National & International News
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How tough love breeds smart children
Children brought up by parents practising "tough love" are more likely to become rounded personalities with well-developed characters than those who face either authoritarian or laissez-faire approaches, research reveals today.
(The Observer UK 8/11/09) -
Children fall behind by nine months
Children who do not reach key developmental milestones at just nine months old are far more likely to struggle at school, according to an important study published.
(The Guardian onine 17th February 2010) -
The perils of modern parenting
Parenting is a word that wasn't around much when my children were small. It was creeping in gradually – having arrived from the United States, like a Californian hippy, in the early Seventies – but it was still being used in a neutral, shorthand sort of way to describe bringing up children.
(The Telegraph UK 2/10/09) -
Parents 'doubt cot death risks'
Half of cot deaths are linked to bed-sharing but many parents are sceptical about the risk, studies have concluded.
(BBC Online 14/10/09) -
Pushchair amputation risk recall
Pushchair-maker Maclaren USA has announced a recall of 1m pushchairs in the US after a dozen children had their fingertips amputated in the hinge.
(BBC Online 10/11/09) -
Boys will be boys
As a general rule, the attention span of boys tends to be shorter than that of girls. Obviously this varies with each child. There are more boys who suffer from ADHD. And even boys who have wonderful powers of focus still have a tendency to move, bounce, fiddle with objects, look around, and generally want to be on the move. Fortunately, it is possible to promote a healthy environment for your boys which will be more conducive for their homeschooling. Consider these lifestyle choices to better keep your son's attention:
(www.homeschool-your-boys.com/attentionspanofboys.html) -
'Preg brain' myth
Pregnant women who suffer lapses in memory or concentration may no longer be able to blame it on “the bump”. The idea that bearing children affects one’s brain power — the “baby brain” — is a myth, researchers say.
(The Times onine 3rd February 2010) -
Teen motherhood is "not all bad"
The age at which women have babies is dictated by men's timetables, the prize-winning author Hilary Mantel has claimed.
The novelist said society encouraged women to run their careers and have children later because it fitted in with a timetable "based on a former era, when men ran the world and women ran the home".
(The Guardian 1st March 2010) -
Working mums have the unhealthiest kids
Children brought up by mothers who work are less healthy and more likely to have poor dietary habits and a more sedentary lifestyle, research suggests.
Mothers in full-time work, including those who work flexible hours, were found to have children who eat too few portions of fruit and vegetables, watch more television and consume more fizzy drinks than the children of mothers who stay at home.
(The Times 29/09/09) -
Anti-depressants pregnancy 'risk'
Children born to women taking anti-depressants in early pregnancy have a small but important increased risk of heart defects, researchers say.
The study published in the British Medical Journal says depression affects up to 20% of pregnant women.
(BBC Online 24/09/09) -
Abortions raise risks in future births
Having an abortion increases the risk of giving birth prematurely or to children with a low birthweight in later pregnancies, a study suggests
(The Times 16/9/09) -
Early Spankings 'create' Aggressive Toddlers
Children who are spanked as 1-year-olds are more likely to behave aggressively and perform worse on cognitive tests as toddlers than children who are spared the punishment, new research shows.
(Healthday News 15/09/09) -
Active kids have easier time falling asleep
If you're one of those parents who likes to let their kids run themselves ragged so they fall asleep more easily, you may be onto something: the more activity kids get, the faster they'll drop off to sleep, according to a new study.
(Reuters 18/9/09) -
Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily
New research is showing just how children's brains can become bilingual so easily, findings that scientists hope eventually could help the rest of us learn a new language a bit easier.
"We think the magic that kids apply to this learning situation, some of the principles, can be imported into learning programs for adults," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl of the University of Washington, who is part of an international team now trying to turn those lessons into more teachable technology.
(Associated Press 21/07/2009)(Daily Mail UK 16/7/09)
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Easy or Fussy Baby? Its Out of Your Control
Whether you have an easy baby or a fussy one may have nothing to do with your parenting skills because the combination of a certain gene and a particular pattern of brain activity may determine a child's temperament, a new study has found.
(Health Day USA 17/07/2009) -
World's oldest mother dies of cancer
Cradling her twin boys in her arms, the world's oldest mother confidently proclaimed that longevity ran in her family.
But just two and half years on, Maria Carmen del Bousada's boasts have been proved sadly wrong.
The 69-year-old, who admitted lying about her age to receive fertility treatment in the U.S, has died from cancer (Daily Mail UK 16/7/09) -
Father's depression may affect infant's colic
Excessive crying in infants, otherwise known as colic, has been linked to symptoms of depression in the mother. Now a study conducted in the Netherlands links infant colic to depression in the father as well.. (Reuters 02/07/09)
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C-Section Stress Could Alter Baby's Immune Cells
Babies delivered by cesarean section experience changes to the DNA of white blood cells, which might explain why they're at increased risk for immunological diseases such as diabetes and asthma later in life, Swedish researchers say. (HealthDay News 02/07/09)
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UK restrictions prompt fertility tourism boom
Hundreds of women over the age of 40 are travelling to fertility clinics in Europe to try to get pregnant because NHS clinics in the UK will not take them, the first-ever Europe-wide study of fertility tourism shows.(The Guardian BBC Online 30/6/09)
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Swine flu parties 'a bad idea'
Throwing "swine flu parties" in an attempt to get immunity against the virus while it is a fairly mild form is not a good idea, doctors say (BBC Online 29/6/09)
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IVF twins 'sicker in early life'
IVF twins face more health problems in early life than naturally conceived twins, experts suggest.
A study found these babies were far more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care and to be hospitalised in their first three years of life. .(BBC Online 20/5/09) -
Folic acid protects baby hearts
Mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid would slash the risk of babies being born with a heart problem, experience from Canada shows.Rates of severe congenital heart defects among newborns in Quebec fell significantly after the move to fortify flour and pasta began in 1998.(BBC Online 12/5/09)
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Behavioural disorders link to fathers
Children whose fathers have mental health disorders are likely to have psychiatric or behavioural disorders themselves, researchers warn.
University of Oxford experts reviewed existing evidence and said, in the Lancet, there had been too much focus on mothers' mental health issues. (BBC Online May 3rd 2009)
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Baby food products bad for babies health
Some baby-food products are worse for infant health than burgers and chocolate biscuits, says the pressure group Sustains. Parents are unwittingly feeding their babies and young children on items that may be worse for their health than junk food, researchers say. (Times Online 5th May 09)
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Eat your greens to avoid asthma
Telling children to eat up their greens – and giving them a helping of liver – may be the best way to prevent them from developing asthma. (The Independent 15/4/09)
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Genes have 'key role in autism'
Scientists have produced the most compelling evidence to date that genetics play a key role in autism.
They highlighted tiny genetic changes that appear to have a strong impact on the likelihood of developing autism and related conditions. (BBC Online April 28th 2009) -
Child behaviour linked to sleep
A good night's sleep could reduce hyperactivity and bad behaviour among children, a Finnish study reports.
It has been suggested that some children who lack sleep do not appear tired, but instead behave badly. (BBC Online April 27th 2009) -
Home births 'as safe as hospital'
The largest study of its kind has found that for low-risk women, giving birth at home is as safe as doing so in hospital with a midwife.Research from the Netherlands - which has a high rate of home births - found no difference in death rates of either mothers or babies in 530,000 births. (BBC Online 15th 2009)
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TV linked to asthma risk doubling
Young children who spend more than two hours a day watching TV double their risk of developing asthma, a UK study has found. Rather than telly per se being to blame, experts believe the viewing is symptomatic of a sedentary lifestyle which may be the root cause. Taking deep breaths, such as when exercising, may keep the lungs fit. (BBC Online March 2009)
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Snacking during labour is OK
Eating while in the throes of childbirth should no longer be a medical taboo, according to a study released Wednesday. The duration of labour, the need for assisted delivery, and caesarean rates were all unaffected by munching between contractions, found the study, published by the British Medical Journal.
(AFP Paris 2009) -
Anesthesia Link to Learning Disabilities
Children who have had anesthesia two or more times by the age of 3 may be at a higher risk of developing learning disabilities later, new research suggests. Although this is the first human study to indicate such an association, it's still unclear if the anesthesia is the culprit, or if some other factor is at play.
(Health Day Reporter March 2009) -
Children do less well with granny than nursery
Children looked after by grandparents while their mothers are at work would be better off in nurseries or with childminders, according to a new study
(The Times UK 10 February 2009) -
Selfish adults 'damage' childhood
The aggressive pursuit of personal success by adults is now the greatest threat to British children, a major independent report on childhood says.It calls for a sea-change in social attitudes and policies to counter the damage done to children by society Family break-up, unprincipled advertising, too much competition in education and income inequality are mentioned as big contributing factor (BBC Online 4 February 2009)
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Gestures 'develop infant speech'
Toddlers who use gestures more often have better vocabularies on reaching school age, US researchers say.They say those who convey more meanings with gestures at 14 months have larger vocabularies at four-and-a-half years and are better prepared for school
(BBC Online 12 February 2009) -
Births of a nation
As a largely Catholic country, it might be expected that Spain's birth rate level would be consistently high. However, in recent times, concern has been raised here (as well as in Italy, another Catholic nation) about the relatively low number of babies being born. Currently, Spain's birth rate is well and truly in the doldrums: although recent figures show that, for instance, in Catalunya birth rates rose by 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2007, for almost two decades the national level has languished at half what it was in the Seventies [see table below]. In the face of this ongoing problem, the Spanish government is looking to encourage people to have more children—but will it work?
(Barcelona Metropolitan www.barcelona-metropolitan.com Feb 2009) -
'Drink link' to premature birth
Doctors say women who drink heavily early in a pregnancy - possibly before they know they are pregnant - may be raising the risk of premature delivery. A study of 4,719 Australian women found almost an 80% higher risk for women who drank heavily in the first third of pregnancy, then stopped. However, experts warned it was possible the results were a "statistical quirk" (BBC Online 21 January 2009)
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Kids only appreciate their parents when they reach 22
For long-suffering parents everywhere it is news to cherish – your teenage children will eventually . . . one day. . . just about . . .come to appreciate you. But it seems you might have to wait until they are 22 before that happy time arrives. A study published yesterday found that after the bickering and bust-ups of the teenage years the 22nd birthday marks a change in attitude and an awareness of the importance of their family. (Daily Mail 20th January 2009)
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World Health Organization Receives Bill Gates Grant
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it had received a $9.7 million grant from the U.S.-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for research into the production and dosage of medicines for children. The research, aimed at increasing the low number of "child size" medicines available around the world and especially in developing countries, will be carried out in cooperation with the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, the WHO said. (Reuters 20 Jan 09)
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Toward A Long-sought Saliva Test For Autism
Researchers in Italy are reporting discovery of abnormal proteins in the saliva of autism patients that could eventually provide a clue for the molecular basis of this severe developmental disorder and could be used as a biomarker for a subgroup of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Science Daily Jan 09)
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Facing Fears Early May Reduce Childhood Anxiety
Helping children face their fears may be more productive than focusing on other techniques to help them manage their anxieties, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Chicago. (Medical News Journal Jan 09)
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Food Allergy on the Rise & New Treatments Sought
The prevalence of food allergies is rising, and although strict avoidance is currently the only treatment, new effective therapies are currently being developed according to experts at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Seattle. (NewsWise Jan 09)
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US researchers find link between age, birth order and autism
In the largest study of its kind, researchers have shown that the risk of autism increases for firstborn children and children of older parents. The risk of a firstborn with an autism spectrum disorder triples after a mother turns 35 and a father reaches 40. (Guardian 07/01/09)
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Obesity 'set before the age of five'
Childhood obesity is set before the age of five,according to researchers. Compared to children in the 1980s, today's youngsters are fatter and most of their excess weight gain happens before school age, they will say. This suggests initiatives to prevent childhood obesity should be started before school, suggest the authors. (BBC Online 17/12/08)
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Fans Reduce Risk of SIDS
Fans may reduce the risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, a new study shows. Babies who slept in a room with a fan were 72% less likely to die from SIDS, according to a study released today from Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The study included interviews with the mothers of 185 infants who died from SIDS and the mothers of 312 other babies.
(USA Today 13/12/08) -
Regional Incentives for having babies
La mayoría de comunidades autónomas ofrecen ayudas por el nacimiento o adopción de un hijo, aunque en muchas ocasiones están condicionadas a no superar una renta determinada. El tipo de prestación y la cuantía que puede recibir una persona residente en España es muy diferente en función del lugar en que se viva...
(20minutos.es 15/12/08) -
Childcare is bad for your baby
A Unicef study suggests that government policy is at odds with the developmental needs of children under 12 months
Parents and governments are taking a “high-stakes gamble” with the long-term wellbeing of children by subjecting them to long hours of formal childcare from a very young age, according to a Unicef report.
(The Times Online 11/12/08) -
Left-handed children suffer in school
Children who are left-handed score lower in IQ tests and throughout their school career will score around 1 per cent lower in tests than right-handed children, according to research by the Economic and Social Research Council.
(BBC 4/12/08) -
Spanish overtakes German in UK schools
Spanish has replaced German as the second most popular language learnt in (UK) schools, it was revealed yesterday. And the number of state schools offering Mandarin as an option has more than trebled in the past two years from one in 25 to more than one in seven..
(The Independent 4/12/08) -
Pop Tunes used to 'calm babies'
Rocking a baby to sleep has been given a whole new meaning as mothers ditch traditional lullabies for popular pop and rock tunes. Songs such as Robbie Williams' Angels and Oasis anthem Wonderwall proved popular in the poll of 2,000 mothers.
(BBC Online 2/12/08 -
Genetic disease testing advance
Blood taken from a pregnant woman may reveal if her baby has a wide range of genetic diseases, researchers claim. A Chinese University of Hong Kong team said the technique could identify cystic fibrosis, beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. The only checks currently available carry a high risk of miscarriage. The test works by checking foetal DNA in the mother's blood against her own, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported.
(BBC Online 25/11/08) -
Buggy direction 'affects child'
Children who are put in buggies which leave them facing away from their parent could have their development undermined, a study has suggested.
(BBC Online 21/11/08) -
Spanish universities bottom of new ranking
In a ranking of the higher education systems of 13 European countries and the United States and Australia, Spain has come last, a new report has revealed.
(el Pais, 19th November 2008) -
Lungs 'boosted' by breastfeeding
A study of 10-year-olds on the Isle of Wight by UK and US scientists found much better lung function in those breastfed for at least four months. The sheer physical effort involved in breastfeeding may leave babies with stronger lungs well into childhood, researchers suggest.
(BBC Online 10/11/08) -
Reflections on midwifery in Spain
For just over two years I worked as a midwife in Spain, both in hospital and the community. It is a year since my return to the UK and I am now fulfilling my dream to work as a community midwife. I would like to share my knowledge of the midwifery profession and current practice in one part of southern Spain. After qualifying as a mature, direct-entry midwife at Bournemouth University--firmly committed to working 'with woman' and passionate about my profession--I consolidated my practice, working six months in a consultant-led unit in the south-west of England. Although I was aware that midwifery in Spain would be medicalised, I did not truly appreciate the stark contrast that I would encounter on my arrival--not only in terms of current practice, but of midwifery as a whole. (Posted on MumAbroad 17 November - COPYRIGHT Ten Alps Publishing and Gale, Cengage Learning)
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Spanish divorce rates down
People may marry for love, but divorce is about money, as Spain's deepening economic crisis is making clear. This year's slowdown and the credit crunch affecting banks are cutting divorce rates, said Madrid divorce lawyer Antonio Prada. Divorce rates are estimated to be down 30 percent so far. "It has become extremely difficult for couples wanting to divorce to sell their home at a reasonable price, and the crisis is also making it harder to maintain two separate households," Prada told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. As a result, couples which no longer have anything to say to each other stay under the same roof, developing what Prada termed as "new forms of living together". (Expatica November 12th)
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Spain will avoid recession in 2009
The Economist magazine forecasts that Spain will avoid a recession in 2009 by the skin of its teeth, growing by 0.3% in the year. This puts The Economist at odds with the IMF, who expect Spain to go into recession in 2009, but is much more downbeat than the Spanish government’s forecast of 1% growth in 2009 (Spanish Property Insight November 6th)
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Cut caffeine, pregnant women told
Pregnant women should cut their caffeine intake and drink no more than two cups of coffee or four cups of tea a day, a government agency has advised. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has lowered its recommended levels of the stimulant from a maximum of 300mg a day to 200mg - a reduction of a third. (BBC Online 2nd November 2008)
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Light drinking 'no risk to baby'
Women who drink a small amount of alcohol while pregnant do not increase their child's risk of behavioural problems, a study has suggested. The University College London team classed "light" drinking as up to two drinks a week throughout pregnancy. The study of 12,500 three-year-olds even found a lower risk of some problems in children of such drinkers. But experts were divided over whether the study was reassuring or could lull women into a false sense of security. (BBC Online 31st October 2008)
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Rising Costs of Food in Spain
The Organizacion de Consumidores y Usuarios (OCU) revealed this week that the cost of a weekly shop at the supermarket has risen by an average 12 per cent in Spain over the last year (Costa Blanca News October 2008)
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Give your child a better start in life: delay parenthood
The children of young, poorly educated mothers are more likely to face health and educational problems before they start school, according to a study which suggests that delaying parenthood to get the best qualifications and a career first gives children a better start in life.(The Guardian 10/08)
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Labour pains
In a country like Spain, where the family is highly valued, it is a sad irony that pregnant women are finding themselves increasingly unwelcome in the workplace. Spanish employers are, in fact, the most hostile in Europe to expectant or new mothers, according to a survey done by Monster, the recruitment site. (Metropolitan 10/08)
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Researchers devise safer Down's test
A simple prenatal blood test that detects if an unborn baby has Down's syndrome could be available in two or three years, US researchers said yesterday. If successful it would eliminate the small risk to the foetus posed by invasive testing methods such as amniocentesis..
(The Guardian 7/10/08) -
Obesity 'raises miscarriage risk'
Women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese, research suggests. A team from London's St Mary's Hospital followed the progress of 696 women whose miscarriages were classed as "unexplained" by a specialist clinic.
(BBC Online 21/09/08) -
Cot death may be due to a bacterial infection
Some cases of cot death may be due to a bacterial infection, researchers say. The Archives of Disease in Childhood study found samples from babies who had died for no apparent reason often carried potentially-harmful bacteria. Some experts believe toxins produced by these bacteria could trigger a chemical storm, which overwhelms the baby, resulting in sudden death..
(BBC Online September 2008) -
Parents should have small families
Women in the UK have 1.87 babies on average - the highest birth rate for 26 years. Families should have no more than two children if they want to help combat climate change, according to new research by a thinktank (The Daily Mail 28th July 2008)
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Breastfed babies more receptive to tastes
Scientists have discovered another reason why breast is best. Already associated with increased intelligence, greater social mobility and protection against ill health, breastfeeding may also help babies develop a more sophisticated palate.(The Guardian UK - 24th July 2008)
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Spanish comes under threat in Spain
Regional languages made compulsory in schools and work places may soon edge out Spanish, say pro-Spanish campaigners. While Spanish is consolidating its position as one of the world's most international languages, a debate is raging in Spain on whether it is under attack in the country where it was born. A group of intellectuals, some media outlets and citizens' associations have launched a campaign in "defence" of Spanish which they see abeing endangered in regions promoting their own languages in the country with a plural identity. The debate focuses on whether parents wanting to educate their children only or mainly in Spanish should be able to do so in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Basque region and Galicia, which want pupils to learn Catalan, Basque or Galician alongside Spanish. (Expatica July 2008)
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Mums 'accept natural birth risks'
First-time mothers-to-be will accept greater risks than clinicians for a natural birth, research suggests.
A Sydney, Australia study also found the women prepared to accept higher pain levels, reports the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. (BBC Online 27/08/08) -
Fussy babies are more likely to grow up to be liars and bullies
Fussy babies are likely to grow into tiny tyrants who rule the roost at home and are often in trouble at school, according to a major study. Their bad behaviour seems to follow them into their early teens as they develop into children who disobey parents and cheat, lie, and bully at school, doctors said. (Daily Mail July 5th 2008)
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Mobile phone danger to unborn child: Use could cause behavioural problems
Pregnant women who use mobile phones are more likely to have children with behavioural problems, a shocking study has found. Using handsets just two or three times a day is enough to raise the risk of hyperactivity and emotional problems. Letting children use mobiles before the age of seven also puts them at risk, scientists warn. (Daily Mail 2008)
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Mother's junk food 'harms child'
Eating a poor diet when pregnant or breastfeeding may cause long-lasting health damage to the child, animal studies suggest.The offspring of rats fed fatty, processed food had high levels of fat in their bloodstream and around major organs even after adolescence. The animals had a raised diabetes risk - even if they ate healthily. The study, by the Royal Veterinary College and London's Wellcome Trust, features in The Journal of Physiology. (BBC Online 2nd July 2008)
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Spain treats child phone addicts
Two children in Spain have been admitted to a mental health institution to be treated for addiction to their mobile phones.
(BBC Online 13th June 2008) -
Play is under attack
"Play is the optimal condition for learning - it's a creative, thinking, feeling space where children are artists at work," said doctoral candidate Kimberly Bezaire from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. "It's a very scary thing to think that some of [children's] little lives might be so busy going from activity to activity, moment to moment, this test to that test, that they don't get an opportunity to operate in those optimal spaces."
At the annual humanities congress, Ms. Bezaire argued that a changing social context, standardized testing, prescriptive toys and paranoid parenting are threatening outdoor and make-believe play. (National Post June 2008) -
Puzzle over declining male births
Where are the boys going? ... scientists are at a loss to explain the changing sex ratio of newborns. A puzzling phenomenon is playing out across the world, in countries as diverse as the United States, Sweden and Japan.Though more boys are being born than girls in most places, their numbers are falling. And no one is sure why. (The Age June 2008)
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Study finds breastfed girls protected from chest illnesses
Breastfeeding protects baby girls from serious chest infections, but does little to prevent respiratory illnesses in boys, researchers have found.
Doctors monitored 119 premature babies through their first year of life and found that girls who received formula were eight times more likely to be hospitalised with respiratory illnesses than those weaned off breast milk. (The Guardian June 2008) -
Asthma link to pregnancy stress
Women who are stressed in pregnancy may raise the risk of their child developing asthma or other allergies, a study suggests (BBC Online 19th May 2008)
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Breastfeeding 'helps to boost IQ'
More evidence is being put forward that breastfed babies eventually become more intelligent than those who are fed with formula milk.Canada's McGill University found breastfed babies ended up performing better in IQ tests by the age of six.But the researchers were unsure whether it was related to the breast milk itself or the bond from breastfeeding.The study of nearly 14,000 children is the latest in a series of reports to have found such a positive link. (BBC Online 6th May 2008)
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Sun lamps help unborn babies beat osteoporosis
Women due to give birth in winter should use a sun lamp during the final three months of pregnancy to protect their child from osteoporosis in later life, doctors have suggested. They made their recommendation as research found that children born to mothers whose final three months of pregnancy included a summer month were 40% less likely to suffer the bone-wasting condition in adult-hood. (Sunday Times 27th April 2008)
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Playgroups 'cut leukaemia risk'
Children who attend daycare or playgroups cut their risk of the most common type of childhood leukaemia by around 30%, a study estimates. Researchers reviewed 14 studies involving nearly 20,000 children, of which 6,000 developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). BBC Online 29th April 2008
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Breakfast for Boys
A good breakfast dramatically increases a woman's chances of having a son
Eating a good breakfast dramatically increases a woman's chances of having a son rather than a daughter, a surprising new study has found. Nearly six out of 10 women who get pregnant after eating high-energy breakfasts give birth to a boy. But only 43 percent of would-be mothers who regularly skip breakfast end up having a son, British researchers found. (New York Post April 2008) -
Spanish women still forced abroad for abortions
Franco’s gone, but 30 years on, scare stories and vague legislation are still pushing pregnant women abroad. (Expatica April 2008)
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Fathers are 'shut out of birth'
Maternity services across the UK are disadvantaging children from birth by "shutting out" their fathers, a think tank has warned (BBC Online 13th April 2008)
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Foetal test rules out rhesus jab
A test for spotting a mismatch between the blood of a pregnant woman and her baby could prevent thousands from undergoing unnecessary treatment (BBC Online 3rd April 2008)
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Concern on Cellphone Ads for Children
Shiny child-size phones are stirring some parental and government unease, particularly at a time when the mobile telephone industry is reaching deeper into saturated markets to tap customers with chubby hands capable of cradling both dolls and phones. (NY Times March 2008)
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Are you too tired to bond with baby?
A new study confirms what we all know -- that today's parents are not getting enough sleep once their bundle of joy arrives. But help is at hand (Irish Independent - 31st March 2008)
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New research on breech position births
A study suggests that being born in the breech position can cause your own baby to be breech as well A baby is twice as likely to be born bottom first if either or both the parents were themselves breech deliveries, according to a study published ahead of print in the British Medical Journal. The results suggest genes are a contributing factor (Science Daily- March 30th 2008)
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Stress and your unborn baby
Stressed mothers-to-be 'are putting unborn babies at risk'
Women who suffer stress during pregnancy are at increased risk of passing on life-threatening diseases to the unborn child and even future generations, according to a study by a Scottish academic (The Scotsman - 30th March 2008) -
Six baby cough medicines pulled
Cough remedies (in the UK) aimed at very young children are to be removed from shelves amid fears of accidental overdose.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has ordered six products be permanently removed from sale for children aged under two (BBC online 27th March 2008) -
Alcholol warning for pregnant women
Pregnant women should be advised to avoid drinking alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy, because there may be an increased risk of miscarriage. Women planning to become pregnant should also stop drinking. Women should be advised that if they choose to drink alcohol while they are pregnant, they should drink no more than 1-2 units once or twice a week - equivalent to a small glass of wine, half a pint of 5% lager or strong cider. There is uncertainty about how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy, but at this level there is no evidence of any harm to the unborn baby.(Guardian March 26th 2008)
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Partying Parents, brighter kids
Parents about to embark on a weekend of partying shouldn't feel guilty...new research shows that kids whose parents have healthy social lives outperform other children at school. Experts have always known that children with good social skills do better academically than those who lack them, but the new study from Sheffield University (UK) shows the same is true if their parents are outgoing. Dr Karl Taylor, who conducted the research, said the results also showed that social activity was beneficial regardless of the parents' educational backgrounds and class (The Times 15th March 2008)
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Genes not diet blamed for child obesity
Nature, and not nurture, is the chief reason why some children put on weight while others stay slim, according to research that suggests parents are not entirely to blame for the epidemic of childhood obesity. British scientists have found that genes account for more than three quarters of the differences between children’s waistlines, with lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise playing a much smaller role (The Times UK February 2008)
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Pregnant women urged to boost vitamin D
Pregnant women and mothers breast-feeding their babies are being advised by the (British) Government to boost their intake of vitamin D in the winter to prevent their child suffering rickets or seizures. The alert was issued by the Department of Health after reports by healthcare workers that more children were being seen with a vitamin D deficiency that can lead to bones not developing properly (The Independent newspaper - UK)
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Folic acid cuts prematurity
Taking folic acid for a year before pregnancy can cut the risk of premature delivery by 70% and save thousands of lives, researchers say. (The Guardian newspaper - UK)
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Love of broccoli begins in womb
Women can give their children a lifelong taste for “healthy but horrible” foods such as broccoli and brussels sprouts simply by eating them during pregnancy or while breast-feeding, researchers have found (The Times online - UK)
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Too scared to push?
Women who opt for caesarean aren't too posh to push - just SCARED
Most women who choose to have a casarean are afraid of natural birth
Almost half the women who choose to have a caesarean delivery are not "too posh to push" - they are simply too scared, researchers say (The Daily Mail - UK)
