Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal illness and death, especially among women with a history of premature delivery. Researchers in Japan explored whether taking probiotics early in pregnancy could help reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD). In a multicenter clinical trial, women who consumed probiotics containing Clostridium butyricum showed lower recurrence … Read more
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
Global maternal deaths have declined over the past three decades, yet progress has slowed in recent years and remains uneven across countries, according to new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 research published today in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health. The study estimates that 240,000 women died from maternal causes in 2023, accounting for 5.5% of all deaths among … Read more
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
Researchers at Columbia University have found that accidental drug overdose, homicide, and suicide are the leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Overdose and violence are not typically on our radar when it comes to thinking about approaches to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, but these events are far more common among pregnant and postpartum women … Read more
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is not associated with autism or other neurodevelopmental problems in children whose mothers received the vaccine immediately before or during pregnancy, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting™. There are two types of COVID-19 vaccines recommended for use in the U.S.: the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine and a protein … Read more
Mexico has seen a steady increase in cesarean deliveries, raising concerns about neonatal health and prompting new policies aimed at promoting evidence-based maternal care. According to a national study, over half of births in 2023 were performed via cesarean section, well above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended threshold of 15%. Experts say the trend … Read more
A prevention strategy developed by Canadian researchers can reduce the risk of the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer by nearly 80 per cent, according to a new study published today in JAMA Network Open by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The strategy, known as opportunistic salpingectomy (OS), involves proactively removing a person’s fallopian tubes when they are already undergoing a routine gynecological surgery such as … Read more
Women who receive continuous care from community-based midwives have a significantly reduced risk of preterm birth in comparison to those who receive standard care. This care model also significantly reduced risks of preterm births in women who are at greatest social risk of adverse outcomes. Researchers from King’s College London funded by the NIHR, published … Read more
An updated systematic review finds that consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the odds of preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death. The study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University published today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. The lead author is a physician-scientist who provides prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies at … Read more