Tag: Premature Births
Omega-3 DHA May Prevent Earliest Preemies
For pregnant women, supplements of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help to reduce the likelihood of giving birth very prematurely, according to a new study. The results add to evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplements make pregnancy last a little longer. That’s important for women in the U.S., who have shorter pregnancies…
Read MoreStudy Links Smoking Bans to Fewer Pre-Term Births
Banning smoking in enclosed public places may lead to lower rates of preterm birth, according to Belgian researchers who say the findings point to health benefits of smoke-free laws even in very early life. It is well known that smoking during pregnancy can stunt the growth of unborn babies and shorten gestation, and that second-hand…
Read MoreProgresterons Curb Preterm Singleton Births
Pooled data indicate that progestogens may help prevent preterm birth among women who’ve delivered early in the past, according to researchers based in Tennessee. But the evidence wasn’t very strong, and any benefit appears limited to singleton pregnancies. As Dr. Frances E. Likis told Reuters Health by email, “Progestogens prevent preterm birth in women who…
Read MoreVaginal Progesterone Cuts Premature Births
Women with a sonographically detected short cervix cut their risk for preterm birth in half with vaginal progesterone, according to a meta-analysis published online December 14 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The report confirms results from several, prospective, randomized trials showing that progesterone was effective in preventing preterm births. “The present [individual patient data] meta-analysis provides…
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