New mother’s experience highlights importance of postpartum heart care

At 35, Brooklyn resident Luyba Caloras was healthy, with no history of heart problems and no reason to think she was at risk of them. But pregnancy can act as a stress test on the heart—and soon after delivering her son at NYU Langone Health on February 3, 2024, she was diagnosed with a complication … Read more

The lifelong cardiovascular impact of placental abruption

Rutgers Health research shows the risk of developing early cardiovascular disease or dying from cardiovascular disease by the age of 28 was 4.6 times higher among people born to mothers who had a placental abruption during their pregnancy. This finding was compared to people whose birth didn’t not have this complication, according to a study … Read more

Infant hospitalized with herpes after circumcision involving direct oral suction

A two-week-old baby was hospitalized at Wolfson Medical Center with a severe herpes infection after contracting the virus during a brit milah (Jewish ritual circumcision) that involved direct oral suction, also known as metzitzah b’peh. Doctors found that the virus had reached the infant’s cerebrospinal fluid, indicating that the infection had penetrated the central nervous … Read more

Vegan diets safe for infant growth, Israeli study finds

Cats have to eat meat to survive, while dogs can manage on a vegetarian diet. But what about human infants? Will eating only grains, vegetables, and fruits stunt their growth? The safety of a plant-based family regimen, particularly of vegan diets during pregnancy and infancy, is debated, and large population data on infant growth are … Read more

Sucrose reduces pain in newborns during hospital needle procedures

A new Cochrane review has found that sucrose can help with pain relief in newborn babies during common hospital procedures, such as venepuncture. This involves drawing blood with a needle, typically for testing. Newborns, especially preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), undergo numerous painful procedures. Because of their immature pain regulation, they can … Read more

Immune cells shape maternal and infant health during lactation

It’s widely known that breastfeeding impacts the health of both mother and child, but the underlying biology that leads to these effects has been understudied. In a review article publishing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Immunology on February 26, researchers highlight recent studies showing T cells-white blood cells that play a pivotal role in the immune system-shape the baby’s immune system, support healthy gut bacteria, and reduce the … Read more

Standard doses of antidepressants during pregnancy appear to be safe, study suggests

Using a standard dose of antidepressants during pregnancy appears to be safe for the baby, suggests new research from the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital. Persistently high doses, however, may be linked to changes in the placenta and a higher chance that the newborn needs intensive care. Many women who become pregnant while … Read more