A small study based on circulating RNA in the blood of moms-to-be describes a technique that could be used to help predict who’s most at risk of preterm labor.

Complications during pregnancy may act via the placenta to magnify the effects of genetic risk factors.

Immune cells targeting maternal antigens are abundant in the blood of premature infants, suggesting fetal intolerance of mom may instigate early labor.  

MRI data suggest prenatal exposure to the medication increases the volume of brain regions vital to processing emotions.

Infants whose moms received the shots when they were pregnant were no more at risk of dying or being hospitalized than other babies. 

Women who ate more produce known to harbor pesticides were less likely to succeed with fertility treatment than women who ate fewer of these fruits and vegetables.

In humans, the DNA vaccine elicited the production of antibodies, which then protected mice from Zika infection.

A new study uses blood samples from pregnant women to track changes in the immune system leading up to birth, and predicts gestational age from the mothers’ immune signatures.

Some vaccine developers are taking steps to include them, in line with bioethicists' urging, but it will likely take years before any expectant mothers are enrolled.