Not only can wires be dangerous when they are surrounding the small bodies of infants in the NICU, but they also come in the way of skin-to-skin contact which is a vital part in parental bonding after the child is born. Recent tests have shown that wireless sensors are just as effective at monitoring vitals and other necessary functions of infants who are being monitored in the NICU, and their … [Read more...]
Menstrual Cup Linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome, New Study Finds
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a condition in which Staphylococcus aureus growth is aided by oxygen going through the vaginal canal when a woman uses a tampon. In recent studies, however, we are finding that menstrual cups are also a culprit of TSS development. In fact, they're even more dangerous than tampons. Since menstrual cups allow for higher levels of oxygen to be introduced to the canal, … [Read more...]
Please, Basil Plant, Get This Baby Out of Me
At the start of pregnancy, naive me was all, “Of course I want my baby to bake as long as possible! Why do people keep saying they’re sick of it at the end? Don’t they want the best for their babies?"By 39 weeks I was DONE. Done and also very grateful I’d never said the above to anyone but my husband. You know you’re DONE when you start googling word chains like “how to induce labor easy safe for … [Read more...]
New Recommendations for Kids with Concussions
One of the first things any grandparent realizes is how quickly medical science can change from generation to generation, but many parents don’t realize that these things can actually change by the time you have your second baby. Whenever you have another child, it’s a good idea to ask your pediatrician, “Have there been any big updates in recommendations since I had my first?”This past November, … [Read more...]
Shared lifetime of grandmothers and grandchildren significantly increased since 1800s
How involved is your mother in your baby’s life? A study from the University of Turku in Finland examined the demographics of children’s, mothers’, and grandmothers’ lives over the course of roughly 250 years. They noted the amount of grandchildren each grandmother had, whether they lived nearby geographically, and how many years they had together, among other things. Surprisingly, both the age … [Read more...]
Breech Twin Birth A Success For Team Birth Project
The South Shore Hospital in Weymouth is getting attention around the country this year for its cooperative, patient-informed approach to childbirth. The hospital’s "Team Birth Project” is focusing on reducing the number of Cesarean births, even in situations in which many American hospitals would not offer a trial of labor. WBUR reports on one such birth, where one mother would have been seen … [Read more...]
Doctors Test Bacterial Smear After Cesarean Sections To Bolster Babies’ Microbiomes
Doctors in Falls Church, Virginia are among those trying an experimental procedure whereby they will smear newborns delivered via C-Section with bacteria-rich fluid from the mother’s birth canal. This is an effort to counter rising incidence of allergies, asthma, obesity and other health conditions associated with a sharp spike in C-Section births. The working theory is that C Section babies get … [Read more...]
Babywearing: Cultural Wisdom Backed up by Science
Babywearing isn’t a fashion statement. Don’t get us wrong, a gorgeous sling embracing a scrummy baby is a truly beautiful thing; however, this primeval parenting practise goes far beyond aesthetics. In truth, babywearing is an innate biological function similar to breastfeeding and childbirth. Our infants are “carried young”, and like gorillas and other apes, their little bodies are adapted to … [Read more...]
There’s A Reason Babies Stop Crying When You Stand Up
Infants under 6 months of age carried by a walking mother immediately stopped voluntary movement and crying and exhibited a rapid heart rate decrease, compared with holding by a sitting mothers. The other big thing is that babies love movement. They like being able to see and experience knew things. If you are just sitting the baby gets bored of seeing the same thing and the mother and baby hearts … [Read more...]
Why Skin to Skin Contact Is so Important for Newborns
In a world that seems to constantly be at odds with what comes naturally to moms and their babies, many parents are looking for ways to connect with their kids more. When work pulls you away or breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned, it’s skin to skin contact to the rescue! From bonding to immune system health, spending time making direct contact with your children’s skin has numerous documented … [Read more...]