Childbirth

The Government of Canada is moving forward with proposed regulations to prohibit the advertisement, sale and importation of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA, to reduce newborn and infant exposure to this substance, announced the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.

BPA is used in the production of polycarbonate, a clear hard plastic used to make many products, including baby bottles. When in contact with hot or boiling liquid, bisphenol A can migrate from the plastic into the liquid and easily be ingested.

Women are more likely than men to reject unattractive-looking babies, according to a study by researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, possibly reflecting an evolutionary-derived need for diverting limited resources towards the nurturing of healthy offspring. The findings also challenge the idea of unconditional maternal love.

Most women are satisfied with maternity care in Wales with services generally meeting an appropriate standard, says a report published today by the Auditor General.

But the report also highlights some specific problems including the way that labour is managed in some trusts and dissatisfaction with support for infant feeding.

Today's report includes a survey of new mothers. Although many women questioned were satisfied with their experience, a significant minority felt they were not always treated with dignity and respect or kindness and understanding.

The babies of women who have an elective repeat Cesarean delivery are twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than babies of women who have a vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). That’s according to a new study from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.

The study shows babies born to women who have elective repeat Cesarean deliveries also continue to need oxygen in the neonatal intensive care unit.

There is now an at-home test that expecting moms can use to determine whether they're carrying a boy or a girl. The IntelliGender’s home prediction test is said to work as early as 10 weeks after conception. The pregnant woman tests her urine at home. It turn’s orange if she’s carrying a girl. It turns green if she’s carrying a boy.

With IntelliGender's home gender prediction test, a urine specimen turns orange if it's a girl. Green is for boys.

Dr Kuldip Bharj OBE, from the University of Leeds, has been invited to join the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of nursing and midwifery services.

She is the Lead Midwife for Education, responsible for the strategic management of midwifery education programmes at the School of Healthcare. Her research interests include women’s health and social inequalities and the recruitment of minority ethnic groups into nursing.

As part of her doctoral studies she explored the maternity experiences of Pakistani Muslim women in the north of England.

The Department of Health has released an independent report which has made recommendations to further boost the safety of homebirths in Western Australia.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Simon Towler said the Department had initiated the independent professional review in December 2007 to identify any concerns with the practice of homebirths in WA.

“WA is one of the safest places in the world to give birth and it is important to maintain that safety record,” he said.

There are many ways to deal with the pain of giving birth, but women and their obstetricians can always benefit from having another choice. A Cochrane review has concluded that women in labor should have the option of using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) — a non-drug method of pain management.

Saskatoon Health Region marked International Day of the Midwife with a celebration of the 19 babies born with the aid of a midwife. The babies were born between February and May to families who chose to use one of four midwives working in the Region.

“The introduction of midwives into the health-care team is an exciting addition. Giving women more choices with safe care improves overall access to services,” says Sheila Achilles, Director, Primary Health for Saskatoon Health Region.

All newborn babies and children up to four years old will have their growth measurements plotted on new charts from this week. The launch of the charts, which have been developed for the Department of Health by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, based on the World Health Organisation's work, coincides with National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (10 - 16 May) and replaces current measures which are based predominately on babies fed with formula milk.