Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Acetaminophen May Harm Fetuses; 3M Baby Cushions Recalled After 8 Deaths
CNN: Acetaminophen Should Be Investigated For Possible Damage To Developing Fetus, Experts Warn
According to the statement published Thursday in the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology, a growing body of research shows that "prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders." The statement is not health guidance, but urges health care providers and regulators to take action. (LaMotte, 9/23)
Stat: Paper Flags Possible Risks Of Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy
Nearly 100 doctors and scientists issued a consensus statement Thursday warning of possible links between the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and developmental problems in children, including neurological and reproductive issues that start in the womb. In a paper published by Nature Reviews Endocrinology, the authors reviewed the medical literature going back 25 years to make a set of recommendations. The group is calling on clinicians and regulatory agencies to change their guidelines for the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy while more research is conducted to study the full range of effects the drug could have on fetal development and children. (Cueto, 9/23)
Baby cushions are recalled —
The New York Times: 3 Million Baby Cushions Are Recalled After 8 Reported Infant Deaths
A prominent baby-product manufacturer is recalling 3.3 million lounger pads for newborns after at least eight infant deaths were associated with the pillows in less than five years, federal safety regulators said on Thursday. The pillowlike pads, made by the Boppy Company, are not safe for babies to sleep in because they can cause suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. (Vigdor, 9/23)
In other vaccine and pregnancy news —
CNBC: Covid Vaccines Don't Increase Risk Of Miscarriage Or Birth Defects, CDC Says
Vaccinating against Covid does not increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The CDC tracked 1,613 pregnant women who received a Covid-19 vaccine, 30% of whom were vaccinated in the second trimester, while the remaining 70% received their inoculations in the third trimester, Dr. Christine Olson, a CDC medical officer, told the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday. Those participants gave birth to 1,634 infants, including 42 twins. (Towey, 9/23)
NBC News: Doctors Desperately Want Pregnant Women To Get Vaccinated. It's An Uphill Battle.
Nicole Torres’ prenatal visits all start the same way: with her obstetrician inquiring whether she has received her Covid-19 shot yet. Torres, 24, who is 33 weeks pregnant with her second daughter, has not. It’s not because of a lack of information. Torres knows that pregnant women face a higher risk of severe illness if they catch Covid, and she has had discussions with her obstetrician about the data showing the vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies. She has considered getting vaccinated, but alarming claims about the vaccine that she and her husband have read online have made her question whether it is the right thing to do. (Chuck, 9/22)
GMA: Kids Whose Mothers Were Depressed During Pregnancy More Likely To Be Depressed: Study
A new study found that children whose mothers experienced depression during and soon after pregnancy are more likely to experience depression themselves. While experts said more research is needed on the subject, they emphasized that this new finding reinforces the urgent need to identify and treat depression among pregnant women -- not just for their sake, but potentially for the sake of their child as well. (Rutledge, 9/24)
