High Rates of Scarlet Fever Reported

Public Health England says there have been 868 notified cases in the first eight weeks of 2014, compared to 591 in the same period in 2013. This figure is at its highest for this time of year since 1990. The bacterial illness causes a distinctive rash, high temperature and sore throat as well as a white coating on the tongue. Cases are more common in children although adults can also develop scarlet fever. Although most cases of scarlet fever go away in about a week without treatment, treatment is recommended. This is because treatment reduces the length of time you are contagious, speeds up recovery and reduces the risk of complications from scarlet fever. There's no evidence that catching scarlet fever when pregnant will put your baby at risk. However, heavily pregnant women should tell healthcare staff if they have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever.

Resurgence of scarlet fever reaches 24-year high 10th March 2014 bbc.co.uk

Read about Scarlet Fever on the NHS website

Pregnant women who snore give birth to smaller babies

Experts said snoring may be a sign of breathing problems which could deprive an unborn baby of oxygen. A new study led by Dr Louise O'Brien, from the University of Michigan's Sleep Disorders Centre found that pregnant women who snore are more likely to give birth to smaller babies. The study found that chronic snorers, who snored both before and during pregnancy, were two thirds more likely to have a baby whose weight was in the bottom 10%. They were also more than twice as likely to need an elective Caesarean delivery, or C-section, compared with non-snorers. Snoring is a key sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, which results in the airway becoming partially blocked, said the researchers, whose findings appear in the journal Sleep. Dr O'Brien added: "If we can identify risks during pregnancy that can be treated, such as obstructive sleep apnoea, we can reduce the incidence of small babies, C-sections and possibly NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit) admission that not only improve long-term health benefits for newborns but also help keep costs down."

Pregnant women who snore give birth to smaller babies, study reveals The Mirror 31st October 2013

UK 23rd best place to become a mother

The UK has failed to make the top 20 in a list of the best places to be a mother - falling behind its neighbours Ireland and other European countries such as Germany and France. In a list of 176 countries in the Mother’s Index, contained in Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers report, the UK is ranked at number 23. Finland, Sweden and Norway take the top three slots respectively while for the first time, countries in sub-Saharan Africa - where 10% to 20% of mothers are underweight due to poor nutrition or under-age pregnancy - take up each of the bottom ten places in the annual index.
The detailed and thorough report also looks at what can be done to save newborn lives in industrialised countries. Increased access to family planning and better sexual health education for youth are among the recommendations, as unplanned and teenage pregnancies are high risk factors for newborn mortality. Also wider use of kangaroo care and better breastfeeding support including Baby Friendly hospitals.
State of the World's Mothers 2013 - Save the Children 

Risk of vaginal tearing during childbirth increased by excessive pregnancy weight-gain

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of lacerations during vaginal childbirth, according to a study conducted by researchers at Montefiore Medical Center. Among more than 1,000 women who participated in the study, 126 experienced a significant increase in their body mass index (BMI).  Of those women, 85.5 percent experienced lacerations compared to 69 percent with no change in BMI category.

Gaining weight during pregnancy causes increased risk for tears during delivery - News-medical.net 8th May 2013

Postnatal depression more likely after unplanned pregnancy

Women who get pregnant unintentionally are four times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, according to new research. The study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that postpartum depression was more likely in women with unintended pregnancies at both three and twelve months after birth.
The study, conducted at the University of North Carolina prenatal clinics questioned participants about pregnancy intention at 15-19 weeks gestational age. The increased risk was highest at 12 months and indicates that this group of women have a long term risk of depression.
When age, education level and poverty status were factored into the results, women with unintended pregnancy were still twice as likely to have postpartum depression at twelve months.
Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, said:
"We are seriously short of midwives in England and we know that postnatal care is suffering because of this. We are hearing of midwives having to make fewer postnatal visits, if at all. This is a concern because the problems this research highlights may go undetected and the consequences of this can be serious, for the women, for families and for the health service."

Unintended pregnancies increase the risk of postpartum depression - Female First 8th May 2013

Mild Iodine Deficiency in Womb Associated with Lower Scores on Children’s Literacy Tests

A longitudinal study, published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, examined standardized test scores of 228 children whose mothers attended The Royal Hobart Hospital’s antenatal clinics in Tasmania between 1999 and 2001. The children were born during a period of mild iodine deficiency in the population. As 9-year-olds, the children who received insufficient iodine in the womb had lower scores on standardized literacy tests, particularly in spelling. However, inadequate iodine exposure was not associated with lower scores on math tests. Researchers theorize iodine deficiency may take more of a toll on the development of auditory pathways and, consequently, auditory working memory and so had more of an impact on students’ spelling ability than their mathematical reasoning ability.

newswise.com 30 April 2013

Pregnancy permanently alters foot-size

A study of 49 pregnant women found that in 60 to 70 per cent of cases the feet became longer and wider after the first trimester, but had not even begun to shrink five months after giving birth.
The lasting change in foot shape could put mothers at higher risk of arthritis later in life and explain why the condition is more common among women than men, researchers said.
Dr Neil Segal, associate professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation at the University of Iowa, who led the study, explained: "We know that women, and especially women who have had children, are disproportionately affected by musculoskeletal disorders."

The Telegraph 1st March 2013

Napping when your baby naps

A recent, small-scale, study seems to suggest that mothers who nap interact better with their babies.

So, what does this mean for new parents? Even a few naps per week when you are significantly fatigued can be help promote more positive interactions with your baby! The authors also suggest that scheduling weekend naps may be useful for mothers that cannot nap during the week.

http://www.secretsofbabybehavior.com/2013/01/new-study-effect-of-maternal-napping.html

Midwifery shortage leaves pregnant women unsupported

A survey in the annual state of maternity services report by the Royal College of Midwives found that four in ten women see up to nine or ten midwives during their pregnancy instead of being able to build a relationship and confidence in one, as is recommended. Also one fifth of women are left alone during labour, contrary to guidelines saying women should have one to one care.

Midwives are overstretched due to a baby boom and increasing numbers of women over the age of 40 having babies who require extra care due to a high risk of complications, experts said. The birth rate has increased rapidly and the rise in midwife numbers has not kept pace, the College said, meaning around 5,000 more are needed to meet the one-to-one care in labour pledge. Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the RCM, said: “In antenatal care, the problem for women is they are not getting the continuity of care they need."


The Telegraph 20/1/13

Research finds childhood obesity risk factors

High birth weight, rapid weight gain and having an overweight mother who smokes can all increase the risk of a baby becoming obese later in childhood, research by experts at The University of Nottingham has found. The study, published in the latest edition of the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, also discovered that children who were breastfed and were introduced to solid food later had a slightly reduced chance of becoming overweight. The findings come following a systematic review and analysis of data from around 30 previous studies looking at the impact of factors affecting babies during the first 12 months of their lives and their potential link with childhood obesity.

HealthCanal.com 29/10/12

FSA reviewing advice to pregnant women about cats and rare meat

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is going to review its advice to pregnant women and other groups of people who could be at risk of health problems as a result of being infected with toxoplasma, a microscopic parasite carried by cats and transmitted in contaminated food.
The FSA's chief scientist, Andrew Wadge, said that a report by the FSA's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food found that further research is needed to establish how toxoplasma is spreading to people from cats.
Wednesday 5th September 2012 www.independent.co.uk

The Snip

British Study finds breastfeeding linked to thinness in later life in the Huffington Post.

Extreme maternal weight causes pregnancy risks

New maternal and newborn health research conducted by the University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves in Granada has shown that obese and underweight females can encounter problems both during pregnancy and once their child is born. Published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, the findings indicate that overweight ladies are at risk of developing diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Meanwhile, those deemed to be too thin are prone to oligohydramnios - which is a reduction in the amount of amniotic liquid. Their children are also likely to be underweight.

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetricsfigo.org 23/4/12

Child Health Profile for Cambridgeshire

Child and Maternal Health Observatory, March 2012 (www.chimat.org.uk)

Child Poverty*: better rate than the England average

13.9% of children aged under 16 years living in poverty in 2009 (21.9% England)

*Poverty: % of children in families in receipt of either out of work benefits or tax credits where there reported income is less than 60% median income

Child Obesity: lower rate than the England average

7.6% of children aged 4-5 years (reception class) were obese in 2010/11 (9.4% England) while 15.8% of children aged 10-11 years (Year 6) were obese (19.0% England)

Breastfeeding initiation rates: much higher than average

In Cambridgeshire, 81.3% of mothers in 2010/11 initiated breastfeeding when their baby was born (74.5% England). By 6-8 weeks after birth, 58.4% of mothers were still breastfeeding

                                                                                                                                                                               

Rates of smoking in pregnancy: lower than average

11.0% of mothers in 2010/11 were smoking at the time of delivery – lower than the England rate of 13.6%

Levels of Children’s Tooth Decay: Similar to the England average

At age 12, the mean number of decayed, missing of filled teeth in Cambridgeshire children was 0.5 – slightly lower than the England average of 0.7 (2008/09)

Percentage of Children Achieving a Good level of Development at Age 5: Similar to average

60.0% of five year olds  achieved a good level of development within Early Years Foundation Stage Profile in 2011 (59.0% England)

Immunisation Rates: Similar to average

In 2010/11, 88.9% of children had received their MMR immunisation by age 2 (England 89.1%) while 96.2% had received immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and Hib (England 96.0%)

Participation in Sport: Worse than the national average

48.7% of school-age children participated in at least 3 hours of sport/PE per week in 2009/10 (55.1% England)