October 14, 2009
Filed under: Sudden Infant Death — Alan @ 8:41 am
A new report released today points to alcohol and drugs as the reason why more than half of all cot deaths may result from a baby sleeping with a parent on a sofa, or in a bed.
The report outlined the fact that most of the cot deaths on a sofa or shared bed, result from a parent who used drugs or consumed alcohol, before going to sleep.
Out of all the deaths studied, one fifth of the babies were found smothered by a pillow and another quarter were swaddled.
The authors of the report stated that while the UK cot death rate is down since the beginning of the 1990’s, further emphasis must still be placed on advising parents not to co-sleep with their children, so that the numbers continue to fall further.
At the same time, another study conducted concerning Sudden Infant Death, unearthed the fact that over a quarter of mothers believe that co-sleeping is not a dangerous habit, and does not increase the risk that their child may be a victim of cot death.
This survey involved 506 mothers, with children between the ages of six months to three years, and was conducted by Ipsos MORI.
October 9, 2009
Filed under: Baby public health — Alan @ 1:20 am
According to a new research study by HealthDay girls who are exposed to the chemical bisphenol A or BPA while they are babies or little children are more likely to be hyperactive and aggressive, compared to those who are not exposed.
The study included 249 babies and children, out of which, 99% of them tested positive at least once, with BPA levels in their urine. Parents of these children were then asked to fill out a questionnaire when the girls turned two.
After the data was compiled it was split by sex, which allowed researchers to see that hyperactivity and aggression was present in the females over the males.
Author of the study, Joe Braun a grad student at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina, said that now that they have the information, the next step is to watch the girls to see if the same behavioural patterns continue to exhibit themselves over time as the girls grow.
In particular he pointed to ages five thru seven, when behavioural patterns tend to settle down and denote how the child will behave in the future.
BPA is a common chemical that is often found in canned foods, food containers, water bottles, medical devices, and most importantly in infant bottles.
Most exposure to BPA is from BPA that leaks into drinks and foods that are stored in containers manufactured with BPA from repeated use of degrading plastic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US estimate that 93% of people have detectable levels of the chemical in their urine.
October 7, 2009
Filed under: Celebrity babies — Alan @ 3:28 am
Outside of being a gay couple, Elton John and his partner David Furnish have hit another road block in the path to adopt a Ukrainian toddler that they met in an orphanage, and planned to take home with them.
The Ukrainian Government first stated that the couple would not be allowed to adopt the child because of their sexuality. Additionally, the law of the land also states that parents cannot be more than 45 years older than the child.
Outside of this, Marina Timoshenko, the mother of the toddler, Lev, stated that once she overcomes her addiction to alcohol, she plans to get custody of her child again. Lev is currently aged 15 months.
According to the Ukrainian government, the mother has also not given up her rights to the child, making it impossible for an adoption to be processed. However, Furnish and John could be considered as guardians to Lev for the time being.
Marina is a self-admitted alcoholic who is also HIV positive, who claims that she turned to drinking after she separated from the toddler’s father, and then suffered financial problems.
The Ukrainian social services stepped in due to poor living conditions and her addiction, and took Lev and his brother into custody.
Marina has vowed since news of Elton John’s plans that he will never give up her rights to her son, and that she wishes she could talk to John to tell him how much she loves her child, and that she plans to get the child back.
October 2, 2009
Filed under: New Born — Alan @ 7:21 am
Babies born with oxygen starvation may now have a better chance against possible brain damage, this is due to a new therapy that lowers the baby’s body temperature, and thus, the babies the risk of brain damage is lowered.
Common birth complications that cause oxygen deprivation include the baby twisting the umbilical cord around its next, which happens in two births out of every thousand. The results of this devastating complication can be as severe as long lasting neurological problems, and cerebral palsy.
Traditionally, babies are placed into an incubator on a ventilator to facilitate breathing and to keep the child warm. But a newly published clinical trial shows, that lowering body temperatures may actually increase the long term outcomes of children facing oxygen deprivation.
The study included 325 newborn infants and showed that those who were cooled instead of warmed showed a 57% better chance of avoiding brain damage.
The principal of the study is based around the fact that lower temperatures lower the metabolism of the body. Lower temperatures create a longer window in which brain neurons can be deprived of oxygen, before they suffer irreparable damage.
Additionally, reducing the amount of oxygen metabolism that takes place in the body means that the oxygen is distributed to cells in a more efficient manner.
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