Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
baby
Ultrasound Reveals Breastfeeding Mechanics
May 12th
Although it might look like a baby is chewing on the mother's nipple, ultrasound images show that the infant actually removes milk by creating a vacuum - also known as sucking.
The finding is important, as it could explain why some babies fail to take to the breast. It may also shed new light on why - for a minority of women - breastfeeding really can be a painful experience.
"There have been two theories about how breast milk is expressed," says Donna Geddes of the University of Western Australia in Crawley.
"One is that the baby uses a peristaltic or compression motion to actually push the milk out of the nipple and breast. The other theory is that vacuum is primary in removing the milk."
Until now, most studies examining the mechanics of breastfeeding have focused on bottle-feeding infants, or on old X-rays that were of poor quality.
Instead, Geddes and her colleagues combined ultrasound imaging of infants suckling on the breast with measurements of the strength of the vacuum created by the baby's mouth in 20 infants aged 3 to 24 weeks as they breastfed.
"What we see is that when the tongue is lowered and the vacuum is applied, that's when the milk is coming out of the breast, and that doesn't involve any compression of the nipple," says Geddes. "It's not a milking action at all."
They also found that infants who struggled to breastfeed generated much weaker vacuums than successful breastfeeders. This may explain why babies with a cleft palate often fail to breastfeed, as do premature babies: preterm infants don't have strong enough mouth muscles to suck hard enough.
The next step is to devise a simple and universal test that could be used to assess babies' ability to suck. This could reassure mothers whose infants are struggling to feed that it's not their fault. "Currently there are no measurements to assure the mother or the clinician that things [in the breast] are working," says Geddes.
For such women, keeping the milk flowing using a breast pump and using this to top up breastfeeding until the baby is strong enough to suck effectively may be a better option than giving up on breastfeeding altogether.
The team also looked at women who found breastfeeding painful and discovered that their infants had a particularly vigorous action.
"They're strong suckers," says Geddes. Some were also distorting or crushing the nipple. Further study of these infants may aid the development of better nipple shields to reduce pain during breastfeeding.
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Healthy Baby Campaign Uses Texts to Reach Mothers
Feb 4th
Expectant mothers are getting a new tool to help keep themselves and their babies healthy: pregnancy tips sent directly to their cell phones.
The so-called text4baby campaign is the first free, health education program in the U.S. to harness the reach of mobile phones, according to its sponsors, which include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, WellPoint and CareFirst BlueCross and Blue Shield. Wireless carriers including AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have agreed to waive all fees for receiving the texts.
Organizers say texting is an effective means of delivering wellness tips because 90 percent of people in the U.S. have cell phones.
"Especially if you start talking about low-income people, cell phones are the indispensable tool for reaching them and engaging them about their health," said Paul Meyer, president of Voxiva, a company which operates health texting programs in Africa, Latin America and India.
Studies in those countries have shown that periodic texts can reduce smoking and other unhealthy behaviors in pregnant mothers.
Meyer said the U.S. program, run by Voxiva, will be the largest health-related texting program ever undertaken.
Under the new service, mothers-to-be who text "BABY" to 511411 will receive weekly text messages, timed to their due date or their baby's birth date. The messages, which have been vetted by government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics. The messages will continue through the baby's first birthday.
Text4baby is expected to be announced Thursday morning by officials from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. Government officials will be publicizing the campaign in speeches and promotional materials.
Organizers hope the effort can curb premature births, which can be caused by poor nutrition, excessive stress, smoking and drinking alcohol. About 500,000 babies are born prematurely in the U.S. each year, and 28,000 infants die before their first birthday, according to the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. The nonprofit is among the sponsors of the campaign.
"The real scary thing is that we're an industrialized nation and we're not doing very well on infant mortality, and we know prematurity is a big part of that," said the group's director, Judy Meehan.
Currently the U.S. ranks 30th worldwide for infant mortality, according to Meehan, behind most Western European nations.
Researchers at the George Washington University have agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of text4baby by measuring health trends for mothers and newborns.
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How to Train a Baby-Friendly Dog
Jan 14th
At this stage of your pregnancy, you now have nine months or less to change your dog's behavior, to keep his world spinning on its axis, but to graduate him from number one spoiled brat to the loving, happy, welcoming family pet, you surely want.
Begin teaching your dog not to touch, destroy or bury baby toys. You begin by selecting toys for your dog that look and feel no different from your babies toys. This is important, because a dog would find it difficult to differentiate between his own, squeaky toys and the squishy toys you picked out for your son or daughter. Spend a few minutes playing with the dog and his favorite toy. When he is fairly excited at the toy, throw it away, but keep it directly in his view. Then, put a couple of baby toys on the floor and tosses into their midst. Encourage him to go get his toy, and then go nuts when he consistently chooses baby toys instead of the dog toy. Trade the right toy for a treat. Try training as often as you can, at least once a week for a month and slowly increase the number of baby toys each time.
If your dog had never been around a baby, it's a very good idea to teach them not to get excited or scared by the crying, screaming, or gurgling he's likely to experience. You can desensitize your dog to baby sounds by placing your dog in a room with a CD player, or a tape of baby noises. Sit down and relax before turning on the player. Then put one hand on the volume control and watch the dog closely. Slowly raise the vitamin to up and watch this recognition from him, typically a dog will turn his head from one side to the other or prick up one or both ears. Let the tape play for the longest possible. 24 hours will be ideal but if it is not possible, then the first exposure must be in excess of four hours. The more the tapes play over the first two days the better this works. This is the desensitization process in which a dog learns to accept the sounds.
A professional dog trainer should deal with dogs who are truly aggressive toward people and or dogs and other animals. Don't let him become obsessed with the ball or toy. A run in the mornings is a good idea, or the park might work, because dogs who exercise makes far more relaxed and happy companions who are likely to sleep the rest of the day.
Dogs learn that they can get considerable attention by jumping up and grabbing a hand or clothing. Even negative attention such as shouting or pushing a dog away. This can be dangerous when the baby is around because it would be considered playing too rough if the dog is jumping on the baby. To help the dog learn not to jump, keep a container of dog treats just outside your front door. When visitors come to your home they should each put a few treats in their pocket before coming in. Everyone should ignore all of your dog's attempts to gain attention. No looking, no talking, and no touching! Eventually fed up with being ignored, your dog will sit down or wander off. At this time, you or your visitors can quietly call for him and ask him to sit. Then, he can and get treats, but only when he stays calm.
Think about the impact on the baby smells are going to have on your dog. I suggest you get your doggies used to as many smells as you can, including baby powder, the lotion, diaper rash cream, and so on. Put a smell on a cloth, and leave it in your dogs resting area for a day. After substituting in different smells, your dog will come accustomed to normal baby smells.
One of the traditional ways to introduce the newborns to the resident dog is to let him sniff a blanket that your baby has slept on. Certainly there is no harm in doing this, and it will be the first real exposure to your baby. Leave the blanket with your dog overnight.
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Gymnast Shannon Miller Gives Advice to Moms
Jan 13th
Shannon Miller is the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in U.S. history with 7 Olympic and 9 World Championship medals. Now mom to 2 1/2-month-old son Rocco, this 32-year-old former Olympian is trading in her passion for the balance beam to help new moms balance their lives with a series of fitness DVDs and a prenatal cookbook.
How is motherhood so far?
"Our son was born on October 28th at 7 lbs, 11 oz. It truly is a miracle how a baby changes your life. Things that seemed so important before take a back seat to Rocco’s smile.
Everyone tells you to nap when the baby naps……yeah right! You’re too busy doing a million other chores, working or just staring at him. It’s so important to take time for yourself or you’ll go crazy."
Was choosing a baby name easy for you two? Did you know you were having a boy?
"We call him Rocco to avoid confusion and because it’s so darn cute! He is actually named “John” after his father and his paternal great grandfather and “Rocco” after his other great grandfather. He’s a 5th generation Rocco!
Choosing a name was pretty difficult. With a name like Falconetti you’ve got to have something that rolls well. We narrowed it down to three names the night before we had him. We took one look at him after he was born and knew he was a Rocco."
Looking back, do you feel the pressures of the Olympics is too much for a young person? What was it like for you?
"Truly, I think it’s up to the individual. Children don’t always get enough credit for knowing what they want and going after it. Some children can absolutely handle it and others crumble under the pressure. It certainly helps to have a strong support system around you including parents, coaches, teachers and friends. And, above all, you have to love what you are doing. You cannot fake passion.
Did you workout during your pregnancy? Did you focus on working out, or were you happy to just 'let it all go' for once? I can imagine how hard it would be to keep up with your past gymnast body!
"I did workout while I was pregnant. In fact, I was so clueless as to what I should or shouldn’t do during pregnancy that I did a ton of research. I even ended up taping a “fit pregnancy” DVD to help other women maintain a fit pregnancy. I feel better, sleep better and have more energy when I work out. And it makes it so much easier for your body to bounce back after delivery. In addition, it actually helped with my morning sickness (24/7 for 6 months)."
How are you feeling postpartum? Have the 'baby blues' reared their ugly heads?
"By the end of week three I realized I absolutely had to leave the house. I needed some fresh air and sunlight just to maintain my sanity. I started taking daily walks with Rocco in his stroller and it was perfect! John and I also try to take date nights from time to time."
What did all your friends and family 'forget' to tell you about pregnancy and childbirth? Is there anything that surprised you during your experiences?
"No one can truly prepare you for the first day you arrive home with your new baby. The nurses are gone and you realize that you are now in charge. Talk about terrifying!
I got a lot of advice and stories. Many were horror stories about the delivery process. The one thing that surprised me the most was that the delivery ended up being the easiest part. I was induced due to gestational diabetes. It was such a calm and rather painless experience."
Are you breastfeeding? If so, how is that going?
"Yes, I knew I wanted to breastfeed if at all possible. So far, so good. Rocco is a great eater! My biggest issue is trying to drink enough water to help keep my milk up. I’ve also been trying to decrease dairy and nuts in case it causes him issues. Those are huge staples in my diet so that’s difficult."
If you could make one confession - either about your years as a world-class gymnast or as a new mom (or both!) - what would it be?
"Wow, I guess what most people don’t realize is that I am nowhere near as confident or self assured as I may seem. I was never the popular girl growing up. I didn’t know how to wear makeup or fix my hair. I was intimidated by everything, except being on the balance beam. Sometimes, you have to almost trick yourself into being self confident. I learned to fake confidence once I walked onto the floor mat in a competition and realized later that I actually felt more confident.
Being a new mom, everything is terrifying. You never feel like you have things figured out. So when I get overwhelmed I “fake” being self assured. When I’m calm my son is calm."
If you are working on any other project or with any charities, please feel free to discuss.
"I have been working on so many projects I am really excited about. I filmed two DVDs Shannon Miller’s Ultimate Fit Pregnancy and Shannon Miller’s Body After Baby.
I also wrote a prenatal cookbook with my friend, and chef, Jessica Bright.
I have two other fitness books coming out in the spring. One is a yoga book. The other is an abdominal/core book. I call these “To Go” books since they are small enough to fit in your purse or gym bag. You can take them with you for great exercises to get you trim and toned. It’s been busy but it was a great way to spend this year. I have found a passion for health and wellness for women and was able to dive in and finish some of these projects I’ve been working on for years.
In addition, we’ll be holding the 2nd Annual Shannon Miller Kids Marathon on May 1st in Jacksonville, Florida. The event raises awareness for childhood obesity, the focus of my foundation."
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Handling the Office Baby Boom
Jan 13th
A growing number of employers are facing boomlets in office fertility. The proportion of pregnant women who are in the labor force has been edging higher for most of the past three decades, and trend may be accelerating: 61% of expectant or new mothers were in the labor force in 2008, up from 56% to 57% in the preceding three years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. For employers, that brings an array of challenges-from scheduling and planning around doctor appointments, childbirth and parental leave, to enlisting co-workers to step up and fill in for new parents.
Indeed, many companies don't handle pregnancy all that well. Women complain about being laid off shortly after they reveal their pregnancies, or being written off for promotions or demoted. Federal data suggest many expectant mothers encounter problems at work: a near-record 6,196 pregnancy-discrimination complaints were filed last year, up 11% from 5,587 in 2007 and just slightly below 2008's record high of 6,285, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says.
Some companies, though, are finding benefits from managing expectant employees. The nimbleness required to handle the multiple pregnancies in the short term, these businesses say, can give rise to cross-training and teamwork that deepen their bench of talent in the long term. Companies that deliberately try to retain new parents, through flexibility, child-care help or babies-at-work programs, say the policies lure women back early from maternity leave, foster loyalty and heighten their allure to skilled recruits.
Of course, getting hired at a company where a significant minority of your co-workers are pregnant can feel, for non-parents, like landing on a strange planet. When Josh Ashline, a single man in his twenties, was hired at Zutano, he was promptly invited to an office baby shower—his first. He had to ask his boss for help picking out a gift, says Mr. Ashline, who is 29. "It was a little strange."
Among other quirks, long lines form at the women's room, causing "extra delays with our pregnant crew," Mr. Belenky says. Office chatter centers on nutrition, sleep and doctor visits.
Multiple co-worker pregnancies can be a challenge for everyone. Coordinating staff meetings when all five participants "all have a doctor's appointment some time in the next three days can be difficult," says Denise Towne, Zutano's production manager. And even with all of Zutano's careful planning, nature doesn't always cooperate; some babies arrived early, while other expectant moms continued to trudge in to work every day well after their due dates.
When Ms. Towne's production assistant, Amber Finn, took maternity leave, Ms. Towne farmed parts of her job to other employees. One, a customer-service worker, learned production-reporting skills that later earned her a promotion, Ms. Towne says. All the cross-training "makes everyone more valuable."
Asking co-workers to fill in during others' leaves or doctor appointments can cause overload or resentment. Some employers hire temps to fill the gap, but most handle maternity leave like vacations or other kinds of disability leave, parceling out pieces of the absent worker's job to co-workers, re-assigning projects or putting them on hold. In the best cases, employees reciprocate by planning carefully for their absences, repaying co-workers for pinch-hitting, and making up missed work time whenever possible.
Focusing on objectives over face time and fostering good communication among co-workers have helped Words & Numbers weather its baby boom, Mr. Evans says. The company subsidizes an on-site child-care center; its toddler room is visible from a conference room through floor-to-ceiling windows, keeping family issues constantly on the radar screen.
Asked if his company is on a calendar year for financial-reporting purposes, Mr. Evans replies with a laugh, "We're on trimesters."
Borshoff, an Indianapolis marketing, communications and advertising agency that has had several waves of multiple pregnancies among its 42 employees, allows new moms or dads to bring infants to work for up to six months, says Susan Matthews, a principal in the firm. Participants take a temporary cut to 80% of full pay, on the assumption that infant care will distract them. New parents who work in an open area are given temporary offices if needed. And Borshoff sets ground rules for terminating babies-at-work setups if they disrupt the workplace.
Such policies are cheaper than offering a child-care center and, if set up properly, sharply reduce hurdles to new mothers' return-to-work, says Carla Moquin, president of Parents in the Workplace, Salt Lake City, a nonprofit advocacy and resource organization. Ms. Moquin, who keeps a database on the subject, says she knows of 150 U.S. employers that have babies-at-work programs.
Zutano is among them. Ms. Finn says knowing she could bring her baby to work contributed to her decision to return just six weeks after childbirth.
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Breast not always best, study shows
Jan 6th
Women should forget what they have been told about the health benefits of breastfeeding, researchers have claimed.
A controversial new study has concluded that, contrary to the view of many experts, breast is not necessarily best for children in the first months of life.
Professor Sven Carlsen, who led the Norwegian team, declared: "Baby formula is as good as breast milk."
What really affects the health of a growing infant is the hormone balance in the womb before birth, according to the research.
This in turn influences a woman's ability to breast feed, resulting in a misleading association between breastfeeding and child health, it is claimed.
The only benefit from breastfeeding supported by genuine evidence is a "small IQ advantage", said the scientists. And even this was yet to be properly confirmed.
Prof Carlsen's team reviewed data from more than 50 international studies looking at the relationship between breastfeeding and health. Most concluded that the more children were breastfed, the healthier they were.
On the surface this was correct, said Prof Carlsen, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. But he added: "Even if this is statistically true, it is not because of breastfeeding itself. There are very few studies that have examined the underlying controls on breastfeeding ability."
The largest study on breastfeeding was conducted in Belarus and involved more than 17,000 women and children who were monitored for six years. It "cut the legs out from underneath most of the assertions that breastfeeding has health benefits" said the scientists. For example, the study found no evidence that breastfeeding reduced the risk of asthma and allergies in children.
The research is published in the January edition of the journal Acta Obstestricia and Gynecologia Scandinavica.
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Insect Repellent Linked to Genital Defects
Dec 2nd
European researchers have found an association between expectant moms who used the repellent in the earliest phase of pregnancy and an increased rate of a condition known as hypospadias, which occurs when the opening of the penis - the urethra - is on the underside of the penis, instead of the top.
The condition, which often requires corrective surgery, affects 1-2 boys in every 500 births.
"This particular defect of the male urethra is quite common, and has been linked to environmental sources as well as genetic problems," Chris Winder, a University of New South Wales Professor of Toxicology and Occupational Health in Australia said.
"Here is more evidence that pregnant mothers, or mothers planning pregnancy, should limit their exposure to chemicals such as insect repellents," he added.
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The Basics of Preparing the Baby Nursery
Nov 9th
Before you start choosing bedding and matching nightlights, make sure you have the basics of the room ready.
Measure the room and sketch it on paper. Keep a copy in your wallet - you’ll refer to it during many stages of your nursery planning.
Include the heights and widths of the windows, closets, and doors.
Note the locations of electrical outlets, heat and air conditioning vents or systems, and light fixtures.
Take a look at the walls. Is there paneling or wallpaper that you would like to remove? An old coat of paint that needs refreshing?
The fastest and easiest way to create an environment is with paint. The new zero and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints are perfect for the nursery since they are odorless and emit no toxic gases. They also dry fast and cover well. These luscious, environmentally friendly products can be tinted to any color.
As for finishes, forget flat paint and go with eggshells and satins. They’re more durable and easier to clean. When you’re ready to choose a color, paint large samples on your walls and evaluate them during different times of the day. Colors change as the light does.
One coat or two? One might do, so after your first lap around the room, take a look for missed spots and then decide.
You can easily transform a room with wainscot or a simple chair rail. Supplies for either are available from a retailer like Home Depot. If you’d like to create the same kind of impact without hardware, try using a different color paint for the lower half (3 to 4 feet) of the walls – or paint a horizontal stripe around the perimeter of the room.
When your child is a bit older, you can add personality (and fun!) to his or her room by adding chalkboards, dry erase boards, or cork to the bottom half of the walls.
Floor coverings are not just attractive, but they can also cushion a delicate bottom, soften late night cries, and warm up a chilly room. If you have your heart set on wall-to-wall carpeting, pay attention to what the carpet's materials. Synthetic carpet can harbor dust and dirt, and some adhesives may contain V.O.C.’s.
If wall-to-wall carpeting is not in your plans, there are many options to consider. But before you explore your choices, evaluate your floor’s current condition. If you already have carpet, peel back a corner and take a peek. You may find hardwood, cement, or a plywood subfloor. This is your platform and it needs to be in good shape. Seams should be flush. Nails and screw heads must be sunk - you want to be able to vacuum and damp mop a child’s room.
Floor coverings made from natural products are allergen-free and a breeze to clean. These materials include: linoleum, bamboo, and cork.
Cork, the latest in eco-green flooring materials, is a harvested resource that retains warmth and is loaded with air pockets that act as natural shock and sound absorbers. Many cork tiles have no VOCs and come in an array of colors. Installation is very straightforward : You apply adhesive with a roller to a cleaned and prepared surface and glue the tiles down. And just like linoleum, cork cuts with a knife.
Laminates, such as the wood grained styles from Pergo, are popular in children’s rooms. Unlike hardwoods that are nailed into subfloors, laminate floors float on the surface. There are two kinds of laminates: the "snap-together" style, which is easier to install but not as structurally sound, and the "glue-together" type. Both are durable and childproof.
Map out where to place major furniture and necessities. These should include, but are not limited to:
- Crib
- Changing Table
- Dresser (the changing table may be part of this)
- Bookcase
- Toy chest
- Chair/Glider/Rocker
When deciding where to place the crib, consider the following:
WINDOW PLACEMENT
For your baby’s safety, don’t place the crib under a window. Your child will be standing and climbing in no time and windows can lead to a dangerous fall.
FURNITURE NEAR THE CRIB
Sooner than you think, your baby will be reaching out of her crib and grabbing at anything she can get her hands on. If you will be keeping the changing table, dresser, or other furniture near the crib, make sure you do not leave loose fabric, blankets, towels, or small items within baby’s reach.
AIR VENTS
You don’t want hot or cool air blowing on your baby's head. But you also don’t want your little one to get too hot or too cold; 65-70 degrees is the recommended temperature range.
WINDOWS
Most babies sleep best in dark rooms. Look into blackout shades that can go under your drapes or curtains. There are also decorative, light-blocking roman shades are be attractive on their own. As your baby becomes more mobile, he can pull on drapes and curtains, or get tangled in window blind cords. To prevent these potential dangers, avoid using long curtains or drapes and consider cordless blinds or use cord protectors.
LIGHTING
Lighting can help create a soothing environment and you'll want to include both bright and low level settings in your plan. Dimmer controls make it easy to go from playtime to naptime.
SAFETY
If your house is not already equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, look into installing these throughout your home and in the nursery.
REPAIRS
If the room needs any major repairs, such as heating or electrical, take care of them as soon as possible. Once the baby arrives, it will become more difficult to work on these problems.
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