VitaminsHealth.net » pregnancy

Big Families Are Back In Style

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:40:00 +0000

If popular culture were any indication, you’d think big families are back. Television shows like Jon & Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting and 9 By Design follow women whose outlook on kids seems to be the more the merrier. Plus, celebrities like Heidi Klum (four kids) and Angelina Jolie (six kids) make many-children motherhood look glamorous. All of which raises the question: Are professional women shattering the two-children, nuclear-family norm? Susan W. Hinze, professor of sociology and women’s and gender studies at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, offers a definitive “maybe.” According to the National Center for Health Statistics, fertility rates increased steadily until 2006 to 2.1 children per American woman, hitting a high since the baby boom in 1961. However, there’s been a slight decrease in births in the past few years likely because of the recession, says Hinze. This year, the Central Intelligence Agency estimates an average rate of 2.05 children per woman. Two kids per family might remain the average, but the story doesn’t end there. Hinze says there is evidence that affluent families are beginning to have more children. According to the Council on Contemporary Families, there’s been a significant increase in three- and four-children families among the “super rich,” or the top-earning 2% of households, which translates to an annual household income of about $400,000 or more. The economic costs of having children today are huge, and high-earners probably have more simply because they are able to afford them. In fact, the cost of raising a child has exploded in the past few decades. A 2009 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that in 1960 the average middle-class family spent $25,000 per child, compared with a whopping $222,000 in 2009. When adjusted for inflation, that’s an increase of 22%. The report also estimates that the current per-child cost can be as high as $370,000 from birth to age 17 (which would not factor in college tuition costs), or about $23,000 each year

Original Source of Big Families Are Back In Style

Christina Applegate Talks Baby Names with Jimmy Kimmel

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:44:00 +0000

PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Christina Applegate Talks Baby Names with Jimmy Kimmel

Study: The Health Risks of Late Preterm Births

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:24:00 +0000

In the largest study of its kind, researchers find that the risk of severe breathing problems rises significantly in babies born prematurely, even those born in the so-called late preterm period. Health experts consider babies born at or after 37 weeks’ gestation to be full term, and those born between 34 weeks and 37 weeks to be late preterm. (Preterm is defined as less than 34 weeks’ gestation.) Many previous studies have shown that compared with full-term babies, those who are born too early are at higher risk of dying shortly after delivery and are more likely to suffer neonatal complications that require lengthy stays in the hospital. In the new study, Dr. Judith Hibbard at University of Illinois also found that babies born at 34 weeks were 40 times more likely to have respiratory distress syndrome, a breathing difficulty that often requires a ventilator, than babies born at 38 weeks or later. Even at 37 weeks’ gestation — the point at which mothers may ask for an elective Cesarean section or induced delivery — babies are three times more likely than full-term infants to have respiratory abnormalities at birth. “That’s a remarkably increased risk,” notes Hibbard, who worked with the Consortium on Safe Labor, a group of 19 hospitals that contributed volunteers and data to the study. “And I have to admit, much higher than I was expecting.” Despite the accepted 37-week full-term cutoff, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists officially recommends that babies not be delivered (unless medically necessary) until after 39 weeks. Yet some 9% of all deliveries in the U.S. still occur just shy of 37 weeks, and a recent study found that as many as 23% of late pre-term births — between 34 weeks and 37 weeks — occur for no documented medical reason. Hibbard says she was surprised by the high rate of health problems she and her team found in this group, since advances in neonatal care have allowed more high-risk babies to survive and eventually thrive after being born too early. But the fact that respiratory distress syndrome continued to occur in premature infants at 40 times the rate in full-term babies highlighted how risky premature delivery can be. At 34 weeks, infants’ lungs and respiratory systems are not fully developed, making it difficult from them to survive outside the womb. With every week of gestation after 34 weeks, however, Hibbard found that rates of complications dropped — by 40 weeks, only 0.3% of babies showed signs of respiratory distress. While 67% of babies required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit at 34 weeks, only 7% of those born at 38 weeks required the same care. Further, 1.5% of babies delivered at 34 weeks developed pneumonia, compared with practically none of those born at 38 weeks

Personality types affect women’s approach to childbirth -study

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:20:00 +0000

Conventional wisdom says that the better educated a woman is, the more likely she is to delay motherhood. But a new study suggests personality type could be a more powerful determinant. The research found that high levels of “extroversion”, “agreeableness” and “neuroticism” accelerated the desire of a woman to have a child. Conversely, high “conscientiousness” and “openness” were associated with delaying childbirth. In the report, by the Institute of Social and Economic Research, the five personality traits were cross-referenced with the age at which more than 16,000 women had their first child. Lara Tavares, author of the study – Who Delays Childbearing? The Relationships Between Fertility, Education and Personality Traits – used data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) collected over the past five years. There is on average a two-year gap between the mean age at first birth of women with and without higher educational qualifications. But, said Tavares, personality traits could help to explain the maternity timing gap between women with differing levels of education. “Most studies do find evidence of a positive relationship between education and age at first birth,” she said. “However, the nature of this relationship is far less clear. The difficulty in studying the relationship between education and fertility is that it might be spurious. “First, personality traits influence both education and fertility decisions. Secondly, some highly educated women – the more ‘open-minded’ – severely postpone childbearing, and therefore they push up the average age at first birth within the group of more educated women, thereby creating a fertility timing gap between more and less educated women.” According to the BHPS categorizations, extroversion is mainly characterized by sociability, with extroverts tending to be talkative and assertive. Agreeableness relates to the subject’s willingness to help others – to be caring, co-operative and kind. Neuroticism indicates the subject’s emotional stability, with high scorers tending to be anxious, depressed and insecure. Those who scored highly on conscientiousness tended to follow the rules, to be reliable, well-organised and self-disciplined. “Openness” reflected an individual’s tendency to unconventionality and intellect. Open-minded women tend to enjoy being unattached, free, not tied to people, places, or obligations – and may be rebellious. “More ‘open-minded’ people might be less vulnerable to the social pressure for having children,” said Tavares.

Original Source of Personality types affect women’s approach to childbirth -study

Older age, extra pounds may delay breast milk production

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:18:00 +0000

First-time moms who are older than 30, overweight or have breastfeeding difficulties on their newborn’s first day may have increased odds of a delay in their full breast milk production, a new study suggests. After giving birth, women produce a precursor to breast milk called colostrum until their full breast milk comes in; if that shift does not happen within 72 hours, researchers consider it “delayed lactogenesis.” The concern with this is that some infants may start to become dehydrated and lose excess weight (some weight loss after birth is normal), and that some mothers, worried and frustrated, may give up on breastfeeding. However, new moms with a delay in full milk production should not be discouraged, said Dr. Laurie A. Nommsen-Rivers of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, the lead researcher on the new study. Instead, she said, they should call their pediatrician or “lactation consultant” — a specialist in breastfeeding issues who works in some hospitals and also in private practice. With some support, Nommsen-Rivers said, mothers with delayed breast-milk production will “do just fine.” She noted that nearly all new moms — 98 percent — have their milk come in within a week. For the current study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nommsen-Rivers and her colleagues looked at the factors associated with delayed lactation among 431 first-time mothers who gave birth at one California medical center. The researchers focused on first-time mothers because they are significantly more likely than women who’ve given birth before to have a delay in their breast milk coming in. Overall, the study found, 44 percent of the women took longer than 72 hours to have their milk come in — which was assessed by asking the study participants whether their breasts felt “noticeably fuller” three days after giving birth. Women who were overweight or obese were more likely than thinner women to have a delay; 45 percent and 54 percent, respectively, compared with 31 percent of normal-weight women. Age also appeared to be a factor, as 58 percent of women age 30 and older had a delay in their breast milk coming in, versus 39 percent of younger women. In addition, mothers who said they had “breastfed well” at least twice during the first 24 hours of their newborn’s life — when colostrum is produced — were less likely to have a delay in their milk coming in: 39 percent to 43 percent of these women had a delay, compared with 65 percent of mothers who reported only one or no instance of breastfeeding “well” in the first 24 hours. Another factor related to delayed milk production was nipple soreness. Women who had more than mild soreness in the first few days after giving birth were less likely to have a delay than other women. That soreness, the researchers note, may be an indicator of more-effective early breastfeeding, which would encourage full milk production. It is not clear why relatively older age and heavier weight in the mother would be associated with a higher risk of delayed lactation, according to Nommsen-Rivers.

Original Source of Older age, extra pounds may delay breast milk production

Diablo Cody Welcomes a Boy!

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:14:00 +0000

Congratulations to Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody, 32, and husband Dan Maurio who welcomed their first child Tuesday morning (July 27). The new mom took to Twitter to share her happy news: We had our boy early this morning! Marcello Daniel Maurio, 7lbs, 2 oz, lightly mustachioed. The couple, who married in the summer of 2009, announced their pregnancy in April. Source PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Diablo Cody Welcomes a Boy!

Study: Acupuncture doesn’t help induce labor

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Although acupuncture is promoted as a way to induce labor in women who go past their due date, a new study adds to evidence doubting its usefulness. Researchers found that among 125 pregnant women who were past their due dates, those who were randomly assigned to undergo two acupuncture sessions were no more likely to go into labor over the next 24 hours. Of those women, 12 percent went into labor, versus 14 percent of those who were randomly assigned to have a “sham” version of acupuncture. The findings, reported in the obstetrics journal BJOG, add to evidence that acupuncture may not be an effective way to induce labor in “post- term” pregnancies — those that go beyond 41 weeks. About 5 percent to 10 percent of pregnant women have a post-term pregnancy, a delay that raises the risk of complications during labor. Because of this, doctors routinely induce labor when a pregnancy lasts beyond 41 weeks. During standard labor induction, a doctor uses instruments to rupture the amniotic sac or stretch the cervix, or gives synthetic forms of prostaglandins or oxytocin — hormones that normally help trigger labor. Acupuncture has been promoted as an alternative; in theory, it may work by stimulating the nervous system, which in turn could cause the uterus to contract. And there is a need for alternatives in labor induction, said Dr. Niels Uldbjerg, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and the senior researcher on the new study. Source PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Study: Acupuncture doesn’t help induce labor

Emily Procter Expecting Baby No. 1

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:07:00 +0000

CSI: Miami star Emily Procter is pregnant! The 41-year-old actress is currently expecting baby no. 1 with her partner, musician Paul Bryan, confirms her rep. According to TV Guide Magazine, the pregnancy will not be written into her character Calleigh Duquesne’s role for the show’s upcoming season, which is set to air in the fall. Congratulations to the Procter-Bryans! Source PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Emily Procter Expecting Baby No. 1

Daily coffee fine for pregnant women

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:04:00 +0000

Pregnant women need no longer give up their morning cup of coffee. A research review by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that moderate caffeine consumption probably won’t increase the risk of a miscarriage or premature birth. Until recently, studies have had conflicting findings about the effect of moderate caffeine consumption on pregnancy complications but a college committee has reviewed the evidence. “I think it’s time to comfortably say that it’s OK to have a cup of coffee during pregnancy,” Dr. William Barth, the chair of the College committee, told Reuters Health. The College’s Committee on Obstetric Practice said that 200 milligrams of caffeine a day — about the amount in a 12-ounce cup of coffee — doesn’t significantly contribute to miscarriages or premature births. That definition of “moderate caffeine consumption” would also include drinking about four eight-ounce cups of tea or more than five 12-ounce cans of soda a day, or eating six or seven dark chocolate bars. The committee said the evidence was not clear on whether consuming more than 200 mg of caffeine a day might increase pregnancy risks. The group considered two recent studies, each of which followed more than 1,000 pregnant women. One study, led by Dr. David Savitz of The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, found no increased rate of miscarriage for women who consumed low, moderate, or high levels of caffeine at different points in their pregnancy. In the other, Dr. De-Kun Li and his colleagues at Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland found a higher risk of miscarriage in women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine per day, but no extra risk at lower levels. The committee also pointed to two other studies that found that a mother’s moderate caffeine intake did not make it any more likely she would deliver a baby prematurely. Research has shown that caffeine is able to cross the placenta, which led to worries that it could cause miscarriage or premature birth. In the United States, about 16 per cent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage and about 12 per cent of babies are born prematurely. Source PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Daily coffee fine for pregnant women

Rich Sommer & Wife Expecting Baby No. 2!

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Mad Men star Rich Sommer and wife Virginia are expecting their second child – a baby boy – at the end of the summer! The 32-year-old actor, also known for his role opposite Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada, is thrilled at the idea of his 2-year-old daughter, Beatrice, becoming a big sister: “She’s gonna get a baby brother and we’re very excited!” Rich is hoping to be by his wife’s side when his son is born. “I asked for a couple of certain days off with fingers crossed,” he explains. “But, you know, it’s kind of the nature of the job.” “I’m hopeful that I can be there for the blessed even and we’ll see how long I get to spend there before I race back and put a tie and shirt on,” he adds, with a laugh. Congratulations to the entire Sommer family! Source PregnancyWeekly.com

Original Source of Rich Sommer & Wife Expecting Baby No. 2!