Pregnancy Blog - For All Your Pregnancy Things by PregnancyWeekly

Friday Wrap-up: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

Jason Bateman and Wife Welcome Baby No. 2: Maple Sylvie [CelebrityBabyScoop]

The Feel-Great Workout [FitPregnancy]

Is Paula Patton Pregnant? [CelebrityBabyScoop]

A Dad's Guide to Sex After Pregnancy and Childbirth [Parenting]

How to Give a Baby CPR [Parents]

Pets Enhance Pregnancy [FitPregnancy]

Working pregnant women face rampant discrimination: agency [reuters]

Exposure to cigarette smoke affects female fertility [ABCNews]

Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Linked to Language Problems in Children [WebMD]

Arsenic in Rice Poses Problem for Babies and Pregnant Women

2012-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bad news for parents of formula-fed babies and moms-to-be: the high arsenic content of rice is causing the harmful chemical to show up in the bodies of babies and expectant mothers. The culprit isn't just that side of rice on your plate either, it's all rice-based products, including brown rice syrup - a common ingredient found in organic foods and baby formula.

Try as you might, avoiding arsenic is no easy task, but luckily it leaves the body fairly quickly. However, repeated exposure has been linked to cancer and diabetes and while adults might be able to handle the chemical load without too many problems, babies are less likely to be able. The news of arsenic found in organic baby formulas is disconcerting to say the least. Researchers from Dartmouth University tested 27 different formulas for arsenic content and found that the two which listed organic brown rice syrup as an ingredient contained the highest levels of arsenic. In fact, levels were 20 times higher than the other formulas tested. Federal standards allow 10 ppb (parts per billion) in drinking water. The milk-based formula with high levels had 8.6 ppb and the soy-based formula had levels at 21.4 ppb, the researchers did not reveal which products they tested.

The researchers also found much higher levels of arsenic in organic cereal bars containing rice products. Of the 29 cereal bars tested, there was a range of 23 - 128 ppb per bar, which health advocates are less concerned about because it's mostly adults and older children eating cereal bars. However, there should be concern for pregnant women eating the bars. Coincidentally, another study was released this week that found pregnant women who consumed a serving of rice each day had levels of arsenic in their system that sometimes exceeded the federal safety limit for water (10 ppb).

It might seem like it's easiest to just avoid rice altogether, but rice ingredients are in a large number of products and brown rice comes with a host of health benefits, particularly for pregnant women. The studies highlight the need for the government to set safety limits for arsenic in food, not just water. Rice grown in the southern United States is particularly high in arsenic because cotton growers used to spray arsenic-based pesticides on the crops, causing it to build up in the soil. There's no way of knowing where the rice came from that was used to create the organic brown rice syrup in your cereal bar, which might convince you to avoid the ingredient for the time being. Rice from other countries, particularly India, China, and Europe is known to have lower levels of the harmful chemical.

Is there a lot of rice in your diet?

Photo Credit: Rasbak

High arsenic levels found in organic foods, baby formula [Today]

Rice consumption linked to higher arsenic levels in pregnant women [EnvironmentalHealthNews]

Brown rice [WHFoods]

Mothers Consumed with Buying Needless Baby Items

2012-02-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

The safest car seat on the market? Check. The best crib for the nursery? Check. The most expensive formula on the shelf? Wait, do we really need to spend that much? Now that you're on the road to parenthood, you get to learn about all the items on the market tailored specifically for your baby. Parents-to-be often spend thousands preparing for the newest addition to their family, even though much of what they buy is unnecessary. A new study finds that 58% of pregnant women are consumed with thoughts of what to buy next.

The survey of 2000 expectant and new mothers conducted by the Kelton research firm found some troubling statistics. Mothers surveyed were concerned about their financial situation but still felt pressure to buy brand-name baby products. In fact, two-thirds of the respondents reported cutting back on dining out, clothing expenses and entertainment out of fear for their financial situation without trying to save on baby products. One in four mothers surveyed reported feeling guilty if they didn't buy specific products. The study reveals advertising to be the primary source of the mentality found in so many new mothers. Mothers in the survey admitted to a barrage of emotions due to baby product advertising including confusion, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Even 35% of experienced moms surveyed admitted to spending more than they intended to because of advertising. Sandra Gordon, of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products notes: "Moms are so intent on absorbing as much baby-related information as possible, and making the right purchasing decisions, that it can be easy to overlook inexpensive options that are just as safe and effective for their baby."

Another interesting aspect of the study was discovered in regards to purchasing formula. Almost half of first-time moms reported feeling guilty for formula feeding over breastfeeding, leading researchers to conclude that they were buying brand name formula in response to their feelings. There was a prevailing belief among the mothers that more expensive formulas were of better quality and have more nutritional value, even though federal law dictates that all formulas must have the same nutritional content and be of equal quality.

Based on the survey results, it seems that many new mothers believe that spending more on products for their baby is important for raising a healthy child. Realistically, the quality of time spent with babies is more important than buying the most expensive formula or the best baby sling on the market.

Do you spend more than you intended to on baby products?

NEW STUDY REVEALS MOMS FEEL PRESSURE TO BUY EXPENSIVE BABY BRANDS, EVEN IN DOWN ECONOMY [Kelton]

Best of the Web: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Joy Williams of The Civil Wars Is Pregnant [People]

Woman Induces Labor So Her Dying Husband Can Meet His Baby [Jezebel]

Coalition finds BPA in baby food, launches effort to curb chemical's use [BDN]

Controlling parents more likely to have delinquent children [Fosters]

Screening Children for Cholesterol [NYTimes]

PO'd Parents Petition Against Cut To Amazon 'Mom' Benefits [paidContent]

Plan to close USDA day-care center upsets parents [WashPo]

Kids have been sleep-deprived for more than 100 years: study [LATimes]

What science says about working moms, and what the heart says [LATimes]

Post-natal depression: Fathers Reaching Out aims to help men [BBC]

Working Mothers: Better Workers but Paid Less

2012-02-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

There's a common misconception in the workplace that mothers are inevitably taking more time off and less capable of focusing on their work than their childless peers. New research has put the focus on working moms, revealing that they don't take more time off than their co-workers yet they're getting paid less overall. Bloggers and advocates across the web have been discussing this disconnect and providing great insight into the misconceptions.

Working mothers are generally seen by many co-workers as uncommitted to their jobs - pulled mentally and physically to their children, hypothetically causing their work to suffer. Victoria Pynchon at Forbes notes: "Had I chosen the far more difficult path of combining career with motherhood, I would have been forced to work in a more focused manner, to organize myself and my working teams better, and to get my work done between, say, 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. instead of between 10 a.m. and one in the morning." Other employers echo this sentiment and prefer hiring mothers because they generally work faster, are better multi-taskers and have a sense of responsibility. Plus, the experience of motherhood enhances their management skills overall. Recent research also reveals that the number of absences due to illness, injury, or medical problems is actually twice to three times as high as the days taken for maternity leave, child care problems and other family and personal obligations.

Despite what many employers could see as a boon to the workplace, working mothers are paid up to 14% less than their childless peers, according to a recent study. Women already make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes and adding motherhood to her resume could drive that number down even further. Kate Krause of the Unversity of New Mexico and lead author of the study explains, "I can explain some of that gap by voluntary steps that women might take. I might take a less demanding job if it gives me more time with my children in exchange for a lower wage. Or, in anticipation of having children, I might get less college education because why get it if I'm going to stay home with the kids?" In addition, when women have been out of the workforce for any period of time, they seem to shortchange themselves - feeling as though their qualifications aren't as valuable because they took a couple years off. Of course, the issue of discrimination is also largely at play despite laws designed to prevent it. Some employers will simply offer mothers less work and less opportunities to really prove themselves. Perhaps a new element to this debate are the penalties for working part-time. Working only a few hours less than someone who is working full time makes you ineligible for benefits, paid days-off and certain workplace protections.

The debate just sheds more light on the fact that the United States seems unwilling to provide support to mothers. Mandating paid parental leave, subsidizing child care and encouraging businesses to provide benefits to part-time workers would go a long way towards helping mothers manage the so-called "work-life balance."

How has your career changed since becoming a mother?

The Wage Gap Between Moms, Other Working Women [NPR]

Why Working Mothers Make Us Angry [Forbes]

Working Mothers Pose Fewer Burdens For Employers Than Their Co-Workers [Forbes]

Six-Month-Olds Understand Meaning of Words

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

At six months old, babies are often babbling incessantly but don't speak a lick of English yet. Even though babies might not be able to utter an intelligible word until they're around one-year-old, researchers have discovered that they still understand some of the words being spoken.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recruited 33 babies aged six to nine months and 50 kids aged 10-20 months and had them sit on their mother's laps in front of a computer screen. The babies were connected to an eye-tracking device as they were shown images on the screen. The mothers would say sentences to the babies that included the name of an object on the screen. Researchers were surprised to find that even six-month-old babies would stare at the correct object named by their mothers, dispelling the concept that babies don't pick up on the names of objects until nine months. The recognition of the objects was significantly sharpened in the 14-month-olds.

"Our guess is that a special human desire for social connection, on the part of parents and their infants, is an important component of early word learning," said Elika Bergelson, a graduate student involved in the study. The finding further reiterates the important of face-to-face interaction with infants. Parents who took part in the study were surprised to see that infants knew any other words besides "mommy," "daddy," and other words commonly emphasized to them. Infants correctly identified "hair," "nose," and "banana."

Do you find that your infant seems to recognize words you don't say everyday?

Babies catch words early [ScienceNews]

Photo Credit: Elika Bergenson

Jason Lee and Wife Expecting Baby No. 3

2012-02-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Actor Jason Lee (41) and his wife Ceren are expecting their third child together! A rep. for the My Name is Earl star confirmed the news: "I am happy to confirm that Jason Lee and his wife Ceren are expecting a son in June."

The newest addition will join the couple's daughter Casper (3 1/2) and Pilot Inspektor (8), Jason's son from a previous relationship. The couple were married in June 2008.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Baby No. 3 On The Way For Jason Lee [CelebrityBabyScoop]

Photo Credit: sagindie

Fetal Development - Week 8 (Video)

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

An ultrasound done at this stage will show your baby's fluttering heartbeat! He or she is between 0.56 and 0.8 inches from crown to rump, or about the size of a grape. Its liver is churning out large amounts of red blood cells, and will continue to until bone marrow forms and takes over this function.

Week eight marks the beginning of a very busy developmental stage: your baby's face continues to change as the ears, eyes and the tip of the nose appear; the intestines start to form in the umbilical cord; and its teeth begin to develop under the gums.

PregnancyWeekly

Friday Wrap-up: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Marla Sokoloff Welcomes First Child: Elliotte Anne [CelebrityBabyScoop]

10 states freed from some 'No Child Left Behind' requirements [CNN]

C-Sections Not Always Best for Small Babies [WebMD]

Two sisters step in as surrogates - and both get pregnant [DailyMail]

Chemo possible for pregnant women with cancer [9wsyr]

Breastfed babies less likely to grow up angry and irritable [DailyMail]

8 Myths About Postpartum Depression [Atlanta Birth Center]

What to do when your 5-year-old announces he's in love [Today]

The Kids Are More Than All Right [NYTimes]

Researchers Rank Top 5 Postpartum Depression Advice Websites [EMaxHealth]

Facebook's Conflict With Nursing Mothers Escalates

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Facebook is still receiving ire from breastfeeding mothers for taking their pictures down. A group of mothers and their babies staged a nurse-in outside Facebook's Menlo Park headquarters earlier this week, demanding the company train their employees to better identify appropriate photos and to provide an easier way to contact the company in response to locked accounts. Similar protests were staged outside Facebook headquarters around the world.

Emma Kwasnica, a breastfeeding advocate whose account has been shutdown on multiple occasions says: "This is discrimination, There's no other way to look at it. We're being treated as pornographers. Breastfeeding moms, especially ones with infants, spend hours a day with their children at their breast. They're not trying to be sexually explicit. This is just part of their everyday lives...People ask, 'Why do you share it on Facebook?' People share their whole days on Facebook, when they're eating, where they're eating, pictures of them feeding their kids spaghetti. We just see this as feeding our children."

Facebook released this statement in response:

"...When it comes to uploaded photos on Facebook, the vast majority of breastfeeding photos comply with our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, which closely mirrors the policy that governs broadcast television, and which places limitations on nudity due to the presence of minors on our site. On some occasions, breastfeeding photos contain nudity – for example an exposed breast that is not being used for feeding – and therefore violate our terms. When such photos are reported to us and are found to violate our policies, the person who posted the photo is contacted, and the photos are removed...It is important to note that any breastfeeding photos that are removed – whether inappropriately or in accordance with our policies – are only done so after being brought to our attention by other Facebook users who report them as violations and subsequently reviewed by Facebook.

Facebook receives hundreds of thousands of reports every week, and as you might expect, occasionally we make a mistake and remove a piece of content we shouldn’t. When this happens, we work quickly to address it by apologizing to the people affected and making any necessary changes to our processes to ensure the same type of mistakes do not continue to be made. We encourage people to re-upload the photos they believe were removed in error."

Despite the statement, it seems that Facebook's actions moving forward will determine whether this issue will come to rest or not. For mothers who lose access to their accounts for posting pictures of themselves breastfeeding, it sends a sharp message to be very careful what they are uploading if they want to remain on the site. It's pretty easy to differentiate a nursing picture from one that's exposing breasts in a sexual manner, which is why the actions of Facebook employees reflects discriminatory attitudes towards breastfeeding mothers. With such a giant staff of people moderating photos, there is simply no way they're going to be able to stop some moderators from deleting appropriate nursing photos. However, the fact that so many people are reporting them as abuse points to the way our society continually views breasts as something sexual, rather than as providing food for babies. It's easy to "unsubscribe" from a person's posts on Facebook if you dislike the content, but it's very difficult for someone to get back into their account once it's been shutdown for "innappropriate" content.

What are your thoughts on the conflict between Facebook and breastfeeding women?

Breastfeeding moms hold Facebook nurse-in protest [SFGate]
Facebook clarifies breastfeeding photo policy [ZDNet]

Photo Credit: Anton Nossik

Baby-Led Weaning Leads to Healthier Weight

2012-02-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

The conventional wisdom of starting babies on purees once they reach six months of age is being turned on it's head. New research has discovered that when babies engage in baby-led weaning (BLW), they develop a preference for healthier foods and are less likely to become overweight.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham, England recruited the parents of 155 children, 92 of which underwent baby-led weaning, to discover that the BLW babies were less likely to become overweight. The children started on pureed foods were more likely to have higher BMI's down the road and generally had developed a strong taste for sweets. The researchers remarked that the BLW babies had developed a significant preference for carbohydrates - the basis of a healthy diet. Interestingly, the BLW babies were not found to have been exposed to carbohydrates any more than other foods, which "suggests that for carbohydrates, the only food category with significant group differences, weaning style was more influential than exposure on preference ratings," according to researchers. They believe that the babies preferred carbohydrates due to the texture, ease of chewing, and the pleasing presentation.

Baby-led weaning is a practice that encourages babies to learn to feed themselves gradually. They are offered breast milk or formula before a meal and then provided with an array of finger foods to choose from during meal times. In the beginning, not much gets eaten but in time the babies teach themselves how to eat solid foods and begin to prefer them over milk. This study was one of the few to look at the effects of such a feeding method.

Have you ever tried baby-led weaning?

Baby's First Foods Should Be Finger Foods [MedPageToday]

Baby-led weaning [babycenter]

Introducing Solid Food [BabyWeekly]

Photo Credit: Wen-Yan King

Best of the Web: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

Beyonce showcases her curvy post-baby body [DailyMail]

For How Many Seconds, Exactly, Can You Leave Your Baby Alone? [Jezebel]

Chun Chun, China's Heaviest Baby Tips The Scales At 15.5lbs [Aol]

What New Mothers Need to Know About Motherhood [HuffPo]

What Our Post-baby Bellies Really Look Like [Babble]

Who really benefits from putting high-tech gadgets in classrooms? [LATimes]

Jackson Rathbone & Girlfriend Set to Become First-Time Parents! [Celebrity-Gossip]

Robert Downey Jr. and Wife Welcome a Boy!

2012-02-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Actor Robert Downey Jr. (46) and his wife Susan (38) welcomed their first child on February 7th! Exton Elias arrived at 7:24AM, weighing 7lbs., 5 oz. and measuring 20 inches long. A friend told People magazine: "Everyone is healthy and they couldn’t be happier."

Exton is the first child for the couple, who've been married for six years after meeting on the set of Gothika. Robert has an 18-year-old son from a previous marriage named Indio.

Robert accidently revealed the sex of the child on Leno in early December. Susan said of the slip: "I could never really stay mad at him, but I can tell you it genuinely wasn’t something we planned to reveal." Nevertheless, he was able to keep the name of the baby secret, saying to reporters: "If I told you the name, then she would lop off my head with a machete."

Congratulations to the happy couple!

What do you think of the name Exton?

Robert Downey Jr. Welcomes Son Exton Elias [People]

Photo Credit: Edgar Meritano

New Analysis of Spanking Reveals Harm

2012-02-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

The spanking debate is once again making headlines due to a recent analysis of previous studies on the commonly used disciplinary measure. The combined information draws a compelling picture of a child's long-term reactions to physical discipline and discourages the practice completely.

The recent analysis reiterates much of what we have already heard about spanking - it works in the short-term to correct behavior but can lead to increased aggression and long-term behavior problems down the road. Two decades of research went under review in order for researchers to see the same patterns arise. Joan Durrant, lead author of the analysis, child psychologist and professor at the University of Manitoba says: "We find children who are physically punished get more aggressive over time and those who are not physically punished get less aggressive over time." In fact, an overwhelming majority of the studies found no positive result from spanking. Durrant explains the psychology possibly at play: "If someone were to hit us to change our behavior, it might harm our relationship with that person. We might feel resentful. It’s no different for children.” Spanking has been linked to mental health problems later in life, such as depression and anxiety. The practice has been shown to cause physical changes in the brain and increases the likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse.

Interestingly, the United States is somewhat unique in the number of parents that use corporal punishment. Countries such as Sweden, Israel, Kenya and many others around the globe have outlawed the practice among parents. Many experts believe that parents spank because it's what they know and what they were raised with. It becomes a tool they find easy to use to solve problems, even though there are many other options that they may not be aware of. In Sweden, parents are provided with information about the developmental stages of children, enabling them to better understand their children and how best to communicate with them. Durrant points out, "Two-year-olds are the most aggressive people in the world. They don’t understand the impact of their behavior and they can’t inhibit themselves. So the more a child sees someone resolving conflict with aggression, the more aggressive they become." She uses her son as an example for how to calmly correct behavior - he dropped his father's toothbrush in the toilet and she notes that he was experimenting with how things fall in the water. Once she explained to him what the toilet is used for and asked whether daddy would want to put a toothbrush in his mouth that had been in there, her son never did it again.

The analysis raises many familiar questions in the spanking debate. Undoubtedly, there are many parents that feel that physical punishment is an important part of raising a child, despite any evidence insinuating that it could be detrimental. Many parents will find it to be a knee-jerk reaction when they are angry at the child's actions - a practice that is not only harmful in the long-term but can quickly devolve into child abuse. Some statistics cite the number of parents who spank their children at 90% in the United States - a startling figure in light of all the evidence that shows it to be a harmful practice and largely without benefit.

Do you spank your child?

Why Spanking Doesn’t Work [Time]

Photo Credit: D. Sharon Pruitt

Epidural-Related Fevers are Possible Problem for Newborns

2012-02-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

Although epidurals are one of the safest pain-relief options available during childbirth, they are not without risks. More than 60 percent of laboring women use an epidural and among them a small percentage develop a fever that could be related to it's use. Previous research has made the correlation between epidurals and fevers in some laboring women, but a new study may confirm the connection and brings to light the problems that babies experience in such circumstances.

Babies of women who develop fevers after an epidural are more likely to receive low apgar scores, and exhibit problems such as poor muscle tone, breathing difficulties, and seizures. Researchers collected information on over 3,000 women delivering full-term babies in Boston, of which nearly 20% experienced a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher after receiving an epidural. Babies of women with the highest fevers exhibited the most problems.

Researchers aren't clear on what causes the fevers in mothers who use the epidural but they believe that inflammation is at play. Fevers are more likely to emerge after approximately six hours or more of numbness. Delaying the epidural could be a way of preventing fevers, according to researchers. Critics of the study point out that women were not tested for vaginal infections, which could be the root of the fevers, rather than epidurals.

Did you or someone you know develop a fever after an epidural?

Epidural Plus Fever in Mom May Raise Risks for Baby [USNews]

Photo Credit: Ernest F

Fetal Development - Week 7 (Video)

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Your baby is tiny but growing fast! He or she is the size of a small bean - about half an inch long - this week and has an oversized head in proportion to its body. His or her facial features are still forming, its eyes are just black spots, there are little openings where the nostrils will be, and pits to mark the ears. Protruding buds that will become arms and legs are more noticeable now, and the hands and feet look like tiny paddles. You can't hear it yet, but its little heart is beating about 150 beats per minute (roughly twice the rate of yours.)

[PregnancyWeekly]

Friday Wrap-up: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Jamie playing multiball [YouTube]

Super Bowl Breastfeeding Room Bonds Nursing Mothers, Football [HuffPo]

New Recommendation: The Vaccine Pregnant Women Need [thebump]

Hitting the Field With the NFL's Super Dads [lilsugar]

Baby Born Deformed After Misdiagnosed Ectopic Pregnancy [ABCNews]

Day Care Centers Adapt to Round-the-Clock Demand [NYTimes]

Babies can tell from the tone of voice when grown-up has made mistake [DailyMail]

7 Ways To Wean A Toddler [Babble]

Why Some Children May 'Grow Out' of Autism [WebMD]

Fathers challenge jail sentences for child support [WashExam]

Activist Moms: Bring Back Breastfeeding to Sesame Street

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Sesame Street has been one of the most widely viewed shows in children's programming since the 1970's and was the first educational children's program on television. Teaching children how to count, how to spell and about social differences has been an integral part of growing up with Sesame Street for many decades. That's why over 30,000 mothers have signed a petition to bring back breastfeeding to Sesame Street, at a time when breastfeeding women are often ostracized for feeding their children in public.

In response to the call to action, executive vice president of the popular program, Sherri Westin, has released an official statement: "There has never been any edict to remove breast-feeding from the show. We have included it and absolutely would include it again if it were a natural part of the storyline.” However, the statement is slightly misleading in face of the fact that bottle-feeding has become the featured method of feeding babies on the show since the 1990's. In fact, many episodes that previously featured nursing were updated to show babies bottle-feeding instead. The group circulating the petition, aptly named Bring Breastfeeding Back to Sesame Street (BBBSS), isn't asking the show to remove instances of bottle-feeding, they're just asking for breastfeeding to be included as well.

The show has been renowned for it's ability to tackle real-world issues in a way that's suitable for children. Producers won an Emmy in 1983 for the episode that explained the death of Mr. Hooper to Big Bird. They famously featured an HIV-positive puppet and have always maintained an ethnically and racially diverse cast of characters. In fact, some people have pointed out the show's "hidden curriculum," where story lines work to teach children to accept groups of people that have been stigmatized.

In light of Sesame Street's social importance, featuring breastfeeding mothers at a time when they are often treated poorly in public situations makes a lot of sense. You can sign a petition to bring breastfeeding back to sesame street here.

Do you think they should feature more breastfeeding on Sesame Street?

Bring Breastfeeding Back [BBBSS]
Bring Breastfeeding Back to Sesame Street [Boobie Time]
Top 10 Sesame Street Moments [Time]

How We Got to ‘Sesame Street’ [NYMag]

First broadcast of Sesame Street [OISE]

Eat Fish during Pregnancy for More Intelligent, Allergy-free Babies

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Pregnant women who enjoy eating fish now have even more reasons to consume the omega-3-rich food. Omega-3 fatty acids are great for your skin, your mood, and they boost your immune system. Children of mothers who consume fish during pregnancy are less likely to become obese or be born prematurely. New research suggests that these children also tend to be smarter, more sociable and less likely to develop eczema.

Spanish researchers collected blood samples from 2000 pregnant women at 20 weeks and from their umbilical cords just after birth. The blood samples were tested for levels of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a type of Omega-3 and the main component of brain cell membranes. The levels of DHA found in the mother's blood were correlated with those found in the infant's, suggesting that the brain-building fatty acid crosses the placenta and assists in fetal development. Babies were later tested on their fine motor skills, verbal intelligence and sociability - those whose mothers consumed the most fish had better test outcomes. The same research team previously found that eight-year-old children scored higher on IQ tests if their mothers consumed fish during pregnancy.

Another recent study found that women who consumed fish oil during pregnancy were less likely to have babies that developed eczema and egg allergies. Over 700 pregnant women took part in an Australian study, where it was discovered that women taking fish oil supplements had babies 50% less likely to develop egg allergies and 36% less likely to develop eczema.

The studies merely add more weight to the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in fetal development. Pregnant women who don't like fish can take fish oil supplements. Mercury levels are of some concern when choosing fish to eat during pregnancy - shark, swordfish and large species of tuna should be avoided.

Do you eat fish regularly or take fish oil supplements?

Mothers Who Eat Fish While Pregnant Produce Offspring With Better Cognitive Development [Medical News Today]
Mercury in Fish: Cause for Concern? [PregnancyWeekly]

Women who eat fish during pregnancy 'more likely to have brainy and sociable children' [DailyMail]

Fish oil in pregnancy reduces infant eczema [NewScientist]

Best of the Web: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-02-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shows Off Bump in Tiny Bikini [USWeekly]

Pregnant women who eat fish more likely to have brainy, social children [DailyMail]

Co-nursing conundrum: Are four breasts better than two? [Today]

Princess Marie, Prince Joachim Introduce Daughter [CelebrityBabyScoop]

Santorum And The Politics Of Parenting [HuffPo]

12 Best Children's Museums In The U.S.[Forbes]

Why Urban, Educated Parents Are Turning to DIY Education [TheDailyBeast]

CNN Owes Fathers An Apology [The Good Men Project]

Pregnancy Manifesto Or Whatever [ThoughtCatalog]

That bad attitude? Blame the birth month [LATimes]

Nurturing Mother Enhances Child Brain Development

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Proponents of attachment parenting will often cite a study of rats that found increased development in the hippocampus region of the brain when the rats were nurtured (read: licked often) by their mothers. Researchers generally assumed that the same might be true among humans, but only recently has the theory been tested.

The hippocampus is an important region of the brain that assists in learning, memory and responding to stress. Previous research has found that those with a larger hippocampus tend to have better memories - a clear boon for learning throughout life. Studies have repeatedly shown that children of nurturing mothers tend to do better in school and are more emotionally developed than their non-nurtured peers. A recent study out of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is the first to show that these differences could be attributed to a physically larger hippocampus.

Researchers recruited 92 children between the ages of three and six, many with signs of depression and other psychological disorders. The children were asked to wait with their mothers before they were to receive a mystery gift. Needless to say, the children became increasingly impatient. The mothers who were considered nurturing were supportive, offering consolation and calmly explaining the necessity of waiting to their child. The researchers believed that this scenario was a good example of everyday life and noted which mothers displayed nurturing behavior with their children. Four years later, the children were given MRI's. Children who were not depressed and had non-nurturing mothers had a 9.2 percent smaller hippocampus than their nurtured peers. Children who suffered from depression and had non-nurturing mothers had a 6-10.3 percent smaller hippocampus. Head author of the study, Dr. Joan Luby, says of the findings: "It's now clear that a caregiver's nurturing is not only good for the development of the child, but it actually physically changes the brain."

Do you consider yourself a nurturing parent?

How a Mother's Love Changes a Child's Brain [LiveScience]

Photo Credit: Marty Yaslowitz

Woman Births 13lb Baby Drug-free

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

Kendall Stewardson, a mother of two from Iowa, is making headlines for birthing her 13 lb son without any pain relief. Asher was born on January 26th, weighing 13 lbs, 12 oz. and measuring 23 inches long. He is the largest baby on record for Mercy Medical Hospital. He joins older brother Judah, who weighed in at 12 lbs at birth. Stewardson spent six hours in active labor before Asher made his entrance. She says of her newest addition: "...everyone like double takes when they see him, but for us it's pretty standard and it wasn`t much worse than probably most people's."

However, the average weight of a newborn in the United States is between six and eight pounds. Asher was just shy of beating the record for the largest baby in Iowa by one pound. There is no mention in any of the news coverage of Asher's birth whether Stewardson had gestational diabetes or a thyroid issue that could be a likely cause for such a large infant.

How much did your baby weigh at birth?

National Vital Statistics Report [CDC]
Whoa Baby: Woman gives birth to 13 lb baby without painkillers or surgery [DailyMail]

Photo credit: WhoTV

Rising Number of Homebirths in the US

2012-01-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

The number of home births in the United States is increasing. From 2004-2009, the number of mothers giving birth at home jumped by 29%. The recent data released by the government has home birth advocates cheering and leaves some doctors concerned. However, everyone is asking why the number is rising.

Overall, the number of women opting to give birth at home is still pretty low - approximately 0.72% in 2009, fewer than 30,000 births. The women who are having home births tend to be over 35 and white, in fact, the number of white women who had home births from 2004-2009 jumped by 36%. Most of the women are also married and already have at least one child, which could be revealing. The statistics suggest that women may be choosing home birth after feeling dissatisfied with previous birthing experiences. A high c-section rate and a number of commonly used interventions are high on the list of possible reasons.

The consensus after many studies and among experts is that a woman with a low-risk pregnancy can safety proceed with a home birth. The most important thing is to make sure there is a qualified midwife on hand, who can spot an emergency situation and act appropriately if needed. Dr. George A. Macones of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that if a woman giving birth at home runs into trouble and the hospital is five minutes away, "that probably is not going to be a big problem. But if you're half an hour away or 40 minutes away, then that really could be a big problem."

Would you consider a homebirth?

Home Births Grow More Popular In U.S. [NPR]

Fetal Development - Week 6 (Video)

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Your baby's heart is dividing into chambers and will start beating in a more regular rhythm. Your little embryo is about 0.08 to 0.16 inches from crown to rump (about the size of a BB pellet) and with its "tail," looks more tadpole than human.

But it undergoes a tremendous growth spurt this week: Its major organs - including the kidneys and liver - begin to grow; the neural tube, which connects the brain and spinal cord, will close this week; and your embryo's upper and lower limb buds begin to sprout, which will form the arms and legs. The intestines are also developing and the appendix is in place; and its facial features are starting to form, the nostrils are becoming distinct, and the retinas of the eyes are forming.

[PregnancyWeekly]

Friday Wrap-up: Parenting and Pregnancy News

2012-01-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

'My First Hardcore Song' by 8 yr old Juliet OFFICIAL [YouTube]

Home Births Grow More Popular In U.S. [NPR]

Lindsay Sloane Welcomes Daughter Maxwell Lue [People]

Babies understand gravity and other properties of physics [NYDailyNews]

Early sign of autism may be found in babies' gaze [LATimes]

Erica Atkins-Campbell Welcomes Baby No. 3: Zaya Monique [CelebrityBabyScoop]

The Stroller Burn Workout [babyzone]

Diaper bag that's also a nursing pillow? Genius. [babycenter]

Homeless dad's message of hope: 'Never give up' [Today]

Baby No. 2 on the Way for Jay DeMarcus [People]

Danish Princess Gives Birth to a Daughter [ABCNews]