Epilepsy drugs may increase birth defect risk

Exposure to certain anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy may put women at higher risk of having a child with a malformation, or birth defect, says a study. The study based on systematic review of 50 published studies found that exposure in the womb to the anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate was associated with a 10 per cent chance of the child having a significant birth defect and this rose as the dose of the drug increased. The types of birth defect that were increased were skeletal and limb defects, cardiac defects,…

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Babies Born With Low Birth Weight May Be Less Active Later in Life

Babies born with a low birth weight are less likely to be good at sports at school, or to engage in exercise later in life, according to a recent study. The findings showed that those with a low birth weight were less likely to take part in exercise and sports across adulthood, from 36 to 68 years. Although previous studies have shown that a low birth weight can affect sporting ability and exercise levels at a younger age, however, this is the first study that has revealed how low birth relates…

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Weight Gain During Pregnancy May Lead To Preterm Birth

Abnormalities in interval between pregnancies, mother’s body mass index (BMI) prior to pregnancy and the amount of weight gain in pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, a new study has found. The study, published in the journal Maternal and Child Health Journal, showed that if these factors were modified, it could reduce the risk of premature births. “The highest risks for premature birth were in women who were underweight, had poor weight gain during pregnancy, or short periods of time between pregnancies. Excessive weight gain in obese women also increased…

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Can Season and Place of Birth Influence Celiac Disease Risk?

Winter babies and people born in places with shorter days and less sunlight might have a lower risk of developing celiac disease than peers born in warmer regions or seasons, a Swedish study suggests. About one in 100 people have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. People with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. Left untreated, the condition can lead to complications such as malnutrition, low bone density, lactose intolerance and…

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Thicker cervical stitch may up premature birth, mortality rate

Thicker cervical stitch may up premature birth, mortality rate (Suphat Bhandharangsri/Getty Images) Pregnant women who receive the cervical stitch to prevent miscarriage or premature birth with a thicker thread, can in fact have an increase in the rate of premature birth and baby death as compared with a thinner thread, says a study. cervical stitch also known as cervical cerclage is a treatment for cervical incompetence or insufficiency, when the cervix starts to shorten and open too early during a pregnancy, causing either a late miscarriage or preterm birth, and…

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Exercise During Pregnancy Does not Increase Pre-Term Birth Risk

PhotoCredit:istock Exercise during pregnancy is safe and does not increase the risk of pre-term birth, a study has revealed. According to the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, women who exercised were less likely to have a C-section than those who did not. Historically, women were discouraged from vigorous exercise during pregnancy because of the risk of pre-term birth. “The thinking was that exercise releases norepinephrine in the body, which is a chemical that can stimulate contractions of the uterus, and thus lead to pre-term birth.…

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