placenta

A widely shared post highlights microchimerism, the phenomenon in which fetal cells cross the placenta during pregnancy and persist in a mother's body for years. The poster notes that even a miscarriage more than two decades ago may have left behind an embryo's genetic material, which can potentially be passed on to later children. The finding is prompting surprised and reflective reactions about how pregnancy physically reshapes the body long after it ends.

A new report links the health of the placenta in late pregnancy to the risk of childhood ADHD. Researchers suggest that placental problems near the end of pregnancy may affect neurodevelopment and raise the likelihood of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. The findings could open new avenues for monitoring pregnancies and identifying at-risk children earlier.