Women who have been pregnant were diagnosed with their first multiple sclerosis symptoms, on average, 3.3 years later than women with MS who had never become pregnant. Read More
Study refutes any association between the H1N1 vaccine given to pregnant women and an increased risk of autism diagnosis in children. Read More
Children born to mothers who experienced immune disorders during pregnancy, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and autoinflammatory syndromes, are more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems. The child's sex may interact with maternal immune conditions to influence the outcome of ASD symptoms. While maternal immune disorders were associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children on the autism spectrum, there was no association with reduced cognitive function. Read More
Maternal obesity may hinder their child's brain development as soon as the second trimester of pregnancy. High maternal BMI is associated with changes to the child's prefrontal cortex and anterior insula, two brain areas associated with decision making, and behavior. Read More
Women who use cannabis during pregnancy are at increased risk of their child being diagnosed with autism. Read More
Chronic stress during pregnancy and elevated maternal cortisol levels have been linked to alterations in the gut microbiota of infants. Read More
A systematic review of 49 studies reveals neonatal coronavirus infection is uncommon, and also commonly asymptomatic in infected babies. Data also showed infection rates were no higher when a baby was born vaginally, as opposed to delivered via cesarean section, breastfed, or allowed immediate contact with the mother after birth. Read More
Rat study suggests prenatal microbial exposure influences neurodevelopmental outcomes. Read More
Children exposed to maternal antenatal corticosteroids had higher rates of emotional, behavioral, and psychological developmental disorders than their peers whose mothers did not take the drug. Read More
The placentas of sixteen women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy showed evidence of significant injury, a new study reports. The placental injuries were consistent with abnormal blood flow between mother and baby in-utero, suggesting another complication of coronavirus infection in pregnant women. Read More
A child's mental health is affected by stress factors experienced during the mother's pregnancy. The findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting detrimental impact on the mental health of many children born to mothers who are currently pregnant. Read More
Maternal inflammation has been linked to a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in children, including autism and schizophrenia. A new mouse study reveals maternal responses and subsequent developmental disorders are based on the mother's immunoreactivity to infection. Read More
