When Parents Smoke, Kids' Weight, Behavior May Suffer

According to Healthday News, New studies suggest a connection between parents who smoke and kids who are heavier or misbehave. It may be impossible to prove a cause-and-effect relationship because it's considered unethical to assign some parents to smoke for a study.

Cesarean Rates Reach Record High

Cesarean rates have reached a new high in the United States. One-third of babies born in 2007 were born that way. Between 1996 and 2007, C-section rates rose 53 percent and 70 percent in six states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Washington and Rhode Island.

The rise in C-sections is probably due to a variety of factors, including older maternal age, fears of litigation and changes in the way the physicians do their jobs. Hospital policies also discourage women from attempting a vaginal birth after a prior C-section.

Health Tip: Finding a Birthing Class

Birthing classes offer valuable information for parents-to-be. The Nemours Foundation says you can find birthing classes offered by:

• Your local hospital.
• Midwives and private instructors.
• Individual doctors.
• Community health organizations.
• National childbirth education organizations.

Health Tip: Medications and Breast Feeding

Just as when they were pregnant, breast-feeding moms need to monitor the drugs they take, which could reach their infants.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these medication guidelines for breast-feeding mothers:

• If you must take medications orally, take them just after breast-feeding, to give the medications time to travel through your system.
• Generally, acetaminophen and NSAIDs are safe pain relievers for nursing women, but always check first with your doctor.
• Don't take aspirin while breast-feeding, as it may lead to bleeding and skin rash in babies.
• Don't take antihistamines long-term while breast-feeding.
• Carefully monitor your baby for any side effects from your medications. Be especially aware of symptoms such as trouble breathing or skin rash.

Health Tip: When Baby is Born With a Heart Murmur

What is a heart murmur and what does it mean when your baby is born with one? A doctor can perform tests to determine whether the murmur indicates a problem or it is harmless.

Full Article: HealthDay.com

Mom's Lifestyle in Early Pregnancy Affects Baby's Size

A Dutch study found that a woman's lifestyle before pregnancy had an effect on a baby's health. Woman who smoked, had high blood pressure, or low folic acid levels early in pregnancy had smaller babies in the first trimester and had a higher risk of complications later. To reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy, mothers can go to a doctor to ensure they are in the best shape possible before getting pregnant.

Source: HealthDay.com

Older Moms More Apt to Have Autistic Child

New research shows that older women are more likely to have a baby with autism than younger women. A woman's risk of having a child diagnosed with autism increases by 18-percent for each five-year increment in her age.

Full Article: HealthDay.com

Low Thyroid Levels May Up Need for Assisted Delivery

Low levels of a thyroid hormone in pregnant women shortly before childbirth may be correlated with abnormal fetal head position at birth. Thyroid levels of 960 healthy pregnant women was studied. Woman whose T4 thyroid hormone were significanly higher were more likely to present a fetus in the normal delivery position which is directed downward with the baby facing the mother's back. Low thyroid hormone levels may be the cause of complications where the baby's head is not in the normal delivery positon, which includes the baby facing the mother's belly.

Source: HealthDay.com

Mom's Job Could Boost Baby's Odds for Birth Defect

A mother's job may contribute to a higher risk of having a child with birth defects. A study looked at 9,000 babies born with single or multiple birth defects. Woman who worked as scientists, janitors, and operators of electrical equipment had a much higher risk of having a child with birth defects while teachers had the lowest risk.

Full Article: HealthDay.com