Only a Third of Pregnant Women Getting Vaccinations They Need

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 -- About two-thirds of pregnant women in the United States don't get vaccinated against both flu and whooping cough, putting them and their newborns at risk, a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

"Influenza and pertussis (or whooping cough) are serious infections that can be deadly for babies, especially those who are too young to be vaccinated directly," Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said in a news briefing on Tuesday.

AHA News: First-Time Pregnancy Complications Could Mean High Blood Pressure Later

MONDAY, Sept. 30, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Women who have complications during their first pregnancy are more likely to develop high blood pressure within seven years, according to new research.

The study, published Monday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, looked into whether problems during first pregnancies such as early deliveries, smaller-than-average babies, stillbirths and preeclampsia might lead to future cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure.

Antidepressants Might Raise Odds for Serious Pregnancy Complication

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 -- Treating depression during pregnancy can be vital to the health of both mother and child, but new research suggests that taking antidepressants may make a woman more vulnerable to gestational diabetes.

Specifically, the drugs venlafaxine (Effexor) and amitriptyline (Endep) were associated with the highest risk, especially when taken for a long time.

Sleep Position Unlikely to Affect Baby's Health in Pregnancy, Study Finds

TUESDAY, Sept. 10, 2019 -- Pregnant women are often told to sleep on their left side to reduce the risk of stillbirth, but new research suggests they can choose whatever position is most comfortable through most of the pregnancy.

"We can reassure women that through 30 weeks of pregnancy, different sleep positions are safe," said study lead author Dr. Robert Silver, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Go Easy on Caffeine During Pregnancy, for the Sake of Your Baby's Liver

THURSDAY, Aug. 1, 2019 -- No matter how tired you get during your pregnancy, a new animal study suggests that countering your fatigue with too much coffee might harm your baby.

Female rats that were given caffeine during pregnancy had offspring with lower birth weights, altered growth and stress hormone levels, and impaired liver development.

Could Fluoride Be Bad for Your Baby During Pregnancy?

MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2019 -- Fluoride exposure from drinking water during pregnancy could be making children less intelligent, a new Canadian study argues.

Expectant moms with higher levels of fluoride in their urine tended to have kids with lower average IQs, based on a study of 601 mother-child pairs from six cities in Canada.