Aurora magazine

In Ireland, the current strategy against pre-eclampsia provides a screening for the appearance of the first symptoms. However, the approach may not be the most effective for mother and child health. A possible alternative could come from a research by University College Dublin (UCD). According to the researchers, 75 mg of aspirin a day during the first trimester would reduce the risk of preeclampsia in an important way.

The study is based on research done in the past, which had already tried this effect of aspirin. However, it is the first time that the effectiveness of this preventive therapy in low-risk women is analyzed. The next step will involve a much larger number of women, so as to prove their safety. If all goes well, taking a minimum dose of aspirin in the first trimester could become a standard form of prevention.

Preeclampsia affects 1 first pregnancy in 10. Often the first warning signs go unnoticed, causing serious problems for mom and child. The woman can incur damage to the liver, kidneys, brain and heart. Many also develop abnormalities at the metabolic level. 25% of children are born prematurely and younger than average.
Preeclampsia usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy, around the 20th week. The only treatment available is to induce delivery as soon as possible. According to the Dublin researchers, a minimum dose of aspirin from the 11th to the 36th week of gestation would be the solution.

The study involved 546 pregnant women, which doctors encouraged to take aspirin every day. 90% of them accepted. Future mothers have complained of a slight increase in vaginal bleeding, which does not seem to have influenced the successful outcome of pregnancy. On the other hand, the researchers noted a decrease in preeclampsia cases.

Source: medicalxpress.com

A study published in the journal Developmental Cell analyzes the role of sperm in pregnancy success. Dr. Colin C. Conine's team studied how micro RNA molecules affect sperm function. According to the study, these molecules are essential for embryonic development and determine the success of an implant in IVF.

The researchers studied the spermatozoa of a group of guinea pigs and the so obtained embryos. Spermatozoa taken directly from the testes had a wide variety of RNA molecules, all with abnormal regulation. They then used them to create embryos, which they implanted in some female guinea pigs. The embryos did not take hold and the pregnancies failed.

To overcome the problem of abnormal sperm, scientists injected micro RNA molecules into embryos. The embryos so treated managed to take root and the pregnancies went ahead. This means that the problem can be corrected and that the micro RNA plays an essential role in the success of the IVF.

As other studies had suggested, the health of sperm affects the successful outcome of pregnancy. An unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to toxic substances can lower the quality of the sperm. Spermatozoa that are not active or lacking in micro RNA molecules can therefore make the success of pregnancy impossible.

The next step will be to study the role of micro RNA also in embryonic development. What researchers will discover will help improve current in vitro fertilization techniques. In particular it will allow to understand the differences between testicular sperm and ejaculate sperm.

Source: cellpress.com

Dreams always have a logic of their own. Yet in pregnancy they seem to be even more bizarre and disturbing. The phenomenon seems all but isolated and could have a solid scientific basis. He examined them more than one study, making surprising discoveries about how dreams work during pregnancy.

The REM phase takes up about 25% of the sleep time and returns several times during the night. It is the moment when one dreams and the brain puts order among the experiences lived during the day. When you wake up during the REM phase, it is easier to remember that dreams were also being made in a clear way.

Disturbed sleep is one of the most common ailments in pregnancy. One of the causes lies in the high levels of progesterone, to which are added discomforts related to the weight of the baby bump and to stress. Since you wake up much more at night, it is also easier to wake up during the REM phase. This explains at least in part why pregnant women remember dreams made more easily and better.

Expectant women also complain of a greater frequency of bad dreams, many of them with childbirth. A study published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth analyzed the questionnaires of 406 pregnant women aged 17 to 44. Women reported about twice as many nightmares than non-pregnant women, often related to the baby they wore.

The cause is above all psychological. Gestation is a period of high stress, which often results in an increase in bad dreams.

Source: livescience.com

The cases of anxiety and depression in pregnancy have increased by 51% in a depression. This is the proof of a study by the University of Bristol. The researchers looked at the questionnaires of two generations of pregnant women, comparing the levels of pressure over the last 20 years. From what has emerged, there has been a sharp increase in the problem.

The study authors involved 2,390 pregnant women in the 1990s and 180 women born in those years. Among the latter the symptoms related to anxiety and depression were 51% more common. Today 25% of mothers under 24 years suffer from depression, compared to 17% in the 90s. Furthermore, the daughters of depressed mothers showed 3 times the risk of suffering from the same problem.

It is the first time researchers compare mental health in two generations of pregnancy. It was possible thanks to the data collected in the 90s and concerning the topic. It also allowed to analyze the differences in symptoms between generations of mothers. The future mothers of the 90s felt down and apathetic, while those of today are much more stressed. The next step will be to understand the reason for this increase and how to deal with it.

The study is important both for the health of future mothers and for those of children. The depression in pregnancy has indeed an important impact on fetal development and on the health of the child. Understanding how best to deal with it and keeping an eye on those most at risk would be a big step forward.

Source: bristol.ac.uk