Preterm

Climate change is having detrimental effects on children's health as an increasing number of infants are born preterm, presenting to hospital, and experiencing respiratory disease, putting society's most vulnerable at greater risk of death.New research by an Australian team of scientists reviewing 163 health studies from across the world reveals an extremely troubling picture of how childhood health measures have already worsened as a result of climate change, which shows no sign of abating anytime soon.An estimated 600…

A study has linked phthalates, chemicals in plastics and cosmetics, to nearly 56,600 preterm births in the U.S. in 2018, with costs up to $8.1 billion. It underscores the health risks of phthalates, such as hormone disruption and lower newborn weights, advocating for stricter regulation to mitigate the impacts on public health and the economy.A recent study suggests that regular contact with chemicals found in plastic food packaging and numerous cosmetic products could be linked to approximately 56,600 premature births in…

King’s College London researchers have identified distinct patterns in the brain connectivity of infants, revealing how these patterns differ between those born at term and those born pre-term. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers at King’s College London have identified significant differences in brain connectivity between term and pre-term infants, revealing that these early patterns are predictive of later developmental milestones.A new King’s College London scanning study of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns…

A study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants shows a significant risk of low birth weight and NICU admissions for babies exposed to cannabis in utero. The research underscores the increasing risks associated with the frequency of cannabis use during pregnancy. Credit: SciTechDaily.comLarge Kaiser Permanente study adds to evidence about low birthweight, preterm birth, admission to neonatal intensive care.A large study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants found increased risk of low birth weight and admission to the…

This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.The impacts of climate change hit Canada hard in recent years, from the deadly heat dome of 2021 to the country's worst-ever wildfire season last summer. And those devastating environmental disasters provoked a lot of anxiety among pregnant individuals."Pregnancy, even without heat and smoke, is a time when…

Recent research has revealed that preterm infants do not habituate, or get used to, repeated pain in the same way as full-term infants, children, and adults. This lack of pain habituation could potentially impact their development, as the ability to become accustomed to moderate, non-life-threatening pain is believed to develop during the third trimester of pregnancy, and preterm babies might not have developed this ability at birth.According to a study led by researchers from University College London (UCL), preterm…

The only drug on the market to help prevent preterm births must stop being sold immediately, a move that comes after scientists at the Food and Drug Administration earlier determined it was ineffective. The FDA said Thursday it is withdrawing its approval for the drug Makena and its generics because the drugs no longer are shown to be effective and the benefits don’t outweigh the risks. Makena, as well as its generics, can no longer be lawfully distributed in interstate commerce.…

Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the delivery of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This can lead to a range of health complications for both the baby and the mother, including low birth weight, breathing difficulties, and developmental delays.A recent study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons suggests that chemicals present in the vagina, possibly from personal care products, may play a role in causing spontaneous preterm birth.A study of 232 pregnant women…

Makena was the only drug approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with a history of early deliveries. Photo: Eric Lee for The Wall Street Journal…

Health experts advising the Food and Drug Administration recommended the agency pull from the market a drug used to prevent preterm births.The advisers voted 14-1 that the FDA should remove Covis Pharma Group’s Makena from the market, after the drug failed a trial to confirm its benefit. The FDA doesn’t have to follow the recommendations of its advisers, but often does. The agency, which has been trying for years to get Makena withdrawn, is expected to order its removal within months. “It seems clear to me…