Survey reveals risks of medication in pregnancy “overestimated”

Pregnant women are “overestimating the risks” of taking over the counter and prescribed medication, according to new UK research carried out by pharmacists. The findings revealed that women are choosing not to treat common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, heartburn...

Autoimmune disease in pregnancy

Autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis have the potential to significantly complicate pregnancy. Both planned and unplanned pregnancies are a major issue for women with these diseases, concerned their baby may be...

Multivitamins for expectant mothers

  Some multivitamin and mineral supplements may be “unnecessary and expensive”, a recent study has determined. A review of the available evidence, published in this month’s issue of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, found that despite strong marketing claims,...

New study suggests antipsychotic use not linked to birth defects

A major study of 1.3 million women has suggested that antipsychotic use during pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk of birth defects. The research, carried out at Harvard Medical School, also found that there was no enhanced risk of cardiac malformations...

Researchers seek to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV

A project that aims to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV was given the green light on December 1st, World Aids Day. The DolPHIN-2 investigators were funded as part of a major UNITAID initiative to gather evidence on the use of new priority antiretroviral...