Pregnancy

IV iron therapy in pregnancy reduced blood transfusion rates by 37 per cent compared with oral iron, a new analysis of clinical trials has found.

The NHS is urging pregnant women to have the RSV vaccine at 28 weeks to help protect newborn babies from serious respiratory illness. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can lead to severe lung infections in infants. The NHS in the South West is encouraging expectant [...]

Black mothers across most of England lack targeted maternal mental health support despite facing higher risks during and after pregnancy, a report has found. The analysis found a patchwork of provision across England, with inconsistent data, funding and support for Black women. The vast majority of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) do not commission services specifically [...]

A £254m UK funding package will expand reproductive health access for millions of women and girls across 54 countries. The government said the investment will support family planning for more than 15 million women each year and could prevent 14 million unintended pregnancies and more than 35,000 maternal deaths by 2028. The funding will expand [...]

UK parents affected by pregnancy loss before 24 weeks will gain a legal right to up to two weeks of unpaid leave from April 2027. The entitlement will cover miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers, giving those affected a formal right to time away from work following a loss.   It will [...]

Women entering pregnancy with multiple long-term health conditions face higher risks of miscarriage and other complications, a UK study found. Those with two or more pre-existing physical or mental health conditions had a 20 per cent higher risk of miscarriage than women with no long-term conditions. They also had more than twice the risk of [...]

Ultrasound Direct has extended its Trice Imaging partnership for three years, adding a reporting tool across its 70-clinic UK network. The private ultrasound provider will continue using the Tricefy platform for secure image storage and patient engagement, alongside TriceIQ for efficiency and productivity analytics. It will also introduce Trice Workspace Reporting across its network. The [...]

Paracetamol use in pregnancy was not linked to autism or ADHD, while separate research found reproductive differences in girls exposed before birth. One study analysed health records from more than 120,000 children and found no increased risk of autism following prenatal paracetamol exposure. A separate analysis of nearly 100,000 children also found no increased risk [...]

Pregnant women are among the first groups offered the NHS flu vaccine this winter, which has been updated to better match the subclade K strain. Schoolchildren are also being prioritised and, like pregnant women, can receive the vaccine from September because they can catch and spread flu easily. Protecting them also helps others, including younger [...]

Four leading cardiovascular health groups have agreed new guidance for healthcare professionals assessing patients with suspected heart attacks. Historically, some less common forms of heart attack, which evidence shows affect women far more than men, have been classified as less important, with treatment and care often worse as a result. Experts said women [...]