Congenital heart defects are the most common form of human birth defect, but we still don't fully understand what causes them. Previous research had suggested that some heart defects could be ...

A signal that the body adds to an mRNA can disrupt placental development and lead to fetal growth restriction (FGR). In this condition, a fetus is smaller than expected for its age during pregnancy ...

Among babies with severe congenital heart disease (CHD), neurological abnormalities tended to cluster in those who had been exposed to some placental pathology while still in the womb, a single-center ...

The placenta is integral to fetal growth, functioning not only as an exchange organ for oxygen, nutrients and waste, but also as an endocrine and immunological interface between the mother and fetus.

Pregnancy often feels like a gentle transition. You may feel hopeful. At times, a little anxious, too. That’s completely natural. During this phase, your body is doing something remarkable quietly and ...

The placenta plays a central role in fetal development by regulating nutrient transfer, hormonal signaling, and immune interactions, thereby shaping lifelong health outcomes. Evidence from ...

Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth often arise during the late stage of pregnancy. However, researchers have primarily relied on placental cells from early pregnancy to ...

A new study shows oxygenation levels in the placenta, formed during the last three months of fetal development, are an important predictor of cortical growth (development of the outermost layer of the ...

Researchers have found that utilizing Doppler ultrasound to assess blood flow in small unborn babies is instrumental in evaluating the functionality of the placenta. About 10 percent of unborn babies ...

The life of billions of people inhabiting Earth is owed to a temporary organ that supported and nourished them in a mother’s womb. The placenta, or afterbirth, is considered sacred by some cultures, ...