News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms November 5, 2007

Here's the latest news headlines:

Breastfeeding isn't Such a Drag on Breasts
According to a study by a group of plastic surgeons, women shouldn't blame saggy breasts on nursing. The main factors affecting sagging were: age, smoking status and the number of pregnancies a woman has had.

Autism "Epidemic" May Be All in the Label
Experts believe behaviors associated with autism were common 30 to 40 years ago. However, the recent surge in cases seems to be caused by an increase in special education services for children with autism.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine May Protect Older Women
Gardasil, the vaccine for preventing cervical cancer in women 9 through 26, may offer protection for women up to age 45, according to Merck, the company that manufactures the vaccine.

Without Enough Sleep, Children Gain Weight
Research suggests that insufficient sleep negatively affects preteens' metabolism, along with their exercise and eating habits, causing them to gain weight.

C-section Raise Risk to Mother and Infant
A study finds Cesarean deliveries have twice the risk of complications and deaths for both infants and mothers when the fetus is in the normal, head-down position. However, if the baby is in a breech position, the benefits of a cesarean outweighs the risk, researchers reported.

Study Finds Abortion Linked with Pre-term Births, Cerebral Palsy
A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine found abortion linked with pre-term births and cerebral palsey. The study involved physicians from both the U.S. and Canada who examined data from more than 4 million births.