In the News August 27, 2007

Here's news of interest for mommies-come-lately, starting off with a rather startling and disturbing headline:

More U.S. Women Dying in Childbirth
Though the risk of death in childbirth is still very small, experts say an increase in both maternal obesity and Caeserean sections are to blame for the increase.

Read that headline with a grain of salt--and take the time to read the article and the stats:


The U.S. maternal mortality rate rose to 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004, according to statistics released this week by the National Center for Health Statistics.

The rate was 12 per 100,000 live births in 2003 — the first time the maternal death rate rose above 10 since 1977.

Also know that a change in how deaths are reported could have affected the stats.


Pregnancy Not a Grace Period for Junk Food
Research suggests that eating junk food during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may contribute to childhood obesity.


High Blood Pressure Often Undiagnosed in Children
In a study of high blood pressure among children age 3 to 18, nearly three-quarters of the group had gone undiagnosed despite having at least three previous medical checkups, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Changes to Pregnancy Weight Guidelines Possible
The private medical organization that advises the federal goverment is considering changing the guidelines for how much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy. Some doctors feel that the current guidelines do not take into consideration the country's obesity epedemic--and that overweight women are putting on excess pounds.


Overweight Moms More Likely to Quit Breastfeeding
A recent study in Denmark suggests that the heavier a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the less likely she is to breastfeed her baby long-term. The study suggests a hormonal imbalance may stop heavier women from breastfeeding.