Common Yeast Infection Treatment Tied to Miscarriage, Birth Defects

TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 -- A new study throws serious doubt on the safety of using a common yeast infection treatment during pregnancy.

Fluconazole (Diflucan) is a prescribed pill used to treat yeast infections. However, Canadian research now suggests its use greatly raises a pregnant woman's odd for miscarriage, as well as the odds that her baby will have a heart defect.

AHA News: Could 'Cardio-Obstetrics' Curb Rise in Pregnancy-Related Deaths?

TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- More collaboration between cardiologists and obstetricians could help curb the nation's soaring death rate among pregnant women, according to a new report urging more team-based care for these vulnerable mothers.

Pregnant women in the United States have a higher risk of dying than women in any other industrialized country. The reasons behind these deaths are complex but include racial-ethnic disparities and insufficient access to care.

Guidelines for a Healthy Pregnancy

FRIDAY, Dec. 28, 2018 -- If you're pregnant you already know the importance of eating a healthful diet and taking prenatal vitamins, including folic acid and possibly B12 and iron supplements.

What not to do isn't always clear, however.

Mom-to-Be's Flu Can Harm Her Unborn Baby

FRIDAY, Jan. 11, 2019 -- Pregnant women who get a flu shot protect not only themselves, but also their developing baby, health officials report.

When a mom-to-be gets the flu, she can be so sick she needs to be admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit. And new research finds her baby then runs the risk of being born preterm, underweight and with a low "Apgar score" -- a gauge of an infant's overall health.