May 28, 2010
Filed under: IVF — Alan @ 12:32 pm
According to a new report by Popular Science, scientists believe that sex with the purpose of reproduction may soon go out of style. While sex will still be a part of life, due to advancements in embryology instead of getting busy with traditional baby making those with, or possibly without, problems will simply skip ahead to invitro fertilization.
While this may seem crazy, due to the fact that fertility treatments are not half as fun as the alternative, John Yovich from the Australia PIVET Medical Centre and Cains Fertility Centre stated that fertility treatments are simply much more effective.
At the moment, IVF boosts a success rate that hovers around 40%, but Yovich and other scientists predict that technology will only continue to improve over the next few years. His paper was created based on the results of a study on cow impregnation given that ranchers already use IVF like treatments in order to create cattle offspring.
The results showed that artificial fertilization is 100 times more effective than simply releasing a bull out into the herd of cows for typical stud duties. In addition, using test tube technology to create calves aids the ranchers in controlling factors such as the sex of the cattle.
There are of course a few flaws in the comparison, such as the fact that IVF is expensive and thus not available to all socioeconomic classes, human IVF is not as effective as cow fertilization techniques, and the fact that there are ethical questions that come along with choosing genetic factors and basic factors such as the sex of one’s offspring.
However, as levels of male infertility may continue to rise it may be more common for fertility treatments to be used.
May 19, 2010
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 10:15 am
A recent study published in the journal Neuroimage suggests that infants who are routinely subjected to pain in the first weeks of their lives will be more susceptible to pain in later years.
The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and led by Dr. Rebeccah Slater at London’s University College Hospital (UCL). Two groups of babies were tested; those who were born at their expected due date and those born prematurely at a month to three months early. The premature babies spent at least 40 days in hospital, undergoing several monitoring and testing procedures daily.
The research involved measuring infants’ brain activity before, during and after the procedure known as heel lancing, a routine method of drawing blood. The EEG (electroencephalogram) readings showed a sharper reaction to the procedure in babies born prematurely and tested more frequently than those of the same post-natal age born at normal term.
These findings support earlier research suggesting that the ‘pain centre’ in the brain is sensitized very early in an infant’s development and that this sensitivity may continue through his or her lifetime.
Dr. Slater said that this is a strong indication that doctors need to find better ways to reduce the impact of pain from medical procedures, using analgesics or other means. She noted that previous studies have also found a higher sensitivity to pain in older children (ages nine to fourteen) who were premature babies.
The good news is that the negative response is only to pain – children in the two groups were equally responsive to touching and stroking, and the premature babies showed no less enjoyment than the others. This should allay any fears that parents of ‘preemies’ may have about causing trauma when cuddling their child.
May 14, 2010
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 12:41 pm
A new study in Canada suggests that a teaspoon of sugar really will help the medicine go down, or, to be more accurate, be injected. Canadian researchers now say that if babies are given a sugar treat they will feel less pain when jabbed with a shot or other sharp instrument.
Experts from the University of Toronto claim that newborns are much less likely to cry or become agitated if they are allowed a few drops of sugar water before being given any immunizations.
The data was compiled from 1,000 injections and showed that infants who received a glucose solution are 20% less likely to fuss after a shot. The research comes from clinical data collected after 14 different studies.
University of Toronto medical professor Dr. Arne Ohlsson led the study that looked at data of babies involved in clinical trials from newborn age to one year olds.
Researchers also found that children that were given the glucose mixture were less likely to cry for a prolonged amount of time, versus children that were not given the mixture at all.
The conclusion of the study was that healthcare professionals should consider using the sugar mixture for immunization to make it easier on the babies.
There are existing research studies that suggest sweet solutions have pain relieving properties that help babies deal better with procedures such as a prick in the heel.
Professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, Adam Finn, stated that anything they can do to make children more comfortable is welcome since parents are more likely to return for future vaccinations if it is not a traumatizing experience for them and their children.
May 8, 2010
Filed under: Premature babies — Alan @ 4:40 pm
At six months pregnant Shona Stacey tripped and fell on her way to the post office, breaking her arm. However, as she lay in the hospital bed she had no idea that her baby was starving due to a failed placenta.
However, staff at the Plymouth Derriford Hospital did a scan, which is routine, and found that her child would need to be delivered immediately in order for Stacey to survive, which was hard for Stacey given she was told that the baby would likely not make it if she underwent the surgery.
Finally she agreed to an emergency Caesarian and delivered her child at only 11lb 3ozs two days after the accident occurred in October of 2009. At the time, baby Keira was facing kidney and lung failure, and the child was placed on a ventilator for three months.
It was not until January that it looked as if she may survive when she was able to breathe on her own for the first time; although doctors now feared that she may suffer from cerebral palsy or be deaf or blind.
However, as of February Keira is now home and seven months old and outside of taking oxygen through a tube is able to lead a normal life which her mother describes as precious.
In fact, Precious is one of the child’s middle names, and according to her mother they are blessed to have her in their lives after what happened, and have learned not to take anything for granted.
