All posts tagged: maternal

Kate Middleton Hits Maternal Milestone: Prince George Is Almost Her Equal in Height

Kate Middleton Hits Maternal Milestone: Prince George Is Almost Her Equal in Height

Published by Sam Flores

Kate Middleton and Prince George attend the Men’s Singles Final at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2022 in London, England. Karwai Tang “Honouring Service and Sacrifice,” the Prince and Princess of Wales captioned the video, before noting that the day was spent “Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive.” The visit was “A powerful reminder of the courage, skill and dedication of those who serve, past and present,” the caption continued. “Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve.” Kate Middleton has held the title of Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the base since 2023, and was clearly familiar with the structure, showing her son some of the historic aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the unit responsible for preserving legendary World War II aircraft, including the Spitfires, Hurricanes, and a Lancaster bomber. During the visit, George was eager to converse with a number of the base’s workers, staff, and pilots, further …

What a maternal grandmother’s presence secretly tells us about a child’s future

What a maternal grandmother’s presence secretly tells us about a child’s future

Published by Daniella Wilson

If you’re a grandmother, you probably have already realised that a child’s maternal grandma occupies a very specific place in children’s lives – and it just so happens that psychology proves it. A strong, healthy relationship with a granny lasts a lifetime; it continues even when the adorable little grandchild becomes an adult – and long after grandma passes away, too.  Unconditional love and a calm approach to child-rearing have a lot to do with why the grandmother is such an important part of one’s life, but does she also influence her grandchildren’s emotional development?  We wanted to know how the bond formed with a maternal grandmother impacts the development of a child’s personality and emotional well-being – so we put these questions and more to psychologist and family therapy specialist María Bustamante.  The expert sheds light on this mother-daughter topic in a fascinating Q&A. Why is the maternal grandmother so important in children’s lives? “A grandmother, whether maternal or paternal, stands as living proof of someone who has successfully navigated the many tasks and …

Where is Taylor Parker now? Subject of Netflix’s Maternal Instinct

Where is Taylor Parker now? Subject of Netflix’s Maternal Instinct

Published by Daniella Wilson

Maternal Instinct has remained firmly in the top spot on Netflix’s top 10, as it explores the shocking crimes of Taylor Parker. To anyone she encountered, Taylor appeared to be an expectant mother, expanding her family with her boyfriend, but it soon became clear it was all a lie. The real truth was that Taylor was unable to have children after a hysterectomy, something she didn’t tell her boyfriend or those closest to him, who quickly grew suspicious of her. Taylor began wearing a fake pregnancy stomach, bought baby clothes and even convinced her friend to host a gender reveal party. When confronted by her boyfriend, Taylor went on to commit a heinous crime, as explored in the feature-length film. Read on for more of the story about Taylor Parker and her whereabouts today. What did Taylor Parker do? Taylor Parker and Reagan Simmons-Hancock. Netflix In 2019, 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock hired Taylor Parker as her wedding photographer and the women hit it off. The pair remained friends even after the wedding and in 2020, Reagan became …

The Largest Undocumented Disparity in Maternal Health

The Largest Undocumented Disparity in Maternal Health

Published by Sam Flores

For the past few years, George King, the director of research at Boston’s Joslin Diabetes Center, has been following a medical mystery that has flown under the public-health radar—even, he told me, among most other diabetes experts. He and his colleagues have been alarmed by the skyrocketing rates of gestational diabetes they’ve seen among Chinese American populations, which mirror a similar phenomenon in mainland China and Taiwan. For years, gestational diabetes has been ticking upward in people of Asian descent—both in countries in Asia and in highly multicultural nations such as the United States. In general, those rises have tracked with increases in type 2 diabetes, a condition with similar risk factors. But “one group is an outlier,” King said. In recent years, gestational diabetes has climbed among people of Chinese descent at a rate that appears to outpace the rise in diabetes in that population, and “no one seems to know why,” he said. The data supporting this discrepancy are still just emerging, King and his colleagues told me, and they hope to collect …

Momnibus: A Fix for the Preventable Maternal Health Crisis

Momnibus: A Fix for the Preventable Maternal Health Crisis

Published by Jenni Sidey

Maternal mental health remains an area of critical need in the U.S. Despite newer maternal mortality data showing some declines, alarming maternal health disparities remain. Furthermore, the latest report from the CDC’s maternal mortality review committees continues to show that the vast majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, with continued indicators demonstrating the role played by mental health and substance use in these deaths. This is particularly alarming because the proposed President’s Budget Request for 2027 calls for cuts to the CDC’s Safe Motherhood/Infant Health Portfolio—a collection of programs that support coordinated national efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve outcomes through data collection and data-driven clinical care. While this may sound dire, there are structural changes through political reform already on the table that could significantly reshape the landscape of this crisis. In honor of May being Maternal Mental Health Month, you can help turn awareness into action. The Momnibus Act is a comprehensive package of bills designed to address maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the U.S. The Momnibus includes investments …

Black Women Deserve Better Maternal Care, Safety And Support

Black Women Deserve Better Maternal Care, Safety And Support

Published by Sam Flores

“Do you think I should consider freezing my eggs?” I posed this question to my grandmother and aunt recently as the reality set in that I’m about to turn 30. According to medical science, the older I get, the fewer chances I have for pregnancy. But as we approach Black Maternal Health Week, I find myself returning to that question, and my age isn’t the only thing giving me pause. Black women’s bodies have long been at the mercy of harsh surveillance, financial instability and health inequities. Because I have a Ph.D. in maternal and child health, I am well aware that maternal mortality among Black women has been a persistent inequity since the 1930s. In 2023, for example, the maternal mortality rate among Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births and significantly higher than rates for white, Hispanic and Asian women. And though there was a slight dip in 2024 (44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births), the statistics remain frighteningly high. The higher rates of maternal deaths aren’t attributed to one singular …

A Mom Forgot Who Her Daughter Was After Losing Her Memory But Still Felt The Maternal Urge To Protect Her

A Mom Forgot Who Her Daughter Was After Losing Her Memory But Still Felt The Maternal Urge To Protect Her

Published by Jenni Sidey

Every parent has an innate desire to make sure their children are safe at all times. We worry about where they are going, who they are with, and what outside influences might come their way. Finding out your child may be in danger is a terror only a parent can relate to. For a woman named Nesh Pillay, that extreme anxiety is something she has to deal with much more than anyone else could ever imagine. Pillay, 32, was confused and scared when she recently woke up from a nap, unable to remember anything.  Pillay told Newsweek in October 2022 that she told family members she had bumped her head before deciding to take a nap. Though Pillay cannot remember the incident, it is what preceded the deterioration of her memory.  She has suffered numerous incidents of trauma to her brain over her lifetime, the first occurring during a car accident when she was just nine years old. Since then, according to Pillay, she has had multiple head injuries resulting in concussions. Pillay found herself …

Maternal exposure to short-chain PFAS causes persistent memory problems in adult rats

Maternal exposure to short-chain PFAS causes persistent memory problems in adult rats

Published by José Betancourt

Exposure to supposedly safer alternatives to traditional forever chemicals during pregnancy and nursing causes lasting memory and learning problems in adult rats. The animal research suggests that early contact with these synthetic compounds interferes with normal brain development. The study was published in Frontiers in Toxicology. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, universally known as PFAS, are highly stable synthetic chemicals characterized by extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Manufacturers have used them since the 1940s to make products resist heat, oil, and water. These functional properties make them highly useful in nonstick cookware, food packaging, and waterproof clothing. Because they break down very slowly, they accumulate in the environment and inside the human body. Older versions of these chemicals are typically composed of molecular chains featuring eight or more carbon atoms. Epidemiological studies have repeatedly linked prenatal exposure to these long-chain PFAS with adverse developmental outcomes, altering cognition and behavior in children. In response to health and environmental concerns, manufacturers largely phased out these long-chain variants. They replaced them with short-chain varieties, which contain fewer carbon atoms and …

Autism associated with age of maternal grandparents in new study

Autism associated with age of maternal grandparents in new study

Published by José Betancourt

A new study published in Autism Research reveals that the age of maternal grandparents when they have children is linked to the likelihood of their grandchildren developing autism. The research shows that this association varies substantially across different racial and ethnic groups. These variations suggest that environmental and social factors operate alongside biology to influence child development across multiple generations. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by repetitive behaviors and challenges with social communication. In recent decades, the identified prevalence of autism has grown rapidly. In California, the proportion of children diagnosed with the condition increased dramatically between the early 2000s and recent years. During this period, the diagnostic rates among historically underrepresented minority groups surpassed the rates seen in white children. As diagnostic rates have shifted, demographic patterns in family planning have also changed. The average age of parents at the time of childbirth has steadily increased in the United States. Past research has established a firm association between older parental age and a higher chance of having a child on the …