Gynecology Blog

Preterm birth-meaning the birth of a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy-is a serious health problem in the United States and the leading cause of newborn death. Babies who survive an early birth may face lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, vision and hearing problems, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Preterm birth is also estimated to cost the nation more than $26 billion per year in direct and indirect costs.

Though some medical conditions or problems may require an early delivery, preterm birth is often spontaneous. While the causes often are unknown, experts say first knowing if you're at risk and being familiar with the warning signs are key factors in helping to prevent this serious and potentially life-altering situation. More...

Pregorexia is a term used to describe a situation in which a pregnant woman becomes preoccupied with controlling her weight gain through extreme dieting and exercise. While pregorexia is possible — and could harm a baby's health — it's rare. In fact, research shows that far more women gain too much, rather than too little, weight during pregnancy.

No matter what the scale says, however, some women do excessively worry about their weight gain and experience body image issues during pregnancy. The risk of pregorexia may be higher for women who have a history of eating disorders and those who have a weak social support system. More...

According to a group of scientists, premature birth tends to run in families. In the University of Aberdeen study, which was published in Obstetrics and Gynecology journal, researchers discovered that early births risk is linked to the science of genetics.

The research was based on maternity records of 22,343 Scottish moms and their daughters. Boffins found that females born ahead of time or who have brothers or sisters who were born prematurely are 50-60% more likely to have a premature baby themselves. More...

High-risk pregnancies are more likely in women who have difficulty getting pregnant, with or without help from hi-tech fertility treatments, new research finds.

The risks should be considered during pregnancy care of "subfertile" women and when analyzing the potential hazards of fertility-assisting technologies, Australian researchers conclude in a report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. More...

Pregnant women are advised to create a hospitable environment for their developing baby by eating right, taking prenatal vitamins and abstaining from alcohol. Some doctors say stress reduction — or help coping with extreme circumstances — should be added to the list.

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that stressful circumstances early in pregnancy can lead to underweight babies or premature births. Chinese researchers studied 1,800 pregnant women and surveyed them on their emotional health and traumatic events such as death, divorce and job loss. More...

Nausea in pregnant women during the second and third trimesters can be a sign of flu, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

"People don't necessarily think of influenza when you include the symptoms of nausea or vomiting, but our study showed that they are common with influenza in pregnancy," said Dr. Vanessa Rogers, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author of the study, which appears in the May edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology. More...

According to statistics over 40% of first marriages and almost 70% of first live-in relationships fail to reach the 15-year mark. A new study has revealed that pregnancy loss or stillbirth makes it even more difficult to keep up the marriage for long. Although it's also true that such tragedies can also bring the couple together.

It has been revealed by a study that in contrast to couples that had successful pregnancies, ones who had a miscarriage have 22% separation chances, and ones who experienced a stillbirth have 40% chances to do so. It has been said that the risk of separation or divorce can be up to 10 years after the event. More...

Doctors no longer advise women to eat for two during their pregnancies as new research shows that overeating during this time can impact the health of their babies adversely.

Only a pregnant woman knows what it's like to be told repeatedly by both her mother and mother-in-law to eat "enough for two." It turns out that this advice may be wrong after all: New studies have shown that a high calorie diet could affect the gender, and more importantly, the health of the baby. According to this study, the high fat, high carbohydrate diet of pregnant mice impacted almost 2,000 genes in the developing offspring, including those involved in kidney function and smell.  More...

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are peak times for women to experience depression, and routine screening for the condition should be a priority, say the authors of an opinion paper issued today in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

An estimated 14% to 23% of pregnant women experience depression, while 5% to 25% will have postpartum depression. The illness carries serious repercussions for both mother and baby, noted the authors of the paper. More...

According to the CDC, about 4.3 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2007. During pregnancy, a woman needs to provide nourishment for herself and for the growing fetus. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued updated guidelines on pregnancy weight gain, recommending women of normal pre-pregnancy weight gain 25 to 35 extra pounds.

By the end of the pregnancy, the weight of the baby accounts for about one-fourth of the total weight gain (roughly 7 to 8 pounds). Another seven pounds is for maternal stores of nutrients, protein and fat. The rest of the weight can be attributed to the placenta (1 to 2 pounds), amniotic fluid (2 pounds), uterus (2 pounds), breast tissue (2 pounds), body fluids (4 pounds) and maternal blood (4 pounds).