New survey aims to highlight use of medication in pregnancy

The use of medication in pregnancy is fraught with uncertainty. Very much a grey area, many women and their partners struggle with conflicting information and advice offered to them while pregnant or breastfeeding. Our 2016 Safe Motherhood report found that roughly one-third of women had taken one or more medication during their pregnancy. In many cases it is necessary as…

Read more > New survey aims to highlight use of medication in pregnancy

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is safe

Pregnancy after breast cancer does not increase the risk of recurrence, a new study by Belgian researchers has determined. Findings from the retrospective study of 1,200 women in Belgium will provide reassurance to breast cancer survivors who are contemplating pregnancy. In the study, women who became pregnant after an early breast cancer diagnosis did not have a higher chance of…

Read more > Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is safe

World Preeclampsia Day brings focus on maternal health

The first ever World Preeclampsia Day took place last month, with a number of maternal health organisations joining forces in a bid to raise awareness of preeclampsia as a life-threatening complication of pregnancy. Nearly 76,000 mothers and 500,000 babies worldwide lose their lives to preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy every year. World Preeclampsia Day's theme – "Be prepared…

Read more > World Preeclampsia Day brings focus on maternal health

Flu vaccine ‘safe in any trimester of pregnancy’

The influenza vaccine is safe to receive at any stage during pregnancy, the results of a large Australian study have determined. The study, published in the journal Vaccine, found that birth outcomes, specifically birth weight and weeks' gestation of the infant at birth, are not affected by the influenza vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy. Researchers at the Australian National…

Read more > Flu vaccine ‘safe in any trimester of pregnancy’

Device that could curb maternal deaths wins funding

A device that could save the lives of women all over the world by treating postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) has received significant funding, and could be available widely soon. The University of Liverpool in the UK has been awarded £850,000 from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to further develop the device, which could have a major global impact on…

Read more > Device that could curb maternal deaths wins funding

Danger of listeria in early pregnancy

Pregnant women and their developing babies are particularly susceptible to listeria, which can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, or even encourage premature labour. For this reason, many expectant mothers avoid foods like soft cheeses, ice-cream, and raw eggs, despite the rate of listeria infection being relatively low. Now a new study has found that listeria may pose a greater risk of…

Read more > Danger of listeria in early pregnancy

"No benefit” to treating mild low thyroid in pregnancy

Treating women with mildly low thyroid function during pregnancy may be of no benefit, according to a new US study. Although markedly low thyroid function during pregnancy is known to be associated with impaired fetal neurological development and increased risk for preterm birth and miscarriage, research that suggested even mildly low thyroid function (subclinical hypothyroidism) could possibly affect a newborn’s…

Read more > "No benefit” to treating mild low thyroid in pregnancy

Load