pregnant women

Babies of moms who are in the ICU with severe flu have a greater chance of being born premature and underweight.

Severe Flu Raises Risk Of Birth Problems For Pregnant Women, Babies

10:30pm January 10, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Pregnant women in intensive care with severe cases of the flu have a higher risk of giving birth to babies prematurely. The risk of breathing problems for the baby is also substantially higher.

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For years, pregnant women have been routinely excluded from medical studies, a practice that has left unanswered questions about how best to treat many health conditions during pregnancy.

Research Gaps Leave Doctors Guessing About Treatments For Pregnant Women

5:34pm December 10, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

To protect a developing fetus from experimental drugs or treatments that might cause birth defects, pregnant women aren't included in many clinical trials. But that limits the safety evidence, too.

Kristen Philman first tried methamphetamine in her early 20s, as an alternative to heroin and other opioids. When she discovered she was pregnant, she says, it was a wake-up call, and she did what she needed to do to stop using all those drugs.

Health & Safety

Another Drug Crisis: Methamphetamine Use By Pregnant Women

11:27pm November 29, 2018

by Rhitu Chatterjee

As illegal meth use has made a comeback across the U.S., pregnant women have not been spared, doctors say. New research shows rural areas in the South, Midwest and West have been hit hardest.

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The recommendations say physicians should look for these risk factors: "a history of depression, current depressive symptoms (like persisting hopelessness, lack of sleep, etc.) or certain socioeconomic risk factors," such as being low-income, very young,

Panel: Doctors Should Focus On Preventing Depression In Pregnant Women, New Moms

4:27pm August 28, 2018

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Physicians are urged to identify which pregnant women and new mothers are at high risk of depression and refer them to talk therapy before they show worsening symptoms.

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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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists calls the flu vaccine an "essential" part of prenatal care, for protection of the newborn as well as the woman. Infants typically don't get their own flu shot until age 6 months or later.

Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise

7:07am September 25, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Researchers and physicians say a study suggesting a link between the flu vaccine and miscarriage in a limited population is cause for more research, not a reason to change vaccination recommendations.

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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.

Deona Scott and her son Phoenix at her graduation from Charleston Southern University in South Carolina in 2015. Scott now works full time for Nurse-Family Partnership, a program she credits with helping to prepare her to be a good mother.

'Pay For Success' Approach Used To Fund A Program That Supports New Moms

6:04am August 09, 2017

by Michelle Andrews

South Carolina says it will contribute up to $7.5 million to help fund the expansion of the "Nurse-Family Partnership" in the state if the program can show it is improving pregnancy outcomes.

San Francisco lactation counselor Caroline Kerhervé — with kids of her clients — during a weekly session of a new mothers' group she coached in May.

Considering Breast-Feeding? This Guide Can Help

3:14pm June 27, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The vast majority of pregnant women in the U.S. say they plan to breast-feed, but aren't told that many new moms worldwide find it tricky. Being mentored the first weeks after birth can help a lot.

Yalieth Gonzalez and her baby Micaela Delgado at the Maternal Infant Studies Center at the University of Puerto Rico.

Living With Zika In Puerto Rico Means Watching, Waiting And Fearing Judgment

2:06pm March 27, 2017

by Greg Allen

The Zika virus may have infected more than 1 million people in Puerto Rico, including thousands of pregnant women. Doctors are watching babies born to infected moms who don't show birth defects.

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