...]

Dieting During Pregnancy Reported October 02, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Surprising findings from a new study reveal women who diet before they’re pregnant will actually gain more weight during pregnancy than those who do not diet. During pregnancy it’s important for mothers to gain weight to help nourish their child and help him develop properly. But too much weight gain … [Read more...]

Many mums smoke through pregnancy: report   Reported June 03, 2009 Many Australian women who smoke don't quit during pregnancy, a study shows, and when they cut back it's only by a couple of cigarettes a day. Queensland researchers studied the smoking prevalence among a group of more than 260 pregnant women at an antenatal clinic. They found 37 per … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Better for Girls Reported June 04, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – New information reveals breast milk may benefit girls more than boys, especially when it comes to preventing respiratory infections. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center followed 119 premature babies from Buenos Aires through their first year of life and found girls were protected more by … [Read more...]

Cervix Size Affects Cesarean Birth Odds Reported March 28, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Cesarean deliveries in the United States are increasing at an alarming rate. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, they’ve doubled within the last decade. Now, a new study says the size of a woman’s cervix halfway through her pregnancy may play a role in … [Read more...]

CT Scans on Pregnant WomenReported March 19, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Although they are potentially hazardous to a developing fetus, the use of CT scans on pregnant women has more than doubled in the last ten years. Used to capture internal images, radiologic imaging like nuclear medicine, CT, fluoroscopy and plain-film x-ray can help doctors diagnose potentially … [Read more...]

Non-invasive screening 'halves Down's Syndrome births'June 30, 2007 Offering non-invasive screening to all pregnant women can half the number of children born with Down's Syndrome (DS), new research has found. Researchers from Denmark's Kennedy Institute found that the number of children born in the country with the condition dropped by 50 … [Read more...]

Women stressed during pregnancy have unhappy kids Reported December 03, 2008 Sydney (IANS): Women stressed during pregnancy were more likely to have children with a higher risk of developing behavioural and emotional problems. Researchers analysed data from more than 1,700 children in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, … [Read more...]

Birth-control pills, low birth weight linkedReported March 09, 2009 Women who get pregnant within a few weeks of taking birth-control pills seem much more likely than others to have low birth-weight or premature babies, concludes a new Canadian study that deals with one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs. The findings suggest couples should consider using … [Read more...]