Prenatal Nutrition Can Irreversibly Determine Our Children’s Long Term Health

18 Aug

Another piece of evidence that the early years of development are crucial in determining our children’s life path- researchers at Southhampton University in London have shown that the lighter a baby is at birth, the higher its odds of heart disease in later life. On average, a baby weighing less than 5lb 7oz is twice as likely to die from a heart attack than one born at 9lb 7oz!

Scientists hypothesize that when food is scarce in the womb, it is channelled to the developing brain.  This leaves the heart weakened. Diabetes may also be predetermined by conditions in the womb, as the pancreatic cells which make insulin develop during the fetal period. Conditions in the uterus can also affect weight for years to come, studies suggest.

It is that many of these early effects are ‘set in stone’ and cannot be reversed.

So, it seems more important than we have thought that women eat well throughout their lives.   “The baby lives off the mother’s body – not what she snacks on during pregnancy,” says the lead scientist in the study. “What we are seeing is a window of opportunity where we can make better people.”

What a profound difference we can make in the lives of our children, taking heed this piece of information.  I am moved to make better food choices throughout the day, knowing that I am affecting not only myself, but the health of my future babies.

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The Great Diaper Dilemma

8 Aug

The decision to use cloth versus disposable diapers is one that most parents consider before the arrival of their little one.  There are several factors to take into account prior to settling on one or the other, but in the end, it is a deeply personal decision for each parent, let alone each family.  Ultimately, all caretakers have to be in agreement regarding the diapering method, as it is a significant lifestyle committment that will have consequences not only for your baby’s daily care and health, but also for the environment.

In 2005, Britain’s Environment Agency concluded that there was “no significant difference” between the environmental impact of cloth and disposable diapers. Raising a child in home-laundered cloth diapers for 2.5 years emitted 1,232 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent vs. 1,380 pounds for disposable diapers.  The study, however, did not take into account the effect diapers have on landfills.  A study by the Environmental Protection Agency found that diapers made up 3.4 million tons of waste, or 2.1 percent of U.S. garbage in landfills a year.  Also not accounted for in the study are differences in the type of diapers (terry cloth diapers consume more energy in cleaning than plain cloth) as well as more recent advances in the energy efficiency of washers and dryers.

For some parents, the potential health effects on their baby may weigh more into their decision-making process.  In 2000, German researchers found that boys who wear disposable diapers maintain a higher scrotal temperature than boys wearing cloth diapers, which could affect fertility later in life.  An experiment published in 1999 by Anderson Laboratories found that lab mice exposed to various brands of disposable diapers experienced asthma-like symptoms, as well as eye, nose and throat irritation. Exposure to cloth diapers did not cause the symptoms.  Lastly, toilet training experts think that disposables may delay a toddler’s desire to move on from diapers.

Putting things in perspective, whether you choose cloth versus disposable diapers will likely not be the most important decision you make regarding either your baby’s health or the environment.  Once your bundle of joy arrives, life changes so irreversibly in so many ways that the diaper dilemma will fall lower down on your list of things to worry about.  Settle on a method that makes you happy, and don’t look back!

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Is the womb as “green” as we think?

3 Aug

We are exposed to an dizzying amount of chemicals during our lifetime, and there is no period during which this matters more than during pregnancy.  After conception, not only are we exposing ourselves, but also the growing baby inside.  It used to be thought that the womb was “the greenest room on the planet,” but now we are finding out more and more, that it is not as protective of the outside world as we once thought.

A study done by the American Red Cross in 2004 looked at umbilical cord blood samples from mothers throughout the United States and found 287 different chemicals circulating  in the bloodstream going from mother to fetus.  Of these, 180 are know to cause cancer, 217 are harmful to the developing brain and nervous system, and 208 have been linked to birth defects in animals.

What’s the good news?  Making changes in our lifestyle to minimize the amount of toxins we encounter causes a direct and measurable reduction in the levels of these chemical in our bodies. Studies led by Chensheng Lu of Emory University found that elementary school-age children’s body levels of organophosphate pesticide was highest during the summer, when they ate the most fresh produce. But just five days after switching to an all-organic diet, their bodies were essentially pesticide-free.  In addition to eating organic foods there are a host of other changes we can make to minimize the amount of chemicals we eat, drink, breathe, and absorb through our skin.

Learning about and implementing these lifestyle changes can be overwhelming, but every little bit helps.  It is not an all or none proposition.  Make one change, see how you like the results, then make another.  Before you know it, you will be on your way to healthier, less toxin-exposed lifestyle.

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It takes a village to breastfeed a baby

15 Jul

As opposed to our parents’ generation, ours is fully aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Infants receive optimal nutrition as well as immune support. Long-term studies have shown breastfed infants to have higher IQs than their non breastfed counterparts. Mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers. Maternal oxytocin release in the immediate post-partum period helps minimize blood loss and promotes maternal-infant bonding. Despite knowing all of these benefits, new mothers struggle with the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding.
I think part of the struggle is that we have a generational loss of knowledge about and support for breastfeeding from our parents who did not breastfeed (or did so minimally, because they were told formula was better). In previous generations where breastfeeding was more prevalent, families lived communally, allowing for easier passage of information about breastfeeding techniques and problem-solving. A tired breastfeeding mother had family members readily available to for the baby while she rested. Geographic and occupational limitations in our generation only allow for limited exchange of knowledge and support regarding breastfeeding from briefly visiting families at the arrival of a new baby.
In short, new mothers today need much more help than they have available if they are to be successful at breastfeeding. It takes usually not one, but several, visits with a trained professional in order to iron out the kinks that inevitably arise during the process. So, please know that you are just like every other new mother if you find that breastfeeding is challenging. Just enlist the help of an experienced, sensitive, and available professional to guide you through the process. Another pair of hands to hold baby while mommy rests is invaluable as well!

Crib bumper ban

11 Jul

The safety of crib bumpers have been questioned and investigated for many years, but Chicago may be the first city to take action.  If the city council approves an ordinance introduced last week, the sale of crib bumpers will be banned within city limits.  Although fourteen deaths since 2008 are being investigated as possibly being caused by crib bumpers, proponents of bumper use argue that no causal link has been proven.

I remember watching my daughter sleep in her first few days just to make sure her chest was rising and falling.  Witnessing the miracle of her birth, how in one moment she was no longer dependent on me physiologically but on her own little breaths, made me acutely aware of the fragility of her new life.  So, when it came time to making a decision regarding using crib bumpers, there was no question that I would not.  I have advised my patient families the same over the years.

An ordinance, such as the one being introduced in Chicago, would effect change at the city level that pediatricians have been trying to effect at the individual level for many years.  A direct relationship between bumper use and infant death may never be established, but even if there is a correlation, we should do what it takes to reduce the risks.

Sunshine

6 Jul

Fireworks and sunshine remind us that it is decidedly summer (even in L.A. where June gloom has finally lifted). Although we are fortunate in Southern California to have more days of sunshine than many other regions in the country, summer serves as a good reminder for us to make use of our good fortune.
Infants and young children, especially, receive many benefits from time in the sun. Long before they can increase their fitness level through outdoor activities, infants can receive valuable vitamin D through sunshine. Insufficient levels of vitamin D can lead to rickets, a condition affecting children’s bones. A recent article in the New York Times brought attention to the key role the sun plays in development of normal vision in children. Researchers believe that sunshine helps maintain the right distance between the lens and the developing retina. Too little sunshine can lead to nearsightedness.
So get out with your little ones and enjoy the summertime a little more knowing the health benefits of fun in the sun!

(Kids under six months who cannot yet wear sunscreen should avoid the sun between 10 am and 2 pm when the rays are the strongest and wear loose cotton clothes and a wide brimmed hat to minimize exposed skin. Kids over six months of age should wear SPF 30 or higher sunscreen).

Sleep in

3 Jul

Parents who can say that they have had a good night’s sleep in the first six months after arrival of baby are very fortunate.  I still remember finally having to put my head down on my desk in between seeing patients.  It was right around my daughter’s six-month birthday and I thought, “No one knows how tired how feel right now.  Something has to change.”  Especially if baby is breastfeeding, mom will likely bear the brunt of sleeplessness.  Whoever is on night duty around your nest, make sure you find a way to sleep in at least one day a week.  Mom and dad can take turns getting up with baby, grandma can make an early A.M. visit, or hire a morning-in (as opposed to evening-out) babysitter.

Cultivate good sleep habits in your little one from the beginning, and the whole family will be sleeping through the night again soon.  Until you get there, make opportunities for yourself to sleep in.

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