pregnancy

Many pregnancies are shorter as climate change causes more 90-degree days

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A UCLA study suggests that climate change is causing many women to have shorter pregnancies than they would normally, which could pose risks for infant health and child development. According to research published today in Nature Climate Change, birth rates were 5% higher on days when the temperature exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit. And, perhaps more concerning, births … Read more Many pregnancies are shorter as climate change causes more 90-degree days

Birth control options out of reach for many low-income women

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Young, low-income women in Canada are less likely to use more effective methods of birth control like the pill, and more likely to use no contraception or condoms only, according to new UBC research. The findings, published today in CMAJ Open, suggest that young, low-income women may not be able to afford accessing the full … Read more Birth control options out of reach for many low-income women

First cell map of developing human liver reveals how blood and immune system develops

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In a world first, scientists have created the human developmental liver cell atlas that provides crucial insights into how the blood and immune systems develop in the foetus. It maps changes in the cellular landscape of the developing liver between the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, including how stem cells from the liver seed … Read more First cell map of developing human liver reveals how blood and immune system develops

House move during early pregnancy linked to heightened premature birth risk

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Moving house during the first three months of pregnancy is linked to a heightened risk of premature birth and low birthweight as well as a slightly higher risk of a smaller than expected size baby, finds US research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Moving house during childhood is associated with poorer … Read more House move during early pregnancy linked to heightened premature birth risk

Identifying the risk of recurrence of developmental disorder in future pregnancies

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Having a child with a developmental disorder can cause parents to worry about the outcome of further pregnancies. In cases where the genetic mutation causing the disorder is not present in either parent it is assumed to be a one-off event with a very small chance of recurrence. But in some families, the risk of … Read more Identifying the risk of recurrence of developmental disorder in future pregnancies