News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms April 14, 2008

News to know:

Postpartum depression common among U.S. women
As many as one in five women in the United States suffers from postpartum depressive symptoms, according to results of a new survey. The findings also indicate that certain groups of women, such as those with lower educational levels, are more prone to postpartum depressive symptoms.

Mumps vaccine good, not perfect
The 2006 eight-state U.S. mumps outbreak was the first ever caused by "two-dose vaccine failure," according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The vaccine is known to be 80% to 90% effective after two doses -- not 100% effective. That means that one or two out of 10 people exposed to the mumps virus will be infected, although they may have less severe disease than unvaccinated people who are infected.

Babies who sleep less at more risk for obesity
Babies who don't get enough sleep may gain too much weight, new research shows.
Babies and toddlers who sleep fewer than 12 hours daily are at greater risk for being overweight in preschool, according to a Harvard study. TV viewing heightened the effect. The children who slept the least and watched the most television had the greatest chance of becoming obese.

Candy can help fight cavities
Children in Venezuela who ate a special cavity-fighting candy had 62 percent fewer cavities than those who brushed their teeth regularly, researchers said.
Children in the study were testing the effectiveness of BasicMints, an experimental fluoride-free treatment designed to mimic a component in human saliva that neutralizes acids in the mouth that can erode tooth enamel.