July 24, 2025

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Maternal RSV Vaccine Cuts Infant Hospitalizations by 72%

A single prenatal RSV shot cuts newborn hospitalizations by 72%.

A new UK study of 537 infants admitted for severe respiratory illness in winter 2024–25 found that babies whose mothers received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy were dramatically less likely to need hospital care. Mothers vaccinated more than two weeks before delivery saw a 72% reduction in infant RSV admissions versus unvaccinated peers (58% reduction for any timing).

Health experts urge expectant mothers to get the jab from 28 weeks gestation and call for stronger awareness campaigns to boost the current 50% uptake in the UK. Published July 18 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, the trial underscores the vaccine’s potential to ease winter pressures on pediatric wards.

Syphilis Cases Surge in Virginia, Putting More Infants at Risk

Virginia is seeing a sharp rise in congenital syphilis cases, with 35 infants exposed in the womb during 2024—a 66% jump from last year. While the U.S. recorded over 3,800 cases in 2023, the highest since 1994, every congenital syphilis case is preventable, health officials stress.

Experts attribute the surge to shifting demographics—more women of reproductive age now test positive—alongside inconsistent prenatal screenings and a shortage of disease intervention specialists in rural regions. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends syphilis testing at every prenatal visit, but gaps in follow-up, funding cuts and provider shortages continue to leave pregnant patients and their babies vulnerable.

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Shift to Safer Antiseizure Meds Lowers Birth Defect Risks

A new French study published July 23 in Neurology finds that pregnant women are increasingly prescribed safer antiseizure medications, driving a 30% rise in lamotrigine and levetiracetam use from 2013 to 2021. Meanwhile, valproate and valpromide prescriptions plunged more than 80%, reflecting growing clinician awareness of known birth-defect risks. However, exposure to drugs with uncertain or acknowledged dangers—such as pregabalin and carbamazepine—has persisted or even grown, underscoring the need for continued research and careful prenatal counseling.

Medicaid Doula Coverage Spreads to GOP States

Across red and blue states, Medicaid is increasingly reimbursing doulas as a proven way to improve maternal and infant health while controlling costs. Since early 2025, over 30 states, from Republican-led Arkansas, Utah, Louisiana and Montana to Vermont, have passed laws requiring Medicaid to cover doula services—citing research linking doula support to a 47% reduction in C-sections, a 29% drop in preterm births and a 46% higher postpartum checkup rate.

In South Carolina, legislators recently introduced companion bills mandating both Medicaid (which pays for more than half of state births) and private insurers to cover doula fees. Republican Rep. Tommy Pope, whose family used doula care, co-sponsors the measure, while advocates highlight its potential to narrow racial gaps, bolster rural and Indigenous access, and align with conservative support for expanding non-medical maternal services.

Wearable Sensor Tracks Baby’s Breastmilk Intake in Real Time

Northwestern University engineers and pediatricians have developed a small, wireless electrode sensor that measures how much breastmilk a baby consumes during each feeding. Tested by a group of 12 pumping and breastfeeding mothers—including NICU physician Dr. Jennifer Wicks—this device tracks milk flow via electrical impedance and sends real-time volume data to a smartphone app, offering reassurance and feeding guidance.

By replacing cumbersome pre- and post-feed baby weighing, the wearable patch could reduce maternal anxiety, support exclusive breastfeeding goals (just 27% of U.S. infants meet 6-month targets), and inform lactation consultants and clinicians on optimizing milk supply. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the technology is still in development but holds promise for both healthy newborns and sick infants in neonatal units.

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Prenatal RSV Vaccine Slashes Infant Hospitalizations by 72%