Page 2 - Pregnancy

Three-parent IVF brings hope: Eight healthy babies born in the UK

The breakthrough could prevent inherited diseases, but raises ethical concerns around access and genetic enhancement

13% babies in India born prematurely, 17% with low weight: Health survey

India's demographic health survey 2019-21 reveals that 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent with a low weight at birth, with air pollution contributing to the adverse birth outcomes. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and institutes in the UK and Ireland looked at the National Family Health Survey-5 and remote sensing data to analyse how exposure to air pollution in pregnancy impacted the delivery outcomes. The team found that an increased exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy was related with a 40 per cent chance of low birth weight, and 70 per cent of premature delivery. Climate conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, were found to have a greater link with adverse birth outcomes. The study, published in the journal PLoS Global Public Health, also found that children living in the northern districts of India could be more vulnerable to the ambient air pollution. Measurin

Understanding gestational diabetes: Why early detection, awareness matter

Despite common misconceptions, gestational diabetes can affect healthy women of any age or body type. Often symptomless, it frequently goes undiagnosed-putting both mother and child at risk

IVF players on expansion mode in smaller towns as fertility rates go down

With India's fertility rate below replacement level, major IVF providers are moving into Tier 2 and 3 cities to meet rising demand and boost access to fertility services

IVF after 40: Can you still get pregnant? What fertility experts say

Fact-check Friday: Delaying motherhood? Experts bust common myths about IVF success after 40 and explain what really affects your chances of pregnancy

Akums secures patent for dual-action nausea drug for pregnant women

Akums receives DCGI approval for a dual-release Doxylamine-Pyridoxine tablet designed to relieve nausea and vomiting in pregnancy with reduced dosing frequency

IIT-Madras develops 30-min test to detect pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy

The portable device uses advanced fiber optic tech to detect key biomarkers in a drop of blood, enabling early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

Anaemic during pregnancy? Here's why your baby's heart could be at risk

UK study finds that mums with anaemia early in pregnancy have a 47% higher chance of their babies being born with a heart condition. Here's why early care matters

Jailed Meerut murder accused found pregnant: Will it affect her sentence?

Muskan Rastogi, accused of murdering and dismembering her husband, has been found pregnant in jail-raising legal questions about how this may affect her trial

Diabetes in pregnancy linked to higher risk of autism in children: Lancet

Having diabetes during pregnancy could be associated to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the child such as autism, according to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal. Children exposed to maternal diabetes were at a 25 per cent increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, 30 per cent increased risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and 32 per cent increased risk of intellectual disability, compared to those not exposed, according to the findings of the study. Maternal diabetes was also found to increase risk of communication, learning and motor disorders among exposed children. However, the researchers, including those from the Central South University, China, called for a cautious interpretation of the study's results as they said there is currently little evidence of a causal link. Cases of maternal diabetes -- Type 1 or Type 2, or developing gestational diabetes while pregnant -- are on the rise around the ...

Modern workplaces weren't designed for mothers, now is the time for change

A recent survey from the United States found that two-thirds of mothers considered leaving the workforce in 2024 due to the stress and cost of child care

Doctors detect rare 'fetus in fetu' case in pregnant woman in Maharashtra

The rare condition, which affects approximately one in 500,000 births, involves the presence of a malformed fetus within the body of its twin

US C-section requests surge as birthright citizenship deadline looms

In response to Donald Trump's birthright citizenship policy change, many immigrant families in the US, especially Indians, are rushing for preterm C-sections to secure citizenship for their children

6 weeks post pregnancy very less for requisite fitness in CAPFs: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has opined that the six weeks' time given to women candidates, who are pregnant at the time of a medical examination for appointment in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), to achieve the requisite fitness is "extremely short" and asked authorities to examine the provision for granting reasonable time. The high court said it may not be possible for a woman candidate, who has undergone pregnancy, to regain her complete medical fitness and lose within six weeks the weight gained during the nine months of her pregnancy. The court was informed that according to paragraph 5.3 of the Guidelines of Recruitment Medical Examination in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, if a urine test for pregnancy is positive, the candidate will be declared unfit temporarily and will be re-examined six weeks after the pregnancy, subject to the production of a medical certificate of fitness from a registered medical practitioner. "This period of six weeks envisaged under th

US agency to pay $45 mn over pregnancy discrimination among employees

The agency responsible for securing the country's land and air border crossings is settling a case that alleged the agency discriminated against pregnant employees, lawyers for the employees have said. In a news release on Tuesday, lawyers for Customs and Border Protection employees said they had reached a $45 million settlement in the class action that includes nearly 1,100 women. The lawyers said the settlement also includes an agreement by the agency to enact reforms to address the discriminatory practices. The case was filed in 2016 with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that there was a widespread practice by CBP to place officers and agriculture specialists on light duty when they became pregnant. The agency did not give them the opportunity to stay in their position with or without accommodations, according to the complaint. This meant the women lost out on opportunities for overtime, Sunday or evening pay and for advancement, the complaint said. Anyone

Mitochondrial donation: All you need to know about this mito disease

A group of diseases that affect mitochondria's capacity to produce the energy organs need to function properly is known as mitochondrial disease. Mito has many different forms depending on the form

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif to deliver her first baby in London, UK

A new video of the star couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif walking together on the streets of London has captivated the internet. Comments poured in on shortly after the video went viral

Pregnancy-related deaths have fallen to pre-Covid levels, new US data shows

US pregnancy-related deaths have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, new government data suggests. About 680 women died last year during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to provisional CDC data. That's down from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021, when it was the highest level in more than 50 years. COVID-19 seems to be the main explanation for the improvement, said Donna Hoyert, a Centres for Disease Control and Prevention maternal mortality researcher. The coronavirus can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women. And, in the worst days of the pandemic, burned out physicians may have added to the risk by ignoring pregnant women's worries, experts say. Fewer death certificates are mentioning COVID-19 as a contributor to pregnancy-related deaths. The count was over 400 in 2021 but fewer than 10 last year, Hoyert said. The agency on Thursday released a report detailing the final maternal mortality data for 2022. It also recently released provisional data for 202

Chromosome polymorphism a key factor in recurrent pregnancy loss: Study

The researchers caution that more studies are needed to solidify this link

Why Caesarean section deliveries are rising at an alarming rate in India

Pregnancy-related complications are one of many reasons why C-sections are burgeoning in India