Mother and Child

New research reveals that in pregnant women, Zika virus infection damages certain cells that affect placental formation and function. Furthermore, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection augments placental sensitivity to Zika virus by enhancing the expression of receptors that allow Zika virus to enter cells. The findings may help explain the mechanism by which Zika virus breaches the placental barrier to access the fetus. They also suggest that fetuses in pregnant women with HSV-2 infection are at a higher risk for microcephaly and other effects caused by Zika virus. "Investigators in Brazil have suspected that something more than Zika virus is causing the high intensity and severity of cases. Our study suggests that the immune response to an early infection, HSV-2, may be the additional factor that increases the risk for severity of Zika virus-induced disease," said Dr. Gil Mor, senior author of the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology study. Sour...

The amount of nutrients transported to the fetus by the placenta adjusts according to both the fetal drive for growth and the mother’s physical ability to provide, new research suggests. Researchers have shown for the first time how the placenta "umpires" a fight for nutrients between a pregnant mother and her unborn baby. The study suggests that the placenta will adjust the amount of nutrients transported to the fetus for growth in line with the mother's physical ability to supply. The findings, published in the journal PNAS, suggest that if the bodily environment that a mother provides for her baby is unfavourable, for example through small body size or metabolic dysfunction, the placenta will change the flow of nutrients to the fetus relative to her own state. This can affect fetal development, resulting in complications at birth. It is the first time that scientists have been able to provide clear evidence that the placenta plays the decisive role in this...

Individuals born by cesarean delivery were 15 percent more likely to become obese as children than individuals born by vaginal birth -- and the increased risk may persist through adulthood, according to a large new study. The researchers also found that individuals born via vaginal birth among women who had undergone a previous cesarean delivery were 31% less likely to become obese compared with those born via cesarean birth following a cesarean birth. "Cesarean deliveries are without a doubt a necessary and lifesaving procedure in many cases," said Jorge Chavarro, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard Chan School and senior author of the study. "But cesareans also have some known risks to the mother and the newborn. Our findings show that risk of obesity in the offspring could another factor to consider." Nearly 1.3 million cesareans are performed each year in the U.S., accounting for one-third of all deliveries. While a number o...

Twins should be delivered at 37 weeks' gestation to minimize stillbirths and newborn deaths, and there is no clear evidence to support routine delivery before 36 weeks' gestation, finds a large international study. It is well known that the risk of stillbirth is higher in twin pregnancies than in singleton pregnancies. Uncomplicated twin pregnancies are often delivered early in an attempt to prevent stillbirth, but the optimal gestational age for delivery that minimises risks to newborns is not known. Current recommendations vary on the timing of delivery, starting from 34 up to 37 weeks' gestation in monochorionic twin pregnancies (twins that share the same placenta) and from 37 up to 39 weeks in dichorionic twin pregnancies (twins that have two individual placentas). So an international team of researchers decided to examine the evidence behind these recommendations. They analysed the results of 32 studies, published within the past 10 years, of women wit...

Babies born by Caesarean are at higher risk of becoming obese, especially compared with siblings born by vaginal delivery, a large study suggests. Writing in JAMA Pediatrics, the researchers said this might be because babies born vaginally are exposed to healthy gut bacteria that play an important role in regulating diet. The study followed more than 22,000 babies into adulthood. But experts said there were likely to be many different factors at work. These include the diet of the mother, whether she had diabetes during pregnancy and whether the baby was breastfed. Babies born via Caesarean are less likely to be breastfed, and this has been shown to lead to an increased risk of obesity. Children's diets also have an effect on their future weight. Steady rise In the UK, about 26% of babies are delivered by Caesarean section - an operation where a cut is made in the tummy and womb to get the baby out. Rates have been rising steadily over the past few ye...

New research has found that giving breastfeeding mothers monthly high-dose vitamin D supplements may be a possible way to improve their babies' vitamin D status.  Vitamin D is essential for calcium and bone metabolism and is mainly obtained from exposure to sunlight, with only low levels found in food and breast milk.  Risk factors for infant vitamin D deficiency -- which can lead to the bone disorder rickets -- include being exclusively breastfed. Vitamin D is essential for calcium and bone metabolism and is mainly obtained from exposure to sunlight, with only low levels found in food and breast milk. Risk factors for infant vitamin D deficiency -- which can lead to the bone disorder rickets -- include being exclusively breastfed. Study co-author Dr Ben Wheeler says many countries recommend giving babies daily vitamin D supplements during breastfeeding, but this advice was often not followed. "We wanted to see if having mothers take a monthly, high-dose suppl...