Postpartum depression can affect up to 25% of new mothers during the first year after delivery, but researchers say there may be a relatively easy way to lower that risk — starting before women give birth.
Pregnancy
Are Oxycontin Babies This Decade’s Crack Babies?
In the late 1980s and early ’90s, it was almost impossible to avoid hearing about the plight of “crack babies” — infants born to mothers who had used crack cocaine during pregnancy. These offspring were predicted to become a …
Family MattersPregnancy
Obese Women Are More Likely to Miscarry or Endure a Baby’s Death
Women are counseled not to be too thin or too heavy before getting pregnant, and new research gives even more reason for women to watch their weight: obese pregnant women stand a much greater chance of miscarrying or burying …
The New Cost of Preventing Prematurity: Will KV Back Off the High Price of Makena?
KV Pharmaceutical’s Makena, a new brand of an old drug to prevent premature birth, went on sale last week at an exponentially increased price — going from about $10-$20 per dose to $1,500, and inviting widespread criticism and scrutiny.
Family MattersPregnancy
In Japan, Pregnant Women Have Double the Reason to Dodge Radiation
When Kathryn Higley, head of the department of nuclear engineering and radiation health physics at Oregon State University, learned she was pregnant years ago, she immediately informed her supervisor, who outfitted her with a …
Family MattersInfertility
Guys Are Right: Size Matters, When It Comes to Fertility
Men’s obsession with size in their nether region may be justified after all. New research indicates size — of a sort — does matter when it comes to male fertility.
Study: Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk of Stillbirth, Birth Defects
Note to expectant fathers: Stop smoking.
Family MattersPregnancy
Expecting? Text ‘BABY’ for Advice About Healthy Pregnancy
When Megan Johnson was eight weeks pregnant, a nurse told her about a new, free service that would send her customized text messages about her current stage of pregnancy. All she had to do was text “BABY” (or “BEBE” for …
The hCG Diet Myth: Why Would a Pregnancy Hormone Make You Skinny?
Quick quiz: does pregnancy cause weight loss or gain? It seems like a dumb question but it’s a test that the promoters of the “hCG diet” seem to have failed.
Stress Doesn’t Hurt Chances of Success with IVF
Of all the factors that infertile couples worry about, they can now stop worrying about one: worry. It turns out that stress and tension, while detrimental to overall health, may have little impact on couples’ chances of …
FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System
Family MattersPregnancy
Pregnant Women Who Control their Epidural Dosage Use Less Medication
Ah, the wonders of an epidural. Within minutes, that chilly infusion of bupivicaine and fentanyl can transform the raving, pain-wracked process of birthing a baby into a pleasant hospital stay with some energetic pushing …
