Family Health

Health and Safety at Home - Make Your Home Baby Safe

2008-05-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

There are many safety devices that you may want to purchase with a baby in the house. Some you may want to install before the baby arrives home from the hospital; others can wait until the baby begins to crawl.

One of the first things that you may want to do is to install a smoke detector on every floor of your home and near all the bedrooms. These are essential as a first warning system to alert you to a fire anywhere in your home. Once you have installed this device, make sure that you have new batteries in and test it to ensure that it is working properly. After this initial test, you should retest it once a month to check the batteries and to ensure that it is not malfunctioning.

You may also want to install a carbon monoxide detector near the sleeping areas in your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. This poisoning can occur gradually so that you may not be aware that it is even happening. This detector will alert you if the carbon monoxide in your home is at dangerous levels. You should install this device if your home has gas or oil heat or an attached garage, as these factors add to the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Once your child begins to crawl, you may want to install anti-scald devices in your home. These devices can be installed in your faucets and showerheads by a plumber and can regulate the water temperature to prevent accidental burning if your baby turns the hot water on. Turning your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit can also prevent burns from hot water.

Another safety device that you may want to install when your baby begins to crawl are window guards and safety netting. These devices can prevent falls from windows, decks, and balconies. The guards and netting fit securely in the window or across the entrance out onto a balcony and deck to prevent your child from crawling near these areas. The bars on the guards should have no more than 4 inches between them to prevent the child from crawling through them. When you install these guards, make sure that you leave one window in each room available to use as a route of escape in case of a fire.

Corner and edge bumpers are safety devices that can also prevent injuries to your child in case he falls. These bumpers should be placed on furniture as well as woodwork and fireplaces that have sharp edges to soften the blow if your child would fall against them. You should check to make sure that the type of bumpers that you purchase will remain securely in place for a reasonable amount of time and once they are installed, you should recheck them often.

Finally, you may want to install door stops and door holders to prevent your child from pinching or crushing his fingers and hands ion doors and door hinges. A door stop can prevent a door from closing entirely while a door holder can firmly hold the door in place to avoid it being closed at all. For door that you rarely use, the door holder may be the better option.

By purchasing and installing some of these products, you can ensure that your baby's home is as safe as possible for both you and your little one.

About the Author: Beverly Sugarman
Beverly Sugarman has baby gift baskets that are cute and practical. Perfect for the newborn and new moms. For more information, visit this article on baby gift baskets.

Children Need Dirt and Bacteria to be Healthy

2008-04-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

Parents who are paranoid about cleanliness and infection could be damaging their children's immune systems in early life, according to a new survey. Scientists believe today's children, known as the "Playstation generation", could also be weakening their immune system because they no longer play outside.

Six out of 10 people told the ICM poll they believed children should be protected from all bacteria, not realising that some exposure is crucial to building up the immune system. Parents are obsessed by keeping their children in a "sterile bubble" of anti-bacterial wipes, sprays and antibiotics, according to the poll.

Only 1% of mothers breastfeed for the recommended 6 months

2008-04-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

A recent survey has revealed that only 1 in every 100 mothers breastfeed their babies for at least six months, which is the current minimum length of time recommended by midwives and other healthcare professionals. Data shows that while three quarters of mums start by breastfeeding their newborn, very few maintain it. Older mothers and clerical/professional career women (white collar) are more likely to continue to breastfeed than younger mums and those not working, or in more "blue collar" roles.

Studies have shown breastfed children to have greater immunity later in life, and it is generally agreed that breastfeeding is best for baby. Although 6 months is the recommended minimum, continuing to breastfeed for the first year has been shown to provide health benefits to both mother and child.

Inquiry into Bringing up Baby nanny Claire Verity

2007-11-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Many people felt that Channel 4 acted irresponsibly by allowing Claire Verity to air her views and opinions on how to bring up children, due to the outdated and potentially harmful effects of adopting her cold approach to child care. However, her opinion was taken on board, as all experts that are well trained in their field of study should be given the opportunity to express their opinion if it can be proved valuable to some parents and children. But now an inquiry is being made into her, as it appears that she does not have any of the qualifications that Channel 4 was led to believe that she held. Her opinions really are likely to be nothing more than a extremely outdated approach that she picked up from her mother, who was also a child carer. Claire Verity said that her "mother and grandmother taught me everything that I needed to know. It's just solid, old fashioned advice, like putting a baby out in the garden for lots of fresh air." And also not cuddling the baby, leaving it to cry, not allowing other family members to touch it, not making eye contact, not kissing, and generally treating a baby like a diseased patient that needs to be left alone for as long possible until they grow into a healthy child.

Cunningham Management, which represents Miss Verity, claims on its website: "Claire is highly qualified with a diploma in Pre School Practice, awards in OCN Maternity Practice and Post Natal Depression, a MNT (Maternity Nurse Training) in Care of Multiple babies, a MNT in Sleep Training, a MNT in Emergency Paediatric First Aid and a MNT in Breast Feeding as well as advising new mothers at local hospitals."

Cunningham Management sent a copy of Miss Verity's CV to the The Times newspaper which checked her credentials. The Times reported that MNT, Aset, which awards diplomas in pre-school practice, Goal, which awards diplomas in childcare, and the University of York, from which she has reportedly claimed to hold a business studies degree, have all said they can find no trace of Miss Verity.

The NSPCC have stated that her methods were "outdated and potentially harmful", and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have pointed out that her recommendation that babies sleep alone in a separate room contradicted official guidance on reducing the risk of SIDS/cot death. Current advice is for babies to sleep in the same room as an adult for the first six months.

Channel 4 have responded by saying "we would like to make it clear you do not need any formal qualification to practise as a maternity nurse". However, although working as a maternity nurse does not require qualifications, broadcasting the opinions of unqualified working professionals is very serious, as many parents may attempt to follow the practices advocated on Channel 4, which could potentially lead to disastrous results.

Yesterday, after repeated inquiries from the Daily Mail, Cunningham Management removed all reference to Verity from the website, including her CV. Good riddance to bad advice. Hopefully good parenting can moved forward again, and people will start to take the sensible approach to child care, which actually involves giving a baby unconditional love, and making social and career sacrifices to bring them up in the best possible way.

Watching too much TV can be bad for children

2007-10-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

According to researchers at the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Centre in Seattle, children under two years old should not be allowed to watch TV for any length of time, whereas older children should not watch TV for more than two hours a day.

This is because according to the research, every hour a child spends watching TV can contribute to a 10% increase possibility of a child developing attention deficit disorder. The researchers have observed 1345 children watching TV for three hours a day and concluded it led to a 30% increased changes of developing attention deficit disorder.

According to Dr Dimitri Christakis the brains of newborn babies are constantly developing at a very rapid rate during the first two to three years of life, therefore television can over stimulate the brain of newborns, as it releases too much information during a short period of time.

Over stimulation of the brain at a young age through television can lead to future problems at school, as school activities and homework require much less stimulation, which the child is not used to, as television programs for young children change image very quickly in order to keep children interested.

The research involved asking parents how often their children watch television, then the children’s behaviour at age seven was compared to the diagnose of attention deficit disorders. The children who watched most television at a very early age had 10% more chance of developing concentration problems, impulsiveness, restlessness as well as being easily confused.

The researchers of the University of Washington say that it is not clear how much television children under three can watch safely, but each hour spent in front of the television increases the risk of a child developing attention deficit disorder.

The number of children with attention deficit disorder in the US is between 3 and 5 percent, but the researchers confessed that it is hard to tell if children with attention problems are more prone to be attracted to the television anyway. Also parents’ views of their children behaviour may not be absolute accurate, which can affect the outcome of the research.

Source: BBC website

Bringing up baby – Which is best: breastfeeding or bottle-feeding?

2007-10-05T11:50:00.001-07:00

According to the channel four series bringing up baby there are three very different methods of how to bring up a baby.

The 1950’s method by Dr Frederic Truby King does not favour either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, however, in order to follow its strict routine of four hours regular feeding from day one of the baby’s life is very unnatural making it impossible to breastfeed. In order to follow this routine while breastfeeding a mother could try to express milk, but at the first two weeks breastfeeding is still establishing, so most women would be unable to express the right amount. Also, not every woman can express milk or it may take several weeks until a new mum can express milk successfully. Even if a mum can express milk after birth, it would interfere with the natural flow of milk, as the body is constant adjusting the quantity of milk needed for the newborn according to their need and expressing interferes with the supply and demand balance which occurs when the baby feeds straight from the mum. Also natural milk would not knock a baby out to sleep for four hours, as it is lighter and easier to digest. Furthermore, it is not recommended to express before at least four weeks after birth, as the body is still new to the whole process.

To breastfeed successfully requires lots of dedication from the mum, because it is a lot easier to bottle-feed a baby to start with. Many mums give up breastfeeding due to the straying during the crucial and most tiring first two weeks for the mother. But, once breastfeed is established it is very rewarding for the mum, as it gets easier as the baby grows up and become less demanding and more efficient at breastfeeding.

Newborn babies that are fed naturally require to feed every hour or even after half hour sometimes, whereas newborn babies fed with formula normally goes up to four hours without requiring food. This is because natural milk is very easily digested making it perfect for the baby’s delicate digested system, so as soon as the baby’s tummy is empty the baby will cry for more milk. It may not be easy at first, but it is worth persevering, as breast is best for mums and babies.

Many people give up, thinking they will not be able to cope, but by looking at the grand scheme of things, the hard work at the beginning is soon paid off, as the baby will gradually start to feed less frequently and mum will soon get her deserved rest and the baby will benefit for the rest of his life.

Bottle-fed babies do get all the nutrients they need from the formula, but breastfeeding has its beneficial advantages for mums and babies. To start with the fact that breast milk is more easily digested means that the baby is much less likely to suffer from constipation, wind, colic and grip pain, which can be very stressful for parents.

It is much easier to breastfeed a baby if parents follow the methods adopted by the Continuum Concept or the 1960’s free approach, by Dr Spock, of bringing up baby. As these two approaches are less focus on forcing a routine on babies during the first two weeks of given birth, giving parents more flexibility to feed their babies when they need.

Breastfeeding a baby on demand is not as hard as it sounds, in fact it can be very pleasant for the mum, as it helps mum and baby to bond and it does not really matter how often the baby feeds, as mother and baby are embarking into a whole new experience and way of life.

First time mums may find it hard to breastfeed at first, because everything is so new and mums do not know what to expect, also babies are not born knowing how to feed, so they have to learn how to latch on the breast. Therefore it is important to get help from experts at the hospital or maternity unit from day one, as the body will not produce milk if the baby does not start to feed straight away.

Once mum gets established at breastfeeding, it becomes an easy way of feeding the baby and the mums never look back again, as they don’t have to worry about the hassle involved in bottle feeding, such as, sterilising bottles or boil the water and wait for it to cool down. As breastfeeding is always available it becomes very effortless for mums to feed their babies and mums can enjoy the closeness of breastfeeding.

It can be easy to breastfeed when following the Continuum Concept of brining up baby, which recommends having the baby sleeping in the same bed as the mum. As the baby is free to feed when they need and the mum does not even need to get up out of the bed during the night, leading to a more comfortable night sleep, although parents have to follow the recommended guidelines to avoid putting the baby in danger of suffocation.

For this reason, some mums may not feel at easy having the baby next to her during the night fearing she may suffocate the baby. If this is the case mum will not be able to relax and will not have a good night sleep. So, by having the baby comfortably sleeping in the same room, in a Moses basket or cradle, it does not take long for the mum to seat up and feed the baby. Also the mother has to be comfortable during breastfeeding and each person has a feeding position that suit them best, some women prefer to feed while lieing down, whereas for other women it is best to feed seating up right. In this way, each parent should do what suit them most, as long as it benefits their baby as well as themselves, as happy babies lead to happy parents and vice versa.

Don’t worry if other mothers seem to be doing things differently. It is important to have confidence in yourself and your baby so that together you can work out what is best for both of you.

Advantages of breastfeeding for the mother:

Breast-feeding is inexpensive.
Breastfeeding is always available.
With breastfeeding, there is nothing to mix, measure, or heat, and no bottles to wash.
Breastfeeding makes night time feedings quick and easy.
Breastfeeding makes travel with baby easier.
With breastfeeding there is often less vaginal bleeding after delivery.
Breastfeeding promotes a faster return of uterus to its pre-pregnant size.
Breastfeeding can help with weight loss.
Breastfeeding may decrease osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer.

Advantages of breastfeeding for the baby:

Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby.
Breast milk is easy to digest and absorb, causing less colic.
The iron in breast milk is utilized more readily.
Breast milk changes to meet the needs of the growing baby.
Breast milk contains substances that promote nervous system development and brain growth.
Breast-fed babies have fewer allergies. In families with a history of allergies, breast-fed babies experience less asthma, food allergies and eczema.
Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses, such as ear infections, colds, flu and GI upsets. They also have fewer doctor visits and hospitalizations, because of the special protective factors in breast milk.
Breast milk may help babies to respond better to vaccines, as antibody levels have been found to be higher in breast-fed babies at seven and 12 months.
Breastfeeding may decrease SIDS (crib death).

Bringing up baby

2007-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

I sat in front of the television last night in horror, when I watched the so called maternity nurse guru Claire Verity in the channel 4 series Bringing up baby, train two couples to bring their babies up following the 1950s routine from Dr Frederic Truby King. Dr Frederic Truby King’s Strict Routine Method emphasis that all babies should be treated the same. For me it does not work because all babies and mums are different and cannot be treated like machines.

This method says that babies should be fed strictly every four hours and mum should not make any eye contact and keep the baby away from her body. This could not be more inhumane and unnatural to the baby. Firstly, babies should be breastfed whenever possible, as this is the most natural way to feed a baby, it also helps the baby to develop their immune system effectively, protect against infections and allergies, also helps to bond with mum. It is impossible to breastfed a newborn every four hours, as breastfed babies tend to eat every hour or so during the first few weeks of life and gradually increase the gap to every for hours. As babies are born with stomachs the size of a walnut, they need small and frequent amounts of food. When babies are bottle fed every four hours from the beginning their stomach is inflated to accommodate all the food, also formula milk is more difficult to digest and can lead to constipation, wind, colic and bloated tummy. When babies are breastfed they are very close to their mothers, which make them feel secure and reassured, also it is the best time to make eye contact and bond with the baby.

For me having a baby is not about sleeping through the night and having a normal life back as before the baby arrived, because it is naturally impossible. Looking after a newborn baby is about enjoyment, pleasure, happiness, tiredness and sleepless nights for a little while. It is about spending time with the baby and learn through mistakes. This is a time of discovery for mum and baby, it is about learning to know your baby and develop with them and then once the baby grows to be a fine man or woman, look back and be proud of all the hard work and time spent with them, which was not in vain.

The 1950’s method of bringing up babies is a post war approach, which discourages contact between parents and babies, with the hope to detach babies from parents as soon as possible in order to have an independent child. Dr Frederic Truby King recommends a mere 10 minutes of cuddling per day. I find this insane, even pets get more cuddle than that. Babies are born to be loved and cuddled as much as possible, all humans are born with a survival instinct to hold on to mummy or daddy, as they need to be reassured and comforted in order to feel safe. In fact resent studies have suggested that babies should be held at least for four hours per day in order to avoid mental health problems later on in life. Cuddles also release a feel good factor for baby and parents and having a baby is about having fun with him or her and give them cuddles whenever you feel like it. For me, you can never have too much of it and any forced restrictions on cuddles can not only damage the relationship between the baby and the parents but also spoil a precious and special moment that passes by very quickly indeed. Everyone knows that fresh air is good for you, but I find it incomprehensible the idea that babies should be left outside on their own for hours on end… as a parent I want to know my baby is safe and I would not feel at ease by leaving him in the garden on his own with the door shut behind him, knowing that he could be in danger of being attacked by cats or foxes or even be snatched by a stranger.

I think the 1950’s method of bringing up babies is an abuse of the baby’s human rights, as it is no different from neglecting a child. It is hard enough going through birth, babies should not be treated in this way. If a baby is crying it is in need of something, as a parent I want to make sure my baby is content and comfortable with all his needs fulfilled. At the end of the day, a happy baby is a cuddled baby.

Nutritional considerations during Pregnancy

2007-09-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

The BBC provides an excellent resource for information on what to eat, and what not to eat, during pregnancy. During pregnancy your body requires a rich supply of protein, vitamins and minerals to nourish both yourself and your developing child. It is important for an expectant mother to eat a good healthy diet, that is well balanced, that is one that contains foods from all the major food groups. Eating for two is an old wives tale, and is not recommended. But eating well is essential. Quality of food is far more important than quantity.

Weight gain during pregnancy is expected, and the optimum weight gain in pregnancy is 12.5kg (27lb). However, in practice different women gain different amounts and many women who don't fall within this range still go on to give birth to healthy babies. Weight gains substantially more than 12.5kg in women of normal weight before pregnancy are unlikely to reflect an increase in foetal weight, maternal lean tissue or water. Rather, the excess weight is a gain in maternal fat. Because of this, concerns have been expressed that excessive weight gain can lead to overweight and obesity. Your doctor or midwife will advise you about weight gain, but it's important that you don't 'diet' during pregnancy.

The key points from the Beeb's article are:

1. Take a folic acid supplement providing 400µg per day for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

2. A healthy balanced diet provides all the nutrients that most pregnant women need, but some may require supplements.

3. If supplements are used, the best choice is a specially-prepared formula for pregnancy.

4. Supplements containing vitamin A should be avoided.

5. Pregnant women should not eat liver, dishes containing raw or partially cooked eggs, or soft or blue-veined cheese, and should limit alcohol to 1 to 2 units once or twice a week.

6. Be scrupulous about food hygiene.

7. The average weight gain during pregnancy is 12.5kg, but there's a huge variation among individuals. Watch your weight gain, and speak to your midwife if you're concerned. Do not diet while pregnant.

A Balanced Diet for Pregnancy

Most of the additional nutrient needs of pregnancy can be met by eating a well-balanced and varied diet. With a few exceptions, you can continue to eat a normal, healthy diet. This includes regular meals and snacks, and a sensible healthy eating regime containing:

1. Plenty of starchy carbohydrates - bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, chapattis, couscous and potatoes.

2. Plenty of fruit and vegetables - at least five portions a day.

3. Lots of milk, yoghurt, fromage frais and pasteurised cheeses.

4. Enough protein, such as meat, fish, eggs (well-cooked), beans and pulses.

5. Not too many fat-rich and sugary foods.

6. Aim to have at least eight glasses of fluids per day.

Really, your diet during pregnancy should not differ to greatly from a health well balanced diet at any other time in your life. People that follow a healthy lifestyle do not need to make many changes when becoming pregnant. It is those who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, and eat a very unhealthy diet, that have to make a lot of changes, and feel that they are making sacrifices.

It is also worth remembering that if you are planning to conceive, then a healthy diet is also essential. Healthy people generally conceive quicker than unhealthy people - and that rule applies to male partners too!

Steroid dose warning in children

2007-09-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today the BBC reports on expert advice that Children with allergic conditions such as asthma may be receiving too high a dose of steroids. "A Scottish study found almost one in 10 children prescribed corticosteroids for asthma were also given the drugs for other conditions such as hay fever. They risk adverse effects from cumulative steroid doses from inhalers, creams and nasal sprays, the British Pharmaceutical conference heard. "

"It is not uncommon for children with asthma to also suffer from hay fever or eczema.
Some children with severe conditions may receive both in inhaled corticosteroids to control their asthma and nasal corticosteroids for hay fever, resulting in high overall doses of steroids. Dr James McLay, senior lecturer in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Aberdeen looked at the records of 345,221 children from 304 general practices in Scotland. Among those with a repeat prescriptions for an inhaled corticosteroid for asthma, one in 11 were also prescribed at least one other steroid preparation such as nasal corticosteroids."

Adverse effects: "Corticosteroids are a class of drugs which help to control inflammation. The potential long-term toxicity of chronic corticosteroid use in children is unclear, but there have been concerns about the impact on child growth. In rare cases, very high doses can be fatal. This research shows that a significant number of children are prescribed more than one corticosteroid preparation for an allergic condition," said Dr McLay. "If a child is prescribed corticosteroid treatment for one condition at the maximum or near the maximum dose, then another steroid prescription would tip them into over-exposure. And in children you can really get some dramatic adverse effects."

Different GPs would be treating children for different conditions and computer alerts needed to be introduced to flag up high cumulative doses from different preparations. "We therefore recommend that all healthcare professionals or parents under the direction of a healthcare professional check for this issue," he added.

It is very easy to accidentally overdose on medication, and if you think that you, or your child, have been prescribed steroids in several forms, then it is strongly advisable that you consult your family GP or healthcare professional

UK scientists have discovered a new way to regulate blood pressure

2007-08-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Good news for those that suffer from high blood pressure.

"UK scientists say they have discovered a new way to regulate blood pressure, offering hopes of new drugs to combat strokes and heart attacks. One in four adults has high blood pressure and although powerful drugs are already available, few manage to achieve target blood pressure levels. The pathway found in a study by King's College London involves a process called oxidation, reports Science. Until now, oxidation has largely been linked with harm rather than good. Indeed, free radicals and oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, can cause cell damage. But they also play crucial roles in normal cell function."

"Secondly, the mechanism provides new insights into how oxidant stress affects cells and tissues. Oxidant stress not only alters blood flow, but also affects the heart's ability to contract and is involved in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions" - Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation.

Blood pressure affects many people, including those that are overweight, stressed and also pregnant. Regulation of blood pressure is essential for good health.

Further information on blood pressure can be found at the British Heart Foundation.

Traffic pollution may boost the risk of children getting asthma

2007-08-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

More bad news for those raising families in urban areas - traffic pollution poses serious risk to child health and can lead to the development of asthma.

"Traffic pollution may boost the risk of children getting asthma - if they have genes which make them vulnerable, a study says. The University of Southern California team studied the health records and genetic profiles of 3,000 children. Those with a gene variation were slightly more at risk but if they lived near a main road, the risk rose more, the Thorax journal reported.

But UK asthma experts said the link remained unclear. Scientists exploring how respiratory diseases, including asthma, develop have highlighted the importance of genes which control key body chemicals linked to "clean-up" functions in the body. "

Although genetics does play a role in determining the likelihood of developing asthma, living close to busy, polluted roads can increase the chances of childhood and long term asthma.

Obesity increases chances of birth defects

2007-08-09T15:04:00.001-07:00

Researchers at the University of Texas studied over 15,000 new mothers over a five-year period. The results showed that women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than are mothers of normal weight.

"The relevant birth defects include missing limbs and malformed hearts. Smaller scale studies in the past have suggested this link, but this is said to be the largest and most comprehensive study to date.

University of Texas researchers interviewed more than 15,000 new mothers over a five-year period. The study appears in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Obese women are more likely to have chronic diseases, fertility problems, miscarriages and complications during pregnancy."

Once again, losing weight can not only benefit your own health, but the health of the rest of your family too.

Source: BBC Health News

Child Charities Campaign to Ban Formula Milk Advertising

2007-08-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

"A coalition of charities is demanding baby milk be treated like tobacco and subjected to a total advertising ban.

The National Childbirth Trust, Save The Children and Unicef blame adverts for many mothers abandoning breast feeding before the recommended six months.

They want the government to extend a ban on infant milk adverts to include "follow-on" milks for older babies.

England's policy on the promotion of formula milk is currently being reviewed by the Food Standards Agency.

At present, companies are not allowed to advertise formula milk for babies under six months.

But they are allowed to promote so-called follow-on milks, a range for children aged between six months and two years. "

Much research has shown that breastfeeding is beneficial to both mother and child. Not only does breastfeeding increase the emotional bond between mother and child, and help to strengthen he baby's immune system, breastfeeding also helps to reduce the chance of breast cancer or ovarian cancer developing.

Breastfeeding should be encouraged more, and more help should be provided to new mothers. Many mothers try to breastfeed but then give up after a few weeks as they struggle to cope with the stress of having a new born baby. If parents are debating whether or not to stop breastfeeding, then promotions and advertising of formula milk may help them to decide to stop. However this decision is not the best one for the long term health of either the mother of the child.

Source: BBC Health News

'Yo-yo' weight warning to mothers

2007-07-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Research carried out bu specialists in Dublin, Ireland, reports that mothers who experience large fluctuations in weight between pregnancies can put the health of their children at risk.

"Mothers who gain or lose lots of weight between pregnancies could be putting their baby at risk, say experts.

Fluctuating weight ups the risk of dangerously high blood pressure and diabetes in the mother and the chance of stillbirth, research suggests.

The work by Dublin-based specialists is in the British Medical Journal.

They said pregnancy was "one of the most nutritionally demanding periods of a woman's life" and women needed to be aware of the implications of weight."

Source: BBC Health