Vitamin D Screening Not Necessary During Pregnancy

According to a recent statement issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the majority of pregnant women do not need to undergo screening for low levels of vitamin D or be given supplements. Reuters reports that vitamin D from the mother's body typically helps in the development of a baby's bones and teeth before birth. However, most pregnant women do not need to be tested for vitamin D levels or take supplements, according to Dr. George Macones, the chair of the college's obstetric practice committee. Macones and his fellow researchers decided that such screening is not necessary after [...]

Celiac Disease Associated with Pregnancy Complications

A new study indicates that women with celiac disease who go untreated may hit menopause earlier in life and could be more susceptible to pregnancy complications. Reuters reports that the authors of the new study, including researchers from the University of Naples in Italy, found that the lack of nutrients and lower hormone levels in women with the disease could account for the earlier menopause. "When a woman has early menopause, she should think of celiac disease," said lead author Dr. Carolina Ciacci. "It's probably too late to gain anything about fertility but it's probably important for her quality of [...]

Supplementing Tortilla Flour with Folate Could Cut Spina Bifida Risks for Hispanics

A new commentary by the March of Dimes published recently in the June 16 online edition of the American Journal of Public Health suggests that the rate of neural tube defects in the Hispanic population could be lowered by adding folate to tortilla flour. HealthDay reports that while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began to require folic acid to be added to grains such as breads and pastas, the rate of neural tube defects such as spina bifida remains 20 percent higher in Hispanic women than others. "Fortification of cereal grains with folic acid in 1998 is a public [...]

Sleeping on Left Side Could Help Prevent Stillbirth

A new study conducted by researchers in New Zealand indicates that by sleeping on their left side, pregnant women may be able to reduce the risk of stillbirths. HealthDay reports that the researchers in the study found that pregnant women who did not sleep on their left side were twice as likely to deliver a stillborn baby. Lead author Tomasina Stacey, a University of Auckland graduate student, explained that while the research could be a positive step forward in helping prevent stillbirths, more studies need to be conducted in order to help confirm the results. "This is a new and [...]

New Prenatal Test Could Identify Down Syndrome Earlier

A new prenatal test, which could be in use by next year, may be able to identify Down syndrome just nine weeks into a mother's pregnancy, according to The Associated Press. The news source reports that the new procedure could prove to be a beneficial substitute to the blood test that is traditionally used. If the blood test suggests an increased risk of Down syndrome, DNA from the fetus is then taken in order to confirm the diagnosis. Such a procedure, which typically involves a needle, is generally done more than four months into the pregnancy and carries a very [...]