In this commentary, I explore two questions raised by Angelotta and Appelbaum's study. First, I offer an English legal perspective on the protection of children from their mothers, looking at both civil (family) and criminal law. Second, I discuss the idealization of motherhood that is implied by the prosecution of pregnant women; the denigration of those who fail this ideal; and the way that i...

The development of prenatal tests to detect structural and chromosomal abnormalities in single and multiple foetuses started some 30 years ago. The use of amniocentesis and analysis of amniotic fluid allowed obstetricians to detect and assess the severity of rhesus disease in the unborn child and decide on the need for early delivery. Today, numerous prenatal testing techniques, including mater...

The Fourteenth Amendment was intended to protect people from discrimination and harm from other people. Racism is not the only thing people need protection from. As a constitutional principle, the Fourteenth Amendment is not confined to its historical origin and purpose, but is available now to protect all human beings, including all unborn human beings. The Supreme Court can define "person" to...

Use of medication with a desired effect on the central nervous system (as with anti-epileptic drugs) in children will undoubtedly cause concern about neurodevelopment. Data are emerging to suggest an effect of anticonvulsants on the developing brain of the unborn child when administered to mothers with epilepsy. This obviously requires detailed evaluation, especially when considering the risks ...

Cardiopulmonary collapse during labour is a catastrophic event caused by various medical, surgical and obstetrical conditions. It is an emergency that threatens the life of the mother and her unborn child. We present a case of a pregnant woman who suffered from preeclampsia and underwent induction of labour. Severe lung edema occurred early in labour that caused cardiopulmonary collapse. Advanc...

Abstract Study question How surrogacy contracts provisions provide greater protection to the unborn children compared case of natural conception? Summary answer The right life child seems have a broader scope than it does in conception. What is known already contract usually contains provision according which surrogate will not terminate pregnancy unless her own at risk. On other hand, intended...

Pregnancy is a special time that full of excitement and hope in every woman’s life. But for expectant mothers, fear, anxiety, uncertainty because the current COVID-19 status will turn this happy into cloud. Pregnant women with Covid-19 are less tolerant both pregnancy itself coronavirus infection. By complicating each other, they increase risk maternal mortality by significant amount. However, ...

T he study by Ang et al. (1) in this issue of PNAS strikes a precautionary note, in that it presents experimental evidence that prolonged continuous ultrasound (US) exposure may cause mild disruption in neuronal migration to the cerebral cortex in fetal mice. The authors (1) suggest that such neuronal heterotopia may result in anomalies in brain circuitry and synaptic activity. Does this study ...

BACKGROUND Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a serious matter which threatens maternal and fetal health. The aim of this study was to develop a grounded theoretical model of women's experience of IPV during pregnancy and how they handle their situation. METHOD Ten interviews with women who had experience of being exposed to IPV during pregnancy were analyzed using the ground...