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Obstetrics & gynecology news
Rise of preterm births in US linked to poverty and race
Researchers at Boston Medical Center, working with colleagues at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health report that US preterm birth rates rose from 2011–2021 in households ...
5 hours ago
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Maternal flu and Tdap shots may lower rates of infant hospitalization, ED visits
Maternal influenza and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations are associated with a lower risk for influenza- and pertussis-related hospitalization or emergency department (ED) visits in infants younger ...
Jan 9, 2026
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New wearable makes measuring heart rate of unborn baby at home more comfortable
A new wearable technology could change how unborn babies are monitored at home. Ph.D. researcher Yijing Zhang (Department of Electrical Engineering) has developed a comfortable, portable garment that allows pregnant women ...
Jan 9, 2026
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Twin study ties childbearing timing to biological aging
A study based on Finnish twins shows that reproductive history is associated, at the population level, with women's lifespan and biological aging. In the study, mothers of large families, women who had no children, or women ...
Jan 8, 2026
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Episiotomy linked to increased risk of severe bleeding in women with anemia
Having an episiotomy, a surgical cut to the vagina during childbirth, doubles the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with moderate or severe anemia, according to new research published in The Lancet Global Health.
Jan 8, 2026
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Breastfeeding may lower moms' later life depression/anxiety risks for up to 10 years after pregnancy
Breastfeeding may lower mothers' later life risks of depression and anxiety for up to 10 years after pregnancy, suggest the findings of a small observational study, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
Jan 8, 2026
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Why this little-known birth control option deserves more attention
Self-administered injectable contraceptives have been available in the United States for more than two decades, yet a new study has found only about a quarter of reproductive health experts prescribe it—and many are unaware ...
Jan 8, 2026
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Odds of infant mortality higher among US-born than non-US-born individuals
U.S.-born individuals have higher odds of infant mortality than non-U.S.-born individuals, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Network Open.
Jan 8, 2026
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Freestanding birth centers are closing as maternity care gaps grow
Dr. Heather Skanes opened Alabama's first freestanding birth center in 2022 in her hometown of Birmingham. Skanes, an OB-GYN, wanted to improve access to maternal health care in a state that's long had one of the nation's ...
Jan 8, 2026
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Disaster-related prenatal maternal stress has epigenetic outcomes
Maternal prenatal stress related to natural and human-made disasters can lead to epigenetic modifications in offspring, according to a recent narrative review.
Jan 8, 2026
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IV iron found to be most cost-effective treatment for women with iron deficiency anemia and heavy menstrual bleeding
A single dose of intravenous (IV) iron dextran is the most cost-effective treatment for women with heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), according to new research published in Blood Advances.
Jan 8, 2026
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FDA misses deadline to ban formaldehyde in hair straighteners
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has again missed a deadline to propose a ban on chemicals in hair-straightening products that may pose a serious cancer risk.
Jan 8, 2026
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Three in four new Australian moms struggle with body image, study finds
Up to 75% of Australian women report concerns about their body image after giving birth, with many feeling intense pressure to "bounce back" to their pre-pregnancy shape, a pressure that can even trigger eating disorders ...
Jan 8, 2026
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Centralizing Norwegian hospitals has reduced birth mortality, finds study
One million births in Norway over 17 years have a story to tell: Maternity wards with greater numbers of births have safer births.
Jan 8, 2026
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Whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women strengthens babies' immune systems, international study shows
International research led by Radboud University Medical Center shows that vaccinating women during pregnancy leads to the transfer of antibodies to their newborns. Antibodies from the mother are transferred to the baby through ...
Jan 7, 2026
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Light-triggered microneedle patch could make IVF hormone delivery painless and automated
A McGill University research team has developed a painless, automated way to deliver in vitro fertilization (IVF) hormones using a light-activated microneedle patch, an innovation that could ease one of the most stressful ...
Jan 7, 2026
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Fatal infection risk in newborns may increase when this bacterium and fungus mix
Researchers at the University of Maine have discovered that a common interaction between a bacterium and a fungus may significantly increase the risk of severe and potentially fatal infections in newborns, while also making ...
Jan 7, 2026
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Breast milk microbes help shape infants' gut microbiomes, study finds
Most conversations about breast milk tend to focus on topics like nutrients, antibodies and bonding time rather than bacteria. But it turns out that human milk carries its own tiny community of microbes, and those passengers ...
Jan 7, 2026
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Lifestyle interventions in pregnancy proven to reduce gestational diabetes risk
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have led the largest study to date demonstrating the significant benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes.
Jan 7, 2026
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Noninvasive prenatal screening could prevent permanent hearing loss in newborns
A new study indicates that noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) performed using a low-cost form of whole genome sequencing can detect the risk in pregnant mothers of transmitting cytomegalovirus (CMV)—a common herpes infection ...
Jan 7, 2026
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The menopause gap: Why some women suffer more and get less care
Menopause is often described as "the change," but for millions of women worldwide it is more than a biological milestone. It is a cultural, social and medical turning point. While most women experience menopause, their journeys ...
Jan 7, 2026
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Wyoming Supreme Court keeps abortion legal in the state
Abortion will stay legal in Wyoming after the state Supreme Court ruled that a pair of abortion bans passed by lawmakers violate the state constitution.
Jan 7, 2026
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Assisted reproductive technology associated with higher risk of childhood atopic diseases
Collaborating institutions in Taiwan report higher risks of atopic disease among children conceived via assisted reproductive technology compared to those conceived naturally.
US backs at-home HPV testing to boost cervical cancer screening
Women may soon have an easier, lower-cost way to get screened for cervical cancer.
Jan 6, 2026
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