That I can't be everything for everyone.
It's a tough one...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
New Babies
Here are a couple pics of babies I have caught recentely.
Aren't they gorgeous?
Christopher
Elijah
AngelineQuote from Midwifery Today Newsletter
I just received this in my email earlier this morning. I couldn't agree with it more.
_______________________________________
My experience has been that if labour is allowed to progress normally, outcomes for mother and babies are better. This does not mean that existing complications of pregnancy or potential problems in pregnancy are not assessed and dealt with expeditiously.
I feel that all too often the introduction of prostins and oxytoxic preparations, stretching of the cervix and early rupture of the membranes are deployed for varying reasons.
Manual manipulation of the cervix to force it to full dilation often ends with cervical incompetence, cervical tears, arrested labour and retained placenta.
My theory relative to retention of the placenta is that because all the normal processes have occurred prematurely, the readiness of the placenta to be detached is delayed. I refer to this as placental embarassment, commonly called retained placentas.
— Movena Bowe-ClarkeNassau, BahamasExcerpted from "Cards and Letters," Midwifery Today, Issue 74
_______________________________________
My experience has been that if labour is allowed to progress normally, outcomes for mother and babies are better. This does not mean that existing complications of pregnancy or potential problems in pregnancy are not assessed and dealt with expeditiously.
I feel that all too often the introduction of prostins and oxytoxic preparations, stretching of the cervix and early rupture of the membranes are deployed for varying reasons.
Manual manipulation of the cervix to force it to full dilation often ends with cervical incompetence, cervical tears, arrested labour and retained placenta.
My theory relative to retention of the placenta is that because all the normal processes have occurred prematurely, the readiness of the placenta to be detached is delayed. I refer to this as placental embarassment, commonly called retained placentas.
— Movena Bowe-ClarkeNassau, BahamasExcerpted from "Cards and Letters," Midwifery Today, Issue 74
Sunday, September 14, 2008
At Your Cervix
I can't wait to see this documentary!
“Uncomfortable”; “Humiliating”; “Traumatic”; “Scarring”--words women too often use to describe pelvic exams. Most of the 90 million U.S. women who get pelvic exams think they are supposed to hurt. Women show disbelief when told that if done correctly on a healthy woman, pelvic exams should be pain-free.
The documentary, At Your Cervix, enters U.S. medical and nursing schools and breaks the silence around the unethical ways in which medical and nursing students learn to perform pelvic exams. These practices—which include nursing students being required to perform exams on each other in front of faculty and medical students “practicing” on unconscious, unconsenting patients—lead directly to the reality that most women find pelvic exams to be humiliating and painful. The existence of these egregious practices are challenged in the film by highlighting an ethical and more effective way of teaching the pelvic exam that has existed for nearly 30 years: the work of the Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTA) of New York City, in which the “patient” herself is the teacher.
Where the former methods literally use women as voiceless and passive objects in the context of student learning, the latter is based on the premise that the woman receiving a pelvic exam must be actively engaged in the process, and is in fact the only one who can provide adequate feedback on whether it is being performed not only correctly, but also comfortably. Following the experiences of students while highlighting the GTA program, this film is a call to end the unethical teaching of breast and pelvic exams, and a mandate to change the expectations that surround the pelvic exam so that it becomes an empowering experience for women.
Through three interwoven stories, At Your Cervix traces the history of gynecology, fraught with trials and errors. One of the stories follows Julie Carlson, a New York GTA who moves to San Francisco to attend a nurse-midwifery program at UCSF. She is shocked when told by faculty that she and her peers are expected to perform pelvic and breast exams on each other. She opposes this unethical practice, galvanizes other students and successfully demands policy change at one of the top nursing programs in the U.S.
The second thread exposes a common teaching model that exploits women's bodies in the name of medical education. Many students learn to do pelvic exams on unsuspecting, anesthetized women who have been admitted for surgical procedures in teaching hospitals. State laws to prohibit the use of anesthetized patients for teaching and learning are nearly non-existent. Many teaching hospitals cut corners and take advantage of their primarily poor patients, who often have less opportunity to negotiate aspects of their care. The film depicts students struggling with this ethically questionable practice and explores what informed consent really means.
Finally, the film highlights the work of the New York City Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTAs). The camera enters exam rooms as GTAs teach. Using their own bodies, these specially trained women teach future doctors and nurses the nuances of how to make a pelvic exam comfortable: where to place their fingers, how to insert a speculum, and how to talk with patients respectfully. At Your Cervix explores why GTAs do this work and what makes it so important.
At Your Cervix aims to improve how pelvic exams are taught and the care women receive. The film raises the expectations women should have of their healthcare providers and hopes to create a culture where pelvic exams are pain-free. The woman, the provider, the patient, and the cervix itself tell the story, a story that will dramatically affect the quality of these oft-dreaded exams, a story that will transform breast and pelvic exams into opportunities women actually welcome to discover more about their bodies, and about their sexual and reproductive selves.
“Uncomfortable”; “Humiliating”; “Traumatic”; “Scarring”--words women too often use to describe pelvic exams. Most of the 90 million U.S. women who get pelvic exams think they are supposed to hurt. Women show disbelief when told that if done correctly on a healthy woman, pelvic exams should be pain-free.
The documentary, At Your Cervix, enters U.S. medical and nursing schools and breaks the silence around the unethical ways in which medical and nursing students learn to perform pelvic exams. These practices—which include nursing students being required to perform exams on each other in front of faculty and medical students “practicing” on unconscious, unconsenting patients—lead directly to the reality that most women find pelvic exams to be humiliating and painful. The existence of these egregious practices are challenged in the film by highlighting an ethical and more effective way of teaching the pelvic exam that has existed for nearly 30 years: the work of the Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTA) of New York City, in which the “patient” herself is the teacher.
Where the former methods literally use women as voiceless and passive objects in the context of student learning, the latter is based on the premise that the woman receiving a pelvic exam must be actively engaged in the process, and is in fact the only one who can provide adequate feedback on whether it is being performed not only correctly, but also comfortably. Following the experiences of students while highlighting the GTA program, this film is a call to end the unethical teaching of breast and pelvic exams, and a mandate to change the expectations that surround the pelvic exam so that it becomes an empowering experience for women.
Through three interwoven stories, At Your Cervix traces the history of gynecology, fraught with trials and errors. One of the stories follows Julie Carlson, a New York GTA who moves to San Francisco to attend a nurse-midwifery program at UCSF. She is shocked when told by faculty that she and her peers are expected to perform pelvic and breast exams on each other. She opposes this unethical practice, galvanizes other students and successfully demands policy change at one of the top nursing programs in the U.S.
The second thread exposes a common teaching model that exploits women's bodies in the name of medical education. Many students learn to do pelvic exams on unsuspecting, anesthetized women who have been admitted for surgical procedures in teaching hospitals. State laws to prohibit the use of anesthetized patients for teaching and learning are nearly non-existent. Many teaching hospitals cut corners and take advantage of their primarily poor patients, who often have less opportunity to negotiate aspects of their care. The film depicts students struggling with this ethically questionable practice and explores what informed consent really means.
Finally, the film highlights the work of the New York City Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTAs). The camera enters exam rooms as GTAs teach. Using their own bodies, these specially trained women teach future doctors and nurses the nuances of how to make a pelvic exam comfortable: where to place their fingers, how to insert a speculum, and how to talk with patients respectfully. At Your Cervix explores why GTAs do this work and what makes it so important.
At Your Cervix aims to improve how pelvic exams are taught and the care women receive. The film raises the expectations women should have of their healthcare providers and hopes to create a culture where pelvic exams are pain-free. The woman, the provider, the patient, and the cervix itself tell the story, a story that will dramatically affect the quality of these oft-dreaded exams, a story that will transform breast and pelvic exams into opportunities women actually welcome to discover more about their bodies, and about their sexual and reproductive selves.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Childbirth Education Classes
Childbirth Education Classes
Sept. 10, 2008 - Class 1: Why natural childbirth? ,Nutrition & Exercise
Sept. 17, 2008 - Class 2: Pregnancy, Belly mapping, & Stages of Labor
Sept. 24, 2008 - Class 3: Choosing your care provider, Birth Choices, & Doulas
Oct. 1, 2008 - Class 4: Hospital setting, Interventions, Unexpected situations & your Birth plan
Oct. 8, 2008 - Class 5: Conquering Birth Fears, Relaxation, Coaching & Coping techniques
Oct. 15, 2008 - Class 6: Postpartum period, Breastfeeding, Newborn care, & Baby wearing
These classes are set up in such a way that you can pick and choose which information is most important to you and attend on those days. It is not a traditional classroom setting. It's a comfortable discussion between expectant parents and an experienced childbirth professional on specific topics. Group size is small so there is time to address individual situations and concerns. Come for one night of class or come for them all.
Course content focuses on understanding childbirth issues and the benefits and risks of interventions and the importance of choosing the right care provider for you. We will discuss the process of birth as well as how our current societal traditions and expectations affect birth to help you in your decision-making process. Labor coping techniques will be taught in a down-to-earth, hands-on manner incorporating many tried and true methods.
A hand out packet with review information of what we have covered will be included with each class. Preregistration is highly encouraged as walk-ins will only be permitted if space allows.
$40 per couple per class or $200 for the whole series that saves $30 off classes
Please call Dy Gordon at 435-215-6514 for more information.
Sept. 10, 2008 - Class 1: Why natural childbirth? ,Nutrition & Exercise
Sept. 17, 2008 - Class 2: Pregnancy, Belly mapping, & Stages of Labor
Sept. 24, 2008 - Class 3: Choosing your care provider, Birth Choices, & Doulas
Oct. 1, 2008 - Class 4: Hospital setting, Interventions, Unexpected situations & your Birth plan
Oct. 8, 2008 - Class 5: Conquering Birth Fears, Relaxation, Coaching & Coping techniques
Oct. 15, 2008 - Class 6: Postpartum period, Breastfeeding, Newborn care, & Baby wearing
These classes are set up in such a way that you can pick and choose which information is most important to you and attend on those days. It is not a traditional classroom setting. It's a comfortable discussion between expectant parents and an experienced childbirth professional on specific topics. Group size is small so there is time to address individual situations and concerns. Come for one night of class or come for them all.
Course content focuses on understanding childbirth issues and the benefits and risks of interventions and the importance of choosing the right care provider for you. We will discuss the process of birth as well as how our current societal traditions and expectations affect birth to help you in your decision-making process. Labor coping techniques will be taught in a down-to-earth, hands-on manner incorporating many tried and true methods.
A hand out packet with review information of what we have covered will be included with each class. Preregistration is highly encouraged as walk-ins will only be permitted if space allows.
$40 per couple per class or $200 for the whole series that saves $30 off classes
Please call Dy Gordon at 435-215-6514 for more information.
Waiting
Waiting
Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,
I thought that you might come today:
the timing just seemed right.
But the stars are out
and the moon is high
and sheepishly I wonder why
I try to arrange the plans
Of God.
For now I know
you will not come
until the One who holds eternity
rustles your soft cocoon and
whispers in tones that I will not hear,
"It's time, precious gift."
"Now it's time"
I will wait on the Lord.....And I will hope in Him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! Isaiah 8:17-18 (NKJV)
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,
I thought that you might come today:
the timing just seemed right.
But the stars are out
and the moon is high
and sheepishly I wonder why
I try to arrange the plans
Of God.
For now I know
you will not come
until the One who holds eternity
rustles your soft cocoon and
whispers in tones that I will not hear,
"It's time, precious gift."
"Now it's time"
I will wait on the Lord.....And I will hope in Him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! Isaiah 8:17-18 (NKJV)
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Breast vs Bottle and GI Problems in Babies
Breast vs Bottle and tummy upset in babies
A study of 154 mothers and babies in Guadalajara, Mexico, found that babies who are mainly breastfed for the first six months of life were less likely to have gastrointestinal (GI) problems than those babies that were mainly formula-fed (18% versus 33%). The bad news is that they also have more likelihood of having iron deficiency, putting them at risk of anemia. If the mothers had high iron stores, the babies were at less risk; unfortunately, 28% of Mexican women have low iron stores and anemia.
One of the researchers pointed out that prior studies have found that "breastfed babies don't become anemic if their cords are not cut too soon." Delaying the cut for as little as two minutes can help improve the baby's iron status and confer other benefits.
~ Medline Plus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67142.html , accessed 18 Jul 2008
A study of 154 mothers and babies in Guadalajara, Mexico, found that babies who are mainly breastfed for the first six months of life were less likely to have gastrointestinal (GI) problems than those babies that were mainly formula-fed (18% versus 33%). The bad news is that they also have more likelihood of having iron deficiency, putting them at risk of anemia. If the mothers had high iron stores, the babies were at less risk; unfortunately, 28% of Mexican women have low iron stores and anemia.
One of the researchers pointed out that prior studies have found that "breastfed babies don't become anemic if their cords are not cut too soon." Delaying the cut for as little as two minutes can help improve the baby's iron status and confer other benefits.
~ Medline Plus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67142.html , accessed 18 Jul 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Birth Survey
http://www.thebirthsurvey.com/
For anyone who has given birth within the past 3 years, this survey is really awesome. It's part of the www.thebirthnetwork.org and their quest to help women find care providers who are part of the women's care intiative...ie, care providers who will give choices, low interventions, midwives and doctors in your area, etc. This survey will create accountability for care providers/hospitals.
Simple immediate results are shown and then in about 1 year the statistics will come out!!!!
For anyone who has given birth within the past 3 years, this survey is really awesome. It's part of the www.thebirthnetwork.org and their quest to help women find care providers who are part of the women's care intiative...ie, care providers who will give choices, low interventions, midwives and doctors in your area, etc. This survey will create accountability for care providers/hospitals.
Simple immediate results are shown and then in about 1 year the statistics will come out!!!!
Mothers respond more to baby's cry after natural birth
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/04/medicalresearch
Childcare: Mothers respond more to baby's cry after natural birth, says study
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian,
Thursday September 4 2008
Mothers who give birth naturally show a greater surge in brain activity when they hear their baby cry than women who have caesarean sections, scientists have found.
The study, the first to use brain scans to investigate mothers' responses to their babies, follows work that suggested women who have a caesarean may have more difficulties bonding with their baby.
The Yale University team behind the study said it could help doctors identify women who may find it harder to form an emotional connection with their baby, which some studies have linked with an increased risk of postnatal depression.
More than 130,000 caesarean sections were carried out by the NHS last year in England alone, accounting for about 24% of all births. "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions, such as with caesarean section, which alters the neurohormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain," said James Swain, who led the study.
In the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the researchers describe how they used functional MRI scans to look at 12 women's reactions to 30-second recordings of their babies crying. These were compared with their brain activity while listening to white noise for 30 seconds.
The scans revealed that women who had natural deliveries had heightened activity in a broad range of brain regions, including the amygdala, which plays a role in governing emotional states.
"This study provides an interesting link between the method of birth and the way a mother relates to her new baby," said Belinda Phipps, of the National Childbirth Trust. "Women who have a caesarean section should be encouraged to cuddle their newborn against their skin straight after birth and be offered practical support to help them feed and care for their baby."
"A caesarean section is necessary in some conditions and can save lives. However, surgery can create more problems than it solves."
Childcare: Mothers respond more to baby's cry after natural birth, says study
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian,
Thursday September 4 2008
Mothers who give birth naturally show a greater surge in brain activity when they hear their baby cry than women who have caesarean sections, scientists have found.
The study, the first to use brain scans to investigate mothers' responses to their babies, follows work that suggested women who have a caesarean may have more difficulties bonding with their baby.
The Yale University team behind the study said it could help doctors identify women who may find it harder to form an emotional connection with their baby, which some studies have linked with an increased risk of postnatal depression.
More than 130,000 caesarean sections were carried out by the NHS last year in England alone, accounting for about 24% of all births. "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions, such as with caesarean section, which alters the neurohormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain," said James Swain, who led the study.
In the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the researchers describe how they used functional MRI scans to look at 12 women's reactions to 30-second recordings of their babies crying. These were compared with their brain activity while listening to white noise for 30 seconds.
The scans revealed that women who had natural deliveries had heightened activity in a broad range of brain regions, including the amygdala, which plays a role in governing emotional states.
"This study provides an interesting link between the method of birth and the way a mother relates to her new baby," said Belinda Phipps, of the National Childbirth Trust. "Women who have a caesarean section should be encouraged to cuddle their newborn against their skin straight after birth and be offered practical support to help them feed and care for their baby."
"A caesarean section is necessary in some conditions and can save lives. However, surgery can create more problems than it solves."
Circumcision, Trauma and Your Newborn Baby Boy
If you were in his place, would you really want amputation to be among your first experiences of your new life in America?
..
Uneccesary trauma isn't the only reason to allow him to keep his entire body he was born with, so please consider these additional concisely-written reasons: http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-bc/64-no-to-circumcision.htm
Here is a mainstream news article on involuntary genital reduction surgery and trauma. However, please note, that even if it could be done with zero pain, it is still the amputation of a healthy functional body part from a non-consenting member of our society. http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/23/circumcision.anesthetic/
..
Uneccesary trauma isn't the only reason to allow him to keep his entire body he was born with, so please consider these additional concisely-written reasons: http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-bc/64-no-to-circumcision.htm
Here is a mainstream news article on involuntary genital reduction surgery and trauma. However, please note, that even if it could be done with zero pain, it is still the amputation of a healthy functional body part from a non-consenting member of our society. http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/23/circumcision.anesthetic/
long-term breastfeeding "cuts athritis risk in half"
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/health/long-term-breastfeeding-cuts-arthritis-risk-in-half-$1222483.htm
Long-term breastfeeding 'cuts arthritis risk in half'
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:47
Long-term breastfeeding 'cuts arthritis risk in half' Printer friendly version Women who breastfeed for more than a year are half as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as those who have never breastfed, new research suggests.
Swedish scientists found that simply having children and not breastfeeding did not seem to have a protective effect.
They also discovered that oral contraceptives, which are suspected to protect against the disease because they contain hormones that are raised in pregnancy, did not have the same effect.
The researchers studied 136 women with rheumatoid arthritis and 544 women of a similar age without the disease.
Those who had breastfed for longer were much less likely to get RA.
Women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis as those who had never breastfed while those who had breast fed for one to 12 months were 25 per cent less likely to get the disease.
The effect of breastfeeding on RA was found to remain after smoking and level of education were taken into account.
"Breastfeeding is known to have multiple health benefits for the baby and may protect mothers against breast cancer and ovarian cancer," the researchers write in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
"Furthermore, our results indicate that breastfeeding may have a dose-dependent protective effect against RA."
They add that further research should investigate their finding that RA is inversely associated with long-term breastfeeding, rather than with the number of children born.
Long-term breastfeeding 'cuts arthritis risk in half'
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:47
Long-term breastfeeding 'cuts arthritis risk in half' Printer friendly version Women who breastfeed for more than a year are half as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as those who have never breastfed, new research suggests.
Swedish scientists found that simply having children and not breastfeeding did not seem to have a protective effect.
They also discovered that oral contraceptives, which are suspected to protect against the disease because they contain hormones that are raised in pregnancy, did not have the same effect.
The researchers studied 136 women with rheumatoid arthritis and 544 women of a similar age without the disease.
Those who had breastfed for longer were much less likely to get RA.
Women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis as those who had never breastfed while those who had breast fed for one to 12 months were 25 per cent less likely to get the disease.
The effect of breastfeeding on RA was found to remain after smoking and level of education were taken into account.
"Breastfeeding is known to have multiple health benefits for the baby and may protect mothers against breast cancer and ovarian cancer," the researchers write in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
"Furthermore, our results indicate that breastfeeding may have a dose-dependent protective effect against RA."
They add that further research should investigate their finding that RA is inversely associated with long-term breastfeeding, rather than with the number of children born.
Breast-feeding raises children's IQs
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/06/science/sci-breastfeed6
Breast-feeding raises children’s IQs, study says
Children whose mothers took part in a program that encouraged the practice had higher verbal scores than children in a control group, a large study finds.
By Denise GelleneMay 06, 2008
Increased breast-feeding during the first months of life appears to raise a child’s verbal IQ, according to a study of nearly 14,000 children that was released Monday.
The study in Archives of General Psychiatry found that 6-year-olds whose mothers were part of a program that encouraged them to breast-feed had a verbal IQ that was an average of 7.5 points higher than that of children in a control group.
The researchers said that their findings suggested that the longer an infant is exclusively fed breast milk, the greater the IQ improvement.
The results echo smaller previous studies that found children and adults who were breast-fed tended to have higher IQs than whose who were not.
Lead author Dr. Michael Kramer, a professor of pediatrics at McGill University in Montreal, said the IQ improvements were modest and might not be noticeable on an individual basis. But he added that the increase could have a significant effect on society as a whole.
“We’re not talking about making a child who has trouble in school and is dropping out into a genius,” he said. “But if we can increase IQ by 3 to 4 points in the whole population, we can have fewer children at the low end and more Einsteins at the high end.”
The latest study tracked breast-fed infants born between June 1996 and December 1997 in Belarus. Half of the infants and mothers were assigned to an experimental program designed to promote breast-feeding, while the remaining infants and mothers received regular pediatric and follow-up medical care.
The breast-feeding program included increased counseling and instruction when women visited doctors or clinics.
At the end of three months, 72% of infants in the experimental group were still breast-feeding to some degree, compared with 60% in the group that did not receive breast-feeding support.
The researchers believe that what drove the results was the substantially higher number of infants who were exclusively breast-fed in the experimental group: 43% compared with 6% of infants in the control group.
All children in the study were interviewed and examined between 2002 and 2005, when they were an average of 6 1/2 years old. The children’s academic performance also was evaluated by their teachers.
Besides the improvement in their verbal IQ scores, children in the experimental group scored an average of 4.9 points higher on tests that specifically measured vocabulary.
Compared with children in the control group, children in the experimental group had overall IQ scores 5.9 points higher than those of children in the control group and better academic assessments from their teachers, but the improvements were not deemed statistically significant.
Kramer said that more research was needed to determine whether the benefits were related to a component of breast milk or to the physical and social interaction between mother and child that is inherent in breast-feeding.
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants receive only breast milk during the first six months of life. Children who are breast-fed are believed to have health advantages, including fewer gastrointestinal problems.
Last week, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that breast-feeding in the U.S. was at an all-time high, with 77% of new mothers saying they breast-fed their children compared with 60% in 1993-1994.
denise.gellene@latimes.com
Breast-feeding raises children’s IQs, study says
Children whose mothers took part in a program that encouraged the practice had higher verbal scores than children in a control group, a large study finds.
By Denise GelleneMay 06, 2008
Increased breast-feeding during the first months of life appears to raise a child’s verbal IQ, according to a study of nearly 14,000 children that was released Monday.
The study in Archives of General Psychiatry found that 6-year-olds whose mothers were part of a program that encouraged them to breast-feed had a verbal IQ that was an average of 7.5 points higher than that of children in a control group.
The researchers said that their findings suggested that the longer an infant is exclusively fed breast milk, the greater the IQ improvement.
The results echo smaller previous studies that found children and adults who were breast-fed tended to have higher IQs than whose who were not.
Lead author Dr. Michael Kramer, a professor of pediatrics at McGill University in Montreal, said the IQ improvements were modest and might not be noticeable on an individual basis. But he added that the increase could have a significant effect on society as a whole.
“We’re not talking about making a child who has trouble in school and is dropping out into a genius,” he said. “But if we can increase IQ by 3 to 4 points in the whole population, we can have fewer children at the low end and more Einsteins at the high end.”
The latest study tracked breast-fed infants born between June 1996 and December 1997 in Belarus. Half of the infants and mothers were assigned to an experimental program designed to promote breast-feeding, while the remaining infants and mothers received regular pediatric and follow-up medical care.
The breast-feeding program included increased counseling and instruction when women visited doctors or clinics.
At the end of three months, 72% of infants in the experimental group were still breast-feeding to some degree, compared with 60% in the group that did not receive breast-feeding support.
The researchers believe that what drove the results was the substantially higher number of infants who were exclusively breast-fed in the experimental group: 43% compared with 6% of infants in the control group.
All children in the study were interviewed and examined between 2002 and 2005, when they were an average of 6 1/2 years old. The children’s academic performance also was evaluated by their teachers.
Besides the improvement in their verbal IQ scores, children in the experimental group scored an average of 4.9 points higher on tests that specifically measured vocabulary.
Compared with children in the control group, children in the experimental group had overall IQ scores 5.9 points higher than those of children in the control group and better academic assessments from their teachers, but the improvements were not deemed statistically significant.
Kramer said that more research was needed to determine whether the benefits were related to a component of breast milk or to the physical and social interaction between mother and child that is inherent in breast-feeding.
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants receive only breast milk during the first six months of life. Children who are breast-fed are believed to have health advantages, including fewer gastrointestinal problems.
Last week, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that breast-feeding in the U.S. was at an all-time high, with 77% of new mothers saying they breast-fed their children compared with 60% in 1993-1994.
denise.gellene@latimes.com
Acid Blockers for Mom During Pregnancy Increase Baby's Risk of Asthma
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852574160040B0AA
Acid Blockers for Mom During Pregnancy Increase Baby's Risk of Asthma: Presented at AAAAI
By Em Brown, BSN
PHILADELPHIA -- March 24, 2008
-- Taking acid-blocking medications for heartburn associated with pregnancy increases the baby's risk of developing asthma by more than 50%, according to findings presented here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. Elizabeth Yen, MD, Attending Physician, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Boston, and Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, presented the findings during a late-breaking clinical trials session on March 18. Dr. Yen and colleagues retrospectively analyzed data from 3 national Swedish healthcare registries, including the Medical Birth Register covering the years 1995 to 2004, the Hospital Discharge Register for the years 1995 to 2006, and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register for 2005 to 2006. Results of the analysis showed that maternal intake of acid-blocking medication, regardless of type, was associated with an increased odds ratio of 1.51 for asthma in a mother's infant, Dr. Yen said. "This was seen with asthma only," Dr. Yen told meeting attendees. There was no increase in risk of other allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, or "unspecific allergic reactions or anaphylaxis." "This effect was preserved irrespective of the type of acid-blocking drug, time of exposure during pregnancy, and maternal history of allergy," Dr. Yen said. "This provides the first evidence of a novel potential risk factor for the development of allergic diseases in children," she concluded.Funding for Dr. Yen's study was provided by Children's Hospital Boston.
[Presentation title: Acid Blocking Therapy During Pregnancy Increases the Odds For Childhood Asthma. Poster L13]
Acid Blockers for Mom During Pregnancy Increase Baby's Risk of Asthma: Presented at AAAAI
By Em Brown, BSN
PHILADELPHIA -- March 24, 2008
-- Taking acid-blocking medications for heartburn associated with pregnancy increases the baby's risk of developing asthma by more than 50%, according to findings presented here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. Elizabeth Yen, MD, Attending Physician, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Boston, and Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, presented the findings during a late-breaking clinical trials session on March 18. Dr. Yen and colleagues retrospectively analyzed data from 3 national Swedish healthcare registries, including the Medical Birth Register covering the years 1995 to 2004, the Hospital Discharge Register for the years 1995 to 2006, and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register for 2005 to 2006. Results of the analysis showed that maternal intake of acid-blocking medication, regardless of type, was associated with an increased odds ratio of 1.51 for asthma in a mother's infant, Dr. Yen said. "This was seen with asthma only," Dr. Yen told meeting attendees. There was no increase in risk of other allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, or "unspecific allergic reactions or anaphylaxis." "This effect was preserved irrespective of the type of acid-blocking drug, time of exposure during pregnancy, and maternal history of allergy," Dr. Yen said. "This provides the first evidence of a novel potential risk factor for the development of allergic diseases in children," she concluded.Funding for Dr. Yen's study was provided by Children's Hospital Boston.
[Presentation title: Acid Blocking Therapy During Pregnancy Increases the Odds For Childhood Asthma. Poster L13]
FDA ties pneumonia deaths to infant vaccine
FDA ties pneumonia deaths to infant vaccine
Agency panel considering approval of oral medicine for diarrhea virus
MSNBC - updated 9:20 a.m. MT, Fri., Feb. 15, 2008
Agency panel considering approval of oral medicine for diarrhea virus
MSNBC - updated 9:20 a.m. MT, Fri., Feb. 15, 2008
WASHINGTON - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's rotavirus vaccine is associated with increased pneumonia-related deaths and other adverse reactions, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents posted on Friday.
The review comes ahead of a Food and Drug Administration advisory meeting next Wednesday to consider approval of the oral vaccine to prevent the most common cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration among infants and young children in the world.
FDA staff said its analysis of 11 studies revealed that in the largest trial, there was a statistically significant increase in deaths related to pneumonia compared with placebo, documents posted on the FDA's Web site said.
That study, which enrolled about 63,000 children, also found an increase in convulsions in children given the drug, named Rotarix. Another study found an increased rate of bronchitis, compared with placebo.
In a conclusion section, the FDA documents noted the pneumonia-related deaths and convulsions, but did not appear to make a recommendation to the advisory panel.
That expert panel will weigh the staff review, but makes its own recommendation, which is typically followed by the FDA.
Welcome!
Well, I am finally breaking down and starting a blog for my midwifery practice. I hope to be able to be able to use this space as a place to share information and my thoughts on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting issues.
I'm going to be posting some of my favorite past articles here - so stay tuned!
I'm going to be posting some of my favorite past articles here - so stay tuned!
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