News Moms Need

Researchers from Canada have reported a possible connection between miscarriage and antidepressant drugs. The Canadian Medical Association Journal reported the results of their study on Monday.

But the study was preliminary; more research needs to be done before we know for sure if there is a connection. Also, it’s possible that depression itself, not the medications used to treat it, may increase the risk of miscarriage.

A women who is pregnant and has depression should talk with her health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking medications. The illness itself increases the chances of pregnany complications. So the woman and her provider must carefully consider whether she should or should not take antidepressant drugs. For more information, read the March of Dimes article Depression During Pregnancy.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) disagrees with the recent statement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about the suffocation risks posed by baby slings. According to ABM, ring slings, which carry infants in an upright position snug against the parent’s chest, protect the baby’s airway. The organization criticizes CPSC for its “blanket warning about all types of carrier slings.”

ABM also disagrees with CPSC’s advice on how to carry a baby safely. CPSC recommends positioning the infant so that the baby’s head is facing up and clear of the sling and the parent’s body. ABM says this position can be risky for a premature infant because it would not support his neck.

Dr. Arthur Eidelman of ABM recommends this position:

   * Baby’s face sideways with cheek against the chest

   * Baby’s head slightly extended

   * Baby’s body, shoulders and face snug so that the baby can’t move

The ABM Web site has the organization’s full statement about the CPSC warning. ABM is a global organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

If you are using a sling to carry your baby or are interested in using one, please talk to your child’s health care provider about what is best for your baby.

Slings have become really popular. You get to hold your baby really close, and baby seems to love them, too. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning about how slings can pose a suffocation risk. There are two types of risks.

Risk 1: In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because their neck muscles are weak. The sling’s fabric can press against the baby’s nose and mouth and block his breathing. If this happens, the baby can suffocate within a minute or two.

Risk 2: If the sling keeps the baby in a curled position, her chin can bend toward her chest. This too can lead to suffocation.

Without enough oxygen, the baby won’t be able to cry for help.

The risk seems to be the greatest for low birthweight babies, babies born prematurely, and babies born with breathing problems. Parents of these babies should ask their baby’s health care provider about whether to use a sling.

If you do use a sling for your baby, keep these safety tips in mind. Be sure the baby’s face isn’t covered and that you can see it at all times. If you nurse your baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so his head is facing up and is clear of the sling and your body. Check your baby often when she’s in the sling.

Update: The Academy for Breastfeeding Medicine disagrees with CPSC’s recommendation. Go to the March 22 post for more info.

Everybody has a favorite toy while growing up. For me, It was a life-sized baby doll. She went with me everywhere! We were real buddies.

We all want kids to have fun toys, educational toys, safe toys, toys that they will remember with love.

We also know that kids sometimes choke on parts or pieces of toys. What can a parent do to lessen this risk? The American Academy of Pediatrics just released a new policy statement that can help.

Did you know? Plastic balloons are one of the most hazardous toys for children. When swallowed, uninflated balloons or pieces of broken balloons can seal the child’s airway so he can’t breathe.

Other toy hazards are small objects that are round or cylindrical, like marbles. Watch out for any toy with small parts that are loose or that could come loose. Small, curious fingers love to pick them up and pop them right into the mouth. Also be aware of toys that belong to older children. Sometimes we focus on the baby’s toys and forget about the other toys and objects in the house. It helps to remember that your child’s airway is smaller than yours.

Do  you have any suggestions on how to reduce choking hazards in your house?

As many as 1 out of 5 women have depression while they’re pregnant. If you’re pregnant, depression can threaten your health and the health of your baby. The good news: Several different types of treatment, including counseling and medication, can help.

A new study has found that acupuncture may help pregnant women who suffer from major depression, the most serious form of the illness. The study was very small; only 150 women participated. So more research needs to be done to confirm the findings.

For information about the symptoms of depression, see the March of Dimes article. If you think you may have depression, talk to your health care provider right away. Discuss with him or her the various treatments that are available. But don’t start acupuncture or any treatment without first checking with your prenatal care provider.

It’s a common thing to do. Take a hot dog and slice it up into small pieces for toddlers to eat. Usually, the little ones can easily pick up the pieces with their small fingers and put them into their mouths.

But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), hot dogs are the food most commonly linked to fatal choking among children. Because they are cylindrical or circular in shape, hot dogs and those cut-up pieces can wedge tightly into the child’s airway, blocking it completely.

And there’s another problem. When you squeeze a hot dog, it compresses and then expands when you let go. So the hot dog piece works like a plug or a cork in the child’s airway.

Today the AAP issued a new policy statement on choking hazards and children. Other foods besides hot dogs can also be risky. They include hard candy, peanuts and other nuts, seeds, whole grapes, raw carrots, apples, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, marshmallows and chewing gum. Whenever you give your baby solid food, be sure the pieces are very small and that he has swallowed what was in his mouth before.

For more, read the March of Dimes article Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods. On Friday, I’ll write about the choking hazards of coins and toys. Stay tuned.

Most of us know the story of Nadya Suleman. She’s the woman in California who had high-tech fertility treatments and wound up having eight babies.

Such sophisticated treatments increase the chances of multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets or more). They also can lead to health problems for mom and babies.

Did you know that fertility pills also increase the risk of mutiples? 

If a woman is having trouble getting pregnant, doctors often begin fertility treatment by giving her a prescription for pills. These pills help her body release eggs (ovulate). Some of the names of these types of pills are Clomid, Serophene and clomiphene.

These pills are used much more commonly than high-tech fertility procedures. They probably play a major role in the serious problem of premature birth in the United States. Multiple pregnancy can be riskier for a woman and her babies than a pregnancy with only one baby.

If you are thinking about fertility treatment or are already taking the pills, talk to your doctor to learn more about their risks and benefits. For more info, read today’s news release from the March of Dimes.

Most pregnant women should be sure to get two flu shots this year: one for regular seasonal flu and one for the new H1N1 flu (also called swine flu). It’s not too late. Most health care providers now have plenty of vaccine.

Flu season isn’t over yet, so don’t wait. Flu can be very serious for pregnant women and the babies they are carrying. High fever is especially dangerous for a developing fetus. So get your shots right away.

And if you’re already a mom, check with your child’s health care provider. Most children should be vaccinated against seasonal and H1N1 flu.

For more info, watch the March of Dimes video on flu and pregnancy.

Have you taken any herbal products during your pregnancy? Are you tempted to do so? A new national study has found that about 1 out of every 10 women takes some type of herbal product while pregnant.

In the study, ginger was one of the most commonly reported products taken early in pregnancy (probably for nausea). Among some women, herbal teas, including chamomile, were popular throughout pregnancy.

It’s good to remember that there can be safety issues with herbal products. In many cases, we don’t know if they work or if they’re safe for women during pregnancy. Also, manufacturing standards for herbals are weak so they can sometimes contain dangerous ingredients.

The best rule of thumb is to ask your health care provider before taking any herbal product while you’re pregnant.

To learn more, read the March of Dimes article about drugs and herbals during pregnancy. The new study “Herbal Use Before and During Pregnancy” was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  has announced the recall of Molly and Betsy cribs made by LaJobi, Inc. The cribs have cut-outs in the end panels that can allow young children to get their heads trapped. This poses a strangulation risk.

This recall was first announced in 2001, but some of the cribs remain in use. For more information, visit the CPSC Web site. For general info on crib safety, read the March of Dimes article.