pregnancy

While many women experience miscarriage, few talk about it openly. But researchers have found there is discussion and a lot of sharing happening on social media. Their hope is that greater public discourse will help reduce stigma and the sense of isolatio

What The Public Is Saying About Miscarriage In 140 Characters

9:58am August 27, 2017

Miscarriage, while widely experienced, is not often discussed in public. Researchers have turned to social media to see what people are saying about the topic and how much they're choosing to share.

Vanessa Wauchope begins abdominal exercises in Leah Keller's class in San Francisco, Calif. Keller teaches an exercise, called "drawing in," to help strengthen abdominal muscles that tend to spread apart a bit during pregnancy.

Getting To The Core Of Exercises Said To Strengthen 'Mum Tum'

2:56pm August 20, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

NPR listeners had lots of questions after our story about diastasis recti, a medical condition of abdominal muscles that's common among new moms. Many wanted to know more about how to fix the problem.

Keller measures the separation in a student's abdominal muscles using her fingers as a guide.

Flattening The 'Mummy Tummy' With 1 Exercise, 10 Minutes A Day

3:55pm August 07, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The technical term is diastasis recti and it affects many new moms. The growing fetus pushes apart the abdominal muscles and the separation often stays open. But science suggests this fix can work.

Queue Listen Now

Ariel Levy first wrote about the miscarriage she suffered in Mongolia in the Nov. 17, 2013 issue of The New Yorker.

'I Was Somebody's Mother': Reflections On The Guilt And Grief Of Miscarriage

12:41am August 02, 2017

by Terry Gross

Ariel Levy was five months pregnant and alone in a hotel room in Mongolia when she gave birth. Her son lived only 10 minutes. Afterward, Levy was haunted by the notion that she had caused his death.

Queue Listen Now

Maria Nalubega holds her three-week-old baby daughter.

What This Teen Mom Wishes She'd Known Before She Got Pregnant

11:18am July 11, 2017

by Ritah Namwiza

She was ashamed to be seen buying condoms. She didn't dare ask her mother for advice. So how can Uganda bring down its high rate of teen pregnancy?

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.

Queue Listen Now

A scientist holds a bioprosthetic mouse ovary made of gelatin with tweezers.

Scientists One Step Closer To 3-D-Printed Ovaries To Treat Infertility

10:38am May 20, 2017

by Rob Stein

Researchers printed gelatin scaffolds into which they placed ovarian tissue, and then implanted the new organs in mice. Three out of seven female mice produced healthy offspring using the technology.

Queue Listen Now

Women worry that bad things will happen if they exercise while pregnant, but doctors say in almost all cases it's not just safe, but can improve health.

Exercising While Pregnant Is Almost Always A Good Idea

1:48pm March 21, 2017

by Katherine Hobson

Women often worry that exercise is dangerous during pregnancy, but the data shows it's almost always good for both mother and the developing fetus. As with so many things, moderation is key.

Birth control pills actually may be safer for teenagers than for older women, a study finds.

Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pills Would Be Safe For Teens, Researchers Say

5:14pm March 16, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Making contraceptives available over the counter is safe, a review of research finds, and could lead to fewer unplanned pregnancies in both teens and adult women.

Queue Listen Now

Leana Wen, Baltimore's health commissioner, says when women skip prenatal care because they can't afford it, their health and their children's health suffers.

I'm Pregnant. What Would Happen If I Couldn't Afford Health Care?

5:00am March 11, 2017

by Leana Wen

Prenatal care costs more than $10,000 on average. Dr. Leana Wen wonders what choices she would make if she didn't have health insurance to cover that, and how those choices would affect her baby.