pregnancy

The CDC has issued a new, unnecessary warning to women of childbearing age. Essentially, it tells them that if they're not using birth control, do not drink. At all. Not only does this seem unduly alarmist and hyper-precautionary, but it's also not firmly rooted in sound science.
A new advisory report from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for depression, now to include pregnant women and those who recently gave birth. Drug therapy, talk therapy and behavioral therapies were recommended when appropriate.
While many couples feel they should hold off somewhat when trying to conceive again after a miscarriage, a new study shows that there's no need to wait. Indeed, those who tried again within three months had a somewhat better success rate than couples who waited longer.
Regarding alcohol, the standard advice to pregnant women is: Just Say No. But is that the best medical science can offer? We think not, because an infrequent tipple is not a significant causative factor for any serious condition for the fetus or newborn. Evidence of such an effect is not to be found.
Pregnant women are often told that in the late term they're allowed to lightly consume alcohol, But is there any science-based evidence supporting this position? In a recent medical journal article, three experts debate the questions on whether pregnant women should drink, and if so, how much.
The findings may seem obvious, but they hold a lot more substance. Experts say when a woman is trying to conceive, having intercourse more often triggers the psychological changes that improve the chance of conception, even outside of the ovulation window.
Women diagnosed with cancer while pregnant have plenty to worry about. A new study may help reduce that burden, since it shows that typical cancer treatments may have no significant adverse effect on their fetus or newborn.
As more children and teens become susceptible to whooping cough (pertussis), it becomes more important to protect newborns and infants from contagion transmitted by those age groups. With siblings now transmitting the virus more often than moms, pregnant women need to be vaccinated to insure protection.
Female fertility begins to decline at an accelerated rate after the age of 35 however, more and more women are delaying having children for several reasons, including pursuing careers, having not found the right partner, and simply not being ready to have
The association between maternal use of antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy, and birth defects in newborns and infants, has been the topic of much discussion in recent years. A new study, published in the BMJ, finds a small increased risk of two SSRIs (Paxil/paroxetine and Prozac/fluoxetine) with some birth defects, but not others (including the most commonly used SSRI,
This week, Senate Republicans released a budget proposal that would significantly cut funding for Title X (the federal family planning program) and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program. This comes just a week after the House of Representatives proposed eliminating Title X altogether.
Previous studies have suggested that pregnant women taking a commonly-prescribed class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) late in pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN (also known as persistent fetal circulation) is a