Home birth: A woman's right to choose?

Hello, ladies. I am sorry to have been absent for so long. Life goes by at 100 mph sometimes. Today I wanted to say a little something about home birth which has been in the news lately. It evidently began because of a film that Ricki Lake produced about birth that included her own home birthing experience.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists introduced a measure to the American Medical Association's annual meeting. In the original "Resolution on Home Deliveries" Lake was named. The eventual resolution removed her named. The resolution states the safest place to labor and deliver and recover is a hospital or accredited birth center.

Do I truly believe that? Not in every case. In my rather long career I have done 2 planned home births, 1 unplanned roadside birth and a couple of car births. I don't think that qualifies me as an expert. I am a woman though and I will claim to be an expert at that.

I believe that a woman should have a right to choose where she delivers her baby. I don't think any legislative body should dictate that to her. I believe it is a woman's responsibility to educate herself about birth, home, hospital or birth center.

I believe she should have a qualified person to be with her and care for her and the baby. I believe it isn't so much about the place where we have our babies, but more about the comfort, care and support we receive when we are so experiencing such a life changing event.

Please, let me know what you all are thinking about this. I look forward to some discussion.

Causes of morning sickness in Pregnant woman Revealed

As irritating as morning sickness may be for pregnant women, it may protect embryos.

Doctors have long known that morning sickness — the nausea and vomiting usually experienced in early pregnancy — is actually a good sign of a healthy pregnancy, despite the discomfort it brings.

However, scientists have debated whether morning sickness actually helps pregnancies succeed. It could just be an annoying byproduct of a healthy pregnancy, as pregnant women and their embryos carry out a tug of war over the body's resources.

When and why
To see which explanation might be right, scientists analyzed medical research to see when morning sickness does and does not occur.

If morning sickness was just the byproduct of a healthy pregnancy, then it should accompany all healthy pregnancies. "But it doesn't," said researcher Samuel Flaxman, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Although two-thirds of pregnant women do experience morning sickness, the rest often carry their pregnancies to term.

Also, morning sickness does not seem to occur in other mammals, only humans, the researchers noted. If morning sickness was the byproduct of conflict between mother and embryo or fetus, one might expect other mammals to have it too.

Instead, morning sickness is usually triggered in specific circumstances — in response to:

    * the sight, smell, or taste of meats and strong-tasting vegetables, which were historically likely to contain foodborne microbes or birth-defect-inducing chemicals;
    * alcohol and cigarette smoke.

This all suggests morning sickness serves a useful function, evolving to protect mothers and embryos from things that may be dangerous, the researchers figure.

Also, in women who experience morning sickness, symptoms peak precisely when embryonic organ development is most susceptible to chemical disruption, between week six and week 18 of pregnancy.

The reason that humans alone have morning sickness may be due to our extraordinarily broad diet in comparison to other mammals, including other primates, the scientists conjectured. Instead of evolving a range of molecules to defend against toxins, humans just evolved a way to keep away from dangerous chemicals.

Implications for pregnancy
A better understanding of morning sickness could have important implications for how doctors handle pregnancy.

"To say that morning sickness is uncomfortable is a real understatement, and a lot of people are looking at ways to deal with it. But if nausea and vomiting truly serve a useful function, then one has to look more carefully at strategies for dealing with these symptoms," Flaxman told LiveScience.

Despite decades of medical research and the widespread nature of morning sickness, little remains known about how it works, as it is of course unethical to experiment on pregnant women, and no other animals are known to experience it.

"We're really interested in a more exhaustive analysis to see if morning sickness really does only occur in human beings, or whether there are other animals out there," Flaxman said.

Flaxman and his colleague Paul Sherman at Cornell University detailed their findings in the July issue of the journal American Naturalist.

Germs may play role in sudden baby deaths

A baffling phenomenon known as sudden infant death syndrome is one of the leading causes of death for children under 1. Now, researchers say they may have found a contributing factor: bacteria.

They found potentially dangerous bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli in nearly half of all babies who died suddenly and without explanation over a decade at a London hospital. Their findings are in Friday's Lancet medical journal.

"This may be another piece to the puzzle,'' said Marian Willinger, a SIDS expert at the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development who was not connected to the British study.

The researchers cautioned, however, that while the bacteria were found in the SIDS babies, that does not necessarily mean the bugs were responsible. Bacterial infections have long been suspected by some doctors to play a role in SIDS.

"We don't know whether it's a cause or if it's identifying another potential risk factor,'' said Dr. Nigel Klein, a professor at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, where the study was conducted, and one of the paper's authors.

He said that the higher level of bacteria might be evidence of another condition that killed the baby, such as a room that was too hot or had poor ventilation. Or it may have been coincidental.

A SIDS diagnosis means that no other cause of death can be found in an otherwise healthy infant who dies suddenly, usually in their sleep. In the United States, SIDS kills more than 2,000 infants every year.

The researchers used autopsy samples from 470 infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly between 1996 and 2005. They found dangerous bacteria in 181 babies, or nearly half of the 365 whose deaths were unexplained. There were similar bacteria in about a quarter (14 of 53) of the babies who died of known causes, excluding those who died of bacterial infections.

Bacteria found in lungs, spleens
Most of the bacteria were detected in the babies' lungs and spleens.

At birth, mothers transfer some of their antibodies against infection to their babies. But when babies are from 8 to 10 weeks old, the maternal antibodies have nearly run out and the babies typically have not started producing enough of their own.

That could make them particularly vulnerable to bacterial infections, said James Morris, a pathologist at the Royal Infirmary in Lancaster, who co-authored an accompanying commentary in the journal.

SIDS typically strikes when babies are between 8 and 10 weeks old.

"The study is a good indicator that certain bacteria might be involved in causing sudden infant deaths,'' he said.

Willinger suggested that bacterial infections in infants might simply aggravate other risk factors for SIDS, such as smoke exposure or babies sleeping on their stomachs.

"The bacteria in combination with other co-factors might push these babies over the edge,'' she said.

Recommendations for preventing SIDS include putting babies to sleep on their backs and avoiding putting too many blankets on them.

Hair Care During Pregnancy

The experiences women have with their hair during pregnancy vary widely. Some women have the most beautiful, thickest and easiest to manage hair of their lives during pregnancy. Others aren't quite so lucky. In general, the hair does get thicker. This is due to pregnancy hormones. However, for some women, thicker does not mean easier to manage.

The hair may be frizzy or fly away, rather than sleek and smooth, as you would see in shampoo commercials. This is a frustrating problem for many women. There are a few things you can do to make your hair easier to manage, if this is a problem.

Use a good shampoo and conditioner made to handle frizz or fly aways. A deep conditioner or hot oil treatment may also help, if the hair is dry. Apply the conditioner and wear a plastic cap. The body heat helps the conditioner work on the hair. A serum made to control frizz can be used during styling to make the hair easier to manage.

A hair cut is another way of dealing with frizz. A layered cut helps the hair lay better. In addition, a cut will make the hair easier and faster to style. This is a definite plus after the baby is born. If you don't want to cut your hair, you can wear it up. Alternate between pony tails, braids and other up dos to keep it interesting.

For other women, the hair may seem lifeless or oilier than before the pregnancy. This is also common just after the baby is born, when your body is going through hormonal changes again. Wash the hair more frequently and use a shampoo and cream rinse made for oily hair. Some women find that a shorter hair cut makes it easier to wash and style the hair more often. It will also be easier when you are caring for a new baby.

A Pollutant with an Effect on Baby's Gender?

By now, most of us have heard of PCBs. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man made chemicals. The chemicals were widely used in industry for decades. In 1976, the federal government in the US banned the production of the chemicals.

However, there is still significant contamination of PCBs in the environment. This is largely due to contamination resulting from improper disposal of the chemicals. PCBs have been found in newborn babies and breastmilk, over thirty years after the chemicals were banned.

One of the problems with PCBs is they are not soluble in water. This results in a process known as bioaccumulation. They bind to sediment at the bottom of rivers and are eaten by small fish. These fish hold the chemicals in their tissues and are eaten by larger fish, birds and people. The accumulation up the food chain results in high levels in organisms higher on the food chain, including people.

The result can be high levels of PCBs in the bodies of pregnant women. When high levels of PCBs are present, problems such as reduced IQ and developmental disorders can occur in the babies. Over a lifetime, problems ranging from skin conditions to cancer are the result of repeated exposure.

Researchers have discovered another possible effect of exposure to PCBs, a higher rate of giving birth to female children. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Health studied women in the San Francisco Bay area who were exposed to high levels of PCBs in the 1950s and 1960s. These women were found to have a much greater chance of having female children.

The women in the study who were exposed to PCBs were found to be 33 percent less likely to have male children, compared to women not exposed to the chemicals. The higher the levels of PCBs in the blood, the greater the chance the woman had a female child.

Researchers aren't sure why there appears to be a connection. There are several theories. One is that high levels of PCBs may increase fertilization rates for female sperm. Another theory is the presence of high levels of PCBs may result in a higher risk of loss of male embryos, resulting in more female live births. Further research is planned in this area.

Tips to Organize a Japanese Tea Party for Your Kids

Japanese tea party is a very interesting theme. This theme can help your children learn about a new culture while having fun at the same time.
You can make this theme for your children's birthday or just a regular party.

Decorations

Since this is a Japanese tea party, you can find something that's unique of Japan. There are 4 things: Panda, Bamboo sticks, rice cakes, and cherry blossoms. So if you want to stay in theme, you can find things that have these decorations.

You can also buy a paper Japanese lantern and glue it on the ceiling, in the middle of the table. If that's too difficult, you can just place them near the corner of the table.

If you have a low coffee table for this Japanese tea party, it would be superb. If you have seen OR read about Japanese tea ceremonies, they always sit on the floor. It's actually kneel-sitting. It means you would kneel first then follow the motion and sit down.

This Japanese tea party requires peace and quiet, so you should place the table where the children will not be disturbed by other people or other noises and music.You can buy some cheery blossom if they are available. If they aren't, you can make your own flowers with your children. It can be a fun activity for the family.

How to make cherry blossoms?

To make your own cherry blossom, you would need small long twigs, pink napkins, tapes or pipe cleaners. There are 2 easy steps:

1) Curl your thumb and index finger into a well. Place a napkin on the well. Using the other hand, gently and slowly push the napkins through the well. When it looks like a flower, stop.

2) Twist the part that under the well and tape around it. Take a pipe cleaner and twist around the middle of the flowers. The other end twist around the branch twigs. Limit a few flowers for one branch. In Japanese tea party, simplicity is the key.

You can place some branches on the table or at the door. It will be a nice addition to the tea party.For invitations, you can buy cards with panda or bamboo decorations. Or you can help your children make their invitations. Use pink construction paper and draw a few flowers inside. Glue a paper cherry blossom on the cover. There, you have nice and very Japanese tea party invitations.

Costumes and accessories

This theme of a tea party is often for girls. So you can buy the Japanese costumes at the store or online. If there is just a few friends in the party, you can make the children 's customs.

The children can wear long and simple-color robes. Choose a nice and pleasant color. Don't choose flashy and colorful robes. It kind of defeats the whole purpose of simplicity. Close the robes diagonally in the front. Take the bell and make it into a bow in the back. You should buy some white socks and sandals so the children can wear the sock when they are enjoying the tea. If they want to go around, they can use the sandals. This is very Japanese.

Girls with short hair can wear simple hair accessories. With long hair, you can make it into a bun and add 1-2 hair accessories.

If you want to go 1 step further, you can buy long hair-accessories sticks and decorate the hair bun. If you want simple, you can use the ice cream sticks.Japanese fans are also a nice accessory. You can certainly buy them at dollar stores or online. Or you can make them at home. To make a fan, take a piece of construction paper. The children can draw Panda, bamboo, or flowers on both sides of the paper.

Start from the longer side of the paper, you carefully fold the paper like a accordion. Then fold the paper accordion in half. Tape 2 sides together.
If you buy the fans, there are some really nice designs. If you make them, it will be a fun activity for the children.

The foods and drink

In Japanese tea parties, you would probable need a Japanese tea set. You can find them online or at the toy store. If you can't, any tea set would be fine.
There are 3 kinds of foods that are unique to Japanese are sushi, noodle, and rice cake. The children probably didn't get used to sushi so it's probably not a good idea.

But if your children like sushi, you can buy some in the store and place them in a nice China plates. You can also buy rice cakes at the store. There is a wide selection for you to choose.

Noodle is easier to make. But noodle gets cold very easily and absorbs water quite fast. So only make noodle when the children are ready to eat, it tastes better when it's hot.

The children can use chopsticks to eat the noodle, sushi, and rice cakes. This can be a fun experience especially when they are so used with forks and spoons.
Tea in Japanese is often green. You can use decaf green tea for the children but sometimes they don't like the taste. Thus you should buy some fruit juice that is green. Or you can make green Cool-Aid. Pour them into a tea cup and it just looks like Japanese's Matcha tea.

In this Japanese tea party, the girls often talk and play board games or chess. There aren't many actions in this kind of party because the theme reflect peace and serenity.

Exercise During Pregnancy: Myth vs. Fact

In the not-so-distant past, women were urged to cut down on or even avoid exercise during pregnancy. Today, we know differently. Not only is it OK to participate in fitness activities during pregnancy, but doing so can have a positive impact on both baby and mom.

Yet it seems that myths surrounding fitness and pregnancy just won't go away. Indeed, experts say that truisms about what's safe and what's not abound, leaving many women confused and ill-advised.

"There are so many rumors out there, some started or perpetuated by popular pregnancy books, others the result of old wives’ tales or outdated advice, so that many women really are confused about what they can and can't do," says Riley.Â
The Truth About Exercise in Pregnancy

Ready to test your smarts? The following questions, vetted by several top fitness and medical experts, will set the record straight on what’s really OK when it comes to exercise during pregnancy.

Of course, consult with your doctor before you start any exercise program. Some women will not be able to exercise during pregnancy because of specific conditions or complications.
Myth or Fact: Never get your heart rate over 130 while exercising during pregnancy.

Myth. There is no one "target" heart rate that's right for every pregnant woman. "People are still stuck on this heart rate issue, and it was never based on anything concrete," says Riley, noting that ACOG abandoned the "target heart rate" concept a long time ago. What they and most experts now rely on as a guide is RPE, or rate of perceived exertion.

"This is a scale that determines how hard you are working based on how you feel when you are working," says Farel Hruska, certified fitness trainer and the national fitness director for Stroller Strides and their Fit To Deliver pregnancy workout program.
Myth or Fact: It's not safe to do abdominal work during pregnancy.

Myth. Not only is it OK, experts say abdominal workouts can provide many benefits.

"Your abdominals and your entire core, including your pelvic floor, should be strengthened throughout pregnancy, and doing so will help not only during pregnancy, but also aid in labor and delivery -- and recovery," says Sue Fleming, a certified fitness instructor. Fleming is also founder of Buff Fitness.com and creator of the video Buff Moms-To-Be.

Moreover, Fleming says, it's going to help with posture problems which will also benefit you after baby is born.

Because you should avoid any exercises that you have to do on your back after the first trimester, Fleming suggests gentle standing pelvic tilts, seated belly breathing, or tightening abs, holding, then releasing, as good ways to keep ab muscles in top condition.

Myth or Fact: If you were a runner before pregnancy, you can continue to run during pregnancy.

Fact. As long as you and your pregnancy are healthy, and you feel OK, experts say it's safe to run right up until you go into labor. "Both ACOG and the National Academy of Sports Medicine have said that if you were running prior to pregnancy, you can continue during pregnancy, as long as you feel OK," says Hruska. Â

If it does start to feel "odd," she says, listen to your body and don't do it. She also reminds us that this is not the time to break any performance records. "Also realize that as your pregnancy progresses, you're going to be able to do a little less with each trimester. So don't compete with your pre-pregnancy running achievements, or even with what you could accomplish in a previous trimester," says Hruska. Talk to your doctor about your exercise plan and any precautions that may pertain to your individual situation.
Myth or Fact: Pregnancy can make you more prone to certain fitness injuries.

Fact. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin. It's designed to help lubricate joints so labor is easier. When joints are too "lax," your risk of injury increases.

"What you want to avoid are any activities involving deep muscle or joint movements -- heavy lunges, squats, those types of activities," says Fleming.

Myth or Fact: Not every exercise is safe to do during pregnancy.

Fact. Exercises involving balance, like biking or skiing, or contact sports like soccer, can be risky during pregnancy. "After the fourth month, your balance is affected. So that's when you don't want to do anything that will put your body in an unstable position, which is any exercise or activity that requires balance," says Fleming.
Myth or Fact: If I exercise too much during pregnancy, I will pull nutrients from my baby so he/she won't grow properly.

Myth. "The reality is that your baby is going to get what it needs. So if anything, you'll have a dip in your own nutrient stores, but your baby's stores will be fine," says Riley. The way to avoid any problems for you, she says, is to keep blood sugar levels balanced by eating smaller, more frequent meals. "Babies of mommies who exercise during pregnancy are born leaner, but organ size and head circumference are normal. So don't be afraid to exercise during pregnancy," says Riley.

Myth or Fact: If I never exercised before pregnancy, now is not the time to start.

Myth. "If you never excised before, pregnancy is not the time to become the exercise bunny. But that doesn't mean you have to spend nine months sitting on the couch," says Riley. Something as simple as taking a daily walk or going for a swim can do wonders for your pregnancy, and make you feel better as well. Fleming says it can also help you combat the fatigue of pregnancy and help you sleep better at night. And, she says, you can start slow.

"Ten minutes a day is a great beginning. Then increase it to 10 minutes twice a day, then gradually go up to 15 minutes. Even just walking around the block is going to have important benefits," says Fleming.
Myth or Fact: Any sign of trouble -- like spotting or pain -- means I should stop exercising and not do it any more during my pregnancy.

Myth. While signs of pain, spotting, lightheadedness, nausea or dizziness are all reasons to stop exercising immediately, it doesn't necessarily mean you will have to give it up forever. "What it means is talk to you doctor. Tell her exactly what you felt and what you were doing when you felt it, how long it lasted, and the severity. And then ask for her advice as to whether or not you should continue with an exercise program," says Riley.

Common Questions About Pregnancy Safety

During your pregnancy you're bound to have many pregnancy safety questions about how your lifestyle, or certain substances you're exposed to either at home or work, could affect you. Get the answers to your pregnancy safety questions and learn some pregnancy safety tips that will keep mom and baby health and happy.

Is hair coloring safe during pregnancy?
There's no proof that the chemicals in hair dyes cause birth defects, miscarriages, or any other complications — nor are there reliable studies that prove these substances are safe. Because we don't yet know enough about these chemicals, some doctors say that pregnant women should avoid hair dyes (or at least minimize their contact with them), especially during the first trimester.

Highlighting or streaking your hair, both processes that involve less scalp contact, may be safer. Vegetable-based products, such as henna, are also considered safe.

If you decide to color your hair yourself, wear plastic or latex gloves to minimize absorption of the chemicals through your skin, and don't leave the product on your scalp any longer than necessary.

Is painting the nursery safe during pregnancy?
It's probably safer to let someone else paint the nursery for you. All paints contain chemicals, and few have undergone safety studies focusing on exposure during pregnancy. If you do decide to help paint the nursery, be sure there is good ventilation (keep the windows open), wear gloves and protective clothing, and don't eat or drink in the room you're painting.

Some studies suggest that women who work with solvents called glycol ethers, present in some paints, have an increased risk of miscarriage. Other solvents are also suspected of causing miscarriage and possibly birth defects. Oil-based paints and paint thinners contain more solvents than do their water-based counterparts — but all paints contain numerous ingredients of unknown safety.

Is exposure to insecticides a threat during pregnancy?
So far there is little evidence that exposure to these chemicals at common levels significantly increases the risk to your fetus. All insecticides are poisons, however, and some studies have suggested that high levels of exposure to them might increase the chance of birth defects. If you must have your home or yard property treated:

    * Don't apply insecticides yourself. Local application of a liquid or powder where it's needed is safer than widespread spraying.
    * Clear away all food, dishes, and utensils from areas to be treated, including cabinets or drawers.
    * Stay out of the house while it's being treated and for at least several hours thereafter.
    * If insecticides are used outdoors, close all windows and turn off the air conditioning so that fumes won't be drawn into the house.
    * Wear rubber gloves when gardening to prevent skin contact with residues of insecticides or herbicides (weed killers) that have been used on your property.

Is secondhand smoke a threat during pregnancy?
Some studies suggest that the babies of nonsmoking women who are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke are at an increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, subtle deficits in learning and behavior, and, possibly, certain childhood cancers.

A 1998 study suggests that a father's smoking may also cause genetic changes in a baby that have been linked to childhood leukemia. Because the chemicals present in passive smoke are at least potentially harmful to your baby, try to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke.

Are hot tubs and saunas safe during pregnancy?
The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women and women attempting to conceive avoid hot tubs and saunas. A number of studies have suggested that a body temperature of 102 degrees or higher during the first four weeks after conception increases the risk of neural tube defects, problems with closure of the baby's spinal cord or skull.

Besides steering clear of hot tubs and saunas, avoid exercising strenuously on hot days. And contact your health-care provider if you develop a fever over 100 degrees.

Is dental work safe during pregnancy?
Generally, yes. Local anesthesia isn't thought to have any negative effect on the fetus. If possible, postpone x-rays or surgeries requiring general anesthesia until after your baby is born. If an x-ray is necessary, be sure that the dentist knows you're pregnant so he can shield your abdomen to minimize the radiation that reaches the fetus.

Is aspartame safe during pregnancy?
Aspartame — commercially called NutraSweet and found in many diet sodas, sugar-free foods, and the sugar substitute Equal — appears to be safe for most pregnant women. However, women with an inherited inborn error of body chemistry called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid foods and drinks containing aspartame.

In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new sweetener called sucralose for use in a wide variety of foods and drinks. This sweetener, which is made from sugar, is safe for everyone, including pregnant women, according to the FDA. Still, since the long-term effects of sucralose are not yet known, it's best to opt for natural sweeteners when possible.

Is computer use a threat during pregnancy?
During the 1980s, there were anecdotal reports of clusters of birth defects and miscarriages among computer users. But since then, a number of studies have provided reassurance that computer monitors (also called video display terminals or VDTs) are safe to use during pregnancy. In 1991, a large study by the government's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reported that women who work at VDTs all day have no more risk of miscarriage than women with similar jobs who don't use VDTs.

Are electromagnetic fields a threat during pregnancy?
Beginning in 1979, a few studies reported that children who are exposed to high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) #151 produced by power lines and electrical appliances — may be at an increased risk of childhood leukemia. While other studies refute this, further research into health risks possibly associated with exposure to EMFs continues.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported in 1998 that mothers of children with the most common form of leukemia were slightly more likely than the mothers of unaffected children to have used electric blankets, mattress pads, or heating pads during pregnancy. While studies of EMFs continue, you might want to avoid using electric blankets while pregnant.

Food Allergies among Children

Dealing with an adult or even an older child with food allergies is not hard, but have you ever tried telling a two-year child that he cannot have a certain food because it will make him sick? Ryan (not his real name) was almost two years old when he discovered he was allergic to most of the things he liked the most - milk, cheese, ice cream, and apple juice.

From the time he was born, Ryan had not been able to sleep through the night. His mom knew something was wrong, but the pediatrician did not agree with her, claimed he was lactose intolerant, and told her to keep him away from dairy products. Ryan still woke up continually during the night, and his mom knew something was not right with her son. He had constant diarrhea, diarrhea that was so bad it would leave red blotches on his bottom. He would cry when his mom used baby wipes to clean him so she learned to use a plain wet washcloth. He would pass gas; sometimes his gas was so severe he would cry as he passed it. Other family members thought Ryan was a colicky baby, but, again, his mom's instinct told her that wasn't his problem.

One and a half years later, Ryan was tested for food allergies. Sure enough, just as his mom thought, Ryan was allergic to casein, which is a milk protein, egg whites, apples, oat and peanut. Ryan's mom used the avoidance diet. She took away all of the foods he ate and gradually put him back on one food for two or three days to see if he reacted to that particular food. If he did react, then he would have to avoid that food. If he did not react, then he was free to eat that food as he normally would.

As it turned out, Ryan was not able to eat any dairy products and any products with apple so his mom bought soy products and avoided anything with apple as an ingredient. She was constantly reading labels because she discovered casein was not only in dairy products but in such items as Ranch Doritos and sausage. She also had to make sure that anyone - daycare, school and other caregivers -, who fed Ryan anything, knew of his food allergies as well. His main reaction was more of a digestive one - stomach aches, gas, and diarrhea - than of a respiratory one. Once the foods were eliminated, Ryan was finally able to sleep through the night, and he no longer had diarrhea and redness on his bottom.

After nearly five years of sticking to that avoidance diet, Ryan is now finally able to eat like a regular child. By avoiding the foods to which he reacted, Ryan outgrew the allergies and is happily able to enjoy the foods he longed to eat.

A Simple Blood Test Could Detect Down's Syndrome in Expectant Mother

A simple, risk-free blood test that can detect Down's syndrome from the blood of pregnant women has raised the prospect of screening being routinely available to every expectant mother.

Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a way of identifying genetic markers, which show whether an unborn child has the chromosomal disorder, without relying on risky amniocentesis techniques.

The experimental procedure has been shown to diagnose 90 per cent of Down's syndrome cases in a small trial, while also correctly identifying 97 per cent of foetuses that do not have the condition.

Scientists hope that if the procedure can be refined and its accuracy improved, it could replace more invasive testing techniques within three to five years.

The most common prenatal test for Down's syndrome involves amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in which a sample of the fluid surrounding the foetus is collected and analysed.

Both procedures are invasive and and carries a one per cent risk of miscarriage. As a result, it is only usually carried out if there is a high enough risk of a disorder - in older mothers, for example.

The Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis (NIPD) test would do away with these risks, but at the same time, would create an ethical dilemma for many couples following a positive result. There are fears that the new approach could ultimately lead to a greater number of abortions.

Nigel Carter, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, near Cambridge, whose team is working on the technique, said: "As well as your ultra-sound scan, you would have a few millilitres of blood taken for your Down's test."

"It's the sort of procedure that could move from being offered only to mothers at risk, to become a more normal screening procedure," Times Online quoted Carter, as saying.
Down's syndrome occurs when three copies of chromosome 21 are inherited instead of the usual two, causing learning difficulties, often accompanied by serious cardiac defects and a high risk of early-onset dementia.

How to Find a Good Baby Doctor

Locating a Doctor

Before baby arrives, you'll need to enlist a pediatrician. But how do you find a good one? The key to success is to get started early, preferably during your second trimester. You may not feel up to the search later, and you don't want to be scrambling around for referrals during the last few weeks of your pregnancy.

So where do you start? Arm yourself with the telephone book, suggestions from your childbirth educator, friends, or family with ties to the medical community. Take the time to meet with prospective physicians before baby is born. Ask questions and familiarize yourself with any health-care provider before committing your child's health to her. Don't feel shy about asking for interviews with several pediatricians. Your child's health is important, and choosing the right pediatrician should be on the very top of your to-do list.

A Checklist of Questions

Print out this checklist using the "Print" function on your Web browser, and take it with you for each visit with a prospective pediatrician.

Before the Interview

____ Do gender, age, or other factors make a difference to me?

____ Is the office convenient to my home, workplace, or child-care provider?

____ Are the office hours conducive to my family's needs?

During the Interview

____ Are evening and weekend office hours available?

____ What do I do in case of an emergency?

____ How are after-hours patient needs handled?

____ Is this office a participant in my health-care plan?

____ How are billing and insurance claims handled?

____ To which hospital(s) does this physician have privileges?

____ If this doctor is part of a group, how likely is it that you will see her personally and how often will you see a physician's assistant or other caregiver?

____ How does the office handle phone calls for advice? Is a nurse or other medical professional available for questions?

After the Interview

____ Do I feel I can build a cooperative relationship with this physician?

____ Is the staff cooperative and helpful?

____ Does the doctor respect my feelings regarding circumcision, immunizations, feeding, and use of medications? Are our philosophies similar?

Originally published in American Baby magazine, January 2001.

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Baby Milk Recommendations Changed

There's been a major change in baby nutrition advice, but it's gone nearly unnoticed. This week, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed its recommendation that weaned babies be fed whole milk until they're 2 years old.

Inst ead, after weaning, kids at risk of being overweight -- or whose families have a history of obesity, heart disease, or high cholesterol -- should get reduced-fat 2% milk between 12 months and 2 years of age.

It's a big change. Because dietary fats are important for early brain development, whole milk was considered essential for weaned babies up to age 2 years. But recent studies have found that kids given reduced-fat milk developed normally.

After their second birthday, all kids should be switched to low-fat 1% milk, says AAP spokeswoman Tanya R. Altmann, MD. Altmann is also an advisor to the National Dairy Council, which represents the dairy industry.

"This is for children who are overweight or at risk of overweight, or with a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease," Altmann tells WebMD. "Children do need a certain amount of fat for brain development. But children now are getting too much fat from other sources. Dairy is very important for child development. Children and adults who consume low-fat dairy products are healthier. So we still recommend three servings a day of low-fat milk over age 2."

The advice came as part of the AAP's recent recommendations for cholesterol screening for children. But the milk advice got lost in the uproar over advice to give cholesterol-lowering drugs to some kids as young as 8 years old.

That controversy quickly quelled when parents realized that the AAP suggested using medication only as a last resort for the less than 1% of kids with disastrously high cholesterol levels.

Parenting style reflected in how children are fed

Parents' general approach to raising their children is often apparent in how they manage their kids' diets -- suggesting that efforts to control childhood obesity need to consider family dynamics, according to researchers.

In a study of 239 parents of first-grade children, researchers found that parents who were strict in general also tended to have an "authoritarian" approach to their children's eating -- banning certain foods, for instance, or using pressure to get them to eat fruits and vegetables.

Similarly, parents who were generally "permissive" in what they let their children eat tended to have similar parenting styles.

In between these two groups, the researchers found, were "authoritative" parents. These parents set limits on their children's diets, but often used more positive approaches -- like following a healthy diet themselves -- to get their kids to eat well.

The findings show that parents' general styles are important in their children's diets, according to Dr. Laura Hubbs-Tait and colleagues at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

They also suggest that efforts to help obese children lose weight are "not likely to be successful" unless the underlying family dynamics are addressed, the researchers report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

In general, experts recommend that parents use positive approaches to get their children to eat right -- by setting a good example with their own diets, for example.

But in this study, both the strict and permissive parents typically failed to serve as good dietary role models for their children.

"Due to the infrequency of healthy eating modeled by both permissive and authoritarian parents," the researchers write, "food and nutrition professionals might encourage both to begin more healthy eating -- for the sake of their own health and that of their children."

A lack of attention to family dynamics may help explain why child obesity treatment is often less than successful, according to Hubbs-Tait and her colleagues.

"Food and nutrition professionals who are implementing dietary change or obesity treatment programs need to include more complex approaches to behavioral change that include parenting styles and family dynamics," they conclude.

How food affects your children’s mood

Behavior is always a form of communication. A child's behavior is not always deliberate, but it is always telling us something about how they are experiencing their environment. They may, however, be years away from being able to self-identify the causes of their behavior. In the meantime, we adults often over-estimate their ability to verbalize what the trouble is. So we see "behavior" and we assume it is willful.
We assume too much, and in doing so, we neglect the more difficult search for the source of our children's behavior and moods. That search frequently leads to food.
Food allergies & Food Sensitivities
These are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. An allergy is a disordered immune-system response. Even a trace amount of the allergen will trigger an allergic response. Food allergies affect far fewer people than food sensitivities, but they are more serious (up to and including fatal reaction). Some common food allergy triggers are eggs, nuts, dairy products, wheat, corn, soy, fish, strawberries.
Food sensitivity is a drug-like reaction to a substance, usually based on the amount or degree of exposure to the offending substance. Two red jelly beans may incite hyperactive or aggressive behavior in one child, whereas another may be able to tolerate a handful. Some common food sensitivity triggers are food dyes, preservatives and additives such as MSG (monosodium glutamate), dairy products, processed carbohydrates such as white flour and white sugar, citrus fruits, chocolate, eggs.
Poor Overall Nutrition
A child may be eating a lot, but if it is of low nutritive value, his brain may be literally starving, acutely affecting his behavior.
The link between nutrition and behavior has been increasingly tested over the past few decades as more and more processed 'food products' have replaced actual food in its original form. In the provocative documentary Supersize Me, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock visits a so-called behavioral high school in Appleton, Wisconsin whose staff saw problem behaviors decline dramatically after converting their school lunch program from processed foods to whole, fresh foods. Further result was an increase in attendance and academic achievement.
An easy way to improve nutrition is to become conscious of eating foods closer to their original form, with as little processing as possible-whole grains rather than refined flours and cereals, whole fresh fruits and vegetables rather than products processed with large amounts of salt and sugar, natural, unprocessed meats that aren't cured with salts and nitrites, or "enhanced" with "basting solutions."
Running on Empty
If your child's behavior is deteriorating early in the day, skipping breakfast could be the culprit. Children's brains are hungry in the morning, whether they recognize it or not; there is overwhelming evidence that children who eat breakfast do significantly better in school than those who do not. The re-fueling of the brain after the long night's fast enhances energy and focus, reduces irritability and anxiety, and has been shown to improve children's overall food choices during the rest of the day.
Thirst
Without adequate hydration, a child can become lethargic, cranky and unable to focus. But fluid consumption should not come at cross-purposes: soda and artificially flavored drinks composed mainly of sugar and food dye may address one problem while creating another. Glucose slows the speed at which the stomach empties its contents, so sugared drinks can actually contribute to thirst by delaying the movement and absorption of fluid into the intestine.
Plain old water is without comparison a hydrator and thirst quencher. Kids may consider water 'boring,' so as with food, change habits slowly. If your child is drinking soda every day, start by eliminating one serving per day and work your way down to where it's a special-occasion treat.
Voicing Pain through Behavior
Don't overestimate your child's ability to communicate gastrointestinal problems. Children aren't born with the ability to identify cause and effect; it develops gradually over childhood. Your child may be voicing physical pain through extreme behavior. Acid reflux (heartburn) can cause esophageal or abdominal pain and create sleep disruption. Constipation, diarrhea, chronic flatulence, ear infections, tooth and mouth pain can all be brought on by certain foods. More serious illnesses such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) require ongoing medical supervision.
As spell-checking, error-detecting computers developed over the years, the term GIGO faded from use. But in its place came an equally dangerous reiteration: GIGO meaning garbage in, gospel out. It's an acerbic warning that we should not accept our computer's output at face value as truth. The same goes for your child's behavior. The truth may be, quite literally, in the pudding.

Teen Pregnancy Rates Edge Higher

A long trend of falling teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. could be at an end, according to a government report released Friday.

The report shows that teen pregnancy rates edged upward from 21 births per 1,000 teenage girls in 2005 to 22 per 1,000 in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

Though small, it's the first increase in teen pregnancy rates since they began dropping from a peak in 1991.

Researchers say they're not sure why the rates went up. "It's only one year. And it might be, to use a very technical term, a blip in the data," says Edward J. Sondik, PhD, director of the National Center for Health Statistics, a CDC division that compiles national data on children's health and well-being each year.

"We feel strongly that it bears watching," Sondik says of the teen pregnancy rate.

Low Birth Weight on the Rise

The report also shows a rise in low-birth-weight deliveries in the U.S. Babies born below 5 pounds 8 ounces are at higher risk for developmental delays and many health problems.

The rate rose to 8.3% in 2006 from 8.2% the year before, according to the report.

"This means that 320,000 babies were born at a weight that jeopardizes their survival and long-term good health," Sondik says.

"This trend reflects an increase in the number of infants born prematurely, the largest category of low-birth-weight infants," Duane Alexander, MD, head of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, says in a news release.

Sondik says researchers are unsure what is driving the rise in low-birth-weight deliveries. But they suspect it's related to a trend of later childbearing by U.S. couples and a rise in multiple births that are more likely with fertility treatments.

Smoking Decline

The report also showed a drop in smoking among eighth-graders, continuing a trend researchers say is highly encouraging. Three percent of eighth-graders reported smoking in the last 30 days in 2007, down from 4% in 2006.

Smoking among eighth-graders has plummeted from as high as 10% a decade ago.

"They're making, of course the right choice in their early life," Sondik says.

Smoking rates also dropped over the last decade for 10th and 12th grades but did not go down between 2006 and 2007, Sondik says.

Kids Get Fat If Moms Eat Junk Food

Once weaned, the offspring of junk-food-fed mothers prefer junk foods more than the offspring of rats fed a healthy diet during pregnancy. But even when fed a healthy diet, the offspring of the junk-food-fed mothers are fatter than the offspring of rats fed healthy food. Moreover, obesity-linked genes are more active in the offspring of junk-food-fed mothers — especially female offspring.

"The maternal diet seems to influence and trigger events early in the life of their offspring," study researcher Stephanie Bayol, PhD, tells WebMD. "We found that by the end of their adolescence, the offspring from the junk-food-fed animals had increased blood sugar, blood fat, and decreased insulin sensitivity — all of which are associated with overweight and diabetes."

Bayol and colleagues at London's Royal Veterinary College gave pregnant rats normal rat chow. But they also gave them free access to cookies, chocolate, doughnuts, muffins, potato chips, candy, and cheese.

In earlier studies, they showed that the offspring of these rats liked high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar foods better than other rats. But the new studies show that even when never fed junk food themselves, the rats whose mothers ate junk food during pregnancy grew up fatter than normal rats.

"Their fat cells were larger, which might make them more prone to obesity and might make it harder for them to lose weight," Bayol says. "So there were lasting effects from their mother's consumption of junk food, even if they were not fed junk food after weaning."

Interestingly, the effects seem to be stronger for female offspring than for males.

"Males seem to use a different molecular machinery to regulate fat storage than do females," Bayol says.
Does the same thing happen in humans? Of course, it would be unethical to feed junk food to pregnant women. But there's evidence that women's diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect their children's food preferences, says pediatrician Stephen R. Cook, MD, MPH, of Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester, N.Y.

"This gets to the concept of fetal programming. A lot of information suggests that in-utero exposures can lead to long-lasting effects in children," Cook tells WebMD. "Women who smoke during pregnancy have children who are heavier, so maternal patterns can affect a child's weight. Whether the cause is altered metabolism or something else, it is a very real concern."

On the other hand, Cook says, junk food is made to have tastes and textures that appeal to children. And it's heavily advertised, which also affects a child's preferences.

Kids' Junk-Food Program Unplugged

Even if mothers' bad diets really do predispose children to prefer junk food, Cook says, it's still possible to teach them healthy eating habits.

"The more times a toddler tries a food, the more the child will come to accept it," Cook says. "Most kids don't like new foods, but after 12 to 15 tries, they start to accept things. So offer something 15 times before you decide they don't like it."

The key is to offer kids two or three food items at a meal. It does not help to pressure kids to eat things they don't want. It also doesn't help to overpraise them for trying a bite of something new.

"Parents should just offer options, and shift the decision-making to the child," Cook says. "But if parents only put out chicken nuggets and a juice box and say, 'That is all my child will eat,' they aren't working hard enough."

Why Babies Puts Everything in His Mouth

I always wonder Why all Babies Puts Everything in his Mouth. Put an object in front of a baby, and you can bet he'll put it in his mouth. Toys, balls, pens, car keys—nothing is out of the question. Your urge may be to curb mouthing, but researchers say that it can be a critical path to learning. That juicy toy just might be providing your child with new sensory information about shape, texture, weight, and size.

A recent study has one more benefit to add to the list: the chance to practice making new sounds, such as consonants like d and k, says psychologist Mary Fagan, coauthor of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Because consonants are made by pressing lips together or touching the tongue to the top of the mouth, gnawing on a safe object automatically gives the baby's tongue the shape changes it needs to create certain sounds.

But that's not to say that anything should go in a child's mouth. Keep all small objects, like buttons and pennies, out of reach: Anything that can fit through a toilet-paper tube is too small. You'll also want to double-check that none of your baby's favorite chompers have been recalled for lead paint or other safety issues (visit cpsc.gov for a list). Some good bets for safe and satisfying mouthing include plastic keys, stacking rings, rattles, and good old fingers and hands.

Kids and Cholesterol

In the past few years there's been a steady push to get kids with very high cholesterol on statins, the LDL-lowering drugs already found in the medicine cabinets of 13 million Americans. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics--the nation's most influential group of pediatricians--has gotten in on the act. On Monday it released new guidelines suggesting that docs should start testing overweight kids or those with a family history of heart disease for high cholesterol at age two--and that they should consider prescribing statins as early as age eight. Four of the drugs are already FDA-approved for use in kids. The new AAP recommendations are sure to be controversial, especially since the drugs' long-term effects on kids are unknown.

Newsweek's Mary Carmichael spoke with Peter Belamarich, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, who has prescribed statins to some kids but takes issue with the new guidelines. Excerpts:

You've written that "lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of cardiovascular prevention in childhood." Isn't that what the AAP should be focusing on? Are you worried that these guidelines will encourage doctors to prescribe drugs to kids with high cholesterol instead of changes in diet and exercise?
Dr. Peter Belamarich: No. If people read them carefully, they say that the statin medications should be targeted to very high-risk children. The kids who would qualify for drug treatment based on these guidelines are less than one percent of all children. Ninety-nine percent of children and adolescents still should be treated with what's called therapeutic lifestyle change: limiting animal fat, increasing physical activity to an hour a day.

So what is your problem with the AAP guidelines?
My criteria for what justifies medication are higher than the guidelines'. I tend not to start medication until after age ten. And I don't treat very high-risk girls as aggressively as I would treat very high-risk boys, for two reasons. One, women develop cardiovascular disease slightly later in life, so there's less urgency in initiating treatment in childhood. Two, there are data suggesting that statins can interfere with growth and development in utero, so we should not use them in anybody who might get pregnant unintentionally, and that would include adolescents.

What does "very high-risk" mean regarding children and heart disease? It's not like these kids are having heart attacks at 10.
I think the children who most deserve these meds, if anybody does, are children who have a direct family history of premature coronary heart disease in young relatives who are under 40 or 50. Often, those kids have very low HDL, or "good," cholesterol levels. So I tend to treat boys with low HDL, a positive family history, and "bad" LDL levels in the 190s [milligrams per deciliter]. What makes it tricky is that prescribing these drugs in kids requires a lot more clinical judgment than it does in adults. In adults, there are scores that put all the risk factors together--hypertension, age, smoking, diabetes, sex, LDL/HDL ratio--and in middle-aged men, you can predict the risk of heart attack in the following year using those scores. We don't have that kind of score for children. So we have to use our judgment.

Are there enough data to support the use of statins in kids?
There's unequivocal data that if you've had a heart attack you should be on statins. There's no question, this is a fantastic drug. It decreases your risk of another heart attack by 30 percent or more and it's very safe. But that's for middle-aged people at high risk. We need studies with a logical progression showing it's okay to treat young adults, then very high-risk adolescents, and then extremely high-risk children younger than that. And that data is not all there. Some people would say, look, we're in the midst of an epidemic and it's really unethical to wait to start treatment. And other people, such as myself, would say that we need to be absolutely sure that what we're doing is safe before we do it.

Predicting pregnancy odds

Stanford University researchers said they are one step closer to accurately predicting if in vitro fertilization will result in pregnancy, according to a study released Tuesday.

The study, published in the Public Library of Science journal, identifies factors that will indicate with 70 percent accuracy the chances of pregnancy after a single round of in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

In vitro fertilization is a process by which eggs and sperm are clinically combined to create viable embryos that are then transferred into the uterus. Nationally, anywhere from 18 percent to 45 percent of IVF treatments, on women using their own eggs, result in pregnancy, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Stanford researchers isolated four factors out of 30 to better predict pregnancy outcomes: the total number of embryos developed during fertilization; both the number of fully developed and undeveloped embryos; and a hormone test.

But the scientists' method only tells parents who've already undergone one round of IVF if the treatment likely worked, said Dr. Mylene Yao, the lead researcher on the study and a Stanford assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. What the method doesn't predict is the parents' chances of a pregnancy should they try IVF again, assuming the first attempt failed.

The Stanford researchers analyzed 665 IVF trials conducted at the university in 2005.

The researchers are now analyzing a larger

set of birth data from another study. Both studies will help them develop a method that predicts the odds of a pregnancy, and hopefully a live birth, in subsequent IVF treatments, Yao said.

"Ultimately, we want to be able to give patients more personalized and evidence-based information to help them decide whether they want to have IVF treatment if their first (treatment) does not result in a baby," Yao said.

For the most part, scientists already know to look at both undeveloped and developed embryos, said Dr. Susan Willman, an endocrinologist with the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. What the study does is calculate an actual probability, the first time she had read of one.

The trend in endocrinology research is to develop tests that predict the likelihood of pregnancy before fertility treatments begin, Willman said. Research is also focused on determining which embryos are healthiest to transfer.

Yao emphasized the study is one more way scientists pinpoint when IVF is most likely to work.

Eating Junk While Pregnant Can Harm Your Baby

We all know that smoking and drinking when pregnant can harm the baby, but new research published in The Journal of Physiology suggests that poor diet may also cause long-lasting, irreversible damage in offspring from heart disease to diabetes.
Stéphanie Bayol and Neil Stickland at the Royal Veterinary College, London fed female rats a "junk food" diet of crisps, cheese, muffins and other processed foods throughout pregnancy and lactation.
The offspring, who were overweight at birth, were born with a taste for junk-food themselves. But even when fed a healthy diet, the junk-food babies had a host of medical problems that lasted beyond adolescence into adulthood.

The rats had raised cholesterol and triglyceride levels - both associated with heart disease. Insulin and glucose in the blood were also unusually high, known to be a cause of type-2 diabetes. And the rats remained significantly podgier than normal with extra fat around the kidneys, another diabetes risk-factor.
The female offspring were particularly badly affected, expressing high levels of glucose and the appetite-promoting hormone leptin making them very prone to obesity.
"It seems that a mother's diet whilst pregnant and breastfeeding is very important for the long term health of her child," says Dr Bayol. "This does not mean that obesity and poor health is inevitable and it is important that we take care of ourselves and live a healthy lifestyle. But it does mean that mothers must eat responsibly whilst pregnant."
But will these results translate to humans? Very probably, says Professor Stickland. "Humans share a number of fundamental biological systems with rats, so there is good reason to assume the effects we see in rats may be repeated in humans," he says. "Our research certainly tallies with epidemiological studies linking children's weight to that of their parents."

Stop Your babies Thumb Sucking Habit

Children suck their thumbs for a variety of reasons. For infants, it is a natural reflex that often begins in the womb. As babies grow, they learn a lot about their bodies and the world around them through sucking. They suck on their fingers, clothing, and toys. From this action they learn what is pleasing and what is uncomfortable. Sucking on an ice cube or cool teething ring feels good when those first teeth are trying to break through, but when the same teething child sucks on a hard plastic toy, she may experience discomfort.

Young children also use sucking to soothe and comfort themselves. Since the action is relaxing, it often induces sleep—which is why parents notice children sucking their thumbs when they are tired. In fact, many thumb suckers fall asleep more easily, are able to put themselves back to sleep quicker, and sleep through the night much earlier than their non-thumb sucking peers.

With all these positives, is there a point when parents should be concerned about thumb sucking? According to the American Dental Association (ADA), after a child's permanent teeth come in, thumb sucking can cause problems. It can interfere with proper mouth growth, teeth alignment, and cause changes to the roof of the mouth.

One factor that determines whether a child will have dental problems is the intensity with which she sucks. A child who just rests her thumb in her mouth or passively sucks on it is less likely to develop problems than a child who sucks her thumb in earnest. Parents whose children are vigorous thumb suckers should pay attention to any changes in their child's primary teeth and consult a dentist if any are noted.

The ADA recommends children give up thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth start coming in, which is typically around the age of five. But the good news is that the majority of children lose interest in thumb sucking long before this point. If your child is not one of them, you may have to intervene.

Studies of older thumb suckers show they have one thing in common: they were all encouraged by their parents, in one way or another, to stop sucking their thumbs at an early age. Here's how you can get your child on track.

Make Her Think it's Her Idea

Nagging your thumb sucker is no good for either of you. Instead, encourage her to realize how much she has grown and changed. Show her what she has left behind on her way to maturity. Point out that she no longer has use for diapers, bottles, or high chairs. Tell her how proud you are of that. Ask her what else she thinks she will give up. If she doesn't say thumb sucking, then you should suggest it.
Weaken the Habit

When you notice your child's thumb in his mouth, try to distract him. Engage him in an activity that requires he use both hands. Be especially prepared before nap and bedtime. Have him hold the book you are reading or hug a stuffed animal with each arm.
Help Her Notice

When your child wants to give up thumb sucking, tell her about a habit you gave up and how hard it was. Then decide on a secret signal between the two of you. When she unconsciously slips her thumb in her mouth—and she will—you can use the secret signal to help her realize what she is doing. By using a secret signal, you replace what could be a shameful situation with fun.
Use Authority

Comments from your child's pediatrician and dentist can work wonders. These authority figures have been a constant in his life. They can help him feel that he wants to stop sucking his thumb because he is growing up.
Consider Peer Pressure

Friends are very important to this age group. Having a sleepover with friends who do not suck their thumbs can be very helpful. If your child sucks her thumb and her friends mention it, this might be the motivation she needs to stop.

Mother's Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Affect Her Baby's Dental Health

Low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect primary tooth calcification, leading to enamel defects, which are a risk factor for early-childhood tooth decay.

Investigators from the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg and Victoria) recently presented* the results of a study they conducted to determine the vitamin D status of pregnant women, the incidence of enamel defects and early-childhood tooth decay among their infants, and the relationship with pre-natal vitamin D levels.

Two hundred six pregnant women in their second trimester participated in the study. Only 21 women (10.5%) were found to have adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D concentrations were related to the frequency of milk consumption and pre-natal vitamin use.

The investigators examined 135 infants (55.6% male) at 16.1 ± 7.4 months of age, and found that 21.6% of them had enamel defects, while 33.6% had early-childhood tooth decay. Mothers of children with enamel defects had lower, but not significantly different, mean vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy than those of children without defects.

However, mothers of children with early-childhood tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those whose children were cavity-free. Infants with enamel defects were significantly more likely to have early-childhood tooth decay.

This is the first study to show that maternal vitamin D levels may have an influence on primary teeth and the development of early-childhood tooth decay.

It was funded by the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health, the Dentistry Canada Fund, the University of Manitoba, and Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Hypoglycemia in Pregnancy

Hypoglycemia is a condition that is caused by low blood sugar levels and excessive insulin. While it can occur at any time, it tends to be common during pregnancy. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, lightheadedness, shaking, headache, sweating, confusion and changes in vision. If you experience these symptoms, mention it to your health care provider.

There are several causes of hypoglycemia. Diabetic women experience it when they take too much insulin. Other causes include skipping meals and not eating enough food.

For many women, pregnancy makes hypoglycemia worse, particularly in the first trimester. In some cases, women have their first experiences with a drop in blood sugar during pregnancy. This may only occur during pregnancy or may continue to be a problem after pregnancy.

Fortunately, there appear to be no serious threats to the baby if mommy is hypoglycemic. However, it can be a problem for you. Therefore, it is important that you learn to control your blood sugar. For most women, this can be done through proper diet and regular meals and snacks.

A drop in blood sugar is most common when you go long periods of time without eating. Your doctor will likely recommend eating six to eight times each day. This will be a combination of meals and snacks. Snacks should not be junk food, but should be fresh fruits, vegetables and protein.

You will get to a point where you know your blood sugar is low before the symptoms get too severe. This is when you need to eat as soon as possible. Waiting will just result in your blood sugar continuing to drop and the symptoms getting worse. It is a good idea to carry a snack in your purse and a juice box when you are out. If you feel your blood sugar dropping, you will have quick access to a snack at all times.

Your doctor will give you information on diet to control your hypoglycemia. If it continues to be a problem, you may be referred to a nutritionist. She can help you set up a meal plan to keep your blood sugar steady, which can prevent symptoms.

Tips for researching safe daycare options

There are plenty of issues to consider when it comes to daycare. You can skimp on some issues more than others. For example, a caring staff and first aid knowledge is more important than a large array of toys. However, there are some issues your chosen daycare should never skimp on. Pay the daycare you’re considering a visit and make sure of the following:

1. All babies are put to sleep on their back, each and every time. Staff should be trained on this important issue.

2. That the baby to staff ratio is at least 3 babies per 1 adult caregiver. If your baby is over the age of one year, but under three years the staff ratio should still be at least 4 babies per 1 adult. Ask about subs as well.

3. All staff who work with the children should be trained in infant CPR and first aid. No exceptions.

4. There’s a sick day policy you can live with. Some daycares won’t allow a baby in if he’s had a fever, until 24 hours have passed. I like this rule, because I knew my Cedar wouldn’t be exposed to other baby’s illnesses as often, but if 24 hours is too long, look for a center with more flexible rules, or even a sick room. Just be aware that if sick kids are allowed at the center, your child will also be exposed when he’s healthy.

5. There’s an open door policy. If parent’s aren’t welcomed happily at ANY time in the daycare area, then it’s a major red flag. Staff should seem fine with you being there, and not anxious or annoyed. If staff seem odd, or they have a more closed door policy, I’d look elsewhere.

Why baby cry?

After sometime, you’ll totally catch onto all your baby’s cries and their meanings. It may seem impossible when you’re a brand new mama, but you’ll get it - trust me. Until then, here are a few common crying variations and what they likely mean. I’ve been around countless babies, and while they all differ, some of these cries seem to be across the board.

Tired: Tired is the easiest cry to decipher in my opinion, because it’s often lack luster. Your baby can cry when he wants; loudly. However, tired crying is often more broken, and varied, almost as if your baby has to try super hard to cry.

Hungry: Hungry crying babes usually take rooting breaks from their tears. Your baby may cry and root around at the same time or cry and suck on his hand.

Pain: You’ll be able to tell a painful cry early on, but hopefully it’s not something you’ll hear too often. Gas is a likely pain culprit in a little baby and sometimes elastic from clothing can press on your baby’s skin - yes, some babies are little drama queens, they may feel pain from clothing, cold, or too tight of socks. The cry will be high pitched, sudden, and LOUD.

Bored: Bored crying is a tough call. This is crying that usually starts out sort of fussy and turns into a full-on crying scene. Catching a fussy bored baby is easier than stopping the crying once it starts. First check a fussy baby out - is their diaper clean, have they eaten, slept, and so on? If everything seems ok, they may just want some entertainment. Break out your best baby puppet or go on a walk.

Can you easily decipher your baby’s cries?

Unexpected Symptoms of Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancy can be a roller coaster ride for some expectant mothers. The usual early pregnancy symptoms, often discussed in pregnancy books and guides, often overlook the more unexpected symptoms and side effects of early pregnancy that many woman experience. Some of these unexpected symptoms of early pregnancy can come as a complete surprise to newly pregnant women. The earliest unexpected pregnancy symptoms may even begin well before the first pregnancy test is taken or confirmed.

Early pregnancy symptoms often have a way with taking over the normal mental, physical, and emotional states of pregnant women. The beginning weeks of pregnancy can be both confusing and exciting to newly pregnant women, who are new to the impact that pregnancy can have on their formerly normal, everyday lives. Even women who have had previous pregnancies may discover that each pregnancy is a different and unique experience. Unexpected pregnancy symptoms can strike at any time during early pregnancy, but there are some symptoms and side effects that seem to be common, though often glossed over in pregnancy books and doctors' early pregnancy informational talks.

Is that Water Retention or am I Pregnant?

One of the first unexpected signs of early pregnancy can often be the mysterious bloating, similar to the signs of water retention, that settles in the lower belly. The bloating can be similar to that which many women experience prior to having a period, and this can also be confused with PMS symptoms. Because the bloating is often slight, and mainly noticed by the expectant woman when trying to button a pair of pants, it can be overlooked.

What's that Smell?

The sense of smell is often heightened during pregnancy, and early pregnancy can be the most challenging for women who discover that normally tolerable smells and scents can bring on a wave of nausea in a split second. Many women develop strange and unique aversions to certain smells during early pregnancy. The smell of frying meat or cooking smells is a common smell aversion, but other scents and smells can be equally popular nauseating scents to women in early pregnancy. Many times, food related smells will discourage pregnant women from eating certain foods during early pregnancy. As long as a healthy diet is included in the early pregnancy diet, most women can avoid nausea-inducing foods for awhile.

I Don't Look Pregnant!

Women who are pregnant for the first time are often most surprised when, aside from the number of early pregnancy symptoms they are contending with, they do not actually look pregnant. The first three months of the pregnancy, known as the first trimester, is an important one developmentally for the fetus and the pregnant woman, but most women rarely show any outward physical signs of being pregnant until the second trimester. Women who have had previous babies may show sooner, but aside from typical bloating in the lower abdominal area, most pregnant woman may be surprised to find that their clothes still fit during early pregnancy. The maternity wardrobe can be set aside and stretchier waistbands often work best for women who are in-between early pregnancy and the second trimester.

The Wild, Raging Mood Swing

Early pregnancy signs should include a disclaimer that wild, and unforseen mood swings are often described by those who experience them in early pregnancy as, "PMS times ten." The range of moods that women can experience during early pregnancy often confuse those around them. One minute a feeling of universal joy is peaking, when you see a cute baby at the local mall, and next thing you know, a sudden fit of emotional chaos ensues. Part of the emotional rollercoaster can be attributed to the havoc that early pregnancy hormones can have on the emotional state of pregnant women.

It is common for tempers to flare out of the blue, and for women to have exaggerated reactions to minor situations during early pregnancy. Though you doctor will often mention that hormones may cause mood swings during early pregnancy, women are often surprised by the way that these mood swings can play out in their daily lives. Time outs and alone time can be very helpful for women who are battling raging mood swings during the first few months of pregnancy.

I Had to Pee Twenty Times Today

The tell tale sign of early pregnancy can often be correlated to the number of times a woman will have to run to the restroom during the day. Frequent urination is at its peak during the first few months of pregnancy, and later returns at the end. Women who notice that they are making more and more unexpected trips to the restroom, may want to look into taking a pregnancy test. Once a pregnancy has been confirmed, be ready to make more trips to the restroom during this period of early pregnancy.

What are those Gurgling Sounds?

During the first few weeks of early pregnancy, many women often hear strange noises coming from their digestive system and lower abdominal area. The digestive system is adjusting to the new demands on the body during early pregnancy, and it is common, though often surprising, for pregnant women to hear odd swooshing, gurgling, or digestive sounds coming from their bodies. These early sounds can begin well before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

Early pregnancy can be an interesting journey for expectant women. Unexpected and surprising symptoms can appear at anytime during early pregnancy, but women who are more aware of these potential symptoms will be better prepared to face them during the first few months of pregnancy.

The Stages of Labor

Labor is divided into three stages. The first stage begins with the onset of contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated (to 10 centimeters). The second stage involves delivery of the baby, and the third stage entails delivery of the placenta and membranes, or “afterbirth.” Although the length of labor varies considerably, women experiencing their first full-term childbirth usually have the longest labors. About half will exceed 12 hours, and 2 in 10 will last longer than 24 hours. After the first baby, labor is usually shorter. Three-quarters of women deliver within 12 hours, and only one in 50 labor for more than 24 hours.

  The first and longest stage of labor has three distinct phases: the early, or latent, phase; the active phase; and the transition. During the early phase of labor, contractions are often widely spaced—perhaps 10 minutes or more apart—and feel like a tightening or pulling in your back or groin. They can vary considerably in frequency and intensity. At this point you may feel excited, sociable and talkative, or you may be a bit nervous. Most women remain at home during this phase, during which the cervix dilates from 0 to 4 centimeters, and later arrive at the birth center in active labor.
The Active Phase

As you progress from the early to the active phase, your attention focuses completely on labor. Your contractions occur about 3 minutes apart, last about 45 to 60 seconds, and become more centered in your abdomen. They also become stronger and more rhythmic, peaking and receding like waves.

Your determination may waver during this phase of labor. Extra reassurance from your partner and birth attendant can help you stay focused. Breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques also become more important as your cervix dilates to 8 centimeters—nearly wide enough to allow for your baby's birth.

During the active phase, you may begin to long for relief from the pain and tension of labor. Though medication is an obvious solution for your discomfort, you must consider the safety of the baby. Many drugs cross the placenta and affect the baby, making its heartbeat and breathing more sluggish throughout the remainder of labor and after delivery. For this reason, many doctors recommend concentrating on one contraction at a time and relying on your partner, rather than medication, to help maintain your focus.

If your pain is so intense that it actually impedes your progress, however, medication may help you to relax so that contractions can remain steady and vigorous. Two basic kinds of pain medication—analgesics and anesthetics—are used during childbirth.

Analgesics will relieve most of the pain. Drugs used include Demerol, Sublimaze, Nubain, Stadol, morphine, and fentanyl injected into a muscle or vein. These medications are not designed to provide a pain-free labor, but, in appropriate dosages, they can make you more comfortable.

Potential side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting and an abnormally fast heartbeat. They present some additional risk to the baby, but if handled properly pose no significant threat. Large doses, however, can interrupt your labor pattern, and if this happens, additional medications such as oxytocin (Pitocin, Syntocinon) may be needed to reestablish strong contractions.

Regional anesthetics completely eliminate the pain. The most common types used during labor include:

Paracervical block. Medication is injected into your cervix, usually during the first stage of labor, to provide you with pain relief from contractions and dilation without interfering with the urge or ability to push. This drug may not work properly in up to one-third of women, and it must be repeated every hour to maintain numbness. It is no longer used frequently.

Pudendal block. The anesthetic is injected through the vaginal wall during the second stage of labor to relieve pain in the perineum (the area between the vagina and the rectum). It may be used in an otherwise unmedicated childbirth. The medication does not interfere with the urge or ability to push and generally masks the effects and repair of an episiotomy—the incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening.

Spinal or saddle block. A single injection of regional anesthetic is made into your spinal canal, numbing the complete lower abdominal and perineal area. This type of anesthetic is rarely used during labor but may be suggested if a forceps or cesarean delivery is required. Administration of a spinal block completely removes the urge to push and may lower your blood pressure. In rare cases, it causes a severe headache when it wears off.

Epidural or caudal block. A needle holding a thin, flexible tube is threaded into the space between your spinal cord and your vertebrae. When the needle is removed, the anesthetic can flow continuously through the tube. Like a spinal block, this procedure provides full pain relief in the perineal area. Dosages can easily be changed or discontinued. Most physicians consider the epidural block to be the optimal method of pain relief for uncomplicated labor or non-emergency cesarean births because it allows a woman to remain fully alert. Nevertheless, the anesthetic requires up to 20 minutes to take full effect and may leave a painful “hot spot”. In addition, it may diminish uterine contractions, bringing on the need for oxytocin. The risk of a forceps delivery is also increased.

DECIDING WHERE TO DELIVER

Today, women have more options about how and where to deliver their babies than ever before. A hospital remains the choice of many, since it provides the security of extensive medical technology in the event of a complication for the mother or child. Many hospitals offer single rooms that allow you and your partner the privacy to participate more fully in childbirth and care of the newborn. Be sure the staff understands and respects the role your partner wants to play in the birth of your baby well before you check in.

Some medical centers now have separate birthing centers in place of their old labor and delivery wards. These centers are more homelike than the maternity section of the hospital, though a woman still has access to medical help, should it become necessary. Home delivery is another alternative advocated by some women who want childbirth to be as natural as possible, but because emergencies, though rare, can be catastrophic when they do occur, most physicians advise against this. Many obstetrical practices now include one or more midwives. Midwifery is one of the world's oldest and most respected professions. Some midwives only work in medical centers, while others also offer assistance with home deliveries. In one study, women who were assisted by midwives in hospital birth centers reported significantly higher satisfaction than those under the care of physicians in traditional hospital settings. There were no differences in Apgar scores in either group, despite the fact that the midwife-assisted mothers were not monitored electronically, and the rate of cesarean deliveries in both groups was similar. The study concluded that women should be offered choices in obstetrical care, including the selection of a birth attendant.

Women who receive competent and compassionate care throughout labor and delivery are much more likely to remain calm and self-controlled during childbirth and experience the greatest satisfaction. Because of the complications that can arise, a hospital birthing center, combining a warm environment for routine deliveries with access to intensive medical care if necessary, appears to offer women, their babies, and their partners with the best of both worlds.