Undocumented pregnant women have a greater need for emergency health care than others Pregnant women without legal residence in Norway do not have the same right to healthcare as other women. This has consequences, according to a new study.
Why parents' mental health is important for the baby Scientists used to believe that a baby's brain was almost completely developed already at birth. Now they know better. But experts say this important, new knowledge has not been adequately taken into account.
No higher risk of pregnancy complications for women who were conceived using assisted fertilisation These are the findings of a recent study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Norwegian midwives are sceptical about encountering pregnant transmen But some midwives changed their attitude after participating in a study. “The interview really gave many of them something to think about,” says midwife Hilde Ostad.
Study: Risk of giving birth to small babies increases when the mother lives farther from green spaces Research shows that a mother's access to green areas — such as a garden, park or footpath — during pregnancy can be linked to a healthy birth weight in children.
Does fertility decline after age 35? There is still a good chance of getting pregnant in your late 30s. But the risk of miscarriage and complications increases with age.
Study: The risk of cancer of the uterus decreases with each pregnancy Cancer of the uterus is one of the most common cancers for women.
Women who have struggled to have children are more likely to get cardiovascular disease Women who have difficulty conceiving are somewhat more susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Their partners also have a slightly elevated risk, according to two Norwegian studies.
How dangerous is it to give birth? There are big differences between European countries Researchers have compared birth mothers in eight European countries. The risk of dying was lowest in Norway.
It is not dangerous to get pregnant right after a miscarriage Getting pregnant right after a miscarriage does not increase the risk of complications, a new Norwegian study establishes. The WHO should consider changing their recommendations, according to the researchers.
The Norwegian Consumer Council warns that Norwegian DNA is being sent to China An increasing number of pregnant Norwegian women take extended foetal diagnostic tests in Denmark. One of the tests is analysed in China, and DNA from both the mother and foetus may end up with the Chinese authorities.
Women with young children lose interest in politics Four years later, women are still less interested than before they had children. Does the same happen to the partner?
One in five new mothers was treated disrespectfully while giving birth during the pandemic “I think it’s sad if one in five women is left with the feeling of not being treated with respect and dignity,” said one of the researchers behind the study.
One third of new mothers had symptoms of depression during the pandemic Every third mother who gave birth during the pandemic experienced symptoms of depression, according to a large Norwegian study. Ten years ago, the same was true for every tenth mother of an infant.
Pregnant women hesitated to get vaccinated, that may have led to them falling seriously ill with Covid A lack of demands to include pregnant women in the early stages of drug development may have contributed to unclear advice and vaccine hesitancy.
Political pressure has made Norway lag behind on abortion research and foetal medicine, researchers say. "Were not allowed to study early ultrasound because it can detect foetuses with Down’s syndrome", one specialist in foetal medince says.
Never before have Norwegian women given birth to so few children In Northern Norway the number of births per 1000 women declined by nearly 5 per cent.
A mother’s postnatal depression can be passed on to the father Depression before and after birth can be contagious. Particularly in relationships that experience a lot of uncertainties.
Violence and abuse in childhood linked to more stress hormones in pregnancy New findings may help explain how the effects of traumatic events are passed on from one generation to the next. One psychologist says the findings are extremely interesting, but also very disturbing.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is now legal for all pregnant women in Norway. But how does it actually work? How can a mother's blood test reveal a chromosome defect in the foetus? Knowing how the test works also makes it easier to understand why it doesn't always give an accurate result.
Your placenta may reveal risk of getting preeclampsia How much a placenta weighs can indicate the risk for illness in future pregnancies, according to new research.
What’s the best way for pregnant women to exercise? ASK A RESEARCHER: Only 15 per cent of all pregnant Norwegian women exercise, according research. At the same time, the health benefits of training during pregnancy have been well documented.
Women who have given birth have younger brains Pregnancy and childbirth appear to slow down the brain's ageing process.
Drinking during pregnancy is probably not the cause of children’s behavioural problems But a Norwegian alcohol researcher believes the new findings have some limitations.
No stillbirth rise from antifungal medication Pregnant women who use the oral medication flucanozole against fungal infections run a higher risk of spontaneous abortions. But fortunately, this medication for treating vaginal yeast problems does not raise risks of stillbirths or deaths among new-born infants, according to a large Swedish-Norwegian study.
Researchers have no idea how to fix your 'mummy tummy' For years, researchers have promoted treating separated abdominal muscles, called diastasis recti abdominis, with specific exercises. A new study shows this approach doesn’t really work.
Traditional Norwegian foods could be good choice for pregnant women with bowel diseases Women with bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are more likely to have small or premature babies. But pregnant women who restricted themselves to traditional Norwegian foods had less risk of these outcomes than women with extremely healthy diets and those who had unhealthy diets.
Preventing dangerous hypotension during C-sections Eight out of ten women who elect caesarean delivery with spinal anaesthesia experience such a drop in blood pressure that it can endanger both mother and child. A recent study shows how to best prevent this.
What drugs are safe for pregnant women? A recent study reveals that one in four pregnant Norwegian women takes medications that are considered risky. Some of the drugs help with pain or nausea, but can have negative side effects on the mother or child.
Flu drugs safe for unborn babies Pregnant women run a higher risk of getting seriously ill if they catch influenza. A new study shows that new-born infants run no higher risk of harm if their mothers have taken anti-viral medications to ward off flu infections.
Grief does not carry over to the unborn child Scientists find no indications in children that reflect on their mother’s grief during pregnancy.
Bad relationships increase infection risk in both mother and child Pregnant women dissatisfied in their relationship have an increased risk of infectious diseases. This also affects their children.
Do pregnant women really have a special 'glow'? Expectant women often hear their skin has an exceptional glow. Is this a myth or is pregnancy doing wonders for their skin?
Antidepressants decreased birthweights The infants born to mothers who have used antidepressants during their pregnancy are more likely to be born prematurely and weigh less. That said, researchers are not advising women who use such medications to quit them when they get pregnant.
Pregnancy can boost a sports career A new study indicates that having a baby can be advantageous for a sportswoman. Triathlon competitor Kari Flottorp Lingsom asserts that she became even more fit after giving birth to her child.
Men drink less when partner gets pregnant The vast majority of women follow recommendations and quit drinking during pregnancy. But men are also shying away from the bottle when a child is on its way.
Women shy away from morning-sickness drug A University of Bergen research fellow says health personnel need to explain more clearly that new medications do not harm their foetus.
No baby boom from cash-for-care benefits The number of births per woman has declined since cash for childcare benefits were introduced in Norway.
Breast cancer risk higher in women who need reproductive help The first test tube baby in Norway was born in 1984. An increasing number of women rely on assisted reproduction to give birth. Today, between 2-5 per cent of all children born in Europe are brought into the world this way.
Teens’ right to abortions leads to more enduring marriages The right to have abortions has improved women’s chances of finding the right man, thus lowering the risk of divorce, asserts a new study.
Pregnant and puffing on a smoke Norwegian research shows that one out of four female smokers in Europe continue to smoke cigarettes during their pregnancies. Vivid differences are seen among the European countries in this regard.
Greens and whole grains fight premature births A daily diet of whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables and fish can lower the risk of premature birth – even if a little bit of unhealthy food is added to the mix.
Infants from immigrant group at risk Stillbirths and infant deaths occur twice as often among the offspring of ethnic Pakistani couples in Norway than in ethnic Norwegians.
Pregnant women use herbal medicines An new study shows that whopping 69 percent of Russian women use herbal medicines during their pregnancies, as compared to 17 percent in Norway. The study also shows that pregnant women don't always tell their doctors about their use of these medicines - but should.
Expectant mothers neglect their medications One-third of all pregnant women with chronic disorders fail to take their medicines as prescribed by doctors.
Prenatal use of paracetamol linked to kids’ problems Three-year-olds have been shown to have behavioural problems and poorer gross motor development if their mothers took paracetamol for over four weeks during their pregnancies.
Antidepressants aren’t causing obstetric bleedings An analysis of nearly 60,000 Norwegian women dispels perceived risks of vaginal bleedings from use of antidepressant medications during pregnancies.
Kids can pay dearly for mum’s unhealthy diet A mother’s diet during her pregnancy and the food a child eats during its first year seem to be linked to symptoms of aggression and depression.
Key antibiotic green-lighted for pregnant women A study of over 180,000 pregnant Norwegian women showed no increase in birth defects from a common antibiotic used for treating urinary infections.
Pregnant women shouldn’t simply surf for guidance on meds Women round the world seek information about the use of medicines during pregnancy. Many are probably misinformed by advice found on the internet.
Increased risk of impairment linked to fertility treatment New research suggests that assisted conception techniques that are used when a father is infertile slightly increase the risk that the child will be born with a mental disability. One prominent fertility researcher is sceptical of this finding.
Pregnant women are often vitamin D deficient Over one in four fair-skinned women near the end of their pregnancies definitely need more vitamin D. Researchers think that percentage might be even higher.
Pregnancies can alter eating disorders A pregnancy can entail either a risk or a hope for women with eating disorders. Many get rid of the disease for long time. For others, pregnancy is the beginning of their problems.
How stress affects conception Stress can make it harder to conceive, but Christmas stress isn’t necessarily a crisis for would-be parents.
Abstinent mothers require better support Drug-abusing mothers who become drug-free during their pregnancy have trouble understanding the needs of their babies. New research suggests they should receive greater follow-up after giving birth.
Calming the fears of expectant mothers A pregnant woman’s psychological problems do not pass on pre-natally to their offspring as behavioural problems. A mum’s mental health issues that last for years, however, do have an impact on their children’s behaviour.
With kids in the house, mothers are less satisfied A mother’s life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction goes downhill in the first years following pregnancy and birth, according to a new study of more than 67,000 women.
Few opt for caesareans Norwegian women are not too posh to push. Most wish to give birth vaginally. Those who request caesarean sections have good reasons to do so.