Scientists have found that genetic errors increase the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs in 10% of all pregnancies. This research provides genetic targets for new treatments and suggest that screening tests could one day identify women who are at risk of the condition, which also accounts for 15% of all preterm births.

Preeclampsia typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, and causes dangerously high blood pressure, protein in the urine, headaches and swelling of the hands and face. The only treatment currently is to induce delivery, which can be fatal for the baby if this occurs too early in the pregnancy. Preeclampsia results from a breakdown of the placenta, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the baby. If the condition is not treated, it can lead to seizures, strokes, kidney and liver damage and breathing problems.

Light therapy may improve depression during pregnancy, according to a new study in Switzerland. The findings are promising for doctors who have been hesitant to treat pregnant women with antidepressants out of fear that the drugs might harm the baby. Others worry that untreated depression during pregnancy could also lead to birth complications.

According to the study authors, about one in 10 pregnant women are depressed, which puts them at a higher risk of preterm delivery and having a baby with a low birthweight. Women in the study were told to sit under a bright fluorescent light for an hour each day, starting within a few minutes of waking up. The study lasted for 5 weeks, and at the end of that time a majority of the women being treated had seen at least a 50% improvement in their symptoms, with no side effects.

The drug misoprostol, which is sold under the name Cytotec in the US, may offer an easy and cost-effective solution to reduce deaths in developing countries from pregnancy complications. The drug is controversial because it is commonly used to terminate pregnancy, but it can also save women's lives by stopping severe postpartum hemorrhaging.

An estimated 1,000 women die each day in developing countries from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and a quarter of these deaths are due to postpartum hemorrhaging. The drug is administered in tablet form so it does not require refrigeration. This is especially important in rural areas, which often lack any health facilities. Women who are hemorrhaging post-delivery often die before they can get to a clinic for help. The WHO has not formally approved misoprostol for treating this complication, but that hasn't stopped doctors from using it to treat patients in developing countries.