Latest

pregnancy

·June 10, 2026·8 min read

Prenatal Sleep Expectations Drive Postpartum Insomnia

Pregnant women's expectations about postpartum sleep predict their actual sleep quality after delivery, completely outweighing prior sleep disorders, birth history, and psychiatric history.

This shows the outline of two women's heads and a brain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 20, 2026·8 min read

Multiple Pregnancies May Shield the Female Brain From Stroke

A new study reveals that women with three or more live births have a reduced risk of stroke and covert vascular brain damage.

This shows a pregnant woman, pills and DNA.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 16, 2026·8 min read

High-Dose Folic Acid Slashes Birth Defect Risks

Women on antiseizure medication can reduce their child's risk of birth defects by 45%, but only if they start high-dose folic acid before getting pregnant.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 8, 2026·8 min read

Pinpointing the Specific Cells That Trigger Pregnancy Risks

Researchers have published a 3D atlas of the maternal-fetal interface. The study identifies new cell types and biological mechanisms behind preeclampsia, miscarriage, and the risks associated with cannabis use during pregnancy.

This shows the outline of a pregnant woman, the gut-brain axis and bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2026·9 min read

Link Found Between Antibiotics and Depression in Pregnancy

A study of 94,000 women reveals that antibiotic use before and during pregnancy is linked to increased psychological distress. Researchers point to the disruption of the gut-brain axis as a potential cause for this "stepwise" increase in mental health risks.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 22, 2026·6 min read

Prenatal Lead Exposure Affects the Aging Brain

A biological time capsule reveals a 60-year secret. Scientists find that lead exposure in the womb can act as a "cognitive accelerator," adding years to the aging brain.

This image shows two pregnant women, one with an infant on her lap, the other without, signifying how having more than one child sparks neuroplasticity during pregnancy.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 19, 2026·7 min read

Second Pregnancy Rewires Mom’s Brain for Multi-Child Parenting

One and done? Not for your neurons. Scientists have discovered that a second pregnancy leaves its own unique mark on the brain, specifically tuning it for the chaos of multi-child parenting.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·8 min read

Antidepressants May Safeguard Against Preterm Birth Risks

Does treating depression with antidepressants during pregnancy harm the baby? A massive new study reveals that while SSRIs increase gestational diabetes risk, they also protect against preterm birth.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 1, 2025·5 min read

Smelling Fatty Foods in Pregnancy May Raise Obesity Risk in Children

New research shows that exposure to the smell of fatty foods during pregnancy and early life can reprogram the developing brain and increase the risk of obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood. Even when mothers consumed a healthy low-fat diet, the presence of fatty food odors altered how offspring responded to high-fat foods later.

This shows a pregnant woman surrounded by viruses.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 24, 2025·6 min read

Severe Flu in Pregnancy Lets Harmful Molecules Reach Fetal Brain

A new study shows that severe flu infections in pregnant mice compromise both placental and brain barriers, allowing large molecules and fibrinogen to reach the fetal brain. These molecules accumulated in critical regions like the subventricular zone, where neural stem cells develop, raising concerns about long-term impacts on neurodevelopment.

This shows a happy pregnant woman cradling her belly.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 18, 2025·4 min read

Fetal Movements Boost Maternal Attachment

A new study shows that fetal movement frequency in late pregnancy is directly tied to stronger maternal-fetal attachment. Using an actocardiograph, researchers objectively measured movements and found that higher activity was associated with greater emotional bonding, even when controlling for other factors like maternal mood or gestational age.

This shows a pregnant woman and gut bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·7 min read

Pregnancy Stress Disrupts Baby’s Microbiome, Increasing Depression Risk

Prenatal stress in mothers can leave a lasting imprint on their offspring, predisposing them to depression-like behaviors. Researchers found that maternal stress disrupts the gut microbiome and metabolite production, which are vertically transmitted to the young.