Anencephaly News

Women who are obese before they become pregnant may be at increased risk of having a baby with defects of the brain and spinal cord, especially if they tend to put on weight around the waist, according to new ...

Concerns over folic acid promoting embryos in the womb with genotypes that increase the risk of disease in the offspring may be unfounded, according to new research.

Apropos of yesterday' s posts about Obama's stated support of a ban on abortions after 22 weeks , here are some reactions from the excellent reproductive rights blog RHReality Check.

The choice of flavour may be key to consumer acceptance of folic acid fortified yoghurts and other dairy, suggests a new study from the US.

Current Brazilian law does not permit abortion in cases of anencephaly. According to reports in the media, doctors, religious leaders and lawyers are expected to present arguments before the high court.

A scientist whose work has transformed antenatal screening for birth defects has been made a knight in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

“At 11 weeks they performed an ultrasound and told me the baby was fine”

Suzette Richart has always had a strong faith. That faith brought her through the toughest experience a mother can face - the loss of a child. via Jacksonville Daily News

IT was a case that split the nation. A 16-year-old girl was pregnant with her first child. via Irish Independent

A 35 year-old pregnant woman who wished to be mentioned only as Jeong gave birth to her first child last week. via JoongAng Ilbo English News

“Little Lars kicked the entire time”

The bad news often comes at 20 weeks, during the fetal ultrasound, a normally celebratory occasion in which the expectant mother and father are waiting for the word boy or girl . via Deseret Morning News

By Margarita Ebril Are you pregnant? Do you wobble around jubilantly and just cannot stop chattering about how thrilled you are to embark upon motherhood? If so, congratulations...motherhood has already begun! ... via Sampan

“If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine”

Most people have heard before that folic acid intake is important to women's health. via The Daily Colonial

Research suggests that it's particularly important for women of child-bearing age to include folic acid in their diets. via Tallahassee.com

“Thanks to the depth and breadth of the NIH study, which included an early pregnancy ultrasound of each participant, we had highly accurate evidence of the gestational ages of the preterm deliveries”

The risk of having a premature baby may be halved if women take folic acid supplements for at least one year before conception, suggests new data. via NutraIngredients-USA

“Fossil fuel is the main input in commercial nitrogen fertilizer. When you're eating products made from pulse ingredients, you're making an environmentally friendly food choice because less fossil fuel is used to grow the crop”

The nutritional benefits of dry beans, chickpeas, lentils and dry peas and how they can be added to foods as a health-boost took center stage at a meeting in Canada today. via NutraIngredients-USA

“I think it's promising and I think there should be some confirmational studies”

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women who take folic acid supplements for at least a year before becoming pregnant can greatly reduce their risk of delivering a baby prematurely, researchers said on Thursday.

Folic acid, a B vitamin, already is known to prevent major birth defects that involve a baby's brain or spine.

This study shows it may provide another benefit -- cutting down on premature births in which babies have less time to develop in the womb and are more likely to experience serious medical problems. Read more

“Folic acid has been shown to be helpful in preventing birth defects”

Folic acid crucial in preventing birth defects By DEDRA L. McDOWELL dmcdowell@dnj.com - Dedra L. McDowell, 615-278-5159 Medical professionals say that taking care of your baby's health starts well before ... via The Daily News Journal

Little things, well-timed and communicated, can make a world of difference, even to the point of saving lives. via News Observer

Most health insurance excludes congenital disorder. What is a congenital disorder? Here is a description from Wikipedia. via Tan Kin Lian's Blog

“Women capable of having a baby need folic acid”

Governor Phil Bredesen has declared January as Birth Defects Prevention Month in Tennessee. via Info.tnanytime.org