Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:02 PM
People have been buzzing about the increase in multiple c-sections for a while, but now new research has taken an even closer look at the numbers.
According to this new government report, the c-section rate reached 32% (the highest ever in the U.S.) in 2007, with 1.4 million women going under the knife to deliver their babies. Overall, the national rate has risen more than 50% since 1996 – and six states (Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Washington) saw an increase of more than 70%. The lowest rates were in Utah and Alaska.
So what gives with the increase? An exact reason is hard to pinpoint right now, according to this New York Times article, but possible explanations include increases in older women having babies, multiple births, and fears among obstetricians that they could be sued for complications that happen after a vaginal delivery. Other factors include a rise in the number of women whose labor is induced (which is more likely to result in a c-section than a natural labor) and those who want to ensure that loved ones can be present for the birth.
But no matter the reasons, there are some critics who caution that c-sections are happening too often, according to the Times. While the procedure can save lives, these experts say that unnecessary surgeries can open moms and babies up to new risk factors.
What do you think of the dramatic increase in c-sections? Share your opinions below.
Posted Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:02 PM
In an article that might have the meanest headline we’ve ever seen (“Baby Fat May Not Be So Cute After All”), the New York Times reports that obesity prevention may start as early as the toddler years, infancy -- or maybe even before birth.
Childhood obesity has been an especially hot topic lately. Bake sale regulations and bans, for instance, have been taking aim at those 50-cent homemade cupcakes, blaming them for contributing to an epidemic of obesity and suggesting swap-outs like low-fat Doritos and baked potato chips. And last month, First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move campaign to eliminate childhood obesity within a generation.
But now this Times article is asking if new research is indicating that all these efforts are “if not too little, too late.” Could your child’s fate be sealed long before he’s digging into his pockets for bake-sale change?
Among the recent findings pointed out by the NY Times are studies that have found that there is an increased risk of becoming obese later in life for babies who sleep less than 12 hours a day and for those who are born to smoking mothers (even though they may be smaller at birth). Researchers have also made a link between chubby babies and childhood BMI.
Not sure what to make of all the findings? The bottom line is that the fight against childhood obesity starts right now -- so ask your doctor or pediatrician for advice on what you can do now to keep baby healthy down the road.
What do you think of all the obesity reports? Good info or just another thing to freak out about? Share your opinions below.
Posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 7:21 PM
Looks like breast milk just had the Best Week Ever.
First, it was used to subdue a prison guard in Kentucky. (Well, sort of.) If you don't already know the story, we'll fill you in: After mom Toni Tramel was arrested for public intoxication last Thursday and carted off to jail, she was then ordered to change into her prison garb. We're guessing Toni didn't like that idea too much, because shortly after removing her top, she seized the moment and squeezed one of her boobs -- hard enough to shoot a stream of milk into the eye of a nearby guard. Too bad for Toni though, her efforts just landed her into further trouble; she's now being brought up on assault charges. We'll file this one under stuff you just can't make up.
Then, as if that story didn't provide late night hosts with enough breast milk fodder to last a lifetime, New York chef Daniel Angerer kicked things up a notch. We've all heard of curious husbands tasting their wife's breast milk before (just ask Pete Wentz). But using it to whip up a batch of cheese and serving it to restaurant-goers? That may be one step too far, Dad. Watch as Angerer’s breast milk cheese weirds out Kathie Lee, Hoda, and crew on the Today show.
>> Tell us: Would you ever eat cheese made out of someone else’s breast milk?
Posted Tuesday, March 02, 2010 9:00 AM
A recent study has found that those biological clocks are ticking faster than you may have ever imagined: Around 90 percent of the average woman’s eggs are gone by the time she celebrates her 30th birthday, according to recently published research from the University of St. Andrews and Edinburgh University in Scotland. But as we balance biology with modern goals like a fulfilling career, some semblance of a social life, and a happy marriage, is there ever really a perfect age to have a baby?
Recently, TheBump.com set out to answer that question by joining forces with ForbesWoman to create the Working Moms Survey. And here’s what we found out:
Timing of first child
• 76% of respondents feel that the “sweet spot” for a working woman to have or adopt her first baby is between ages 25 and 34. And 42 percent thought that 25 to 29 was the best time.
• The top reasons that people chose these ages was because it would allow enough time to establish career/financial security and because it is more likely that they would be ready to become parents.
• More than 17% of women said that there is no ideal age.
• Non-mothers were more likely to think that 30 to 34 is the ideal range.
• The majority of moms surveyed (42%) had their first baby between the ages of 25-29, while 11% had their first child after age 35.
• 68% of moms are satisfied with the timing of their first child.
• 82% of moms who had their first child from 25 to 29 were content with the timing of their first child -- the most of any group.
• 35% of moms who had their first child at 30 to 34 wish they'd had their child at a younger age.
• 57% of moms who had their first child at 35 to 39 wish they'd had their child at a younger age.
• Only a quarter of moms surveyed said they felt pressure from family, friends or partner to have or adopt a child, but women in their 30s were more likely to feel that pressure.
Planning for multiple children
• More than half (56%) of women plan to have or adopt two children, and more than a third (35%) plan to have three or more.
• At least 57% of respondents had employers with family-friendly
benefits. 23.8% had paid maternity leave and 23.2% had flexible hours.For women planning to work and have multiple children, 20% said that they will start having children earlier, 13% said that they will start having children later, 41% said it won't affect the timing and 15% aren't sure yet. 12% said that they don't plan to work and have multiple children.
• 56% of respondents said they wanted two children, 27% said they wanted three, and 8% said they wanted four or more.
Deciding to go back to work after baby
• 59% of women felt that they had to return to work -- even though 73%
of them didn’t feel pressure from the people around them.
• 93% of the women surveyed worked full time before they had their
first child. 76% worked full time after they had their first child.
• 4% of women worked part time before they had their first child and 15% worked part time after they had their first child.
• 63% of working moms had working moms growing up, but only 30% said it influenced their decisions to also be working moms.
Motherhood and careers
• 71% of non-moms and 56% of working moms think motherhood negatively impacts a woman’s career. But only 30% of working moms said motherhood had negatively impacted their own careers.
• 64% of working moms feel like they have a strong support network in case of an emergency.
• 66% of women work the same number of hours post-baby. 29% worked fewer hours, while 4% worked more.
• At least 57% of respondents had employers with family-friendly
benefits. 24% had paid maternity leave and 23% had flexible hours.
Feelings about work after baby
• The leading emotions of working moms who’d returned to work after their first child were feeling guilty, overwhelmed, stressed, sad, and anxious.
• 60% of women at least somewhat agreed that they were happy to be back at work after having a child.
• 59% of women at least somewhat agreed that they no longer cared as much about work after having a child.
• 50% of women at least somewhat agreed that returning to work was harder than they thought it would be.
• 37% of women at least somewhat agreed that returning to work was easier than they thought it would be.
• 38% of women at least somewhat agreed that being a mom made them better employees
• 34% of women at least somewhat agreed that colleagues viewed or treated them differently after they had a baby.
Looking for more results? Find them here!
Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:43 AM
Sure you might not be likely to grab a hot dog out of the fridge for your LO anyway, but now experts are saying that it could have serious health risks, too. The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for a warning label on the packages - and maybe even a complete hot dog redesign.
Each year, thousands of children are treated for choking incidents. While small toys and games are required to have warnings on the boxes, high-risk foods do not. And it's not just hot-dogs feeling the heat: the AAP is also suggesting that all manufacturers consider re-shaping their products to minimize the incidence of choking. They've even called on the Food and Drug Administration to issue recalls on risky foods.
But, while a choke-free world is nice in theory, what's the line between a manufacturer's obligation and, well, basic parenting? The National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, for instance, points out that many companies already have voluntary labels and that that the responsibility ultimately rests on the shoulders of parents: supervise your children during meal time.
What do you think, Bumpies? Weigh in with your thoughts below.