Monthly Archives: July 2015
When will sperm succeed? A new test may find out
Researchers have discovered a way to determine if a couple should skip less-invasive treatments and go straight to assisted reproductive technology (ART), in which eggs are combined with sperm in the laboratory to achieve fertilization. A new test can detect … Continue reading
Another reason to breastfeed: mom’s cardiovascular health
Breastfeeding is well established as the best way to nourish a newborn, and it helps moms in many ways too. New research adds another possible benefit: Young women who breastfeed may have healthier-looking arteries years later, compared with those who … Continue reading
Smoking around toddlers as harmful as smoking during pregnancy
You shouldn’t need more data on the dangers of smoking, but here’s some anyway. A study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research finds that smoking around your toddler may be just as harmful to your child as smoking during … Continue reading
Exercise to avoid gestational diabetes
Is exercise good for pregnant women? A report from Spanish researchers offers new evidence that the answer is yes. Looking at the experience of more than 2,800 women, they found that exercise reduced the risk of developing gestational diabetes and … Continue reading
‘Cord milking’ helps cesarean babies thrive
We recently posted a report that delaying cutting the umbilical cord may improve a child’s development. A new study adds evidence for the importance of not only waiting to cut the cord, but also using a technique to increase the … Continue reading
Another reason to ignore Kim Kardashian
This post has a bit of a yuck factor, so stop here if you are easily grossed out. You may have heard that Kardashian and some other famous new moms chose to eat their placenta after giving birth, for a … Continue reading
Pot and pregnancy don’t mix
The legalized use of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes is spreading throughout the country, but it still poses health risks. That’s why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently recommended that doctors discourage pregnant women from using … Continue reading
New hope for women with lupus
Lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue, mostly strikes women in their 20s or 30s—during their peak childbearing years. Typically, these women were told that becoming pregnant was unsafe. But new research shows … Continue reading
You can control PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cause a wide range of health problems, among them infertility, but also irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, diabetes and depression. A review of medical literature, however, has found that women with PCOS can manage some of these … Continue reading
Preterm babies thrive with mom’s interaction
If your baby is born prematurely, you may feel helpless. But you can help—enormously. Recent research proves it. One study, published in the Journal of Perinatology, found that an intervention to teach mothers of preterm infants how to interact with … Continue reading
