Fertility, Pregnancy & Birth, features and articles | Educational Science

Aug 31, 2019

Why Do Babies Lose Their Hair?

The first weeks and months of a baby's life are full of big changes. But what new parents may not have expected are the tiny hairs left on their newborn's mattress. After a few months, their baby's once-full head of hair has become thin and patchy — or nearly bald....

May 31, 2019

Pregnant Women Who Eat More Fiber May Lower Child's Celiac Risk

Mothers who eat a high-fiber diet in pregnancy may lower the risk of celiac disease in their children, a new study suggests. The study researchers analyzed information from more than 88,000 Norwegian children and their mothers, who gave birth between 1999 and 2009. The mothers were asked about their fiber...

Apr 30, 2019

How Much Do Babies’ Skulls Get Squished During Birth? A Whole Lot, 3D Images Reveal

When babies pass through the mother's birth canal, the tight fit temporarily squashes their wee heads, elongating their flexible skulls and changing the shape of their brains. Now, scientists have created 3D images that demonstrate the extent of that amazing conehead-like distortion. Babies' heads can change shape under pressure because...

Feb 28, 2019

How Does the New Postpartum Depression Drug Work?

On Tuesday (March 19), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first-ever approval of a drug specifically meant to treat postpartum depression. But how exactly does the drug work, and what makes it different from other medications for depression? The drug, called brexanolone (brand name Zulresso), needs to...

Feb 28, 2019

Does March Madness Really Mean 'Vasectomy Season'?

March Madness is in full swing, but along with the fervor over the annual college basketball tournament comes news of a different kind of spring event: vasectomy season. According to some news outlets, March Madness is tied to an increase in men getting vasectomies. March Madness vasectomy season is upon...

Apr 30, 2020

New human-mouse chimera is the most human yet

A newly-created mouse-human embryo contains up to 4% human cells — the most human cells yet of any chimera, or an organism made of two different sets of DNA. Surprisingly, those human cells could learn from the mouse cells and develop faster — at the pace of a mouse embryo...

Mar 31, 2021

Woman gives birth to twins conceived three weeks apart

A woman in England became pregnant while already pregnant, ultimately giving birth to rare twins conceived three weeks apart, according to recent news reports. Typically, when a woman becomes pregnant, her body kick-starts several biological processes aimed at preventing a concurrent pregnancy, including releasing hormones to stop ovulation. But in...

Apr 24, 2021

Pregnancy diet & nutrition: What to eat, what not to eat

A healthy pregnancy diet is important for both mom and baby, as what a woman eats and drinks during pregnancy is her baby's main source of nourishment. Experts recommend that a mother-to-be's diet should include a variety of healthy foods and beverages to provide the important nutrients a baby needs...

May 3, 2021

Mother rejoices after her child's successful spina bifida surgery in the womb

A baby underwent surgery in the womb for spina bifida, and since being born six weeks ago, the child is healthy and developing well, according to a statement from the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for Children in London. Spina bifida occurs when the so-called neural tube, a hollow structure...

May 5, 2021

US birth rate plunged in 2020

The U.S. birth rate fell steeply in 2020, reaching a record low for the sixth year in a row, according to a new report. Last year, there were 55.8 births per 1,000 U.S. women ages 15 to 44, which is 4% lower than the rate in 2019, and the lowest...

May 20, 2021

Vaginal birth vs. C-Section: Pros & cons

Babies can enter this world in one of two ways: a vaginal birth or surgical delivery by cesarean section. The ultimate goal of both methods is to ensure that the baby and mother are healthy. In some cases, a C-section may be expected and thus scheduled in advance — for...

Jun 10, 2021

Mood swings & mommy brain: The emotional challenges of pregnancy

The physical changes in a woman's body during pregnancy receive plenty of attention, but less consideration is given to the emotional changes she experiences. Pregnancy can be an exciting time but it's also very stressful, which can cause emotions to run high. In addition to physical health, a mother's emotional...

Jun 14, 2021

Having a baby: Stages of pregnancy by trimester

For a pregnant person, feeling a new life developing inside your body is an amazing experience, even though you may not always feel your best during all the stages of pregnancy. One of the biggest changes for most pregnant people is weight gain — a pregnant person carrying one baby...

Jul 29, 2021

Baby born with 'twin' fetus inside her stomach

A baby in Israel was born with her own twin inside her stomach — a rare phenomenon known as fetus in fetu, according to news reports. Doctors first realized there might be a problem when they performed a late-pregnancy ultrasound on the baby's mother and saw that the baby's stomach...

Aug 16, 2021

COVID-19 during pregnancy linked to preterm birth

COVID-19 may increase the risk of giving birth prematurely, according to the largest study to date on this link. The risk is even greater, the researchers found, for pregnant people who have both COVID-19 and certain conditions, also called comorbidities, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. The study is...