Development – Page 5 – Baby Care Journals

Is Delaying Clamping of Umbilical Cord Beneficial for Baby?

May 16, 2014 admin

In most hospitals, a newborn’s umbilical cord is clamped within 15-20 seconds after birth. Doctors do this to lessen the possibility of hemorrhaging for the mother. But a review of studies has found that delaying clamping of the cord just a little longer is very beneficial for the baby, and does not appear to increase the risk of severe bleeding (or other complications) for the mother.

The review, published online recently in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that delaying cord-clamping for at least one minute after birth greatly improves iron and hemoglobin levels in newborns (hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all the tissues and organs; more iron means more hemoglobin will be made). Delaying clamping of the cord allows more blood and its iron to pulsate from the placenta and umbilical cord into the baby.

Which Foods Are Not Safe to Eat During Pregnancy? (And Which Ones Are?)

May 9, 2014 admin

You may have heard that some foods are not safe to eat during pregnancy. That’s because your developing baby is much more sensitive to germs and other toxins that a fully grown person is generally better able to fight off.

As a mom-to-be who wants to do what she can to help insure the health and comfort of her unborn baby, your diet should consist of natural, whole foods: lean meats, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products.

E-Cigarette Poisoning in Small Children on the Rise in U.S.

April 28, 2014 admin

Many American adults and teens have turned to e-cigarettes in the last few years, as a way to avoid the harmful smoke that conventional cigarettes produce, while still getting the nicotine they want. E-cigarettes are also allowed in some places where people can’t smoke regular cigarettes.

But as more e-cigarette liquids, with their nicotine, make it into American homes, increasing numbers of small children are being inadvertently poisoned by the liquids and their vapors.

Does Autism Begin in the Womb?

April 9, 2014April 10, 2014 admin

With autism rates soaring at an alarming rate in the United States, medical researchers are looking for answers as to what causes this mysterious condition, both on an anatomical and physiologic level.

A study published online in late March, 2014 in the New England Journal of Medicine is adding weight to scientific belief that autism may start in the fetal or even the embryonic stage of child development.

Are Noise Machines Safe to Use for Babies?

March 28, 2014 admin 1 Comment

A new study shows that noise machines, used to help babies fall asleep, can harm infants when played at loud volumes and used too frequently.

Researchers at the University of Toronto tested 14 popular machines that make either ‘white noise’ or nature sounds and are marketed for babies, to lull infants to sleep or drown out noises while babies sleep.

Natural Remedies for Baby’s Ear Infections

March 19, 2014 admin

pediatric doctor examining a sick baby's ear

Ear infections are the most common condition why children see a doctor in their first years of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently revised its recommendations to pediatricians, asking doctors not to be so quick to prescribe antibiotics, the usual cure, because of the long-term harm that excessive antibiotic use can cause to a person’s immune system.

About 80 percent of ear infections will go away on their own after a few days. And because of what we know now about how harmful heavy antibiotic use can be, many parents are looking for natural ways to cure their babies’ ear infections when a cure is needed.

Is It Okay to Give a Baby Under One Year Old Cow’s Milk?

February 19, 2014February 19, 2014 admin

Cow’s milk is the single most complete food on Earth — no other food has as many nutrients. So, it is understandable if a mother might be eager to start her baby on cow’s milk as soon as possible.

However, doctors advise against giving cow’s milk to an infant before he or she has turned one year of age. There are several reasons for this.

It is cow’s milk’s very nutritiousness — the sugars, fats, proteins and minerals in it (calcium, phosphorus and potassium, to name the three most prominent) — that make it difficult for young babies to digest, since their digestive systems are still maturing. Read More

U.S. Government Calls on All Pregnant Women to Be Screened for Gestational Diabetes

February 13, 2014 admin

New federal recommendations in the United States are for all pregnant women to be screened for gestational diabetes at 24 weeks of pregnancy, even when they have no symptoms of the condition.

The new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are now the same as those of other medical organizations, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Can Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Moms?

February 6, 2014 admin

A Chinese study has found that breastfeeding may be linked to lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women who nursed their infants.

The study reviewed data from more than 7,300 women aged 50 and older from China, who filled out questionnaires asking about their health and lifestyles, including whether they had breastfed their children. Most of the women had at least one child, and more than 95 percent of moms had breastfed for at least one month.