Maternal/infant health Archives

Autism-related traits more likely in children of mothers with prenatal depression

August 1, 2023

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of parents and their children in communities across the country finds a greater likelihood of autism-related traits in children of mothers who experienced depression while they were pregnant.

Similar outcomes for pregnant patients who received prenatal care in-person or in a combination of telehealth and in-person visits

July 18, 2023

Pregnant patients who received some of their prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a combination of virtual and in-office visits had similar health outcomes as those who were seen mostly in person before the pandemic.

Blood pressure patterns in the first half of pregnancy improve early prediction of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension

July 12, 2023

Routine blood pressure readings recorded in the first half of pregnancy can be divided into 6 distinct patterns that can effectively stratify patients by their risk of developing preeclampsia and gestational hypertension later in pregnancy.

COVID-19 vaccination of mother during pregnancy protects infant, though protection wanes

February 28, 2023

Being vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy provides protection for the baby through its first several months of life, a Kaiser Permanente analysis finds. Protection was stronger against the delta variant than the more recent omicron variant.

Intimate partner violence jumped early in pandemic

February 22, 2023

Pregnant Kaiser Permanente patients were more likely to report intimate partner violence or living in unstable or unsafe situations during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery results in good birth outcomes

February 2, 2023

People who had bariatric surgery to address obesity and later became pregnant had less risk of poor outcomes such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, in comparison with similar pregnant patients who did not have the surgery.

Study finds little evidence of link between autistic traits and PFAS environmental chemicals

January 12, 2023

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of prenatal exposure to the persistent environmental chemicals known as PFAS found suggestive evidence of an association with autism-related traits in children for just 1 of 8 PFAS chemicals studied.

Cannabis legalization may have made use easier in pregnancy

December 14, 2022

California’s legalization of cannabis for adult-use may have reduced the stigma of using cannabis products during pregnancy and made them easier to obtain, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente investigators.

Seeking the best tests for babies with fever

December 7, 2022

New Kaiser Permanente research suggests a national clinical guideline on evaluating infant fever may not be ideal in all health care settings.

American Heart Association honors Kaiser Permanente researcher with award for best publication

November 10, 2022

Research scientist Erica Gunderson received the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award for Best Scientific Publication on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women.

Public health group honors Kaiser Permanente researcher with Young Professional Award

November 3, 2022

Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH, a clinical psychologist and Kaiser Permanente Division of Research investigator who studies substance use among vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, was awarded the 2022 Young Professional Award by the American Public Health Association (APHA) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section.

Link between commonly used chemicals, gestational diabetes

October 13, 2022

Pregnant people may have increased risk of gestational diabetes if they have higher exposure to phenols, common chemicals used in food packaging and many consumer products, according to Kaiser Permanente research.

Study offers reassurance to pregnant patients using biologic medications for autoimmune disorders

June 9, 2022

A new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers provides reassurance about vaccinating infants whose mothers took biologic medications for an autoimmune disorder during pregnancy.

New clues in early prediction of gestational diabetes

May 9, 2022

Kaiser Permanente researchers have identified several biological markers in the blood of pregnant people that are tied to an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes later in pregnancy.

Pandemic stressors taking a toll on pregnant patients’ mental health

May 4, 2022

Pregnant patients surveyed by Kaiser Permanente researchers early in the COVID-19 pandemic reported more severe mental health symptoms when they were distressed about changes in prenatal care, childcare challenges, and food insecurity. A second study found disparities in how Black and Hispanic pregnant individuals experienced pandemic stressors compared with white patients.

Podcast: Friends, family, outdoors provide pandemic pregnancy support

May 4, 2022

A survey of Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients during the early months of the pandemic finds those who used certain coping mechanisms were less likely to have depression or anxiety symptoms.

No difference found in infant outcomes between glyburide and insulin for gestational diabetes

March 31, 2022

A study of 11,321 patients treated for gestational diabetes with insulin or the medication glyburide did not find a difference in cesarean section rates or outcomes for the patients’ infants, suggesting many people with gestational diabetes could forego insulin injections in favor of taking a pill.

Coronavirus may double severe complications in pregnancy

March 21, 2022

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of pregnant patients who tested positive for the coronavirus found more than double the risk of poor outcomes including preterm birth, venous thromboembolism (blood clot), and severe maternal morbidity, which includes conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis.

Blood pressure patterns in early pregnancy tied to later risk of pregnancy-related hypertension complications

February 9, 2022

Kaiser Permanente research suggests blood pressure patterns seen during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy may offer critical clues to identify the patients most likely to develop high blood pressure complications later in their pregnancies.

Researchers seek answers for pregnant patients about cannabis

January 18, 2022

In a new KP Research Radio podcast, investigators studying use of cannabis during pregnancy discuss common misconceptions about prenatal cannabis use, their future research plans, and more.

Cannabis use by pregnant women increased during pandemic

September 27, 2021

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of more than 100,000 pregnancies in Northern California finds a 25% increase in the rate of cannabis use early in pregnancy after the pandemic began in spring 2020.

Raising awareness about early puberty

September 9, 2021

KP Research Radio talks to Ai Kubo, PhD, MPH, about her research into why girls are starting puberty earlier than they have in the past, risks associated with early puberty — and potential interventions.

Study finds no link between autism and common antidepressant when used in pregnancy

June 8, 2021

Mothers with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety were more likely to have a child with autism than mothers without such conditions, new research led by Kaiser Permanente investigators finds. But the analysis found no association between use of common antidepressants by pregnant women and likelihood of autism in their children.

Healthy lifestyle linked to lower risk of preterm birth

April 26, 2021

A combination of 3 healthy lifestyle factors is associated with a 70% lower risk of preterm birth, according to an analysis of data from a Kaiser Permanente study involving nearly 2,500 pregnant women in Northern California.

Pregnant women who use cannabis more likely to live near a cannabis retailer

March 4, 2021

Pregnant women who lived near recreational use cannabis retailers were more likely to use cannabis early in their pregnancies, new Kaiser Permanente research found.

Gestational diabetes can be tip-off to future increased risk for heart disease

February 1, 2021

Kaiser Permanente research shows 2-fold higher risk for heart artery calcification after pregnancy through mid-life, even in women with normal blood sugar levels.

Exercising more in early pregnancy may reduce gestational diabetes risk

December 21, 2020

Pregnant women who exercised more during the first trimester of pregnancy had a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes, a new analysis of Kaiser Permanente data finds.

5 Questions for… Lyndsay Avalos

November 16, 2020

To help pregnant women make informed decisions, Division of Research (DOR) investigator Lyndsay Avalos, PhD, MPH is leading a study to shed light on the nuances of depression treatment during pregnancy. Avalos recently received a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the topic.

Study identifies geographic clusters of pregnant women who missed flu shots

September 8, 2020

A Kaiser Permanente analysis of women who did not get flu shots during their pregnancies found the women clustered in geographic “hot spots.” These women tended to have fewer prenatal medical visits and live in low-income neighborhoods.

Telephone coaching helped pregnant women with overweight or obesity manage gestational weight gain

May 20, 2020

Pregnant women with overweight or obesity better controlled their weight gain and improved health behaviors when they received a series of telephone sessions with a registered dietician, a new study from Kaiser Permanente finds.

Blood test to identify risk for diabetes after pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes now one step closer

May 20, 2020

New findings from Kaiser Permanente Division of Research SWIFT Study in PLOS Medicine advance a potential blood test to predict which women with gestational diabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Depression, anxiety, trauma associated with elevated odds of cannabis use during pregnancy

February 19, 2020

In a new study, researchers from Kaiser Permanente have shown that depression, anxiety, and trauma during pregnancy are associated with prenatal marijuana use.

Depressed pregnant women more likely to eat poorer diets, Kaiser Permanente analysis finds

February 12, 2020

Pregnant women with depression were more likely to eat poor diets with a higher intake of empty calories and lower intake of greens, beans, and fruit, according to an analysis of 1,160 adult pregnant women who were treated at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Study finds no evidence of harm to infant development after mothers get flu vaccine while pregnant

February 5, 2020

A Kaiser Permanente study of women who were given inactivated influenza vaccine while pregnant found no indication of developmental problems for their babies at 6 months old.

Study in pregnant women suggests maternal infection, not antibiotics, associated with childhood obesity

December 5, 2019

Women who had an untreated infection during pregnancy were more likely to have a child who later went on to be obese than pregnant women who never had an infection, new research from Kaiser Permanente finds.

Can a mobile app help women stay healthy during pregnancy?

October 24, 2019

Monique Hedderson is heading a five-year project to test whether a mobile phone app could help overweight and obese women avoid excess weight gain, and the accompanying health risks, while pregnant.

5 Questions for… Yeyi Zhu

September 19, 2019

Yeyi Zhu, PhD, wants to use big data analytics to improve women’s and children’s clinical care and health.

Kaiser Permanente program reduces opioid use for women delivering by C-section

August 8, 2019

Taking less pain medication, along with moving around sooner after the surgery, can allow women to recover more quickly and care for their newborns.

Use of CT scans during pregnancy increased in U.S. and Canada over 2 decades

July 24, 2019

A large, multicenter study of advanced medical imaging in pregnancy, published in JAMA Network Open and co-led by Marilyn Kwan, PhD, found that CT scans were performed in 0.8% of pregnancies in the United States and 0.4% in Ontario in 2016; these rates increased nearly fourfold in the United States and doubled in Ontario over the 21 years.

More women using cannabis daily before and during pregnancy, Kaiser Permanente research finds

July 19, 2019

The number of women using cannabis in the year before they get pregnant and early in their pregnancies is increasing, and their frequency of use is also rising, according to new data from Kaiser Permanente.

Mother’s pregnancy weight linked to early puberty in daughters

May 23, 2019

A Kaiser Permanente study of more than 2,000 mothers and daughters found that the amount of weight mothers gained during pregnancy — whether too much or too little — was linked to the earlier onset of puberty in their daughters; the associations were even stronger when the mothers were overweight or obese at the beginning of the pregnancy.

Fewer Reproductive Years May Be Linked to an Increased Risk of Dementia

March 27, 2019

Women who start their period later, go through menopause earlier or have a hysterectomy may have a greater risk of developing dementia, according to a new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers and published in the journal, Neurology.

New Guidelines for Perinatal Depression are Important, but Barriers Remain

February 12, 2019

New recommendations suggest that clinicians should provide or refer pregnant and postpartum women who are at increased risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions. These recommendations are “an important step forward” wrote research scientists and doctors at Kaiser Permanente, in a JAMA Pediatrics editorial.

Work by the Division of Research Makes Top JAMA Lists for 2018

January 14, 2019

The JAMA Network, the publication home for numerous top-tier journals from the American Medical Association, released a list of the “Most Talked About Articles” in each of their various publications for 2018. DOR research appears on four lists.

Women with Pregnancy-related Nausea and Vomiting Use Marijuana More

August 20, 2018

New Kaiser Permanente study adds evidence to body of research suggesting pregnant women are using marijuana to self-medicate morning sickness.

Personalized Letter Improves Pregnancy Weight for Women with Gestational Diabetes

April 18, 2018

Women with gestational diabetes who received a tailored letter with personalized weight-gain recommendations were significantly more likely to meet national weight-gain guidelines, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in Diabetes Care.

Maternal weight and hyperglycemia linked to early puberty onset in girls

April 16, 2018

In a study of more than 15,000 girls and their mothers — all Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California — maternal overweight and hyperglycemia were linked to the earlier onset of puberty in girls 6 to 11 years old.

30-Year National Study Shows Women Who Breastfeed for 6 Months or More Reduce their Diabetes Risk by 50%

January 16, 2018

In a long-term national study, breastfeeding for six months or longer cuts the risk of developing type 2 diabetes nearly in half for women throughout their childbearing years, according to new Kaiser Permanente research published Jan. 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Reveals an Increase in Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

December 26, 2017

A new study from the Division of Research, using data from almost 300,000 pregnant women treated at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, found that maternal prenatal marijuana use increased from 4 to 7 percent from 2009 to 2016.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Provides Evidence of Health Risks Linked to Electromagnetic Field Exposure

December 14, 2017

A Kaiser Permanente study of real-world exposure to non-ionizing radiation from magnetic fields in pregnant women found a significantly higher rate of miscarriage, providing new evidence regarding their potential health risks.

Maternal Pertussis Vaccination Reduces Risk for Newborns by More Than 90 Percent

April 2, 2017

Among infants of women who received the Tdap pertussis booster vaccine during pregnancy, the risk of contracting pertussis was reduced...

Sepsis Risk Prediction Model Decreases Use of Antibiotics in Newborns

February 20, 2017

Kaiser Permanente, the largest integrated health system in the nation, led the development of a neonatal sepsis risk calculator that...

Kaiser Permanente to Examine Role of Environmental Factors in Childhood Obesity and Developmental Disorders

November 15, 2016

Kaiser Permanente researchers have received a major new grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how exposures to...

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