Birth Weight News and Research

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Madeline Mann, the world's smallest surviving baby now 15

Medical progress of her 14-year follow up will be released in a letter published in the Aug. 19, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

18 Aug 2004

Mother’s milk may not be best for preterm babies

The study by Lydia Furman, M.D., of Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland and colleagues found that other influences, such as health problems at birth and social factors like the mother’s race, marriage and education were more important in predicting any mental and motor development problems among the infants.

17 Aug 2004

Pregnant women with high levels of thyroid hormone may pass on toxins to their developing fetus

A study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that pregnant women with high levels of thyroid hormone may pass on toxins to their developing fetus.

11 Aug 2004

Children should be screened for high blood pressure at age 3

A new report from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on Children calls attention to the role of hypertension in the current epidemic of obesity in children, and underscores the need for intervention.

3 Aug 2004

Study to begin to develop patient guidelines for the use of antidepressant medications in pregnancy and following birth

The University of Arizona department of psychiatry is conducting a first-of-its kind study to begin to develop patient guidelines for the use of antidepressant medications in pregnancy and following birth.

21 Jul 2004

New initiative to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced last night during a visit to Navajo Country $4.25 million to support a new initiative to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality.

21 Jul 2004

Teen birth rate hits record low and prevalence of overweight among children has increased

The well-being of America's children has shown strong gains in some areas but has declined in others, according to a yearly report by federal agencies compiling statistics on children.

16 Jul 2004

Antidepressants should not be avoided in treatment of pregnant women with severe depression

Antidepressants to treat from moderate to severe depression in pregnant women not only are relatively safe but necessary in many cases for the well-being of the mother and the baby

7 Jul 2004

New York study reveals that babies in the womb are more sensitive than their mothers to DNA damage from pollution

A new study of the effects of combustion-related air pollutants in New York City reveals that babies in the womb are more sensitive than their mothers to DNA damage from such pollution.

26 Jun 2004

World is currently facing a twin epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes in young people

The global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has led to an urgent call for action by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

25 Jun 2004

Newborns are more susceptible to DNA damage from pollution than their mothers

New Study of New York City Residents Shows That Newborns are More Susceptible to DNA Damage from Pollution than Their Mothers.

24 Jun 2004

Exposure to excess hormones in the womb increases risk of heart disease and diabetes

Babies exposed to excess hormones in the womb are not only at increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes in later life but can pass these risks to their children.

17 Jun 2004

Novel findings on treatments for childhood obesity and early polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in young girls

New research findings presented this week in New Orleans during ENDO 2004, the 86th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society, could help keep kids healthier.

16 Jun 2004

Obese women more likely to have pregnancy complications and caesarean sections than women of average weight

The controlled study is one of the largest ever to look at obesity in pregnancy, following more than 16,000 pregnant women at 14 medical centers across the country.

20 May 2004

Breastfeeding decreases risk of heart disease later in life

A recent UK study of 216 teenagers, published in the Lancet, found that breastfeeding in infancy is likely to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in later life.

14 May 2004

A mother-to-be who eats fish during the later stages of pregnancy is less likely to have a very small baby

However the latest research from the Children of the 90s project has shown no link between fish consumption and average birthweight once other factors have been taken into account. There was also no evidence of increased frequency of premature birth in mothers not eating fish.

13 May 2004

Pregnancy massage may reduce the risk of premature births

Pregnancy massage long has been known to help expectant mothers feel better, and a new study shows it may well provide an even more important benefit – reducing the risk of premature births.

5 May 2004

Survey reveals important information about pregnancy health

Sixty-four percent of Maryland mothers who completed a 2001 survey conducted by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) reported one or more medical complications during pregnancy, and 20 percent of these women were hospitalized for one or more days.

5 May 2004

Breastfeeding helps against low weight infants and infection

A new study shows that human milk protects extremely low birth weight infants from developing sepsis -- an overwhelming infection and a leading cause of illness and death in these tiny babies.

1 May 2004

Pregnant women need to be aware of coffee and tea strength

A Food Standards Agency survey published today shows that out of the samples tested, a cup or mug of tea could contain from 1 to 90 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, and instant coffee from 21 to 120 mg. Brewed ground coffee ranged from 15 to 254 mg.

30 Apr 2004