By Anna Coogan © Herald.ie 2008
Author Claire Allan's struggle to bond with her first baby, and the emptiness and bleakness of feeling she wasn't a good mother, undermined her confidence so much that she didn't think she would ever be able to have a second child.
Yet her dream of having a sibling for five-year-old Joseph came true last March when she gave birth to daughter Cara. Her arrival was the toughest decision writer Claire has ever had to make -- what if she once again had to do battle with the post-natal depression which had wrecked her life following the birth of her first child?
In an uplifting account of the arrival of her new baby, Claire offers hope to all young mums who have suffered from the condition. Her new novel, Jumping in Puddles, which is out this month, shows that there really is light at the end of the tunnel for any new mum enduring the darkness of depression after having a baby.
"I was on a high for days after my daughter Cara was born last March. There were no feelings of failure, of drudgery, of having made a mistake. Yes, there were tough days and there were days when I wondered if things were going wrong again. That was one of the toughest aspects -- wondering if a bad day was something more when in fact it was just a bad day.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Herald.ie 2008
Friday, October 30, 2009
Flu Shot in Pregnancy Protects Baby
By Steven Reinberg Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report
Pregnant women head the list of people who should get H1N1 swine flu and seasonal flu shots, and four new studies highlight the benefits of vaccination for moms-to-be and their babies.
Bigger, healthier newborns, fewer preterm births and reduced rates of hospitalization top the findings, which are to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America in Philadelphia.
In one study, U.S. researchers analyzed data on 6,410 births in Georgia and found that the risks of premature delivery and having a low birth-weight infant were significantly reduced among the 15 percent of women who received a flu shot during pregnancy.
During the height of the flu season premature births among vaccinated women fell 70 percent, compared with unvaccinated women, Dr. Saad B. Omer, an assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, said during a news conference Thursday at which all four studies were discussed.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report
Pregnant women head the list of people who should get H1N1 swine flu and seasonal flu shots, and four new studies highlight the benefits of vaccination for moms-to-be and their babies.
Bigger, healthier newborns, fewer preterm births and reduced rates of hospitalization top the findings, which are to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America in Philadelphia.
In one study, U.S. researchers analyzed data on 6,410 births in Georgia and found that the risks of premature delivery and having a low birth-weight infant were significantly reduced among the 15 percent of women who received a flu shot during pregnancy.
During the height of the flu season premature births among vaccinated women fell 70 percent, compared with unvaccinated women, Dr. Saad B. Omer, an assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, said during a news conference Thursday at which all four studies were discussed.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Irish experts say swine jab safe in pregnancy
The Irish Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has stressed that the swine flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women.
In a statement, the Institute said no concerns had been raised regarding the seasonal flu vaccine in pregnancy over many years of use and a similar safety profile with the H1N1 vaccine is anticipated.
It said evidence suggests that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications or to be hospitalised from swine flu than non-pregnant women. These include early labour or severe pneumonia.
The risk of these complications is higher after 14 weeks of pregnancy and for pregnant women who are at risk of medical complications.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE By Niall Hunter Copyright © 2009.
In a statement, the Institute said no concerns had been raised regarding the seasonal flu vaccine in pregnancy over many years of use and a similar safety profile with the H1N1 vaccine is anticipated.
It said evidence suggests that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications or to be hospitalised from swine flu than non-pregnant women. These include early labour or severe pneumonia.
The risk of these complications is higher after 14 weeks of pregnancy and for pregnant women who are at risk of medical complications.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE By Niall Hunter Copyright © 2009.
Overweight pregnant women are 'condemning children to lifetime of obesity'
Pregnant women who are overweight could be condemning their children to a lifetime of obesity unless they trim down while trying for a baby, U.S. experts say.
Researchers from medical centres in New York and Quebec found an obese mother's womb may send a signal to their unborn baby that encourages them to grow into a fat child and adult.
The process is more than just passing along genes that promote obesity but the scientists said they have yet to track down a biological explanation for the signal.
Robert Waterland of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston studies the effects of obesity in mice.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Researchers from medical centres in New York and Quebec found an obese mother's womb may send a signal to their unborn baby that encourages them to grow into a fat child and adult.
The process is more than just passing along genes that promote obesity but the scientists said they have yet to track down a biological explanation for the signal.
Robert Waterland of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston studies the effects of obesity in mice.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Pregnant women warned to get flu jab
By Evelyn Ring © Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited
Consultant obstetrician Dr Michael O’Connell said pregnant women who contracted the virus were four times more likely to develop complications including early labour or pneumonia from the virus. "This disorder is serious enough that if you get the serious end of the spectrum it can potentially be fatal," he said. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is now urging pregnant or breastfeeding women to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. "We are not trying to scaremonger. This is to try to give advice on the best thing to do and our feeling at this stage to prevent this is to take the vaccine," said Dr O’Connell. As many as 21,000 of the 70,000 pregnant women in Ireland could contract the virus and at least 10% could face hospitalisation, the doctor warned. Dr O’Connell would not give an indication of the number of pregnant women who have been hospitalised but it is understood one critically ill pregnant women is currently on a life support machine. Nine people with swine flu in Ireland have died and another 14 are fighting for their lives in intensive care. The latest person to die after contracting the virus is a 14-year-old boy who had an underlying medical condition. He died in a Dublin hospital.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited
Consultant obstetrician Dr Michael O’Connell said pregnant women who contracted the virus were four times more likely to develop complications including early labour or pneumonia from the virus. "This disorder is serious enough that if you get the serious end of the spectrum it can potentially be fatal," he said. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is now urging pregnant or breastfeeding women to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. "We are not trying to scaremonger. This is to try to give advice on the best thing to do and our feeling at this stage to prevent this is to take the vaccine," said Dr O’Connell. As many as 21,000 of the 70,000 pregnant women in Ireland could contract the virus and at least 10% could face hospitalisation, the doctor warned. Dr O’Connell would not give an indication of the number of pregnant women who have been hospitalised but it is understood one critically ill pregnant women is currently on a life support machine. Nine people with swine flu in Ireland have died and another 14 are fighting for their lives in intensive care. The latest person to die after contracting the virus is a 14-year-old boy who had an underlying medical condition. He died in a Dublin hospital.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited
Malaysia baby born on plane to go home healthy
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian woman who gave premature birth aboard a plane said Saturday that doctors are expected to release her son from a hospital Monday or Tuesday.
Liew Siaw Hsia had been flying home Wednesday after quitting her job as a waitress when she started having labor pains. A doctor on the flight helped her deliver while the plane was still 2,000 feet (600 meters) in the air.
She had been 27 weeks pregnant, 11 weeks short of the full term.
Liew told The Associated Press that doctors at a hospital outside Kuala Lumpur have told her they do not expect any health complications and she can take the baby home Monday or Tuesday. She said her boy's current weight was about 7 pounds (3.2 kilograms).
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian woman who gave premature birth aboard a plane said Saturday that doctors are expected to release her son from a hospital Monday or Tuesday.
Liew Siaw Hsia had been flying home Wednesday after quitting her job as a waitress when she started having labor pains. A doctor on the flight helped her deliver while the plane was still 2,000 feet (600 meters) in the air.
She had been 27 weeks pregnant, 11 weeks short of the full term.
Liew told The Associated Press that doctors at a hospital outside Kuala Lumpur have told her they do not expect any health complications and she can take the baby home Monday or Tuesday. She said her boy's current weight was about 7 pounds (3.2 kilograms).
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Alternative Treatments May Boost IVF Success
Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report LP
New research suggests that mind-body treatment can boost the odds that infertile women will become pregnant by in vitro fertilization -- at least after more than one cycle. Dr. Alice Domar, who specializes in mind-body therapy in Boston, assigned one group of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to take part in 10 sessions of a mind-body program; another group undergoing IVF did not take part. There was no difference in pregnancy rates between the two groups.
But things changed during the next cycle of IVF treatments. Then, 52 percent of the women who took part in the mind-body program became pregnant, compared with 20 percent of those in the other group.
Mind-body sessions appeared to be especially helpful for women who were more depressed, judging from test scores, the study found.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report LP
New research suggests that mind-body treatment can boost the odds that infertile women will become pregnant by in vitro fertilization -- at least after more than one cycle. Dr. Alice Domar, who specializes in mind-body therapy in Boston, assigned one group of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to take part in 10 sessions of a mind-body program; another group undergoing IVF did not take part. There was no difference in pregnancy rates between the two groups.
But things changed during the next cycle of IVF treatments. Then, 52 percent of the women who took part in the mind-body program became pregnant, compared with 20 percent of those in the other group.
Mind-body sessions appeared to be especially helpful for women who were more depressed, judging from test scores, the study found.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 U.S.News & World Report LP
Reusable cloth nappies — a cheaper option
© 2009 Galway Advertiser
Nappies are a huge expense. They are a necessity for parents, so we often take the cost for granted, and because we get used to buying them on a weekly basis, the overall cost is probably never considered. But when you consider that one baby will need upwards of 6,000 nappies over a two-year period, it certainly adds up.
Cloth nappies, as well as now being back in fashion, are a much cheaper option. They could save you up to €1,000 for the first baby, and even more if you keep them and use them for subsequent children, and the added bonus is that you’d be doing your bit for the environment.
Figures suggest that over eight million nappies are thrown into landfill every day in the UK and Ireland, with the average disposable taking from 200 to 500 years to decompose.
Here in Ireland, we are lagging behind our UK neighbours in adopting the cloth nappy culture. There are still memories of terry towels and safety pins, and people often see it as being backward instead of forward. In the UK, 35 per cent of parents use or have used reusable nappies for their baby. In Ireland, estimates range from one to five per cent of parents trying reusables for their child.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Galway Advertiser
Nappies are a huge expense. They are a necessity for parents, so we often take the cost for granted, and because we get used to buying them on a weekly basis, the overall cost is probably never considered. But when you consider that one baby will need upwards of 6,000 nappies over a two-year period, it certainly adds up.
Cloth nappies, as well as now being back in fashion, are a much cheaper option. They could save you up to €1,000 for the first baby, and even more if you keep them and use them for subsequent children, and the added bonus is that you’d be doing your bit for the environment.
Figures suggest that over eight million nappies are thrown into landfill every day in the UK and Ireland, with the average disposable taking from 200 to 500 years to decompose.
Here in Ireland, we are lagging behind our UK neighbours in adopting the cloth nappy culture. There are still memories of terry towels and safety pins, and people often see it as being backward instead of forward. In the UK, 35 per cent of parents use or have used reusable nappies for their baby. In Ireland, estimates range from one to five per cent of parents trying reusables for their child.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Galway Advertiser
Diet and lifestyle are crucial fertility factors
By Rosia Shelley
Fertility is a blessing (or a curse!) that was taken for granted in our parents’ or grandparents’ day, but the times are always changing, and with them our environment, our lifestyles and our bodies. According to a report out last month from the Women’s Health Council, as many as one in six couples is now unable to conceive naturally. There are various reasons why people are having more difficulty getting pregnant. Susannah Lawson, co-author of Optimum Nutrition Before, During and After Pregnancy, feels that ‘In general, people are in poorer health today. Stressful modern lifestyles, nutrient-depleted food and greater exposure to environmental pollutants are all taking their toll. It’s also more common for couples to wait until they’re older before they start trying for a baby.’ Age of course is a crucial factor: fertility falls off sharply around the age of 35 in both sexes (in men, sperm quality is compromised), and a woman in her thirties may take twice as long to conceive as a woman in her twenties. The average amount of time it takes is around six months, but it’s worth remembering that we’re all different: 18 months is not uncommon, and taking longer than that doesn’t by any means signal infertility. The desire for a baby can become all-consuming, and the monthly failure to conceive can be truly devastating, but there is a great deal we can do to boost our chances of establishing and maintaining a healthy pregnancy if we take a good look at the way we live.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Fertility is a blessing (or a curse!) that was taken for granted in our parents’ or grandparents’ day, but the times are always changing, and with them our environment, our lifestyles and our bodies. According to a report out last month from the Women’s Health Council, as many as one in six couples is now unable to conceive naturally. There are various reasons why people are having more difficulty getting pregnant. Susannah Lawson, co-author of Optimum Nutrition Before, During and After Pregnancy, feels that ‘In general, people are in poorer health today. Stressful modern lifestyles, nutrient-depleted food and greater exposure to environmental pollutants are all taking their toll. It’s also more common for couples to wait until they’re older before they start trying for a baby.’ Age of course is a crucial factor: fertility falls off sharply around the age of 35 in both sexes (in men, sperm quality is compromised), and a woman in her thirties may take twice as long to conceive as a woman in her twenties. The average amount of time it takes is around six months, but it’s worth remembering that we’re all different: 18 months is not uncommon, and taking longer than that doesn’t by any means signal infertility. The desire for a baby can become all-consuming, and the monthly failure to conceive can be truly devastating, but there is a great deal we can do to boost our chances of establishing and maintaining a healthy pregnancy if we take a good look at the way we live.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Drinking affects IVF chances
By Olivia Fens Copyright © 2009.
Drinking just a few glasses of wine each week significantly reduces the success of IVF, a new study has found.According to the study of more than 2,500 couples, researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston found that drinking two glasses of wine reduced a woman’s chance of falling pregnant by 18%.While for men, drinking two strong pints of beer reduced their chance of having a child by 14%.Furthermore, women who had between one and nine units of white wine a week were 24% less likely to have a live birth and had a 23% greater chance of failed implantation of the IVF embryo.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009.
Drinking just a few glasses of wine each week significantly reduces the success of IVF, a new study has found.According to the study of more than 2,500 couples, researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston found that drinking two glasses of wine reduced a woman’s chance of falling pregnant by 18%.While for men, drinking two strong pints of beer reduced their chance of having a child by 14%.Furthermore, women who had between one and nine units of white wine a week were 24% less likely to have a live birth and had a 23% greater chance of failed implantation of the IVF embryo.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
New IVF test doubles chance of pregnancy
By Olivia Fens Copyright © 2009.
A new genetic-screening test more than doubles the success of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) success, a new study indicates.According to British scientists, the screening technique, called comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH), detects abnormalities in the number of chromosomes in an egg or embryo. By using CGH, the best embryos can be selected and transplanted into the mother's womb. So far more than 20 babies have been born as a result of the screening.The study found that 66% fell pregnant after screening, which was more than double the amount of women who fell pregnant without the screening (28%).
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009.
A new genetic-screening test more than doubles the success of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) success, a new study indicates.According to British scientists, the screening technique, called comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH), detects abnormalities in the number of chromosomes in an egg or embryo. By using CGH, the best embryos can be selected and transplanted into the mother's womb. So far more than 20 babies have been born as a result of the screening.The study found that 66% fell pregnant after screening, which was more than double the amount of women who fell pregnant without the screening (28%).
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009.
Baby Food Recall: A Baby Food Batch Contamination Feared by Plum Organics
By Meg C. © 2009 Associated Content, Inc.
A baby food recall of Plum Organics is announced. A baby food recall is serious, as this baby food recall could lead to botulism in infants. Plum Organics baby food, which has been recalled, is sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us locations.The baby food recall covers apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics and sold at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. The reason that Plum Organics gave for the baby food recall is that they fear that some of the baby food has been contaminated with a lethal toxin called botulism.
Luckily, no babies have fallen ill from the potentially tainted apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics. Botulism is a very serious toxin, and is very fatal.For the most part, botulism comes from inadequately canned foods. Typically, these foods are canned in the home. In order to avoid botulism, precautions must be made to ensure that a batch of canned food is adequately sterilized. Furthermore, heating food thoroughly - particularly home-canned foods - will help prevent botulism poisoning as well.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Associated Content, Inc.
A baby food recall of Plum Organics is announced. A baby food recall is serious, as this baby food recall could lead to botulism in infants. Plum Organics baby food, which has been recalled, is sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us locations.The baby food recall covers apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics and sold at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. The reason that Plum Organics gave for the baby food recall is that they fear that some of the baby food has been contaminated with a lethal toxin called botulism.
Luckily, no babies have fallen ill from the potentially tainted apple and carrot pouch foods made by Plum Organics. Botulism is a very serious toxin, and is very fatal.For the most part, botulism comes from inadequately canned foods. Typically, these foods are canned in the home. In order to avoid botulism, precautions must be made to ensure that a batch of canned food is adequately sterilized. Furthermore, heating food thoroughly - particularly home-canned foods - will help prevent botulism poisoning as well.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Associated Content, Inc.
Relax, go to counselling for better IVF chance
By Jane Kirby © Herald.ie 2008
Women who take part in group counselling and relaxation techniques have more than double the chance of falling pregnant through IVF, a small US study suggested today.
Attending up to 10 sessions of a specialised mind-body programme boosted pregnancy rates for those undergoing fertility treatment.
The effect was most profound among patients who considered themselves to be depressed.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Herald.ie 2008
Women who take part in group counselling and relaxation techniques have more than double the chance of falling pregnant through IVF, a small US study suggested today.
Attending up to 10 sessions of a specialised mind-body programme boosted pregnancy rates for those undergoing fertility treatment.
The effect was most profound among patients who considered themselves to be depressed.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Herald.ie 2008
Corrie star Smith has baby girl
© MMIX
Coronation Street actress Samia Smith, who plays Maria Connor in the soap, has given birth to a baby girl.
The 27-year-old and her property developer husband Matt Smith have named the new arrival Freya, who weighed in at 7lbs 2oz (3.2kg).
"Everyone at Corrie is thrilled at the latest arrival to the Corrie family," said a spokesman for the ITV series.
Smith's character is about to be embroiled in an explosive storyline involving fiance Tony Gordon.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © MMIX
Coronation Street actress Samia Smith, who plays Maria Connor in the soap, has given birth to a baby girl.
The 27-year-old and her property developer husband Matt Smith have named the new arrival Freya, who weighed in at 7lbs 2oz (3.2kg).
"Everyone at Corrie is thrilled at the latest arrival to the Corrie family," said a spokesman for the ITV series.
Smith's character is about to be embroiled in an explosive storyline involving fiance Tony Gordon.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © MMIX
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Breast is best for babies, so why do Irish mothers still opt for the bottle?
By Terence Cosgrave ©Independent.ie
You're more likely to get fed your mother's milk if you are the child of a drug addict in Sydney than if you are a child in Ireland.
An OECD report last month revealed that Ireland has the worst rate of breast-feeding in the developed world. In a health service that is feeling financial pressures -- and given that breastfeeding offers many health benefits to both mothers and children -- many doctors believe that strong action is now required to increase breastfeeding rates here. And that would include limiting the access baby formula companies have to maternity wards to market their products.
Dr Colm O'Donnell, a consultant neonatologist, said: "It is difficult to understand why the relationship is so abnormal -- some of it is explained by prudishness, some by our warped relationship with our bodies.
"Breastfeeding is analogous to speaking Irish. Once upon a time it was prevalent, then it was seen as a marker of poverty, now it's been appropriated by the upper middle class in South Dublin," he said.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE ©Independent.ie
You're more likely to get fed your mother's milk if you are the child of a drug addict in Sydney than if you are a child in Ireland.
An OECD report last month revealed that Ireland has the worst rate of breast-feeding in the developed world. In a health service that is feeling financial pressures -- and given that breastfeeding offers many health benefits to both mothers and children -- many doctors believe that strong action is now required to increase breastfeeding rates here. And that would include limiting the access baby formula companies have to maternity wards to market their products.
Dr Colm O'Donnell, a consultant neonatologist, said: "It is difficult to understand why the relationship is so abnormal -- some of it is explained by prudishness, some by our warped relationship with our bodies.
"Breastfeeding is analogous to speaking Irish. Once upon a time it was prevalent, then it was seen as a marker of poverty, now it's been appropriated by the upper middle class in South Dublin," he said.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE ©Independent.ie
Q&A: How to have a happy and healthy pregnancy
©Independent.ie
I have just discovered I am six weeks pregnant. I am delighted but I've heard a lot of old wives' tales relating to common problems that occur during pregnancy. I work in an all-male environment and none of my friends has any children yet. What is the best advice you can give me?
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. The next step you need to take is making an appointment to see your GP for an ante-natal check. He/she will listen to you and give you advice regarding your concerns. They will refer you to your local ante-natal clinic or obstetrician.
Tiredness
In the early months of pregnancy, you may feel tired or even exhausted. Take as much rest as you can. This lack of energy may well improve as your pregnancy develops.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE ©Independent.ie
I have just discovered I am six weeks pregnant. I am delighted but I've heard a lot of old wives' tales relating to common problems that occur during pregnancy. I work in an all-male environment and none of my friends has any children yet. What is the best advice you can give me?
First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. The next step you need to take is making an appointment to see your GP for an ante-natal check. He/she will listen to you and give you advice regarding your concerns. They will refer you to your local ante-natal clinic or obstetrician.
Tiredness
In the early months of pregnancy, you may feel tired or even exhausted. Take as much rest as you can. This lack of energy may well improve as your pregnancy develops.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE ©Independent.ie
Antidepressants Raise Risk of Pre-Term Birth: Study
By Julie Steenhuysen Copyright © 2009 ABC News
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Danish women who took antidepressants during pregnancy had twice the risk of pre-term delivery as other women, and their babies were more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit than those of women who did not take the drugs, researchers reported on Monday.
They said antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, which affect a message-carrying brain chemical called serotonin, may raise the risk of pre-term delivery and affect a baby's health at birth.
Some prior studies have found that drugs in this class can cross the placenta and appear in the umbilical cord blood of babies whose mothers have taken them.
"The study justifies increased awareness to the possible effects of intrauterine exposure to antidepressants," Dr. Najaaraq Lund of the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau, and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 ABC News
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Danish women who took antidepressants during pregnancy had twice the risk of pre-term delivery as other women, and their babies were more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit than those of women who did not take the drugs, researchers reported on Monday.
They said antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, which affect a message-carrying brain chemical called serotonin, may raise the risk of pre-term delivery and affect a baby's health at birth.
Some prior studies have found that drugs in this class can cross the placenta and appear in the umbilical cord blood of babies whose mothers have taken them.
"The study justifies increased awareness to the possible effects of intrauterine exposure to antidepressants," Dr. Najaaraq Lund of the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau, and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009 ABC News
So what can you eat when you're pregnant?
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
The news this week, that a Sainsbury's worker refused to serve a pregnant woman unpasteurised cheddar is infuriating for several reasons.
The idea that it's helpful to "offer your opinion" on what pregnant women should - and more often should not - be eating is commonly held and acted upon regularly in my experience so far. And, as was the case with the interfering shopworker here, people all too often get their facts wrong, with Sainsbury's admitting today, "unpasteurised Cheddar does not pose a risk to health during pregnancy".
That said, it's hardly surprising that there is confusion - despite the Food Standards Agency recommending that unpasteurised hard cheeses are safe during pregnancy, some retailers, such as Waitrose, do err on the side of caution and put a warning to pregnant women on their packaging.And the confusion doesn't stop there. Peanuts, raspberries, honey, taramasalata, liquorice, lettuce, coffee, chamomile tea, macaroons, seafood, all oily fish, sausages, chillies, sweetbreads, kidneys, health drinks (eg Purdeys), live yoghurt, cream cheese, pork ... these are just a few of the foods which I have been misguidedly told that I should avoid entirely during pregnancy, usually just at the point when I'm about to put the food in question into my mouth.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
The news this week, that a Sainsbury's worker refused to serve a pregnant woman unpasteurised cheddar is infuriating for several reasons.
The idea that it's helpful to "offer your opinion" on what pregnant women should - and more often should not - be eating is commonly held and acted upon regularly in my experience so far. And, as was the case with the interfering shopworker here, people all too often get their facts wrong, with Sainsbury's admitting today, "unpasteurised Cheddar does not pose a risk to health during pregnancy".
That said, it's hardly surprising that there is confusion - despite the Food Standards Agency recommending that unpasteurised hard cheeses are safe during pregnancy, some retailers, such as Waitrose, do err on the side of caution and put a warning to pregnant women on their packaging.And the confusion doesn't stop there. Peanuts, raspberries, honey, taramasalata, liquorice, lettuce, coffee, chamomile tea, macaroons, seafood, all oily fish, sausages, chillies, sweetbreads, kidneys, health drinks (eg Purdeys), live yoghurt, cream cheese, pork ... these are just a few of the foods which I have been misguidedly told that I should avoid entirely during pregnancy, usually just at the point when I'm about to put the food in question into my mouth.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tourists crowd to see giant Indonesian baby: mother
Copyright © 2009
KISARAN, Indonesia — An giant Indonesian newborn has become a tourist attraction, with dozens of people crowding a hospital to see the 8.7 kilogramme (19.2 pound) baby boy, his mother said Friday.
Muhammad Akbar Risuddin, Indonesia's heaviest-ever baby, who is 62 centimetres (24.4 inches) long, was born by Caesarian section this week at a public hospital in North Sumatra.
"I feel very happy. This is God's blessing... My baby brought us fortune," his mother Ani, 41, told AFP.
"My baby constantly wants to keep feeding. My milk isn't enough, so we're having to give him bottles too," she said.
"I never imagined I'd deliver such a big baby. I thought I was going to have twins.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009
KISARAN, Indonesia — An giant Indonesian newborn has become a tourist attraction, with dozens of people crowding a hospital to see the 8.7 kilogramme (19.2 pound) baby boy, his mother said Friday.
Muhammad Akbar Risuddin, Indonesia's heaviest-ever baby, who is 62 centimetres (24.4 inches) long, was born by Caesarian section this week at a public hospital in North Sumatra.
"I feel very happy. This is God's blessing... My baby brought us fortune," his mother Ani, 41, told AFP.
"My baby constantly wants to keep feeding. My milk isn't enough, so we're having to give him bottles too," she said.
"I never imagined I'd deliver such a big baby. I thought I was going to have twins.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE Copyright © 2009
How Can A Pregnant Woman Get Pregnant Again?
By Dan Fletcher © 2009 Time Inc.
An Indonesian woman gave birth to a 19-pound, two-ounce baby behemoth on Sept. 24, but that's only the second weirdest pregnancy tale in September. The strangest belongs to Julia Grovenburg, a 31-year-old Arkansas woman who has a double pregnancy. No, not twins — Grovenberg became pregnant twice, two weeks apart. Isn't that supposed to be impossible.
Almost. There have only been 10 recorded cases of the phenomenon, dubbed superfetation. In Grovenburg's case, she became pregnant with a girl (whom they've decided to name Jillian) and a boy (Hudson) two weeks later. The babies have separate due dates — Jillian on Dec. 24, Hudson on Jan. 10.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Time Inc.
An Indonesian woman gave birth to a 19-pound, two-ounce baby behemoth on Sept. 24, but that's only the second weirdest pregnancy tale in September. The strangest belongs to Julia Grovenburg, a 31-year-old Arkansas woman who has a double pregnancy. No, not twins — Grovenberg became pregnant twice, two weeks apart. Isn't that supposed to be impossible.
Almost. There have only been 10 recorded cases of the phenomenon, dubbed superfetation. In Grovenburg's case, she became pregnant with a girl (whom they've decided to name Jillian) and a boy (Hudson) two weeks later. The babies have separate due dates — Jillian on Dec. 24, Hudson on Jan. 10.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © 2009 Time Inc.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
EastEnders star says twins "a miracle"
'EastEnders' star Jo Joyner has been discussing her delight at becoming pregnant after receiving IVF treatment.
Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning in the soap, and husband Neil Madden are expecting twins.
In an interview with OK! magazine, the actress said: "We had been trying over the course of four years. You go for fertility tests and we found out it was unlikely we'd have children naturally so we went for it."We're quite young and there was still a chance we could conceive, so we decided to give it three tries and if it didn't work out, we'd reassess and look into adoption."
Joyner became pregnant after her first cycle of IVF treatment.
"We're very lucky," she said. "It's a miracle, really. That's why we're not secretive about it."
She added: "I was very sick for the first four months. I've been wanting to be pregnant for so long you can't really complain."
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © RTE.ie
Why should mums-to-be fork out €4k?
Monday September 14 2009
'Are you going for another one?' somebody asked the other day. My jaw dropped. Another one? Good God, I'm only just coming to terms with the fact that I have one sprog.
Although I love my little man to bits, I'm in no hurry to provide him with a sibling. He's now sleeping through the night and I get to catch my breath every now and then, but the thought of going through all those hospital visits again makes me feel exhausted. And thank God I don't have that momentous decision to make; public, semi-private or private.
People always ask me about my hospital experience and, of course, everybody's story is different but I was a public patient in the National Maternity Hospital.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and the staff were always courteous and nice. I'd read, on internet forums, horror stories of long waiting times but I never waited more than an hour and a half to see the doctor and I always brought a book to keep me company.
Except for my last visit, I saw the same doctor all the time and she was at the birth. The entire experience was paid for by the State.
Now that we're in a recession, I'm sure many women who might have gone private before are now thinking about going public. Even private health insurance doesn't cover the consultant's fee which can be anything up to €4,000.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Herald.ie
Real Life: Older mums' bum deal
THE average age at which women have their first child is now over 30 and increasingly mums are waiting until their late 30s to start a family.
As well as decreasing fertility, older mums also face concerns about genetic and chromosomal disorders. The Government has not kept pace with this trend and does not provide a prenatal screening programme.
The HSE confirmed there is no national policy on a population basis, with screening only being offered by doctors on an individual patient basis where there are risk factors.
There are three main screening tests for genetic and chromosomal disorders. These include early stage tests like the scan and blood test at 11 to 12 weeks and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), involving placental tissue sampling.
Later stage tests include amniocentesis, usually carried out at 14 to 16 weeks, during which small amounts of amniotic fluid are extracted from the womb. Both amniocentesis and CVS carry a small risk of miscarriage.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Independent.ie
Three in five mums-to-be still drinking
AN incredible 60pc of women continue to booze while pregnant, even though they may be doing irreparable harm to their unborn child.
Doctors have warned against drinking while pregnant because victims of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can suffer from life-long behavioural, physical and mental problems.
Experts believe that legislation is needed to heighten awareness of the disorder.
Dr Siobhan Barry expressed her worries about the findings in her studies.
"The fact that 6 out of 10 women continue to drink is desperately worrying," she said.
awareness
She criticised the Government for not creating awareness of the subject and allowing Ireland to fall behind the rest of Europe in terms of labelling drink containers with prohibitive messages.
"There is little awareness in Ireland of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
"This contrasts with countries like France, the US and Scandinavia where labelling is part of a targeted public health effort to raise awareness of the issue," she added.
Health chiefs have also come under fire from charitable organisations for their failure to highlight the issue.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Herald.ie
Mothers-to-be still believe in old wives’ tales
Mothers-to-be in Britain still mistakenly believe that eating a curry brings on labour, according to a new survey out today.
Almost one in five (18 per cent) women think wolfing down spicy food will help induce labour, while 38 per cent believe raspberry leaf tea is the answer.
Other “old wives’ tales” frequently thought to be true include not being able to start exercising during pregnancy (39 per cent) and that sleeping on your back can harm the unborn baby (25 per cent).
The survey also found that 13 per cent of women believe they are having a boy if they carry the baby “all at the front” while 7 per cent think drinking coffee in pregnancy affects their baby’s skin.
The poll, of more than 1,200 women, was carried out by the charity Tommy’s and Johnson’s Baby.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Irishtimes.com
At risk of pregnancy?
NEWS FOCUS: Mothers-to-be have been identified as an ‘at risk’ group in the swine flu alert – but just how great are the dangers to women and their unborn children?, writes KITTY HOLLAND
PREGNANT WOMEN – of which there are record numbers in Ireland, according to last week’s CSO figures – have been identified as one of the most “at risk” groups of developing serious problems on contracting swine flu.
The HSE says pregnant women will be among the priority groups for vaccination when the vaccine becomes available sometime next month.
Not only are they at greater risk of contracting the virus – because their immune systems are suppressed – but they are also in danger of developing severe and even fatal complications because their respiratory systems are increasingly compromised as pregnancy progresses.
This can lead to problems for their own health but also, particularly in the first trimester, to spontaneous miscarriage due to infection in some cases.
In the United States, where they make up 1 per cent of the population, pregnant women have accounted for 6 per cent of H1N1 cases and a disproportionate number of cases with severe complications. There have been a number of deaths among otherwise healthy, pregnant women.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Irishtimes.com
Don't wait until too late for a baby: women warned
YOUNG women have been urged not to leave conception in the hands of science and to plan for a family the same way they might map out a career path.
The advice, from Relationships Australia chief executive Anne Hollonds, comes on the heels of a survey showing that three-quarters of generation X (aged 30-39) and Y (18-29) women plan to have children, but only 16 per cent are thinking about having them now.
Almost half of gen Y women surveyed ranked their career as more important than starting a family, with one third saying they were concerned about losing their freedom once they became entangled with family responsibilities.
Career goals did not rate as highly among their gen X predecessors. Only 17 per cent of gen X women surveyed said their career was more important than their desire to have children.
Among women of this age, the greatest barrier to having a family was an inability to find an appropriate partner -- 54 per cent of surveyed gen X women had not found the right person with whom to have children. Ms Hollonds said women needed to be more proactive in planning for a family in their 20s, as a woman's fertility began to decline in her mid-30s.
"Just as you are going to choose the university you are going to, or an employment path, it is useful to think ahead about having a family as one of the many things that you want to do in life, rather than just filing it away until it is too late," she said.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © News Limited
Take more babies away from bad parents, says Barnardo's chief
Many more children need to be taken into care at birth to stop them being damaged beyond repair by inadequate parents, the chief executive of the children's charity Barnardo's has told the Observer.
Martin Narey called for less effort to be directed at "fixing families that can't be fixed" and for social workers to be braver about removing children at risk .
After revelations about the neglect and dysfunctional background of two young brothers from Doncaster who viciously attacked an 11-year-old boy and his nine-year-old nephew, social workers have once again come under fire for failing to intervene at an early stage.
The brothers, aged 11 and 10, had been known to social services and police for several years. Their mother had allegedly given them cannabis as toddlers and forced them to forage for food in bins, while their father was allegedly a violent alcoholic. Despite this, the pair had been taken into care just three weeks before the attacks. The case has led to Doncaster social services opening an inquiry, its seventh serious case review since 2004.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
Pregnant? Eat your fruits and vegs to avoid a cold
Eating at least 7 servings of fruits and vegetables every day when you are pregnant can reduce your risk of an upper respiratory tract infection.
The study, published recently in the online issue ofPublic Health Nutrition, reported that eating at least 7 servings of fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of having a respiratory infection when you get pregnant.
Having an upper respiratory tract infection when you are pregnant is a common maternal infection, and may affect both mother and child, with an association reported for some congenital conditions.
The study involved more than 1100 eligible mothers with ages ranging from 13 to 45 years, with an average of 28. The average intake of veggies and fruit was just over two servings of fruits and two servings of veggies each day (a total of four servings) which is way below the recommended daily serving of seven.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Clarity Digital Group
Baby boom in Wexford with 2,509 last year
THERE were over 2,500 children born in County Wexford last year as the Model County played its part in Ireland's latest baby boom.
The number of births registered in the State last year was the highest since the end of the 19th century, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The figures show there were 75,065 births registered in 2008, the highest number since 1896 when there were 75,332 births registered in the 26 counties.
In Co. Wexford there were 2,509 births registered in 2008, more than in all our neighbouring counties (Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny), as well as Co. Waterford.
READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE © Independent.ie
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