To date, studies in pregnant women examining transport of drugs across the placenta are rare and inadequate, said Tomo Nabekura, PhD. Such knowledge could be vital to preserving fetal health. In a new ...

Severe birth defects have become increasingly common as new research points to fentanyl misuse as a new possible cause. Recently, at least 30 infants across the US have been born with “fetal fentanyl ...

A review of medical literature revealed a need for more well-designed research on the association between fetal opioid exposure and birth defects. For the systematic review — published in the journal ...

As one of the world’s first fetal surgeons, Diana Farmer has long been focused on the smallest of patients. She specializes in treating birth defects inside and outside of the womb, treating ...

The number of babies born with severe birth defects affecting their growth and development is rising, as researchers now have strong evidence that illicit fentanyl is causing the problems. Hospitals ...

At least 10 babies — possibly more than 12 — have been identified with what doctors believe to be a new syndrome related to exposure to fentanyl in the womb. All of the infants have distinctive ...

One in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. While some birth defects can be prevented, others may come as a surprise. Dr. Sarah Obican is Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and co-director of ...

Birth defects affect 3% of pregnancies in the United States. Screening and diagnostic tests during pregnancy can identify many birth defects. Parents can take critical steps to help prevent certain ...

Nearly 23% of pregnancies with fetal major CHDs exhibited adverse obstetric outcomes compared with 9% of those without them (adjusted OR 2.96, 95% CI 2.49-3.53), researchers led by Gitte Hedermann, MD ...

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Men drink more, are more likely to binge drink and are almost four times ...