Subscribe now
An unrecognisable mature pregnant woman lies on a hospital delivery bed as she has fetal monitoring. Cardiotocography is usually called a 'CTG' by medical staff. It can be used to monitor a baby's heart rate and a mother's contractions during pregnancy

Vaginal swabs could be used to predict likelihood of preterm births

12 January 2023

We often don't know the causes of preterm birth – but analysing metabolic substances in the vaginal microbiome may be a way to predict the risk of premature labour
Being exposed to pre-eclampsia in the uterus may raise a person's later risk of coronary heart disease and strokes

Pre-eclampsia may raise a fetus's risk of heart disease in later life

15 November 2022

Children and teenagers who were exposed to pre-eclampsia in the uterus may be more likely to have a stroke or develop coronary artery disease, but the overall risk remains low
Catching the coronavirus after the 34th week of pregnancy may raise the risk of a premature birth seven-fold

Coronavirus in late pregnancy raises premature birth risk seven-fold

20 July 2022

Testing positive for the coronavirus in the last three months of pregnancy may double the risk of a premature birth, rising to a seven-fold increased risk if infected after 34 weeks

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop