pregnancy

Living California's Central Valley, Keishell Brown and other expecting moms contend with increasingly intense heat waves.

Health & Safety

Heat waves are dangerous during pregnancy, but doctors don't often mention it

9:34am October 03, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

Heat waves are getting longer and more intense with climate change, which increases the risk of preterm birth. Pregnant women often don't hear about the dangers.

Glenda Lima, a surgical tech at Houston Women's Reproductive Services, performs an ultrasound on a patient on Sept. 30, 2021. The patient drove to the clinic from Louisiana and the ultrasound was to determine whether the woman is less than six weeks pregn

National

Doctors say the Texas abortion ban is complicating other types of medical decisions

12:05pm October 01, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

The law bans nearly all abortions, and doctors providing pregnancy care are hoping for more clarity soon, as legal challenges continue.

A pregnant woman wearing a face mask and gloves holds her belly as she waits in line for groceries at St. Mary's Church in Waltham, Mass., in May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday again urged all pregnant women to get the COVID-

Are You Pregnant? The CDC Really Wants You To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

9:33am September 30, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases of COVID-19 in symptomatic pregnant people have a higher risk of admission into intensive care and a 70% increased risk of death.

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy is one of the best ways to make sure your vulnerable newborn benefits from your antibodies to the coronavirus, doctors say.

Health & Safety

Babies, The Delta Variant And COVID: What Parents Need To Know

4:38pm September 13, 2021

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The rate of new cases of COVID-19 among babies and children under 4 years old in the U.S. recently surpassed the rate of new cases among adults older than 65. Here's how to protect newborns.

The term "fetal heartbeat," as used in the new anti-abortion law from Texas, is misleading, and not based on science, say physicians who specialize in reproductive health. What the ultrasound machine detects in a 6-week-old embryo is actually just electri

The Texas Abortion Ban Hinges On 'Fetal Heartbeat.' Doctors Call That Misleading

3:51pm September 03, 2021

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The new Texas law bans abortions after a 'fetal heartbeat' is detected, usually about six weeks into pregnancy. But doctors say that's not an actual medical term, and it's being used inaccurately.

With the delta variant surging, "All people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future" should get vaccinated against COVID-19, the CDC urges.

Vaccinating During Pregnancy Has Become Even More Urgent As ICU Beds Fill Up

5:27pm August 11, 2021

by Ashley Lopez

Only 23% of those pregnant in the U.S. have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, statistics show. And with the delta variant surging, those who are unvaccinated are especially vulnerable.

Nicole Lynn Lewis is the author of Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families.

Former 'Pregnant Girl' Builds Support To Help Other Teen Moms

2:46pm May 03, 2021

by Terry Gross

Nicole Lynn Lewis felt overwhelmed and isolated as a young single mom in college. Now she runs a nonprofit designed to help teen parents get the financial and emotional support they need to thrive.

Queue Listen Now

A new study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found no obvious safety concerns in some 35,000 pregnant people who were vaccinated, including in the third trimester.

CDC Director Recommends Pregnant People Receive COVID-19 Vaccines

3:47pm April 23, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found no obvious safety concerns in a study of 35,000 pregnant people who received the vaccines, though they say more research is needed.

The Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Under a new state law, a biological father will be responsible for half of a woman's out-of-pocket pregnancy costs.

National

Utah Law Requires Biological Fathers To Pay Half Of Pregnancy-Related Medical Costs

3:53pm April 07, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

The legislation requires a biological father to pay 50% of a woman's pregnancy-related medical costs, including insurance premiums and hospital birth. It's believed to be the first such U.S. law.

According to a review published in 2018, nearly 75% of the drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the 21st century had no data associated with their use during pregnancy.

Protect Pregnant Women 'Through Research,' Not 'From Research,' OB-GYNs Urge

5:00am January 25, 2021

by Maggie Mertens

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out, doctors say it's long past time to address the exclusion of pregnant women from research on drugs and vaccines. They say better study design is the answer.