fetal outcomes

A COVID infection during pregnancy could raise baby boys' risk of some neurodevelopmental delays, study finds.

COVID during pregnancy may alter brain development in boys

5:08am April 18, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

Boys born to mothers who got COVID-19 while pregnant seem to have a higher risk of subtle developmental delays, including those associated with autism spectrum disorder.

When Jenna Sauter's youngest son, Axel, tested positive for THC — marijuana's active ingredient — after he was born, she got a home visit from local social services. Sauter says she and her friends don't smoke near their children.

Is Smoking Pot While Pregnant Safe For The Baby?

2:31pm January 29, 2018

by Sarah Varney

Adults in a growing number of states can now legally use marijuana without a doctor's prescription. But obstetricians worry pregnant women don't realize the drug could hurt their kids.

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An illustration of a fetal lamb inside the "artificial womb" device, which mimics the conditions inside a pregnant animal.

Health & Safety

Scientists Create Artificial Womb That Could Help Prematurely Born Babies

4:32pm April 25, 2017

by Rob Stein

The device kept fetal lambs alive for about a month, allowing them to continue to mature. It has not been tested in humans, and some say the device raises ethical questions.

Carolyn Rossi, a registered nurse at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, says the opioid epidemic has required nurses who used to specialize in care for infants gain insights into caring for addicted mothers, as well.

To Help Newborns Dependent On Opioids, Hospitals Rethink Mom's Role

2:00pm March 26, 2016

by Jeff Cohen

When a woman addicted to opioids gives birth, she is too often dismissed as an obstacle to her infant's health. A Connecticut hospital is challenging that attitude — and the culture of care.