ParentDish

Breast Milk Tied to Baby's Metabolism

Tom Henderson — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST

Breast milk lowers blood insulin levels more so than formulas. Credit: Getty Images

If babies can't have breast milk, they need to drink something a lot like it.

The Kansas City Star reports French researchers have found a significant link to breast milk and a baby's developing metabolism. The researchers found children who breast-feed have lower blood insulin levels than formula-fed babies.

The formula-fed babies also had higher blood pressure.

Therefore, when infants cannot be fed breast milk, researchers conclude they should be fed formula with a metabolic profile as close to human breast milk as possible.

According to the Star, researchers analyzed three years of data on 234 children. One group received only breast milk for the first four months of life. The other two groups were randomized to receive either a low-protein formula or a high-protein formula.

Children who received breast milk for the first four months, the Star reports, had a specific pattern of growth and metabolic profile that differed from the formula-fed babies.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Breast-Feeding Impacts a Child's Metabolism, Study Finds

Lesley Kennedy — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Babies, Breast-Feeding, Nutrition, Research Reveals: Babies

Study finds another benefit to breast-feeding. Credit: Getty Images

We know breast milk is the preferred method of feeding a newborn, but here's another benefit to breast-feeding: It could impact your child's metabolism.

A new study conducted by French researchers finds babies who were breast-fed for their first four months of life had different growth and metabolic rates than babies fed formula, the Los Angeles Times reports.

According to the newspaper, researchers looked at three years worth of data that followed the feeding patterns of 234 kids. During the first four months of life, one group, the Times says, was strictly breast-fed, while two other groups were fed either a low- or high-protein formula.

At just 15 days of life, the Times reports, the babies who were only breast-fed showed lower blood insulin levels than the formula-fed newborns, and, by age 3, the high-protein formula-fed babies had higher blood pressure readings than the breast-fed babies, although the readings were still considered normal.

The study, presented this week at the annual Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Denver, "suggests that if breast-feeding is not possible, infants should be fed formula that has a metabolic profile as close to human breast milk as possible," the Times reports.

Want to get the latest Parent Dish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Low Vitamin D Levels May Not Be Behind Unexplained Bone Fractures in Infants

Tom Henderson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, In The News, Nutrition

Watch video on the importance of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is essential for building strong bones and teeth in infants. Credit: Getty Images

"I didn't bust the guy's jaw, your honor, honest. He must have them there, whaddya call 'em, vitamin D deficiencies. Yeah, that's it."

That line may not work if you deck another grown-up, but if you're accused of abusing a baby, who knows? The vitamin D defense has worked before.

That may not be true much longer. Reuters reports scientists are rethinking low vitamin D levels as a cause of unexplained bone fractures in children. Suspicious eyes may be returning to more inhumanly human factors.

Captain Kanagaroo was right. vitamin D is essential for building strong bones and teeth. Severe vitamin D deficiencies have been known to soften bones and leave children prey to rickets, as well as abnormalities such as bowed legs and severe spinal curvatures.

Some scientists believe low vitamin D levels produce many of the same conditions found in children thought to be abused.

Not really, researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia tell Reuters. They measured vitamin D levels in 108 babies and toddlers brought in for broken bones. Out of every 10 fractures, seven were because of accidents and three were because of abusive slimeballs.

According to Reuters, researchers found low vitamin D levels were common -- but no more common among the children thought to be victims of abuse.

"Our study indicates that a low vitamin D level should not discourage consideration of abuse when a child presents with unexplained fractures," lead researcher Samantha Schilling tells Reuters.

That doesn't mean all unexplained fractures are the result of abuse.

"I believe that not just vitamin D deficiency, but a number of other bone disorders, can cause fractures that can readily be misinterpreted as child abuse," Colin R. Paterson, a retired staff physician at the University of Dundee in Scotland, tells Reuters.

"It has often been assumed, that if parents are unable to provide an explanation for fractures, they must be lying about assaults inflicted by themselves or others," he adds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Overweight Moms, Children Think They're Thinner Than They Really Are, Study Shows

Tom Henderson — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Nutrition, Health

Watch Videos of Four Families Striving To Meet Their Fitness Goals!

Nearly half of moms with fat kids thought their children were at a healthy weight. Credit: Getty Images

Yes, those pants make you look fat.

Actually, to be honest, it's not so much that they make you look fat. You are fat.

Very few women can pull off polyester stretch pants with the word "delicious" emblazoned across the rear end, and girlfriend? You are not one of them.

Don't worry. It's a big club. With plenty of refreshments.

USA Today reports many a big mama and her horizontally challenged offspring are not as svelte as they think.

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York asked 111 women and 111 children questions about their age, income and body size, and also measured their height and weight. They were asked to identify their body shapes based on silhouettes representing underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity.

Researchers found:

o. 66 percent of the mothers were overweight or obese.

o. 39 percent of kids were too heavy.

o. 82 percent of the mammoth mommies underestimated their weight when looking at the silhouettes; 42.5 percent of overweight women did the same. About 13 percent of normal-weight women thought of themselves as thinner than they were.

o. 86 percent of the corpulent kiddies underestimated their weight, compared with 15 percent of normal-weight kids.

o. 47.5 percents of moms with fat kids thought their children were at a healthy weight.

o. 41 percent of the children thought their moms could lay off the donuts and lose weight.

Pediatrician Claire McCarthy of Children's Hospital Boston tells USA Today roughly half of her patients are fat.

"Parents come in and say that their child is too thin, but on the growth charts, he's a normal weight or even slightly overweight," she tells the newspaper. "There are so many overweight children out there that a normal-weight child looks thin. The norm has become overweight."

As America gets fatter, people could get a warped attitude toward their fattitude, lead researcher Nicole Dumas, an internal medicine resident at Columbia, tells USA Today.

"We're working on accruing a larger sample size to see if it applies to everyone," Dumas tells the newspaper. "The take-home message is that to address the obesity epidemic, we have to address body image misperception."

Check out how the families in our Healthy Families Challenge are doing!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

10 Common Birthing Fears

Sally Worsham — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Breast-Feeding, Nutrition, Pregnancy Health, Expert Advice: Pregnancy

Keep your eye on the prize. Credit: Corbis

Giving birth is a monumental event in a woman's life -- a cause for joy, and, in many cases, a cause for fear. It's normal to be scared in the hours before delivery, but what are the most common fears and how valid are they?

Here's a look at 10 things women worry about before they go into labor:

1. I'm afraid giving birth will be too painful. Every woman about to give birth for the first time worries about this because it's hard to imagine the whole process not being painful. Of course, there are plenty of medications to relieve labor pain, from a pudendal block to an epidural. Taking childbirth classes, such as Lamaze, might help soothe your worries and prepare you for labor.

2. I'm afraid I will be in labor for 60 hours. Everyone has heard the horror stories about someone being in labor for days, but in reality, the average labor lasts 18 hours, and doctors rarely let the process go past 20 hours. If your labor stalls, there are things your doctor can do to augment the process, such as giving you Pitocin to make your uterus contract, or allowing you to continue your labor in a hot tub.

3. I'm afraid of becoming paralyzed by an epidural injection gone wrong. You've gotten past the fear of painful labor by arranging for an epidural, but now you're terrified that a terrible complication will occur. Relax. The risk of permanent paralysis, as well as death or a heart attack, from an epidural falls in a range of one in 20,000 to one in 1,000,000. Anesthetists are highly-trained doctors who perform epidurals every day.

4. I'm afraid of losing control. Whether it's a fear of pooping on the delivery table or a fear of cursing uncontrollably, the possibility of not having total control over bodily functions can be very scary -- if not completely horrifying. However, labor and delivery nurses, obstetricians and midwives have seen and heard it all, so you don't have to worry about shocking them. If you are really concerned about losing bowel control, you can always opt for an enema in the early hours of labor.

5. I'm afraid I will have to have a C-section. You've decided you are going to go the natural childbirth route. You've even taken hypnobirthing classes to prepare yourself. Unfortunately, when the time comes, a complication such as the baby's heart rate becoming irregular or your baby being too large to pass through can happen, and your doctor may tell you he or she is going to have to perform a cesarean section. While this may come as a disappointment, think of it as a means to an end -- a glorious end of having a healthy baby. If you fear the cesarean possibility, it may help for you to read up on what happens during the procedure so that you will know what to expect if it does happen.

6. I'm afraid of tearing. This is a very common concern among mothers-to-be, and rightly so, because tears in the perineum (the area between your vagina and anus) are common, especially in first-time births. Most perineal tears are superficial, and only 4 percent of women suffer serious tears. Fortunately, there are things you can do at home before having birth that can help prevent tearing, such as doing Kegel exercises to make the perineal muscles stronger, and massaging your perineum to increase blood flow and the elasticity of the muscles.

7. I'm afraid I will have to have an episiotomy. Twenty years ago, an episiotomy was a routine procedure performed before labor to prevent the aforementioned tearing. However, studies have shown episiotomies really aren't necessary, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recommended against the procedure.

8. I'm afraid I will have the baby in the car on the way to the hospital. This seems to be one incident that really only happens in the movies and on television, but it is possible. In only less than one percent of births does a pregnant woman suddenly feel the urge to push without labor symptoms or contractions. However, it can happen, especially if you have had a previous quick labor. If you do find yourself in this situation, the American College of Nurse-Midwives has a document, A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Childbirth that gives step-by-step instructions on what to do in case of an emergency.

9. I'm afraid the umbilical cord will strangle my baby. While this fear conjures up a frightening image, could it really happen? The cord can end up around your baby's neck during delivery, but it is important to remember that he or she is not breathing through his or her mouth yet. You are still breathing for your baby. Even if the cord gets stretched, there are mechanisms in place that allow them to continue working properly. If your baby is born with his or her cord around the neck, all the doctor needs to do is untangle it after birth before clamping it.

10. I'm afraid I will die. This fear goes through the mind of every mom-to-be because, although the risk is low (13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in the U.S. in 2006), it's still a remote possibility, especially if you have a cesarean section. However, taking childbirth classes, as well as taking a tour of the labor and delivery department of your hospital, may ease your mind. Talking to your obstetrician about this worry will also help your state of mind.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Licorice Now? Wow, Pregnancy is a Rough Gig

Tom Henderson — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nutrition: Health, Medical Conditions, In The News, Weird But True, Nutrition, Pregnancy Health

Pregnant? Lay off the licorice. Credit: Getty Images

"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing. In pain you will bring forth children." -- Genesis 3:16

Wow. No kidding.

Forget labor pains. Pregnancy itself can be a bummer, what with the morning sickness and all. And it was bad enough when you couldn't drink or smoke during pregnancy.

Now it looks like you can't have any licorice, either.

Britain's Daily Mail reports that researchers at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and the University of Helsinki have discovered that 8-year-olds exposed to licorice in the womb had heightened levels of the hormone cortisol.

The hormone helps the body deal with stress, but too much of it has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Continue reading No Licorice Now? Wow, Pregnancy is a Rough Gig

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Too Much Weight Gain in Pregnancy Leads to Heavy Babies

Monique El-Faizy — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Nutrition, Pregnancy Health, Research Reveals

Watch the scale during pregnancy. Credit: Getty Images

Don't want your kids to be overweight? Then watch what you put in your mouth during pregnancy.

A new study shows that women who gain too much weight while they're pregnant are likely to have heavier babies as a result. We already know the fatter a baby is at birth, the more likely it is to suffer from obesity, cancer and asthma later in life.

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston looked at mothers who had multiple pregnancies and concluded that it was the mother's weight gain, as opposed to genetic factors, that predicts birth weight. The study, published in The Lancet, stresses the importance of weight management even before a child is born.

"It's appropriate for a baby to be born with some fat, but a baby born too fat indicates that the fetus developed in an abnormal environment during the most critical nine months of life," the article's co-author, David Ludwig, director of the Optimal Weight for Life Program at Children's Hospital Boston, says in a statement.

Continue reading Too Much Weight Gain in Pregnancy Leads to Heavy Babies

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Heavy Women's Miscarriage Risk Higher After IVF

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Medical Conditions, In The News, Nutrition

Study shows overweight women are at higher risk Credit: Getty Images

LONDON (AP) - Overweight women have a much higher risk of a miscarriage after having in-vitro fertilization compared with slim women, new research says.

British doctors tracked all 318 women at a London clinic who became pregnant after having in-vitro fertilization from 2006 to 2009. They divided the women according to their Body Mass Index. Women who had a BMI of 18 to 24 were classified as normal. Those who had a BMI of 25 or above were considered overweight, while those above 30 were obese.

After making a statistical adjustment for factors that might have skewed the results - such as age, smoking and medical history - the researchers found overweight and obese women were much more likely to have a miscarriage as thin women. The research was presented Monday in Rome at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Among women with a normal weight, 22 percent had a miscarriage. But among overweight and obese women, the risk of a miscarriage was 33 percent.

Continue reading Heavy Women's Miscarriage Risk Higher After IVF

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pregnant Women Should Avoid Canned Foods, Study Says

Monique El-Faizy — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Alerts & Recalls, Nutrition, Pregnancy Health, Expert Advice: Pregnancy

If you're pregnant, kick the cans. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Pregnant women should avoid or limit their intake of canned foods, which can expose them to a potentially dangerous chemical, a new report says.

More than 90 percent of cans tested in the study titled "No Silver Lining" contained detectable levels of bisphenol A (BPA), which public health experts say has been linked to abnormal behavior, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, developmental and reproductive harm and obesity.

The study tested an array of brand-name foods from 50 cans in 19 states and one Canadian province. The report was released by the National Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of public and environmental health groups.

Continue reading Pregnant Women Should Avoid Canned Foods, Study Says

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Got Morning Sickness? Blame Your Mom

Amy Hatch — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Medical Conditions, In The News, Nutrition, Pregnancy Health

Even crackers won't help severe morning sickness, and a new study says it's in your genes. Credit: meddygarnet, Flickr

When you're bent over with nausea and clutching your belly bump, don't blame your wee one for your misery -- scientists have found a link between the severity of your morning sickness and that of your own mother.

BBC News reports that a study by Norwegian researchers indicates that pregnant women are three times more likely to suffer from severe morning sickness if their mothers did, as well.

Hyperemesis gravidarum, or excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, affects about 2 percent of all pregnant women, and can sometimes even require hospitalization. The Norwegian study, which looked at 2.3 million births, showed that women whose mothers had the condition are three times more likely to suffer from it, as well. The results could help women know their risk for the disease.

Continue reading Got Morning Sickness? Blame Your Mom

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Exercise During Pregnancy May Prevent Obesity in Baby

Shelley White — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nutrition, Pregnancy Health, Expert Advice: Pregnancy, Research Reveals

It can be tempting to turn couch-potato once your belly starts expanding. But there's a new reason to exercise during pregnancy, and it could have far-reaching benefits for your unborn child. A new study, out of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, shows that regular aerobic activity during pregnancy can lead to a reduction in the birth weight of a baby.

"Given that large birth size is associated with an increased risk of obesity, a modest reduction in birth weight may have long-term health benefits for offspring by lowering this risk in later life," said the study's authors.

But how can you incorporate exercise during your pregnancy safely and enjoyably?

Eva Redpath is a certified group fitness expert and personal trainer based in Toronto. A specialist in women's fitness, she says that exercise during pregnancy can be a way to both keep your body healthy and help you feel beautiful while your body changes.

"Not only does exercising release powerful endorphins to boost your energy, self-esteem and create that healthy glow, the benefits of exercise during your pregnancy can positively prepare you and your body for birth," she says.

Continue reading Exercise During Pregnancy May Prevent Obesity in Baby

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Breast-Feeding Could Save Lives and Money, Research Finds

Colleen Egan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST

Breast milk could help prevent diabetes. Credit: Getty Images

If women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, more than 900 infant deaths would be prevented and the United States would save $13 billion dollars annually, according to a study published online in the journal Pediatrics.

Breast milk includes antibodies that help babies fight infections, and it also can affect insulin levels in the blood, which could reduce breast-fed babies' risk of developing diabetes and obesity, the Associated Press reports.

While breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, lead author Dr. Melissa Bartick -- an internist and instructor at Harvard Medical School -- calls it a public health issue, the AP reports.

Also, despite the fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics says babies should be given a chance to start breast-feeding immediately after birth, Bartick says at many hospitals newborns are offered formula even when their mothers plan to breast-feed.

Continue reading Breast-Feeding Could Save Lives and Money, Research Finds

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Breastfeeding Longer Could Prevent Mental Health Problems

Shelley White — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST

Breastfeeding isn't always easy. In fact, for some women it can be one of the most difficult and stressful challenges of coping with a newborn. But mounting evidence suggests that it's a challenge worth facing, and that resources aimed at helping women breastfeed for longer could be beneficial for children well past their babyhood. As Reuters reports, the latest study to underscore the importance of breastfeeding has found that babies who are breastfed for longer than six months could be at lower risk for mental health problems in later life.

The study was conducted by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in West Perth, Australia. It followed 2,366 newborns, who then had mental health assessments when they were 2, 5, 8, 10, and 14 years old. At each assessment, researchers found that children who had been breastfed for shorter amounts of time had worse behaviour. They were more likely to suffer from problems like depression and aggression. In fact, for each additional month a child was breastfed, their behaviour improved.

Continue reading Breastfeeding Longer Could Prevent Mental Health Problems

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First-Year Feeding FAQ: What, When and How to Feed Your Baby in the First 12 Months

Sarah Gilbert — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nutrition: Health, Breast-Feeding, Nutrition

After watching what not to feed your baby, you've probably come up with a million questions about what you should be feeding your baby. And when. And how. Well, you asked, we answered:

1. Why should I breastfeed my baby?

The American Academy of Pediactrics provides an extensive list about the benefits of breastfeeding. Besides establishing "physical contact [that] helps create a special bond between you and your baby," human milk has nutritional value as well. According to the La Leche League, breastfeeding gives a wide range of benefits, from antibodies that protect against illness, to having fewer allergies and cavities, to better jaw, teeth and speech development.

2. If breastfeeding doesn't work out for me, will formula harm my child?

Many women either cannot or do not wish to breast feed for a variety of reasons. According to the FDA, "nutrient specifications for infant formulas are set at levels to meet the nutritional needs of infants" so that your baby will still grow and be healthy.

3. What kind of formula is best?

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests you should consulting your health care provider about whether or not to use an iron-fortified formula. The FDA ensures that any formula sold in the U.S. will provide basic nutrients so that they are all safe.

4. What should I eat while breastfeeding?

Eating a well-balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and bread products is very important, according to the California Pacific Medical Center. Breastfeeding moms also need to get plenty of calcium. CMPC also notes that certain foods, such as cabbage, broccoli, onion, garlic, and prunes, can change breastmilk's flavor; some babies will react to the change and could become gassy.

5. When should I start solid foods?

Not until a baby is about six months old, according to Dr. Sears. Babies younger than six months have immature intestines; they have a "tongue-flux reflex," which keeps them from choking but also makes it hard to eat anything that's not liquid. Swallowing and chewing are difficult so a baby should be able to sit up, Dr. Sears says, or the baby could associate eating with cuddling and it will be much more difficult to teach them to eat on their own.

6. Which foods are good ones to start with?

Dr. Sears recommends beginning foods that are most like the milk baby is used to drinking. "If your baby is used to the sweet taste of human milk, start with mashed bananas. If baby is used to the more bland flavor of formula, try rice cereal mixed with formula," he says. Rice is beneficial because it is the most intestinal-friendly grain and has a nutritional profile more like a fruit than a grain.

7. When can my baby drink cow's milk?

Children can start drinking milk at age 1, but they should only be drinking whole milk, NOT skim or reduced fat milk, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics.

8. Why should I introduce one food at a time?

Intelihealth recommends that you introduce each food (i.e. bananas, peas, carrots, apples, wheat cereal, etc.) singly, waiting about five to seven days between each one. If your baby has allergies, it can take a few days for an allergic reaction to present, so by waiting you are able to determine which food caused it.

9. What foods are off-limits before age 1?

Honey is very dangerous because it contains botulinum spores, which can cause the life-threatening disease botulism in infants with immature digestive systems. You should avoid feeding your infant foods that commonly cause allergies such as: egg whites, peanut butter, other nut butters, oranges, grapefruits, other citrus fruits, shrimp, lobster, other shellfish, according to Intellihealth. Also, children should not have small, round, hard foods that can cause choking until much later - such as grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, cut-up hot dogs, raisins, nuts, seeds, jelly beans, gum drops and other hard candies.

10. When should I introduce a cup?

Parents Magazine recommends that bottle weaning should start around 12 months, but the right wean time is different for every infant. The most important thing is to wean slowly. It is recommended to start the process about two months before your ideal stopping date.

11. When can I give my baby finger foods, like Cheerios?

At around 8 to 11 months, you should start introducing finger foods in daily meals, according to Parents Magazine. The AAP warns not to give finger foods that are too large and will cause choking, or too small and be easily aspirated. These include: raisins, nuts, popcorn, or small or hard food pieces.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments