birth defects

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has ordered new labeling for fluconazole (Diflucan), warning that multiple, high doses of the antifungal by pregnant women may increase the risk of birth defects.

Babies born to moms who smoke are more likely to have certain birth defects compared to infants with mothers who don't smoke during pregnancy, a large new study shows.

Use of newer antiseizure drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk for major birth defects in one of the largest studies ever to examine the issue.

(MedPage Today) -- The 50-year mystery of how exactly thalidomide causes the infamous birth defects seen after moms-to-be took the drug for morning sickness appears to have been solved -- just one of the topics in this week's Lab Notes.

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- A new report highlights 42 locations throughout the U.S. that have alarmingly higher incidences of certain diseases, including cancer and birth defects.

Taking the epilepsy drug topiramate (Topamax) during pregnancy raises the risk of oral cleft birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate, according to a new warning issued by the FDA.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning women of child-bearing age that the epilepsy drug Topamax can increase the risk of birth defects around the mouth....

Taking codeine, hydrocodone, or other opioid painkillers shortly before or early in pregnancy increases the risk of congenital heart defects and other birth defects, a study shows.

(MedPage Today) -- Antiviral herpes treatment during the critical period of early pregnancy doesn't appear to increase risk of major birth defects, researchers affirmed.