If 90% of US women breastfed for the first six months of their babies’ lives, we would save 900 babies’ lives annually and billions – yes, billions, with a “b” – in healthcare dollars, according to a study in the May issue of Pediatrics. These advantages do not even include the significant benefits to mothers’ health or the money saved on formula. If breastfeeding is a possibility, it’s the way to go.
How to Save 900 American Babies and Billions of Healthcare Dollars
June 8, 2010 | Filed under: General Interest, Kids, Pregnancy
Mutivitamin-A Smart Addition During Pregnancy
April 24, 2010 | Filed under: General Interest, Pregnancy
In a study performed on an entirely African American population, infants born to moms who used a pre-natal multivitamin during gestation, demonstrated improved birth weight and fetal growth rate than those infants whose mothers did not consume a pre-natal vitamin during gestation, according to the Annals of Epidemiology.
Source: Periconceptional Multivitamin Use and Infant Birth Weight Disparities
I think all expecting mothers should use a high quality pre-natal multivitamin to fill any gaps in their diet. The gains fair outweigh the costs in this situation regardless of race.
Colic Responds Favoribly to Chiropractic Care in a Long-term Study
February 20, 2010 | Filed under: Kids, Pregnancy
There are very few things in the world that can get under your skin like a child screaming and crying at the top of their lungs. Colic is an awful condition that results in cranky infants and equally cranky parents after a few nights of no sleep from the crys and stress about their child. Research has suggested that chiropractic is an effective treatment for colic but a recent study indicates that the results have a more permanent positive impact.
CONCLUSION: Untreated post-colicky infants demonstrated negative behavioral patterns at 2 to 3 years of age. In this study, parents of infants treated with chiropractic care for excessive crying did not report as many difficult behavioral and sleep patterns of their toddlers. These findings suggest that chiropractic care for infants with colic may have an effect on long-term sequelae.
Toddlers who were treated with chiropractic care for colic were twice as likely to not experience long-term sequelae of infant colic, such as temper tantrums (relative risk, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.0) and frequent nocturnal waking (relative risk, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.8) than those who were not treated with chiropractic care as colicky infants.
Less temper tantrums and frequent nightime waking sounds great to me.
I have seen first hand how quickly a child can respond to a gental chiropractic adjustment. If your child is suffering from colic bring him or her in, the chances of a quite night following the treatment is very high.
TV Leads to Obesity, But it Seems the Commercials are the “Bad Part”!
February 15, 2010 | Filed under: General Interest, Kids, Pregnancy
We all know that watching TV takes kids away from more active hobbies (eg kickball, baseball, just plain running around playing made up games). A new study in the American Public Health Association Journal indicates that while TV does leach away your child’s day it seems the countless advertising is even worse than TV itself.
Conclusions. The evidence does not support the contention that television viewing contributes to obesity because it is a sedentary activity. Television advertising, rather than viewing per se, is associated with obesity.
The way I read this is if your kids are going to watch TV opt for commercial-free television (Public Television, TiVo or similar system- where you can skip com
mercials or DVD’s).
Bundchens Painless Natural Childbirth
February 6, 2010 | Filed under: General Interest, Pregnancy
Earlier we posted about Gisele Bundchen seeing a chiropractor through her pregnancy. This week she “she felt no pain when delivering her new son, Benjamin. Bundchen, who is married to Tom Brady, 32, said giving birth in her bathtub at her Beacon Street penthouse “wasn’t painful, not even a little bit” says the BostonHerald.com
According to People.com, Bündchen – who had a water birth on Dec. 8 at the Boston condo she shares with her husband, quarterback Tom Brady, 32, – also didn’t use serious pain medication. “I wanted to be conscious and present for what was happening,” she says. “I didn’t want to be anesthetized. I wanted to feel.”
Her recovery was also remarkably quick. “The second day, I was walking, I was washing dishes, I was making pancakes in the kitchen,” she says with a laugh.
My thoughts: Having a great Doula/Midwife and chiropractor along the way can make childbirth way more positive. The documentary that is mentioned in the Boston Herald article is worth watching if you are pregnant to see a slightly different perspective.
Getty/Photo
Avoid Soda-Especially When Pregnant
December 25, 2009 | Filed under: Pregnancy
This study published in DiabetesCare suggests that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened cola (≥5 servings/week) is associated with an elevated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk (22% increase compared to those who had <1 a month).
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications. Women with GDM are at increased risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and delivery, as well as post-pregnancy type 2 diabetes. Children of mothers with GDM are at increased risk for obesity, glucose intolerance, and early onset diabetes.
Optimal Length of Time to Breastfeed According to the WHO
October 10, 2009 | Filed under: Kids, Pregnancy
I am often asked “how long should I breastfeed?”. I use the WHO guidelines which is “6 months followed by a combination of continued breastfeeding and safe, appropriate and adequate feeding with other foods”.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is now considered a global public heath goal that is linked to reduction of infant morbidity and mortality.
And as I mentioned in my recent post on tips for breast cancer prevention according to American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund (AICR/WCRF): ”Evidence is convincing that mothers who breastfeed reduce their risk for breast cancer. There is also probable evidence that children who are breastfed have a lower risk of gaining excess weight as they grow.”
Fish Oil Crucial When Pregnant
September 10, 2009 | Filed under: Kids, Pregnancy
Observational studies support a direct association between poor DHA status and increased risk of maternal depression and childhood behavioral disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
So the last thing you want to do when your pregnant is avoid healthy fats such as fish oil. This is also very important when you are breastfeeding as the fatty acids are your child receives from the breast milk are dependent on the diet for that day.
Being Active With Your Newborn
August 5, 2009 | Filed under: Pregnancy
After pregnancy, parents often integrate their infants into their normal fitness activities such a jogging, biking or walking. This is a great way for the parents to stay fit, reduce the likelihood of postpartum depression, and bond with their children. However, proper equipment is important when exercising with your baby.
Pregnant Mother Tips
July 31, 2009 | Filed under: Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the average woman gains 25-35 pounds, which is healthy; however this places increased stress on the body as specific hormones dramatically change and affect the ligaments. These biomechanical shifts and changes in posture will cause aches and pains. Medication is not encouraged because many medications cross the placental barrier affecting your unborn child. Chiropractic is a safe, drug free way to help you cope with the aches and pains of pregnancy. The adjustments are very gentle and effective, especially during this period. Here is some great basic information for expecting mothers.
