Pregnancy and Breastfeeding : 130 Articles

It used to be that when a woman became pregnant, she didn't alter her habits much. But over the past few generations, we've learned that what you eat before and during pregnancy is critical for producing a healthy baby. This section contains sound information for women who are contemplating pregnancy, those who are already expecting, and brand new mothers.

Lack of vitamin C may trigger premature delivery

Women who get little vitamin C both before and during their pregnancies appear to be more susceptible to premature rupture of the membrane attached to the placenta, leading to an increased…

Fatty acid-fortified baby formula to be sold in US

Infant formulas containing two fatty acids necessary for brain and visual development will be available for the first time in the US early this year, infant formula manufacturers announced…

B vitamin folate may lower the risk of childhood leukemia

According to a preliminary study from the Cancer Foundation of Western Australia, women who take supplemental folate and iron during pregnancy may lower their risk of having a baby who…

Too much caffeine increases miscarriage risk

Women who rapidly metabolize caffeine may be at risk for having a miscarriage, unlike women who take longer to clear caffeine from their bodies. There is a longstanding debate about whether…

Breastfeeding may help prevent asthma in children

Researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada say mother's milk may help protect newborns and young children from developing asthma. The researchers looked into the…

Ginkgo biloba may affect the fetus

The results of a small study suggest that pregnant women may put their fetus at risk if they regularly consume the herbal supplement ginkgo biloba. Researchers at Wayne State University in…

Longer breast-feeding produces smarter kids

Children who are breast-fed for 6 months or longer may be smarter than their peers who nursed for less than 3 months, study findings from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology…

Breast milk may fight yeast infection in newborns

A new study finds that breast-fed infants may be at lower risk for infection with Candida albicans, the yeast that causes a painful oral condition known as thrush. About 5% of all newborns…

Lack of vitamin B12 linked to repeat miscarriage

Women who are deficient in vitamin B12 may be at risk for infertility or repeat miscarriages, but in many cases they can prevent these occurrences with vitamin therapy, an Israeli researchers…

Dieting moms who breast-feed may need vitamin B6

Women who diet and exercise while breast-feeding their baby can do so as long as they continue to eat nutritious food and take a vitamin supplement. According to researchers at the University…

Ginger may help morning sickness

Ginger may help relieve the nausea and vomiting that can occur in early pregnancy, results of a study suggest. Investigators from Chiang Mai University in Thailand found that a group of 32…

Extra weight gain in pregnancy can impair breast feeding

Women of normal weight who gain more than 35 pounds during pregnancy may face difficulties when they begin breast-feeding, according to a study of almost 2,500 women. Researchers from Cornell…

Many women still unaware of the importance of folic acid

Approximately 70% of women of reproductive age may not understand the importance of adequate dietary folate in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring, according to a survey…

Fibre lowers insulin needs of pregnant women with diabetes

Bulking up on dietary fibre may help pregnant women with type 1 diabetes control potentially dangerous fluctuations in their blood sugar, a new study suggests. Diabetic women who consumed the…

Folate is important for male fertility

Getting enough folate in the diet may be as important for prospective fathers as it is for mothers-to-be, according to a new study by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and…

Fetal malnutrition linked to adult schizophrenia

Small size at birth and relative thinness during childhood may be linked to an increased risk for the development of schizophrenia in later life, Finnish researchers report. The researchers…

Pregnant women advised not to eat certain types of fish

Pregnant women should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish, because these fish may contain enough methyl mercury to damage the fetus's nervous system, the US Food and Drug…

Obesity linked to increased caesarean section risk

According to researchers from the Milwaukee Clinical Campus of University of Wisconsin obesity may increase the chances of caesarean section. The study found that obese women are three to four…

Breast milk feeding boosts preemies' IQ

Low birth weight infants who are breast-fed or given breast milk in a bottle appear to have slightly higher IQs at ages 7 and 8 compared with similar children who are not given breast milk, a…

Study blames caffeine for miscarriages

Five cups of coffee per day more than doubles a pregnant woman's risk of a miscarriage, according to perhaps the most rigorous study yet to focus on the possible link between caffeine and…