Health Tip: Having a Baby After Age 35 – Take heed of these suggestions.

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Vouchers Decrease Smoking During & After Pregnancy – University of Vermont investigators found that vouchers given to pregnant women contingent upon smoking abstinence are an effective way to decrease maternal smoking and improve fetal growth. …

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Date Published: Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
 

Melamine has been detected in a sample of U.S.-made infant formula, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday.  Though melamine-tainted formula has sickened tens of thousands of children in China, the FDA maintains the amount found in the U.S.-made baby formula poses no danger.

Melamine is an industrial chemical that is used to make plastics, fertilizer, and fire retardants. In recent years,  a number of Chinese manufactures have been involved in scandals involving melamine tainted food.  In those cases, melamine was added to products in order to make it appear they contained higher levels of protein.

In 2007, melamine-tainted wheat gluten, used as an ingredient in pet food, killed at least 16 dogs and cats, sickened thousands of others and led to one of the biggest pet food recalls in American history.

Melamine is a renal toxin that can cause kidney stones and acute renal failure if ingested in large amounts.  In China, melamine-tainted formula has sickened over 50,000 children, killing at least four. The melamine was apparently added to milk powder by manufacturers to make it appear that their watered-down baby formula was more nutritious than it really was.

Melamine has since been found in dozens of foods around the world that had  been made with Chinese-manufactured milk powder.  More than 13 countries, including the U.S., discovered products made with melamine-tainted ingredients.  The list of tainted food  included  candy, yogurt, frozen desserts, biscuits, instant coffee, milk tea products, and other beverages.

Since the Chinese infant formula scandal broke, the FDA has been detaining imports from that country that contain dairy ingredients for further testing.  The agency has also been testing U.S.-made baby formula, although U.S. manufacturers do not obtain ingredients  from China for formula sold in the U.S.

According to the FDA, tests on 77 samples of U.S.-made formula detected “trace” amounts of melamine in one sample.  According to CNN.com, last month, the FDA set the safety threshold for melamine at 2,500 parts per billion for foods other than infant formula. The agency said it did not have enough data to set a safety threshold for infants.  The amount of melamine found in the sample of infant formula was less than 250 parts per billion, CNN.com said.

In the U.S., melamine is not allowed in human or pet food, although the FDA has approved melamine as a “food contact substance.”  An FDA source interviewed by The Wall Street Journal speculated that the melamine contamination was the result of contact with the chemical during processing and packaging.

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© Newswise.
All Rights Reserved. Source: American Society of Nephrology (ASN)     Released: Fri 31-Oct-2008, 13:00 ET
Embargo expired: Sat 08-Nov-2008, 18:30 ET  Printer-friendly Version  Rural Women are at Higher Risk of Blood Pressure Disorders During Pregnancy

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Description Several factors, such as older age and high weight gain, are known risk factors for pre-eclampsia and other pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders. Now a new report suggests that social factors including living in a rural county may also increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), according to research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Newswise Several factors, such as older age and high weight gain, are known risk factors for pre-eclampsia and other pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders. Now a new report suggests that social factors including living in a rural county may also increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), according to research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“Our study showed an increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia and PIH associated with living in a rural area,” comments lead researcher Rebecca Moore, MD, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. “The reason for this increased risk is unclear, but may possibly be associated with maternal poverty and social deprivation.”

Using birth certificate data on infants born in Colorado from 2000 to 2006, the researchers analyzed risk factors for pre-eclampsia and PIH in more than 362,000 mothers. All of the women were free of chronic medical conditions at delivery. Women with pre-eclampsia develop rapid increases in blood pressure, along with kidney damage. Pre-eclampsia is a very common condition and the third most common cause of maternal death in the United States. The cause is unknown and there is no known cure, although the problem usually resolves after delivery.

The overall rate of PIH/pre-eclampsia was 3.3 %. The study confirmed the known risk factors, including age over 35 years, first pregnancy, multiple gestation (twins or more), and gaining more than 30 pounds during pregnancy. Smoking was associated with a lower risk of pre-eclampsia (but smoking increases the risk of other pregnancy complications).

After adjusting for all of these factors, the researchers identified some intriguing new risk factors for PIH/pre-eclampsia. Women living in rural counties were at increased risk: 56 percent higher than for women in other areas.

There was also a link to education, with a 19 % increase in risk for women who had some college education (compared to a high school education). Although the rate of PIH/pre-eclampsia was also higher for women with more than a college education, the difference was not significant. “These novel risks were independent of other risk factors, including adequacy of prenatal care,” Dr. Moore adds.

The new information linking PIH/pre-eclampsia risk to the mother’s social characteristics is an important first step to toward identifying new, nontraditional risk factors. “Although traditional risk factors for pre-eclampsia and PIH are well recognized, these diseases remain enigmatic, and there is no known effective way to reduce their incidence,” says Dr. Moore. “Nontraditional risk factors may be of great importance in the design of future interventions to prevent the occurrence of PIH and pre-eclampsia, but data regarding these risk factors are scarce.”

The data provided in the study were all self-reported, and are therefore subject to bias. Also, the study database did not include information on some potentially important factors, including the women’s body weight and income level.

The study abstract, “Relationship between Novel Risk Factors and the Development of Pre-Eclampsia and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension in Women without Pre-Existing Medical Conditions,” (SA-FC408) will be presented as part of a Free Communications session on the topic of Clinical Aspects of Hypertension in Kidney Disease on Saturday, November 8, at 5:36 p.m. in Room 105 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

ASN is a not-for-profit organization of 11,000 physicians and scientists dedicated to the study of nephrology and committed to providing a forum for the promulgation of information regarding the latest research and clinical findings on kidney disease. ASN Renal Week 2008, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum for 11,000 nephrologists to discuss the latest findings in renal research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. Renal Week 2008 will take place November 4 November 9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

© 2008 Newswise.  All Rights Reserved.

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By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Vickie_Barnes]Vickie Barnes

If you have a baby suffering from colic then you know you will search to the ends of the earth to find some form of treatment to help soothe your baby’s suffering and make them stop crying. You may be looking for conventional or natural treatments, or both, to help your baby and may have discovered the option for chiropractic treatment. You might think chiropractic treatment is only for those suffering from problems with their spine’s alignment ad the like, and it is to some degree, not to mention this could be the problem that is causing your baby’s colic. Amazingly, chiropractic treatment has great results for relieving colic symptoms and helping baby and parents feel better again.

If you are not interested in chiropractic treatment for colic simply because you believe it is too radical or something you just don’t approve of, then you can learn some massage moves that might prove effective as well at relieving colic symptoms and soothing your baby. If you do want to try the chiropractic treatments then you need to find a certified chiropractor for infants and you will need to talk with him/her to ensure you are confident in their skills and perhaps even ask for references. This is important because while chiropractic treatment for colic is natural it can be harmful if done incorrectly so you want a qualified chiropractor to perform the treatment. Once you find a chiropractor licensed to perform treatments on infants that you are comfortable with and confident in then you should give it a try and see if it works for your baby.

You are probably anxious about how the treatments will work and what will actually happen to your baby. However, don’t worry because the treatments simply include lengthening procedures that lengthen the body to remove the kinks that are in the intestines. Additionally, many chiropractors simply align the baby’s spine by adjustments to help relieve colic. Many times this helps and you might be surprised when a chiropractic adjustment helps your baby. You should not worry your baby will be in pain, either, during chiropractic adjustments because they are normally painful. Your baby might look as if he/she is in pain because of the chiropractor’s strong hands and movements, but rest assured the adjustment is virtually pain free and will likely help your baby’s colic tremendously.

After the chiropractic adjustment your chiropractor will likely show you some exercises to perform on your baby each day. These are generally called colic release exercises and they benefit approximately 70% of babies suffering from this condition significantly while a great many others benefit marginally. So, there is a pretty good chance that a chiropractor can significantly help your baby’s colic pain, or at least reduce the pain somewhat, so you ought to give it a try.

The reason chiropractic techniques work so well is that they treat the condition of colic rather than the symptoms. Many parents give their children drugs or other remedies to treat symptoms and while this is ok it really is better to treat and eradicate the problem of colic altogether and that is what a chiropractor does. So, look for a certified chiropractic that can work on infants and give it a try, it just might be the best choice you ever made!

Vickie Barnes is a colic veteran of two colicky babies. Please visit her website [http://www.ColicHelp.com]ColicHelp.com, for more support and resources for dealing with [http://www.colichelp.com]colic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vickie_Barnes http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Chiropractic-Treatment-Effective-for-Colic?&id=144564

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If you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant and you smoke….STOP!!!!  If your partner smokes around you…. STOP!!!!  The list of problems caused by either smoking or being around smoke are too serious to ignore.  A common risk is low birthweight.   The risk nearly doubles!!  This is only the beginning of the risks that you are taking for your baby.  Other risks include premature delivery, congenital heart defects, placental abruption, cleft lip or palate, cerebral palsy, to mention just a few.   If that isn’t enough to make you stop, consider this… If you smoke during your pregnancy, your baby is 3 times more likely to die of SIDS.  If your baby is around people who smoke, the chance of SIDS doubles accoring to the March of Dimes.

There are a couple of sites you can visit to help you stop smoking.  Take a look at www.smokefree.gov or 1800quitnow.cancer.gov.  Talk to your doctor or other health care professional.  This is way too important to ignore!

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One of the most exciting and memorable times is when your baby takes those first steps.  It seemed so far away when you brought that bundle of joy home.  But there they are, walking into your arms….or over to pull the dogs tail, or to pull the tablecloth off the table.  Although it is a very exciting time and a milestone for your baby, you need to do some work as well.  Get down on the floor and look around.   You may have had your home baby proofed but that was for a crawling baby.  Now that they are standing tall, there may be other things they can now reach that were out of their reach when they were crawling.  

It is sometimes difficult to see dangers in your home.  You get use to things being in a space and look past it time and time again.  Make an effort to look at your home through baby’s eyes. Are there corners to fall on?  Are all of your outlets covered?  Do you have baby gates on stairways?  Are doors baby proofed?  Remember that they can now reach up and open that knob or pull that drawer where you may have your sharp kitchen utensils.  If it is something they shouldn’t be in, you know that is the first place they will go!

A good idea would be to go through a catalog of baby safety products.  This may get you to think about an area that you wouldn’t have thought of as a safety issue.  Read some articles on baby proofing your home.  Talk to other parents with toddlers to see what they have done.  An ounce of prevention now is worth its weight in gold.  It only takes a split second… a ringing phone…. a knock at the door…….

Enjoy this time.  There is only one first step and it’s a memory that you will cherish forever.

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Oh boy…happy, sad, worried, nervous, crying, angry, happy again.  Do you feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster?  It is very normal for you to experience mood swings, especially in your first trimester.  Your hormones are having a party and taking it out on you!  There are a couple of things you can do to help you get off the raging manic roller coaster and onto the kiddy ride.

• Avoid blood sugar spikes by eating smaller meals more often.  Instead of 3 larger meals, try 6 smaller ones.  Spread them out evenly during the day.

• Avoid caffeine and sugar.   They can add to the mood instability.  Caffeine is not recommended during pregnancy for other reasons as well.

• Eat well.  Watch what you are eating.  Make sure you are eating the foods your body needs.  Ask your doctor or nutritionist for a pregnancy diet.

• Go for a walk.  Exercise is good for stress relief before, during and after your pregnancy.

• Get some sunshine.  Research has shown that sunlight can actually lighten your moods.  Moderation is the key.

• Talk to someone.  Talk to your spouse, your mother, your favorite aunt or find a counselor that you like.  It is important to talk through the bad, sad or worried feelings you have.  They are probably exaggerated right now, but they still are very real.

• Get plenty of rest.  Being tired is sure to make it worse.  Sit and put your feet up when you can.  Take a nap in the afternoon if you can.  Get a body pillow to help you sleep better at night.

If you notice that you are frequently sad or depressed, talk to your doctor.  Be careful not to ignore the symptoms of true depression.

Even with the mood swings, this is a wonderful time.  Hang on to the bar, keep your hands inside the cart and enjoy the ride!

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I just read a news article from my local news service. A local medical group said that they see about 25 percent of births by cesarean.   The National Center for Health Statistics shows 29%.  This is up from about 12 percent from the 1990’s.  Hospitals have been seeing a rise in the trend of planned birthdays.  Many parents are choosing the timing of the birth for many different reasons.   If you are thinking about this option, be sure to talk to your doctor to find out what the risks are.  A cesarean is still major surgery and can come with complications.   Before you decide, do a little research and make sure it’s the right choice for you and your baby.

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