Inducing Labor Safer Bet for Late-Term Pregnancies: Study

THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2019 -- The risk of newborn death in late-term pregnancies may be lower if labor is induced rather than taking a wait-and-see approach, a new study suggests.

It's widely believed that mothers and babies have an increased risk of problems at or beyond 42 weeks of pregnancy. (A normal-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.) Some studies have suggested that inducing labor at or after 41 weeks reduces those risks, but there is no consensus on managing healthy pregnancies that last more than 41 weeks, according to background information about the study.

Trauma of Miscarriage May Trigger PTSD

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 -- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn't confined to soldiers on the battlefield; it can happen to anyone after a traumatic event -- including pregnancy loss.

After a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, 1 in 6 women can have PTSD nearly a year later, European researchers report.

Car Exhaust May Up High Blood Pressure Risk in Pregnant Women

THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 -- Air pollution from vehicles increases the risk of dangerously high blood pressure in pregnant women, U.S. government researchers report.

Scientists from the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' (NIEHS) National Toxicology Program analyzed published studies on the links between traffic-related air pollution and preeclampsia. The analysis was reviewed by experts from academia and industry, who agreed unanimously with the final conclusion of the report, released Dec. 18.

Is Childbirth More Dangerous in Rural Areas?

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 -- If you are pregnant and live in a rural area of the United States, new research shows that you're at higher risk of life-threatening complications or death during or after childbirth.

"Our study suggests that geographic disparities may put rural women at an increased risk of requiring lifesaving interventions during or immediately after delivering a baby," said study senior author Dr. Lindsay Admon. She's an obstetrician-gynecologist at Michigan Medicine's Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, in Ann Arbor.

Mom-to-Be's Diabetes May Up Odds of Heart Disease in Her Kids

THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 -- Children whose mothers had diabetes before or during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing heart disease by age 40, according to a new study.

The findings "highlight the importance of effective strategies for screening and preventing diabetes in women of childbearing age," said study author Dr. Yongfu Yu and colleagues. Yu is in the clinical epidemiology department at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.

Many Moms-to-Be Turn to Their Moms First for Medical Advice

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 -- Moms trump doctors when it comes to pregnancy advice, a new study suggests.

More often than not, pregnant women rely on guidance from their mothers instead of medical experts, the researchers found.