Opioid Use in Pregnancy Tied to Severe Birth Defects

THURSDAY, Jan. 17, 2019 -- More American infants are being born with their intestines outside of their bodies, and the disturbing trend might be linked to the opioid crisis, health officials reported Thursday.

The condition, called gastroschisis, is caused by a hole beside the belly button. The hole can be small or large, and sometimes other organs such as the stomach and liver can also be outside of the baby's body, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists.

Guidelines for a Healthy Pregnancy

FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 -- If you're pregnant you already know the importance of eating a healthful diet and taking prenatal vitamins, including folic acid and possibly B12 and iron supplements.

What not to do isn't always clear, however.

Mom-to-Be's Flu Can Harm Her Unborn Baby

FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 -- Pregnant women who get a flu shot protect not only themselves, but also their developing baby, health officials report.

When a mom-to-be gets the flu, she can be so sick she needs to be admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit. And new research finds her baby then runs the risk of being born preterm, underweight and with a low "Apgar score" -- a gauge of an infant's overall health.

Docs Should Screen for Depression During, After Pregnancy

MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 -- Doctors should screen women for depression during and after pregnancy, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says in an updated policy statement.

Undiagnosed and untreated depression among pregnant women and new mothers can put a baby's health at risk, and is one of the most common and costly pregnancy-related complications in the United States, according to the AAP.

Meth, Opioid Use in Pregnancy on the Rise

THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 -- Methamphetamine and opioid use has soared among pregnant American women, putting the health of baby and mother at risk, a new study finds.

While addiction among pregnant women has dramatically increased across the country, it disproportionally affects women living in rural America, where access to addiction treatment and prenatal care is limited, the researchers added.

Some Types of Epilepsy Pose More Risks During Pregnancy

MONDAY, Dec. 3, 2018 -- Women with frontal lobe epilepsy are much more likely to have an increase in seizures during pregnancy than those with focal epilepsy or generalized epilepsy, researchers report.

"Physicians need to monitor women with focal epilepsy -- especially frontal lobe epilepsy -- more closely during pregnancy because maintaining seizure control is particularly challenging for them," said study lead author Dr. Paula Voinescu, a neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.