Megan Garlapow, PhD

All articles by Megan Garlapow, PhD

• Steroids during pregnancy linked to slightly higher risk of childhood cancer

  A study found a small but statistically significant increase in childhood cancer after antenatal corticosteroid exposure before 34 weeks.

• Specialist shortage affects care for high-risk pregnancies

  The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine stated that families in maternity care deserts face longer travel times and higher risks.

• Canadian study highlights gaps in FNAIT diagnosis

  FNAIT is diagnosed far less often than expected based on national birth rates and known prevalence estimates in Canada.

• New FNAIT treatment approach guided by testing for anti-HPA-1a antibodies

  A new treatment approach for fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) uses specific antibody levels.

• Family-centered NICU care can improve outcomes for infants

  Family-centered care in NICUs affects emotional, social and system-level outcomes, not just medical survival.

• Early antibody testing could help diagnose FNAIT sooner

  Pregnancy screening can identify families at risk for FNAIT early, allowing closer monitoring before dangerous bleeding occurs in newborns.

• Blood test during pregnancy may help prevent preterm birth

  Early blood testing combined with added prenatal care reduced the most dangerous early preterm births and lowered NICU admissions.

• Parent education in NICU may ease early care challenges

  An education program showed small gains in maternal understanding of preterm infant behavior and slightly lower stress during NICU stays.

• Two complementary tests pinpoint antibody that causes FNAIT

  Using two antibody screening tests together helped detect anti-CD36 antibodies that can cause platelet transfusion failure and FNAIT.

• Study clarifies how antibody features shape FNAIT risk

  New research shows antibody structure may help explain why some FNAIT cases become more severe than others.