Researchers have pointed out that during pregnancy women who take epilepsy drug valproate are more likely to have mentally retarded children than those who consume other epilepsy medicines. Scholars postulated that one out of five women who consumed the medications, last year, had pregnancies that resulted in fetal death or birth defects, including malformed hearts and genitals, cleft palates and artery deformities. Nearly, 2.7 million Americans suffers from epilepsy, where valproate had been kept on the pedestal as an antidote for the mounting problem. The drug is also used to treat migraine headaches and some psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder. The latest study, led by Dr. Kimford J. Meador of the University of Florida in Gainesville, compared the IQs of 185 2-year-olds whose mothers had taken one of four epilepsy drugs while pregnant. In addition to valproate, the drugs were carbamazepine, sold as Tegretol, lamotrigine (Lamictal) and phenytoin (Dilantin). IQs were determined using the Bayley Scale for infant and toddler development. Researchers said a score of 100 was average and below 70 was mentally impaired. Children whose mothers had taken valproate had an average IQ of 81, compared to an average of 96 for children in the carbamazepine group, 94 for the lamotrigine group and 95 for the phenytoin group. Twenty-four percent of children whose mothers took valproate had IQs below 70, compared to 13% for carbamazepine, 11% for lamotrigine and 12% for phenytoin. In the general population, an average of 2% of children has IQs below 70. Hence, it proves that epilepsy drugs pose serious repercussions; however, the Food and Drug Administration gave no comment on the story. Image Read
Higher blood sugar level in would-be-moms risks newborns
If you are a diabetic would-be-mom or even have a blood sugar level a bit higher than normal, then be aware – it may greatly risk your newborn! So, get diagnosed with it immediately. Moms with higher blood sugar levels generally pass on high insulin levels in their newborns, who are also more likely to have low blood sugar levels. Later in life, these problems can lead to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure problems in baby. This new finding is of great help for a mom-to-be, especially if she has never got checked her blood sugar level. And, if found to be a diabetic, stricter diet advice or medication can help lower your blood sugar within time, keeping all these problems at bay. Higher blood sugar levels in new moms may lead to the birth of ‘big babies’. And, large-sized babies risk shoulder damage and other injuries if delivered vaginally, and to avoid these risk factors, more women have to resort to C-sections. However, surgeries always increase health risks for both mothers and babies. To keep your baby away from later-in-life obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure problems and avoid yourself from C-sections, keep an eye on your blood sugar levels during pregnancies. To know more on, how to take better care of yourself, for a healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby while having high blood sugar levels,
British doctors are creating ‘designer babies’, free from certain cosmetic defects
Embryos are to be screened for a cosmetic defect for the first time in a British clinic. Doctors have been given permission to create a baby free from a genetic disorder which would have caused the child to have a severe squint. British IVF doctors are focusing on vision problem in the unborn, means, they are screening embryos in order to check whether they are inheriting a squint genetically from parents or not. If screening illustrates that the child would be born with visual problems, the embryo will be destroyed and a healthier one implanted into the mother-tobe’s womb. Critics are of the view that such screenings is another step towards the creation of perfect ‘designer’ babies, which are made according to one’s desire, right from eye color to hair color. Yet, scholars from the London Bridge fertility clinic, which is to carry out the pioneering procedure, say visual problems such as squints cannot always be corrected surgically and can cause sufferers severe emotional distress. To reinforce the above statement, Professor Gedis Grudzinskas, has asserted that squint typically need several operations to correct it, however, the guarantee of success is very less. Dr Simon Fishel has advocated the new procedure by saying that If a family believe a condition is disfiguring enough to want to carry out embryo screening, then they should have access to this procedure. The process: It involves screening three-day-old embryos created through IVF and rooting out those that are genetically flawed. Until recently, screening was carried out only for genes that invariably cause incurable diseases when inherited – such as those behind cystic fibrosis. Specialists can now screen for genes that, while raising the risk of illness, do not always lead to the development of the condition. They can also look for embryos free of flaws that cause disease late in life. The change has led to couples seeking to create babies free of the genes behind inherited breast cancer and a flaw that causes Alzheimer’s disease to develop earlier than usual. Read
Is China at the verge of population rebound?
Couples are flouting the policy of having one child in China, causing the nation to face a population rebound. Zhang Weiqing, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, asserted that rural residents were still marrying below the legal marriageable ages of 22 for men and 20 for women, contributing to more births. China, which is home to 1.3 billion people, introduced strict family planning policies more than 25 years ago to try to curb population growth. But unfortunately, most of the couples are not adhering to the set rules and regulations. Most urban residents are restricted to one child, while those in rural areas are encouraged to have one but allowed more in some circumstances. Those who have babies in violation of the restrictions are punished with heavy fines. However, last month, a survey by the National Population and Family Planning Commission discovered that the number of rich people and celebrities having more than one child was on a rapid increase and nearly 10% of people in this category had three children. Gender imbalance Part of the reason why rural families refuse to comply with the one child policy is because of the traditional preference for sons. Experts say this preference has led to the under-reporting of female births, as well as abortion of female foetuses and female infanticide. This has led to the problem of gender imbalance in China, with state media reporting last month that there will be 30 million more men of marriageable age than women in less than 15 years. Image Read
Moms-to-be should avoid strenuous exercises
According to Danish researchers arduous exercises during early pregnancy can triple the risk of miscarriage. More than seven hours of exercise a week including jogging, ball games, and racket sports can increase the risk of spontaneous abortion. Though, one UK expert is not in agreement with the findings of the study carried out at the University of Southern Denmark, arguing that running is perfectly safe during pregnancy. Studies have shown that more than three quarters of miscarriages occur during the first trimester. Spontaneous abortion can occur due to various reasons; unfortunately not all can be identified. After the 8th week, the risk of miscarriage decreases sharply (when the fetal stage begins) and after the 18-week mark, the link between exercise and miscarriage disappears. Don’t fret, not all exercises are bad news for pregnant women, swimming in fact is very popular among mothers-to-be. The government’s official advice is for women to keep up their normal daily physical exercise routine for as long as they don’t strain themselves. Alison Merry, a former midwife is of the opinion that moderate exercise everyday is perfectly safe during pregnancy. She says, the benefits of exercising during pregnancy are clear – it improves the cardiovascular system, and maintains muscle tone. So, if you are woman who has always exercised, continue to do so even after becoming pregnant, but only as long as you are comfortable doing so. After all, there is no point in making oneself prone to miscarriage, because apart from causing physical trauma, miscarriage causes immense emotional pain too.
Do not ignore depression during pregnancy
Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times of a woman’s life, but for many women this is a time of confusion, fear, sadness, stress and even depression. According to some medical scholars, nearly, one in 10 women suffers from depression during or immediately after pregnancy. Sharon Phelan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, stated that depression is overlooked because it is assumed that pregnancy protects women from depression and that postpartum depression is within a woman’s control. Researchers in 55th annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in San Diego asserted that treatment of depression among pregnant women not only improved their depression, but also improved the women’s ability to care for their children. What is depression during pregnancy? Depression during pregnancy, or antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry. During pregnancy hormone changes can affect brain chemicals, which are directly related to depression and anxiety. These can be exacerbated by difficult life situations, which can result in depression during pregnancy. Antidepressants in pregnancy If you are taking an antidepressant and find that you are pregnant, do not stop taking your medication without first talking to your health provider. Call her/him as soon as you discover that you are expecting. It may be unhealthy to stop taking an antidepressant suddenly. Stay positive The initial demands on a new mother are exciting and tremendous. Feeling better takes time. You will feel like yourself again and better able to handle the everyday pressures as well as the demands of pregnancy and motherhood. Be realistic about the demands and expectations you make on yourself. Image Read
Use of pesticides, nitrates-contaminated surface water leads to premature births
With the rate of premature baby-births in the United States growing alarmingly, researchers got into tracking the reasons for the growth. Besides, fertility treatments and multiple pregnancies, scientists discovered another astounding factor hugely responsible for the increase in early births — pesticides and nitrates! A study found that an increased use of pesticides and nitrates in surface water peaks preterm birth rates, which is considerably low when their concentrations are the lowest. Thanks to Paul Winchester, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine for getting into this "ignored" root leading to increase in premature births in the United States. It has been found that irrespective of maternal age, race, education, marital status, alcohol or cigarette use, or whether the mother was an urban, suburban or rural resident, the rate of ‘pre-maturity’ is highest from May to June i.e. 11.91 percent, and the lowest from August to September, i.e. 10.79 percent. And, this eventually tallies with the pesticide and nitrate levels in surface water. This is found by the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr Winchester, who is also director of Newborn Intensive Care Services at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis said, A growing body of evidence suggests that the consequence of prenatal exposure to pesticides and nitrates as well as to other environmental contaminants is detrimental to many outcomes of pregnancy. As a neonatologist, I am seeing a growing number of birth defects, and preterm births, and I think we need to face up to environmental causes. Preterm births in the United States vary month to month in a recurrent and seasonal manner. Pesticides and nitrates similarly vary seasonally in surface water throughout the U.S. Nitrates and pesticides can disrupt endocrine hormones and nitric oxide pathways in the developing fetus. This finding reveals the magnitude of what our environmental hazards can leave for our future generations. So, act now or face the shocking consequences reflected directly on our progenies. Photo: smh.com.au
Refrain from alcohol if you are pregnant
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy should be completely avoided. This is because alcohol passes through the placenta and can cause very serious birth defects in the growing fetus, like stunted growth, low birth weight, and even brain damage. This disorder is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Permanent damage to the central nervous system is one of the main effects of FAS. Due, to the damage to the growing brain cells the child may be born with a variety of cognitive and functional disabilities, including impulsive behavior, attention deficit, and poor memory. Exposure to alcohol in the pre-natal stage may even be responsible for secondary disabilities like drug addiction and trouble with the law. Until now official guidance in the UK has been that it is completely safe for pregnant women to drink up to two large glasses of wine per week (up to four units). But, this does not make you risk free, it just reduces the risk. So, the best thing to do is completely avoid alcohol for the entire pregnancy, after all, it is better to be safe than to be sorry, isn’t it? Do you know that in the US alone, fetal alcohol exposure is one of the leading causes of mental retardation? The prevalence rate of FAS is estimated to be between 0.2 and 2.0 cases per 1,000 live births. Approximately $800,000 is the lifetime medical and social costs of each child with FAS. So, if you really care for the health of your unborn child, say no to alcohol and avoid the risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Delivering your baby by caesarean section
Even though a vaginal delivery is the most common way to give birth, a Caesarean section is often advised and performed in certain situations. If you wish to have a Caesarean section without a medical reason, you should discuss this with your obstetrician. You don’t have an automatic right to demand a Caesarean if it’s considered not to be in your best interests medically. What happens during a Caesarean? An incision of about 20cm is made across the lower abdomen. The baby is delivered through the skin after the womb is opened. The womb is easily opened and it takes only a few minutes for the baby to be born. After the placenta (afterbirth) is delivered, the obstetrician closes the incision. Dissolving stitches or staples are used to close the skin. From beginning to end, an uncomplicated Caesarean will take between 20 and 30 minutes. A major surgery The surgery is relatively safe for mother and baby. Still, it is major surgery and carries risks. It also takes longer to recover from a C-section than from vaginal birth. After healing, the incision may leave a weak spot in the wall of the uterus. This could cause problems with an attempted vaginal birth later. However, more than half of women who have a C-section can give vaginal birth later. What about after the Caesarean? 1. The pain is typically worst on the first day after surgery, and then it begins to subside. 2. Vaginal discharge is normal. 3. Drink plenty of water each day – between eight and 10 glasses. 4. Avoid lifting heavy objects and climbing stairs. 5. Don’t drive until you can wear a seat belt comfortably. 6. Call your doctor if the incision site becomes red and swollen. Image Read
A 5-year-old mother: The youngest Mother on Record
Believe it or get aghast by it, but it’s true! And the record was made in the year 1939, in the month of May…one day after Mothers’ Day! A peak of shocking news even today, it says that we have a 5-year-old enlisted to be the youngest mother ever. Now, here I see a wide-awestruck-mouth. Lina Medina is the girl who became the youngest mother in recorded medical history. She gave birth to a baby boy when she herself was just five. Lina, the Peruvian child, delivered a 5-pound, 8-ounce son through caesarean section even though her petite pelvis made it unfeasible for the baby to traverse the birth tube. A comprehensive report confirmed Medina’s early sexual maturity. The girl faced her first menstrual cycle at the very early age of eight months and her family witnessed her almost fuller breasts when she was four. Such state is known as precocious puberty in medical terms. The lot at that time didn’t believe the uncommon news but the doctor’s reports and X-Ray photograph forced them to change their opinions. The photograph verified her pregnancy as well as the level of her sexual growth. Lina’s baby was healthy, later named Gerardo. Although his mother’s proper identity was exposed to him when he was ten, he was nurtured normally. But he expired from a bone-marrow disease when he was just forty. The person behind Lina’s pregnancy is behind the viel till date. Her father was handcuffed on suspicion of rape but was set free later for lack of sufficient proof. Lina is still alive and still wonders who it could have been! Image Source – neatorama, content Via – wired