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Articles on Prenatal care

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Cytomegalovirus belongs to the same virus family, Herpesviridae, as cold sores and chickenpox. Callista Images/Image Source via Getty Images

Cytomegalovirus lies dormant in most US adults and is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, but few have heard of it

Although testing for CMV during pregnancy isn’t routine and there isn’t universal screening for infants, there are steps pregnant people can take to protect themselves and their newborns.
Research shows that uninsured people are more likely to get care later in pregnancy, and less care overall. This increases risks for mothers and babies. (Shutterstock)

An emergency in the making: Ending pandemic prenatal health coverage for uninsured people is both costly and dangerous

Discontinuing expanded health-care funding will result in less prenatal care for uninsured patients, more health risks, higher costs to the health system, and moral distress for health-care providers.
Results of a new study show the need for more, easily accessible mental health and social support services for pregnant and postpartum people and their families. (Shutterstock)

Pregnant during the pandemic: Long-term effects and the importance of social support

Being pregnant and giving birth during the pandemic meant disruptions in pregnancy care and birth experiences, as well as detrimental effects on mental health and birth outcomes.
Although polyamorous families provide great support for themselves internally, they report experiencing marginalization within the health-care system and fear of judgment by health-care providers. Shutterstock

More romantic partners means more support, say polyamorous couples

Having multiple romantic partners also offers greater financial and logistical support when raising children, according to research with polyamorous families.
The system of ‘birth alerts’ across Canada perpetuates the removal of children from Indigenous families begun by residential schools. Pictured here: a historical report on residential schools released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

British Columbia’s ban on ‘birth alerts:’ A guiding light on the road to reconciliation

To make meaningful progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, all provinces and territories should promptly follow B.C. and ban discriminatory ‘birth alerts.’
Approximately 11 per cent of Canadian mothers report consuming alcohol during pregnancy, which can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in their children. (Shutterstock)

The truth about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

With an estimated prevalence of four per cent, fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) is more common than autism. And yet is it surrounded by myth and stigma.
A study published in the British Medical Journal Open reports that midwifery patients were 41 per cent less likely to have a small-for-gestational-age baby compared to patients of obstetricians. (Shutterstock)

Poor women who use midwives have healthier babies

New research shows that midwifery care is not just for the wealthy – it has health and cost benefits for vulnerable women and provincial governments must act to increase their access.

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