The birth world was abuzz this week with the release of a recent review of birth center outcomes by the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. The study followed more than 15,000 moms-to-be who were planning to give birth within a midwife-run birth center. The conclusion of the review showed birth centers to be […]
Research
Placenta Implicated In Autism Risk
The placenta, the organ responsible for for nourishing your baby and regulating maternal-fetal interactions, may be a contributing factor in a child’s autism diagnosis. “There is increasing evidence implicating the placenta in autism risk. For example, abnormal inclusions of trophoblasts, the cells that comprise the placenta, are found more frequently in placentas from mothers of […]
Thin Placenta Linked To Future Cardiac Death
In a report published this week, a child born to a mother with a thin placenta has twice the risk of sudden cardiac death later in life. The study looked at birth records from Finland from the years 1934-1944. “The researchers looked at cases of sudden cardiac death that occurred outside hospitals. They found that […]
The Benefits of Placenta and One Researcher’s View
Laree Lindburg had an enjoyable and healthy pregnancy, but the hormonal crash following the birth left her feeling terrible. Her postpartum experience was difficult due to rheumatoid arthritis, which seemed to flare up during her postpartum recovery, making her achy and sick. When Laree discovered she was pregnant again, she was immediately attracted to the […]
How Mother Nature Makes Your Baby A Brainiac
New research from Yale has identified that vaginal birth prompts the secretion of a special protein that promotes the development of the baby’s hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning, memory, and stress response. This protein is also a key component of breastmilk, possibly explaining the link between early nurturing from the mother […]
Preeclampsia Explained By Battle Between Uterus & Placenta
A battle that brews in the mother’s womb between the father’s biological goal to produce the biggest, healthiest baby possible vs. the mother’s need to live through delivery might help explain preeclampsia, an often deadly disease of pregnancy. The fetus must be big enough to thrive, yet small enough to pass through the birth canal. […]
