Tag Archives: Maternal

Skeleton ‘Pregnancy Test’ May Unlock Secrets of Ancient Maternal Lives

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Skeleton of a woman holding a baby in her left arm, interred in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Screnby, England

Dr Hugh Wilmot, University of Sheffield

Researchers are now investigating ancient pregnancy tests undertaken on women from centuries past.

For the first time, scientists have identified levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in remains of women from the 1st to the 19th century. Some of these women were entombed with their unborn children. This revelation indicates that historic bones and teeth can retain identifiable traces of specific sex hormones, which might aid in discerning which individuals at archaeological sites were pregnant or had recently given birth at the time of their demise, according to Amy Barlow from the University of Sheffield, UK.

“The physiological and emotional impacts of pregnancy, miscarriage, and childbirth carry profound significance for women, yet they remain largely unexplored in archaeological records,” she notes. “This technique could revolutionize how we comprehend the reproductive narratives of ancient populations. We’re genuinely excited about it.”

Establishing pregnancy in ancient individuals can be challenging, particularly if the fetus lacks a visible skeleton. Even second- and third-trimester fetuses may be overlooked due to their bones resembling those of the mother’s hands, often placed on the abdomen during burial.

Contemporary pregnancy tests evaluate hormone levels such as hCG in blood or urine. However, hCG degrades rapidly, leaving minimal evidence in the body.

In contrast, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone can persist in tissues for extended periods. Recent studies have demonstrated that these steroid hormones are also present in human blood, saliva, and hair. Samples from long-buried Egyptian mummies.

To explore the likelihood of identifying ancient pregnancies, Barlow and her team analyzed rib fragments and one neck bone from two men and seven women interred in four British cemeteries. They also examined teeth from another male.

Two of the women had fetal remains discovered within them, and another two were buried alongside their newborns. The gender of the others was established through DNA analysis.

The research team ground each sample into powder and employed chemical techniques to extract the steroid hormones. Laboratory tests subsequently identified the estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels in each of the 74 samples.

Estrogen was only found in four samples, without a discernible pattern. This may be due to its quicker breakdown compared to progesterone or testosterone, which may not accumulate as efficiently in tissues.

However, between the 11th and 14th centuries, heightened levels of progesterone were discovered in the spines of young women who died while carrying full-term fetuses. A later pregnant woman interred in the 18th or 19th century also exhibited elevated progesterone in her ribs. Moderate progesterone levels were noted in the dental plaque of two women buried with their infants during the 5th or 6th century.

Interestingly, no testosterone was detected in the bones or teeth of these four women. However, one woman who was buried with her premature infant had trace amounts of testosterone in her dental plaque. In contrast, three unrelated women from 8th- to 12th-century sites and Roman tombs showed testosterone in all layers of their ribs and teeth.

Low testosterone levels are known to play a crucial role in women’s health, so its discovery in these samples isn’t unexpected, Barlow states. “However, the absence of testosterone may indicate that she was recently or currently pregnant at the time of her death,” she adds.

“This intersection of archaeology and hormone science is exhilarating and unforeseen,” states Alexander Komninos from Imperial College London. “These methods will enhance our ability to detect pregnancy in human remains with greater precision, providing deeper insights into ancient pregnancies.”

Nevertheless, while the findings show promise, additional research is essential to clarify many aspects, according to Barlow. For instance, moderate progesterone levels were frequently found in the bones and inner teeth of men, but the reasoning behind this remains unclear, she comments. “Interpretation is quite cautious at this junction.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Maternal Voice Enhances Language Development in Premature Infants

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Premature babies may face language challenges later, but simple interventions can assist.

BSIP SA/Alamy

The first randomized controlled trial of this straightforward intervention suggests that playing recordings of a mother’s voice to premature infants could expedite their brain maturation processes. This method may eventually enhance language development in babies born prematurely.

Premature birth alters brain structure, leading to potential language disorders and affecting later communication and academic success. A mother’s voice and heartbeat can foster the development of auditory and language pathways. Unfortunately, parents may not always be able to physically be with their infants in the neonatal units.

To explore whether this absence could be compensated for through recordings, Katherine Travis and her team at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York conducted a study with 46 premature infants born between 24 and 31 weeks gestation, all situated in the neonatal intensive care unit.

We recorded mothers reading from children’s books, including selections from A Bear Named Paddington. Half of the infants listened to a ten-minute audio segment twice every hour overnight between 10 PM and 6 AM, increasing their daily exposure to their mother’s voice by an average of 2.7 hours until they reached their original due date. The other infants received similar medical care but were not exposed to recordings.

Upon reaching their due date, these infants underwent two MRI scans to evaluate the organization and connectivity of their brain networks. The results indicated that those who heard their mother’s voice at night exhibited more robust and organized connections in and around the left arcuate fasciculus, a crucial area for language processing. “The structure appeared notably more developed,” said Travis. “The characteristics matched what one might expect to find in older, more mature infants.”

The scans also suggested that this maturation could be linked to increased myelination— the creation of a fatty sheath that insulates nerve fibers, enhancing the speed and efficiency of signal transmission within the brain. “Myelination is crucial for healthy brain development, especially in pathways that support communication and learning,” noted Travis.

Previous studies have indicated that delayed development of these brain areas correlates with language delays and learning challenges. The latest findings imply that targeted speech exposure could improve these outcomes.

However, is it truly vital for infants to hear their mother’s voice rather than others? While this study did not address that, earlier research explains the phenomenon. Babies start hearing around the 24th week of pregnancy, and continue to recognize their mother’s voice after birth due to early exposure in the womb. Travis explained, “This voice is biologically significant and may be especially appealing to the developing brain.”

Nonetheless, Travis emphasizes that language exposure from other caregivers is also critical for language development, and future studies will explore this aspect further.

The intervention is straightforward and can easily be integrated into care protocols. However, David Edwards from Evelina London Children’s Hospital cautioned against overinterpreting the findings. “Given the small sample size, additional control groups, including different audio sources and forms of auditory stimulation, should be evaluated,” he suggested.

Travis and her research team aim to validate these results in larger trials involving medically vulnerable infants. They will continue to monitor current participants to determine if the observed brain differences result in tangible improvements in language and communication skills as these infants grow.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study finds that a third of maternal deaths occurred postpartum

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Over the past five years, a significant portion (almost a third) of maternal deaths in the United States were reported within six weeks after birth, according to a study published on Jama Network Open. This study was one of the first to track maternal health complications during pregnancy and the postpartum years.

Pregnancy-related mortality rates in the US increased by almost 28% between 2018 and 2022, but researchers noted a slight decline since 2021, which was at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Rose L. Morina, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and one of the authors of the study, emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on maternal health due to these findings.

Women need access to high-quality care from conception through the first year after giving birth, according to Dr. Rose L. Morina. The study, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Reproductive Health Department, highlighted the risk of maternal deaths occurring within six weeks to one year postpartum.

The study also revealed significant disparities in maternal mortality rates among different racial and ethnic groups, with Native American and Alaska Native women having higher mortality rates compared to white women.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that all women receive postnatal care within the first three weeks after giving birth and continue to receive ongoing care as needed.

Dr. Tamika Auguste, chair of Women and Infant Services at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, stressed the importance of timely postnatal care, especially for women with hypertension.

Mortality rates related to pregnancy have more than tripled across different states, with the southeastern states having higher mortality rates compared to states like California and Minnesota.

Cardiovascular disease was identified as the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, particularly among women aged 25-39, highlighting the importance of monitoring and managing cardiovascular health during and after pregnancy.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Impact of AI Monitoring on Reducing Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths at a Clinic in Malawi

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WEllen Kafamtengo felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and thought she might be going into labor. It was the ninth month of her first pregnancy, but she wasn’t taking any chances. With the help of her mother, the 18-year-old took a motorbike taxi and raced to a hospital in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe, a 20-minute drive away.

At Area 25 Health Center, she was told it was a false alarm and taken to the maternity ward. But when a routine ultrasound reveals that the baby is much smaller than expected at this stage of pregnancy, things quickly escalate, leading to suffocation, a condition that limits blood flow and oxygen to the baby may cause.

In Malawi, approx. 19 out of 1,000 babies Death occurs during childbirth or within the first month of birth. Childbirth asphyxia is the leading cause of neonatal death in this country and can result in brain damage to newborns with long-term effects such as developmental delays and cerebral palsy.

Doctors reclassified Ms Kafamtengo, who was expected to have a normal delivery, as a high-risk patient. Further tests using AI-powered fetal monitoring software revealed that the baby’s heart rate was slow. Stress tests revealed that the baby would not survive delivery.




Chikondi Chiweza, head of maternal and child care at Area 25 Health Center in Lilongwe, said: Photo: Provided by Halma plc

Chikondi Chiweza, the hospital’s head of maternal and child care, knew she had less than 30 minutes to deliver Kafamtengo’s baby by caesarean section. Having delivered thousands of babies in some of the city’s busiest public hospitals, she was well aware of how quickly a baby’s chances of survival can change during delivery.

Chiweza, who gave birth to Kafamtengo’s baby healthy, says the fetal monitoring program has made a huge difference to hospital births.

“[In Kaphamtengo’s case]we wouldn’t have realized what we did until later or as a stillborn baby,” she says.

Software donated by a birth safety technology company Perigen Through a partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health, Texas Children’s Hospitaltracks your baby’s vital signs during delivery, giving clinicians early warning of abnormalities.
Since it began using the system three years ago, the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths at the center has fallen by 82%. It is the only hospital in the country that has introduced this technology.

“The period around birth is the most dangerous for mothers and babies,” says Jeffrey Wilkinson, an obstetrician at Texas Children’s Hospital who leads the program. “Most deaths can be prevented by ensuring the baby’s safety during the birth process.”

AI monitoring systems require less time, equipment, and skilled staff than traditional fetal monitoring methods, making them essential for hospitals in low-income countries such as Malawi, which face severe health worker shortages. Routine fetal monitoring often relies on a doctor performing routine tests. This means that while the AI-assisted program provides continuous, real-time monitoring, important information may be missed during the interval. Traditional tests also require doctors to interpret raw data from various devices, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Area 25’s maternity ward handles approximately 8,000 births annually with a staff of 80 physicians. While only about 10% are trained to perform traditional electronic monitoring, most can detect abnormalities using AI software, helping doctors recognize higher-risk or more complicated births. Masu. Hospital staff also say that the use of AI has standardized key aspects of obstetric care in the clinic, such as interpreting fetal health status and deciding when to intervene.

Kafamutengo, who is excited to become a new mother, believes that doctors’ intervention may have saved her baby’s life. “They realized early enough that my baby was suffering and were able to take action,” she said as she held her son, Justice.

Doctors at the hospital hope the technology will be introduced to other hospitals in Malawi and across Africa.

“AI technology is being used in many fields, and saving the lives of babies is no exception,” Chiweza said. “We can really close the gap in the quality of care available to underserved populations.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Specific brain cells elucidate the maternal soothing influence

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The researchers studied mouse neurons in a part of the brain that is common to all mammals.

Klein & Hubert/naturepl.com

Scientists have identified neurons that become active when mouse pups interact with their mothers, seemingly reducing stress — and the same neurons may also be involved in the mother-child bond in humans.

The zona incerta, located in the center of the mammalian brain, is thought to be involved in integrating sensory information. As we develop, our roles change. In infants, neurons in the zona incerta send information to other brain regions, such as the cortex, promoting neural growth elsewhere.

Its role appears to be changing, Lee Yue Heon Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine and their colleagues suspected that this part of the brain may be involved in establishing a bond between mother and child.

To investigate, the researchers first assessed which neurons in the zona incerta become active when puppies, who are still dependent on milk, interact with their mothers. This involved surgically implanting fiber-optic probes in the brains of some of the puppies, allowing the researchers to detect light emitted when neurons became active.

The researchers found that activated neurons express a hormone called somatostatin, which regulates several bodily functions by inhibiting the release of other hormones, including the stress hormone corticosterone.

Free social interactions between mothers and infants activated these neurons, but contact with toys did not.

The researchers were also interested in how other social interactions might affect this brain region: They found that contact with lactating females who were not the pups' mothers, non-lactating females, siblings, or unrelated males also activated neurons, but not as much as contact with the pups' mothers.

“Our findings suggest that social interaction with the mother elicits the greatest response compared to other social stimuli, with a difference of about 1.5-fold in mean response levels,” the team said. Marcelo de Oliveira Dietrich, Even at Yale University.

In another part of the experiment, the team monitored the infants' brain activity while they were socially isolated: during these periods, which lasted between 10 minutes and 12 hours, no neurons were active, but this changed once the infants were reunited with their mothers.

Reunion also reduced the puppies' stress response, as measured by whether they made crying noises and released corticosterone.

Finally, the team wanted to see whether artificially activating neurons while the puppies were isolated could reduce stress in them: Activating the neurons using chemicals suppressed the puppies' crying and blunted their release of corticosterone.

The researchers believe that the zona incerta may be involved in early social relationships in mammals, as well as the development of other parts of the brain. “The distinct bond between infant and mother” is “a hallmark of mammals,” they write. The bond may be involved in the development of parts of the brain, with the zona incerta acting as “a nodal point that intertwines the elements that define mammalian biology.”

Robert Froemke A researcher from NYU Langone Health in New York says the study demonstrates that certain neurons “essentially serve to soothe infants,” but “it's still a bit unclear how infants sense their mothers — which aspects of smell, touch, or temperature are important,” he says.

“Another open question is how much contact is needed to send a safety signal, and how long that contact lasts? What promotes healthy development, as opposed to neglect?” In humans, “visual and auditory input — the sight and sound of the caregiver — is also likely to be important, or perhaps more important, than olfactory cues,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com