newborns

A child from the Mbendjele people, a hunter-gatherer community that lives in the northern rainforests of the Republic of Congo. A new study found that children in this society have on average 8 caregivers in addition to the mother to provide hands-on attention.

Health & Safety

Bringing up a baby can be a tough and lonely job. Here's a solution: alloparents

10:27am December 01, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

"Allo" is Greek for "other." Alloparents are helpful relatives and neighbors. In a study from Congo, babies had 8 alloparents on average. Perhaps the self-reliant nuclear family is a societal misstep.

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New father Yappe Pako gets help with his kangaroo care carrier from midwife Marie-JosÃ©e Miezan. His newborn son is named Ambo Crisostome. They're in the kangaroo care ward at the University Hospital Medical Center at Treichville in the Ivory Coast. A new program teaches the technique to moms â and dads. It's especially beneficial for preterm and low birthweight babies.

Kangaroo care gets a major endorsement. Here's what it looks like in Ivory Coast

9:14pm June 08, 2023

by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

A new study looks at the reduction in mortality among vulnerable babies if kangaroo care — skin-to-skin contact — is started soon after birth.

Health & Safety

PHOTOS: The moms (and dads) of Ivory Coast are falling in love with kangaroo care

1:11pm September 18, 2022

by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

Can the warmth of a parent's chest be a boon to babies, especially premature births? In the 1970s, Colombian researchers found it did. The technique has gone global. Ivory Coast is the latest convert.

Photographer Sarah Waiswa's image of her daughter, Ria: "She spends a lot of time in our bed. Babies bring the hope of goodness and light, but 2020 has been a heavy year. I am afraid about the type of world I have brought her into. I hope by the time Ria

Health & Safety

Global Photos: Babies Of The Pandemic Bring Love, Light — And Worries

7:31am July 18, 2020

by Everyday Projects

Millions of babies have been born in this year of the coronavirus crisis. We asked photojournalists to introduce us to some of the new arrivals — and share the hopes and fears of their parents.

A 5-pound newborn girl is swaddled in a blanket in a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. She was born on Jan. 1, 2020.

UNICEF Estimates 400,000 Babies Will Be Born On New Year's Day

10:28am January 01, 2020

Over half those births will happen in just eight countries, according to the U.N. agency.

A decade ago, it seemed inevitable that every newborn would get a complete gene scan. But there are technical challenges and practical concerns.

Health & Safety

The Promises And Pitfalls Of Gene Sequencing For Newborns

5:00am July 08, 2019

by Richard Harris

Traditional blood tests still do a better job flagging common inherited diseases. Gene sequencing can be useful for detecting some conditions, but the results can be difficult to interpret.

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Health & Safety

Natural Birthing Center Closes Due To Deaths Of 3 Newborns

10:16am March 23, 2018

by Associated Press and Neal Charnoff

A natural birthing center in North Carolina has stopped delivering babies after the deaths of three newborns in the past six months.

Kerri De Nies plays with her son, Gregory Mac Phee at their home in San Diego. Gregory tested positive for adrenoleukodystrophy, a rare brain disorder that affects 1 in about 18,000 babies. Roughly 30 percent of boys with the genetic mutation go on to dev

Parents Lobby States To Expand Newborn Screening Test For Rare Brain Disorder

11:27pm October 04, 2017

by Anna Gorman

There's a genetic test for ALD, the inherited disorder portrayed in the movie Lorenzo's Oil, and the federal government recommends it for all newborns. But only a handful of states offer it routinely.

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Probiotic Bacteria Could Protect Newborns From Deadly Infection

6:51pm August 16, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Each year more than 600,000 babies die of sepsis. Researchers have found a simple way to prevent it: Feed babies probiotic bacteria that are common in kimchi, pickles and other fermented vegetables.

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Lara Hogan developed preeclampsia when she was pregnant with her son Zion in 2016. Both are fine now, but she's taking extra precautions to stay healthy.

Women With High-Risk Pregnancies Are More Likely To Develop Heart Disease

9:41am July 10, 2017

by Anna Gorman

Women who develop diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy, or whose babies are born prematurely, often are unaware of their own increased risk of heart disease later. So are their doctors.

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