Home-birthing pools recalled after baby falls ill with legionnaires' disease

NHS and Public Health England ban certain types of heated pool and question suppliers over safety precautions

Hired home-birthing pools across the country have been recalled and hire companies put under scrutiny after a baby born using one of the heated pools developed legionnaires' disease.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) have banned certain types of home-birthing pools until further notice, after the child who remains in hospital with severe pneumonia became unwell.

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Professional athlete runs 800m race while 34 weeks pregnant - video

Professional athlete Alysia Montaño runs an 800m race in the US Track and Field Championships while nearly eight months pregnant. 28-year-old Montaño is a four-time national champion and says she knew she wouldn't win the race but wanted to show the world that pregnant professional athletes can still compete Continue reading...



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Thirty-four weeks pregnant Alysia Montana runs 800m at US race

Five-time national champion runs time of 2min 32.13sec

I just didnt want to get lapped, says Montana

Despite being 34 weeks pregnant, Alysia Montano ran the 800m on Thursday in the US Track and Field Championships.

The five-time national champion finished in 2min 32.13sec in the qualifying rounds, only seven weeks before shes scheduled to give birth to her first child.

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Sales of pregnancy tests rising in North Korea

In a country where contraception and abortion are illegal, smuggled test kits are allowing women to make more informed decisions about their pregnancies. Daily NK reports

Sales of pregnancy testing kits are rising in border regions of North Korea, Daily NK has learned.

Contraception and abortion are both illegal in North Korea. In North Korea's patriarchal society, use of such kits had long been limited, but the desire to take control of pregnancies in recent years has seen an increase in their popularity, according to sources inside the country.

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Binge-drinking women putting more babies at risk

Cases of foetal alcohol syndrome on the rise after failure to deal with nation's drinking problem

The number of diagnosed cases of foetal alcohol syndrome in those born to women who drink during pregnancy has tripled since records of the debilitating condition were first kept 16 years ago.

In 2012-2013 there were 252 diagnoses of the syndrome, which can leave victims severely mentally and physically impaired, compared with 89 in 1997-98. Cases are up 37% since 2009-2010, Of those diagnosed in 2012-2013, the last year for which records are available, two out of five were aged one or under, according to the government's health and social care information centre.

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Pregnant asylum seekers on Nauru transferred to Australia for abortions

Three women requested abortions due to harsh conditions in detention and the longevity of stay on the Pacific island

Three pregnant asylum seekers have been transferred to Australia from offshore detention on Nauru after requesting abortions due to the harsh conditions inside the detention centre and because they did not want to bring a child up on Nauru, Guardian Australia understands.

Of the three women the first of whom was transferred in February one had her pregnancy terminated while the other two have yet to make a final decision on the termination.

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Legionnaires' disease in baby is linked to heated birthing pool

Public Health England and NHS warn of hazard as newborn needs intensive care after birth in pool infected with bacteria

A warning has been issued about using a type of heated birthing pool at home after a baby born in one was infected with legionnaires' disease.

Public Health England and NHS England are temporarily advising people against using the pools, which have built-in heaters and recirculation pumps. The pools can be filled with water in advance of the birth, perhaps up to two weeks earlier.

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