Baby

A new study from an international team of geneticists is suggesting we are further away than many realize from being able to effectively genetically select for complex polygenic traits such as IQ or height and create designer babies.

The results of a trial investigating the best practice for managing late-term pregnancies have finally been published, recommending women induce labour by week 41. The study was halted in 2018 after a number of deaths raised ethical issues.

In order to monitor a sick infant's blood oxygen levels, the baby typically has to wear sensors that are hard-wired to a large bedside device. Soon, however, a wireless optical sensor could free such infants up, even allowing them to be taken home.

While most people may swear that they'd never do it, drivers do sometimes forget that they've got an infant or pet in the car, leaving them in the parked vehicle. A newly-developed radar sensor, however, could keep that from happening.

A new study is trying to answer a medical mystery - when does the microbiome begin to form? Is the womb and placenta a sterile environment, with bacteria seeded when a baby is born? Or can a mother transfer microbes to her child during pregnancy?

Because of infants' sensitive skin, it's not a good idea to rig them up with biosensors that are taped to their body. Scientists have developed what could be an alternative, in the form a pacifier that measures glucose levels within the saliva.

New research is offering compelling evidence to suggest levels of a steroid hormone called allopregnanolone can affect fetal brain development, and when disrupted can result in cerebral abnormalities and increases in autism risk.

An innovative system is suggesting white noise from a smart speaker can monitor breathing and movement in sleeping babies. So far, the prototype device can detect infant respiratory rates with accuracy matching standard vital sign monitors.

New research is elucidating the effects of maternal stress during pregnancy on fetal development. The research is finding links between a mother's stress levels during pregnancy and several birth outcomes including brain development and a baby’s sex.

A new imaging study has discovered that lizard-like muscles temporarily develop in embryos across the early weeks of gestation before disappearing.

Research finds significant differences in gut bacterial diversity between babies born by caesarean and those born vaginally.

A new smartphone-based system has been designed to analyze the shape of infants' craniums.