News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms May 12, 2008

News to know:

Emily, Jacob most popular baby names
For the 12th straight year, Emily topped the list of most popular baby girl names in 2007. Jacob led among names for boys for the ninth year in a row, according to the latest list released by the Social Security Administration.
Only one name — Elizabeth — is new to the top-10 list, returning after a two-year absence. Samantha, which previously ranked 10th, dropped to No. 12.


Families make case for vaccine link to autism
Families claiming thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative in vaccines, triggers autism take their case to federal court today.
Overall, nearly 4,900 families have filed claims with the U.S. Court of Claims alleging that vaccines caused autism and other neurological problems in their children. Lawyers for the families will present three different theories of how vaccines caused autism. Monday's case focuses on the second of those theories: that thimerosal-containing vaccines alone cause autism.
Thimerosal has been removed in recent years from standard childhood vaccines, except the flu shot.

Very premature baby survival not improving
Research published in the British Medical Journal found survival rates for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks has not changed between 1994 and 2005.
A study of 650,000 births during the 12 years covered showed clear improvements in survival rates for infants born after 24 and 25 weeks' gestation.