Baby

A new consensus statement is calling for the common painkiller acetaminophen (aka paracetamol) to be used cautiously during pregnancy, saying there are potential neurological and reproductive issues in children associated with excessive use of the drug.

New data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is affirming the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. The ongoing surveillance project found no safety concerns for the vaccines or increased rates of miscarriage.

New research has found a maternal fecal transplant may mitigate the damage antibiotics cause to the development of a newborn baby’s microbiome. The animal study found a fecal transplant greatly reduced future risk of developing the disease.

A study using epigenetic markers to track aging has found prematurely born boys seem to age faster than prematurely born girls. Why is unclear, but the research suggests the health of male preterm survivors should be closely monitored across their life.

Impressive new research has discovered a set of biomarkers that can predict when a pregnant woman will go into labor several weeks in advance. The breakthrough findings are hoped to be translated into a predictive blood test within the next few years.

Researchers are reporting allergies that develop in a baby’s initial year of life could be predicted by analyzing their first poo after birth. The study claims one’s microbial make-up at birth can play a major role in early immune development.

When a baby is born premature, it's vitally important that the infant's still-developing brain receive enough oxygen. A new medical device could help, by mimicking the heartbeat and breathing of a parent.

A global study tracking birth data from 165 countries has found more twins are being born than ever before. The study reveals twinning rates rose by a third over the past 40 years but the researchers suggest this trend may have reached a natural peak.

According to Japan's Yokohama National University, jaundice occurs in 60 to 80 percent of all newborn babies, and can result in brain damage or even death if left unchecked. That's why they've developed a new wearable device to help in its treatment.

A proof-of-concept study is suggesting epigenetic biomarkers in a father's sperm can predict how susceptible their offspring will be to developing ASD. The research is still in preliminary stages requiring further investigation in larger cohorts.

New findings from a team of Australian scientists suggest increased exposure to testosterone during pregnancy, triggered by a vitamin D deficiency, may be one of the causal factors explaining why autism spectrum disorder is more common in boys.

A UK team has demonstrated a novel technology for imaging the brains of infants and babies. The breakthrough is hoped to allow researchers new ways to investigate baby brain activity in natural environments without the need for expensive MRI machines.