Autism four times likelier when mother’s thyroid is weakened
Pregnant women who don't make nearly enough thyroid hormone are nearly 4 times likelier to produce autistic children than healthy women, report scientists from the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and Erasmus Medical Centre in...
Junk food in pregnancy and early years leads to behavioural problems in kids
New research suggests that mums with unhealthy diets during pregnancy are more likely to have children with behavioural problems. It has also shown that children with unhealthy diets have increased symptoms of depression and...
Women conceive naturally after IVF
One in three women who have their first baby through infertility treatment, become pregnant again naturally within two years of their first birth, a new study has found.
A Monash University study, published in the...
Caesareans weaken gut microbiota and increase risk of allergies
Children who came into the world by Caesarean section are more often affected by allergies than those born in the natural way. The reason for this may be that they have a less diverse...
Feelings for foetus may vary smoking amount
A small new study suggests that pregnant smokers with low scores on a scale that rates emotional attachment to their fetuses may be inclined to smoke more than pregnant smokers who feel more attached...
Maternal smoking during pregnancy associated with offspring conduct problems
Smoking during pregnancy appears to be a prenatal risk factor associated with conduct problems in children, according to a study published by JAMA Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.
Conduct disorder represents an issue of significant social,...
No link between mercury exposure and autism-like behaviours
The potential impact of exposure to low levels of mercury on the developing brain – specifically by women consuming fish during pregnancy – has long been the source of concern and some have argued...
Flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
New research out of St. Michael’s Hospital has found that despite popular belief, the flu shot is effective in preventing the flu, even if the virus going around does not match the vaccine.
“It’s quite...
Doubling of deaths among sick mums-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy
The lack of hard data on the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs in pregnancy has hindered the treatment of pregnant women, contributing to a doubling of deaths amongst mums-to-be with...
Younger mothers and older mothers are at a higher risk of adverse delivery outcomes
Younger mothers are at a higher risk of preterm birth while older mothers are more likely to have a cesarean section, suggests a new study published today (12 June) in BJOG: An International Journal of...
