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Birth Defects

In this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 photo, a cat with two faces, named Frank and Louie, one name for each face, is held by the cats owner, who identified herself only as Marty, at their home in Worcester, Mass. The animal is known as a Janus cat, named for the figure in Roman mythology with two faces on one head. The owner calls the face on the left Frank, while the face on the right is identified as Louie. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Cat with 2 faces lives 12 years, sets record

Last updated Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 1:34pm

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Frank and Louie the cat was born with two faces, two mouths, two noses, three eyes -- and lots of doubts about his future.

Now, 12 years after Marty Stevens rescued him from being euthanized because of his condition, the exotic blue-eyed rag doll cat is not only thriving, but has also made it into the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records as the longest-surviving member of a group known as Janus cats, named for a Roman god with two faces.

Features, Birth Defects, Cats, Pets Read more Comments

Study notes spike in birth defects near mountaintop mining

John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader McClatchy Newspapers

Last updated Monday, June 27, 2011 - 9:28am

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Birth defects are more likely to occur in Appalachian counties with mountaintop removal coal mining than in other counties in the region, according to a recent study.

The study, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research, suggests that birth defects could result from air and water pollution created by mountaintop removal, including mercury, lead and arsenic, which have been shown to pose risks to fetal development.

Business, Features, Birth Defects, Mining, Study Read more Comments

(JACK DEMPSEY/The Associated Press) This April 2010 photo shows Melissa Orlando as she feeds her twin daughter Mallory at her Parker, Colo., home. Orlando gave birth to premature twins Mallory and Fiona last year.

Premature birth preventives to spike from $10 to $1,500

Mike Stobbe, The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - 11:24pm

ATLANTA -- The price of preventing preterm labor is about to go through the roof.

A drug for high-risk pregnant women has cost about $10 to $20 per injection. Next week, the price shoots up to $1,500 a dose, meaning the total cost during a pregnancy could be as much as $30,000.

That's because the drug, a form of progesterone given as a weekly shot, has been made cheaply for years, mixed in special pharmacies that custom-compound treatments that are not federally approved.

Birth Defects, Federal Government, Health, Health Care, Medicine, News, Pregnancy, Featured Read more Comments

Opioid pain relievers increase risk of birth defects

Los Angeles Times, Thomas H. Maugh II

Last updated Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - 3:01pm

LOS ANGELES -- Consuming opioid pain relievers such as codeine, oxycodone or hydrocodone just before pregnancy or early in pregnancy increases the risk of certain birth defects, especially congenital heart defects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Wednesday.

Birth Defects, Drugs, Health, National Read more Comments