to clinicians on fertility treatment and lifestyle factors.The ESHRE, an influential group of experts, said this was because of the risks it posed to the baby, such as foetal alcohol syndrome. Foetal alcohol syndrome can cause growth problems, facial deformities

in tests, researchers from Edinburgh and Helsinki universities found. A component of liquorice, glycyrrhizin, may allow stress hormones to pass from mum to her unborn baby. These stress hormones are believed to impact on foetal brain development, and they

Mums who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.A survey of 12-year-olds found that those whose mums had smoked during pregnancy were 20% more likely to suffer

Mums-to-be in St Petersburg, Russia, have been attending one of the city’s art museums in the belief that their unborn babies will benefit, reports Sky News.The pregnant women are taking tours around the art works in an attempt to help themselves have cultured babies. The tours c...

Eating bacon and eggs could help mums-to-be increase the intelligence of their babies, scientists from the University of Carolina have said.A micronutrient found in pork products and chicken eggs could help your unborn baby’s brain development

Exposure to cigarette smoke in pregnancy damages your baby’s blood pressure control, say experts. This could help explain why if you smoke in pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk of cot death, reports the BBC. Smoke-exposed babies have abnormal surges in blood pressure, a Swedi...

oestrogen, a female hormone. Certain types also impact on the developing brain by affecting the action of the male hormone testosterone, said the researchers. They found two phthalates – DEHP and DBP – affect children’s play behaviour.Urine from mums

At-home foetal heart rate monitors should be used just for fun and bonding, not as an alternative to professional medical advice, doctors have warned dads and mums-to-be, reports the BBC. The monitors can lead to unnecessary worry, or give “false

to mental health issues for unborn children, with previous reports linking it to psychotic problems.Professor Kate Pickett, the leader of the study, told the BBC, “Smoking in pregnancy may have direct effects to the foetal development of brain structure