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Boys born to COVID-19-infected mothers at risk of neurodevelopment issues
A study on over 880 children exposed to the virus before birth revealed that 3% of them received a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental issue during their first year of life compared to 1.8% of kids who were not exposed to the virus, corresponding to a two-fold increased risk. This risk was disproportionately higher in boys than girls, but the reasons were unclear.
Newsbreak
Placing IUDs 2 to 4 weeks after childbirth does not raise the risk of expulsion
Intrauterine device placement at 2 to 4 weeks after childbirth was found to be non-inferior to placing them at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum in terms of complete IUD expulsion, as per a study on over 400 women. But, partial expulsion rates of IUDs were also higher in the early placement group. But, at 6 months, the rates of using IUDs were similar among both groups.
Health Day
Hormonal IUDs can increase the chances of ectopic pregnancy
Norwegian Cancer Society uncovered that intrauterine hormonal devices could increase the risk of ectopic pregnancies. A study analysed three IUDs and found that the risk was higher with an IUD that contained the least amount of hormone. Even though the risk of ectopic pregnancy with IUDs was very small, this was higher than that with birth control pills.
Cancer.dk
US: COVID-19 pandemic worsened the health of pregnant women
A report from the National Center for Health Statistics of the US suggested a 40% increase in maternal deaths in 2021 compared to that in 2020 and a 60% increase compared to that in 2019. Another report cited COVID-19 as a contributing factor to over 400 maternal deaths in 2021. These increases were more striking in Black women, with almost 2.6 times higher mortality rate.
Yahoo News
What causes postmenopausal weight gain?
A study on mice revealed that a reduced number of estrogen receptors alpha in the heart could be the reason for obesity in females post-menopause. Reduction in these receptors causes dysregulation in adipose and skeletal tissues. The lowered estrogen levels after menopause cause a reduction in the protection against obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Technology Networks
Can labour induction worsen education performance in offspring?
Inducing labour in women with uncomplicated pregnancies at gestational age 37 to 41 weeks was found to be linked to lower education performances in offspring at age 12 years, as per a study. Fewer children of women who had induced labour reached higher secondary education compared to children of women in the nonintervention group, suggesting disadvantages.
Health Day
Using montelukast in pregnancy not tied to neuro disorders in kids
A study found no significant link between prenatal usage of leukotriene-receptor antagonists and ADHD and Tourette syndrome in offspring. Also, the duration of use ( 1 to 4 weeks or more than 4 weeks) and cumulative dose (1 to 170 mg vs more than 170 mg) of these drugs during pregnancy were not linked to ASD, Tourette syndrome, and ADHD in offspring.
Twitter @JAMANetworkOpen
Does aspirin help pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia?
Patients who discontinued aspirin during their third trimester were not at higher risk of developing preeclampsia than women who continued aspirin treatment until delivery, as per a study. The incidence of preeclampsia was 1.7% and 1.5% among the control and intervention groups, respectively. No differences in adverse events were observed among these groups.
Physician's Weekly
South Korea's lowest fertility rate reaches new lowest milestone
The number of expected babies per woman in South Korea fell to 0.78 in 2022 from 0.81 from the previous year, as per an official report. This number is way lower than the average rate of 1.59 among countries in the OECD in 2020. South Korea, the only nation with a fertility rate below 1, has spent billions to provide childcare subsidies to reverse falling birth rates.
Twitter @Reuters
Infections during pregnancy could raise the risk of leukemia in offspring
A long-term study revealed that any maternal infection during pregnancy was linked to a 35% higher risk of childhood leukemia. Specifically, urinary tract infections increased this risk by 145%, while genital tract infections raised the risk by 65%. However, no link was found between maternal infections and other childhood cancers like brain and lymphatic cancers.
New Atlas
