admin – Page 15 – Baby Care Journals

More Parents Are Refusing Vitamin K Shots for Their Newborns Amid Fears of Reactions

October 31, 2014November 26, 2014 admin

A recent study from the University of Calgary has found that increasing numbers of parents are refusing to consent to their newborns receiving a shot of vitamin K at birth, due to fears about possible reactions to the high single dose of the vitamin, as well as the other ingredients that come with it.

Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood-clotting in both adults and children; however, babies are usually born with insufficient amounts of the vitamin in their system, as it doesn’t cross very well from the mother’s blood through the placenta. The mother’s diet does not affect the levels of vitamin K that her baby is born with to any large degree.

As Few as Five Alcoholic Drinks a Week Could Harm Male Sperm, Says New Study

October 24, 2014 admin

Bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages isolated on white

More than a hundred studies in recent years have documented the apparent benefit of moderate alcohol consumption to the health of men and women. One to two daily drinks for men, and one for women, are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and the most common type of stroke. Studies have also found that this low alcohol intake may protect against gallstones and improve insulin sensitivity, thus decreasing the risk for type 2 diabetes.

But when it comes to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, most health authorities agree that not drinking any alcohol is best, given the degree of harm that it can cause to a developing baby.

Breast Milk Protects Newborns Against Deadly Intestinal Tract Disease

October 9, 2014October 9, 2014 admin

As recently as the 1950’s, American moms were being told that formula was better for their babies than breast milk. A lot of moms bought into that fallacy, and more and more babies started being fed formula, instead of breast milk, even in the decades that followed. Food allergies subsequently exploded in numbers, and other potentially deadly newborn digestive diseases also saw a rise in incidences.

But in recent years, scientists have uncovered an increasing number of reasons why breast milk is in fact the perfect food for a baby — yet another case where Mother Nature knew best, after all.

The Added Dangers of Flying in Airplanes for Babies and Toddlers

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014 admin

Small two year old baby girl sleep in a bassinet on a airplane

You have a new baby, and maybe you’re eager to take him or her on a flight to meet the grandparents … or you want to take your infant on a faraway vacation with you.

New research shows it may be best to wait until your child is a little older, and if you do choose to take a small infant or toddler on a flight, it’s wise to buy the child his or her own seat ticket.

Until recently, safety considerations for young babies flying in airplanes had centered around what to do in the event of a crash; but now, researchers have begun paying more attention to in-flight medical emergencies, sleeping positions, injuries from in-flight turbulence and other dangers.

Is It Safe to Eat Canned Tuna During Pregnancy?

September 5, 2014 admin

You may have heard about the recent recommendation from Consumer Reports that all pregnant and nursing women avoid all types of tuna, due to concerns about mercury exposure for the unborn baby or newborn. This has a lot of women, and even some doctors, confused about whether to nix all tuna for pregnant or nursing women, or whether it is still safe to consume some tuna varieties.

Until now, public health experts agreed that albacore tuna (the white variety) was unsafe, due to its higher mercury content. But chunk “light” tuna (the darker kind) was always recommended as safe, so long as it was eaten in moderation. In fact, only in June of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration issued a joint recommendation that pregnant or nursing women eat a minimum of 8 to 12 ounces (2-3 servings) of low-mercury fish per week. Canned light tuna was included on the list of these safer fish that pregnant or nursing women could consume.

Cigarettes and Nicotine Products in Pregnancy All Linked to Higher ADHD Risk in Children

August 27, 2014December 22, 2014 admin

For years, doctors have been urging women who get pregnant to give up cigarettes due to the many serious dangers that they pose to unborn babies and pregnant women. In the age of nicotine patches and nicotine gum, some physicians have even advised expecting women to switch to these, as they are believed to be less harmful to the baby than cigarette smoke.

But that may not be the case when it comes to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Read More

Risk Factors for Death from SIDS Vary According to Baby’s Age, Says Study

August 21, 2014August 21, 2014 admin

A baby’s age influences risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome, according to new research.

Younger babies are more likely to succumb to SIDS when they’re sharing beds with others, while older babies face a greater risk when there are objects in their cribs, such as blankets or pillows.

The study is the first to show that risk of death from SIDS appears to change with the baby’s age, according to lead author Dr. Rachel Moon, associate chief of general pediatrics and community health at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Bed-sharing is a big risk factor for SIDS death in babies under 4 months of age, said Dr. Moon. And for young, as well as older babies, it is important to insure that there is nothing else in a baby’s crib, other than the baby. This includes blankets, pillows, stuffed toys and bumper pads.

Placenta Is a Gateway to Friendly (and Unfriendly) Bacteria for Fetus

August 11, 2014 admin

The placenta is the organ that a pregnant woman develops inside her uterus, to transfer oxygen and nutrients to her baby via the blood, while removing gasses and other waste from the infant. Researchers once thought that the placenta was a “sterile” environment, devoid of any bacteria that might find its way to the growing baby attached by the umbilical cord. But a new study has uncovered that the placenta actually harbors hundreds of bacteria species; most of them are harmless or beneficial.

Scientists found about 300 types of bacteria; they then compared the distribution of bacteria types with those that had been found previously in other parts of mothers’ bodies, including the mouth, skin, gut and vagina.

Phthalates Were Removed from Babies’ Toys in U.S., but Infants Still Get Them in Excess from Foods

July 29, 2014August 21, 2014 admin

A study has found that babies are getting twice the amount of harmful phthalates in their diets that the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be safe.

Phthalates are man-made chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible; they can be found in storage containers, water bottles, electronics, vinyl curtains and floors, plastic toys and many other consumer products.

But a number of studies on animals over the years linked phthalates to premature birth, low birth weight, lower sperm counts and anatomical defects in male genitalia. In addition, they remain in human tissue over time; studies have found that almost every person tested in the United States has the chemicals in their system.