Pregnancy Archives

New blood test can detect fetus gender in early pregnancy

Tests that use DNA from mother?s blood to determine sex of fetus often effective – A boy or a girl baby. Parents-to-be wishing to know the gender of their unborn baby can usually find out during a routine ultrasound performed around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Now, new technology can tell pregnant women whether they are having a boy or a girl as early as seven weeks into a pregnancy. Scientists have been making rapid progress in identifying foetal DNA in the mother’s blood to predict fetus gender.

Exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy leads to asthma in offspring

Maternal Exposure to Magnetic Fields During Pregnancy in Relation to the Risk of Asthma in Offspring. – Pregnant women who use hairdryers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners or who live near pylons could be putting their babies at risk of asthma, revealed by researchers in a new research study conducted recently.

U.S. hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding

Majority of U.S. hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding — New CDC report shows missed opportunities for preventing childhood obesity beginning at birth – Breastfeeding protects against childhood obesity, yet less than 4 percent of U.S. hospitals provide the full range of support mothers need to be able to breastfeed, according to the most recent Vital Signs report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DHA or Omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy good for babies health

Study shows protective benefits of DHA taken during pregnancy – If pregnant women take daily 400 mg of DHA during pregnancy are more likely to deliver healthier infants, and babies fall sick less and for short duration. Babies are more healthier in their infancy period.

Unplanned babies are slower to develop

Children born after unplanned pregnancy are slower to develop – Pregnancy planning, fertility treatment and cognitive outcomes at age 3 and 5 – Children born after unplanned pregnancies tend to have a more limited vocabulary and poorer non-verbal and spatial abilities; however this is almost entirely explained by their disadvantaged circumstances, according to a new study. The same study reported no adverse effects of infertility treatment on the children.

Breastfeeding for up to 6 months after birth may prevent asthma

Breastfeeding for up to 6 months after birth can reduce their risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood and may prevent asthma – Children who had never been breastfed had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm during their first 4 years, compared to children who were breastfed for more than 6 months, revealed by researchers.

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is pregnant

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan pregnant – Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai is pregnant revealed by her father-in-law and legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. “I am going to become a grandfather. Aishwarya expecting. So happy and thrilled,” Mr Bachchan tweeted.

Antenatal syphilis screening may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes

Effectiveness of interventions to improve screening for syphilis in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis – About 2?1 million pregnant women have active syphilis every year. Without screening and treatment, 69% of these women will have an adverse outcome of pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to review the literature systematically to determine the effectiveness of screening interventions to prevent congenital syphilis and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

IUD following abortion likely to prevent unintended pregnancy

Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies — Study finds women who are asked to make an appointment for a later date may not return, are at higher risk for another unintended pregnancy – Immediate use of any contraceptive method after abortion has been linked to a reduced risk of repeat abortion with the immediate use of an IUD being the most effective method for reducing the risk for another unintended pregnancy. IUDs are found safe and highly effective.

Weight loss between pregnancies lowers gestational diabetes GDM risk

Weight gain between first and second pregnancies increases woman’s gestational diabetes risk – Compared with women whose weight remained stable, body mass index gains between the first and second pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in the second pregnancy.

Gene variation linked to infertility in women

Gene variation linked to infertility in women, study finds — Altered gene involved in both faulty cholesterol regulation and pregnancy hormone production – A variation in a gene involved in regulating cholesterol in the bloodstream also appears to affect progesterone production in women, making it a likely culprit in a substantial number of cases of their infertility, a new study from Johns Hopkins researchers suggests.

Prolonged bottle feeding increases obesity risk

Study suggests prolonged bottle feeding increases the risk of obesity – Experts agree that obesity prevention should begin before children enter school. But due to a lack of conclusive data, health care providers often have trouble advising parents about which interventions are the most beneficial.