Topic: Parents Are Sacrificing Their Social Lives on the Altar of Intensive Parenting Inequality has seemingly caused many American parents to jettison friendships and activities in order to invest more resources in their kids. Over the past few decades, American parents have been pressured into making a costly wager: If they sacrifice their hobbies, interests,…
Topic: Even Moderate Caffeine Intake in Pregnancy Tied to Smaller Babies Consuming more than 50 mg of caffeine per day (the amount in about half a cup of coffee) linked to lower birth weight. Even moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size, according to a study published online March 25…
Topic: Our Black maternal health crisis is an American tragedy Given the remarkable advancements we have made across nearly every aspect of health care in the last quarter-century, it is shocking that women in the U.S. are more likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death today than in the 1990s. The danger is even greater for…
Topic: How spanking may affect brain development in children Spanking may affect a child’s brain development in similar ways to more severe forms of violence, according to a new study led by Harvard researchers. The research, published recently in the journal Child Development, builds on existing studies that show heightened activity in certain regions of…
Topic: Studying e-cigarettes risk to reproductive health “The use of the word ‘healthier’ in this context, as if it is synonymous with ‘less harmful,” is misleading if not deceitful,” said Honaramooz, a professor and researcher in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. “In the absence of evidence, the premise for…
Topic: Kids’ metabolic health can be improved with exercise during pregnancy A mechanism has been identified that explains how physical exercise in pregnancy confers metabolic health benefits in offspring. According to researchers, the key lies with a protein called SOD3, vitamin D and adequate exercise, with the outcomes possibly forming the first steps to designing…
Topic: Stillbirths, Pregnancy Complications Up During Pandemic The ripple effect of the COVID-19 scourge has led to more complications among pregnant women worldwide, including an increase in stillbirths, a new study says. The research review also found higher rates of maternal deaths and depression in the first year of the pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has…
Topic: Pregnant In A Pandemic Pregnancy has its own unique challenges. Throw in a COVID-19 pandemic and the situation becomes more complicated. With little information available about how coronavirus impacts pregnant and lactating women, it’s important to rely on health care professionals for advice. Erin Clark, MD, chief of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at…
Topic: Can the COVID Vaccine Affect Your Period? The COVID-19 vaccine can come with many (totally normal) side effects, like a fever, chills, and muscle pain. So it’s only natural to wonder if it can temporarily influence other aspects of your health, like your menstrual cycle. First, there’s no reason not to get vaccinated when…
Topic: Is Eating Asparagus Safe During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding? Love it or hate it — there’s no middle ground when it comes to asparagus. Between the woody stem, the weird little Q-tip head, and the (putting it mildly) strong flavor, this vegetable just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if it is your cup of…