Pregnancy News
April 2, 2007
New Tests to Predict Pregnancy Complications
A team of Toronto researchers have developed a combined screening test that can detect placental damage which can lead to serious and sometimes fatal conditions during pregnancy. The research is the first to focus on the health of the placenta through which nutrients, oxygen, antibodies and hormones are passed to the fetus from the mother. Abnormal placental functioning is believed to be the cause of serious pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (maternal high blood pressure), pre-term delivery, and stillbirth. The new screening method combines an ultrasound with various blood tests to detect placental damage as early as 16 to 23 weeks gestation. Detection at these early stages of pregnancy can allow for early medical interventions that may significantly improve the outcomes of many high-risk pregnancies.
Source: News-Medical.net
April 3, 2007
Maternal Weight Gain Linked To Obesity
A report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that the recommended weight gain set forth by the Institute of Medicine for women during pregnancy may need to be revised. This suggestion follows a study which found that women who had gained both excess weight as well as the recommended weight during pregnancy were four times more likely to have a child who was overweight by the age of three. The national standards for recommended weight gain in pregnancy were established in 1990, based on high risks of low birth weight in infants. In light of the obesity epidemic facing developed countries, lead author Dr. Emily Oken has suggested that guidelines set forth by the Institute of Medicine may now need to take into account not only the effects of pregnancy weight on birth outcomes, but also the risk of obesity for both mother and child in the future.
Source: Reuters Health
April 4, 2007
Depression During Pregnancy Cause of Premature Births
A new study suggests that undetected depression in pregnant women may be even more common than post partum depression. Dr. Veronica O'Keane, a pre-natal psychiatrist at King's College in London, believes that a rise in stress hormones in women with depression during pregnancy could be the leading cause of 30% of pre-term births with no known medical source. The study confirmed that stress levels soared in depressed women during pregnancy, supporting a major study previously conducted showing abnormally high levels of cortisol stress hormones in children whose mothers were highly anxious during pregnancy. Premature birth is a major cause of childhood death and illness, and may contribute to breathing problems, infection, low blood pressure, anemia and jaundice. Children whose mothers suffered from depression during pregnancy have been shown to be more susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Source: Scotsman.com
