News of Interest for Moms December 2, 2009

News to know:

Some fathers suffer from postpartum depression

Doctors believe dads struggling with postpartum depression is a more widespread problem than most people realize.

Men who have a history of depression or who have partners who are depressed have an increased risk of postpartum depression.

Symptoms usually develop within a month after a child is born, but can show up three months later. Typical symptoms include:

• tearfulness
• decreased energy
• low-self esteem
• loss of sleep/appetite
• suicidal thoughts

HPV sometimes a factor for increase in oral cancers in women

In people under age 50, the human papillomavirus (HPV), may be replacing tobacco as the primary cause of oral cancer, according to recent data from the Oral Cancer Foundation. In previous decades, oral cancer was primarily a men's disease, affecting six men for every woman. However, in the last decade, the ratio has decreased to two men to each woman. About 34,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.

Increase in babies born with Down syndrome

Babies born with Down syndrome increased by 31 percent between 1979 and 2003, according to a report published in the November 30 issue of Pediatrics.

Researchers said their findings could reflect an increasing proportion of births to older moms during this same time, as well as medical advancements that improve survival rates of babies born with Down syndrome.

Newest celebrity Mommy-Come-Lately: singer Lisa Loeb

Singer Lisa Loeb, 41, and her husband Roey Herskovitz, 31, welcomed their daughter Lyla Rose on Dec. 1.