Mums-to-be with multiple chronic conditions at higher risk of sick newborns and premature or stillbirth

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-01-24 03:00

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Canadian researchers say the risks of giving birth to a severely unwell baby, or experiencing premature or stillbirth, increase with an increasing number of chronic conditions women are living with. The team looked at records of more than a million Canadian births and found a link between the number of maternal chronic conditions before pregnancy and the risk of severe neonatal morbidity or mortality, preterm birth, and congenital anomalies. The more chronic conditions a woman had, the higher the risk, they say. These findings highlight the importance of preconception counselling for mothers with multiple chronic conditions to ensure they are managing their diseases effectively, the authors conclude.