A leading evolutionary biologist has put forward the theory that an infant’s tendency to wake up in the night may have been a Darwinian tactic to make mothers breastfeed more, thus reducing their fertility and limiting the number of siblings that will be born, which in turn improved a child’s chances of survival.
Breastfeeding acts as a natural contraceptive during the first six months after birth, stopping women from menstruating. Encouraging the effect would have been beneficial for our ancestors, because the fewer siblings one had, the more competition there would be for scarce resources, and the lower the risk of infectious disease spreading, argues Professor David Haig, of Harvard University.
Read more: Babies evolved to wake new mothers in the middle of the night as a survival tactic, claims Harvard biologist The Independent 10/4/14
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Mother's pregnancy diet affects baby's food preferences
Julie Mennella of the Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia says, "amniotic fluid is a complex 'first food' that contains chemicals that have both tastes and smells."
Pity the poor participants in this experiment carried out by Mennella. They had to sniff a bunch of amniotic fluid samples, and apparently had no trouble identifying the womb juice that had been extracted from women who had taken a garlic capsule 45 minutes before. All flavours tested so far, says Mennella, have been detectable in the fluid, including mint, aniseed, carrot and vanilla.
Another experiment by Mennella involved one group of mothers drinking 300ml of carrot juice four days a week for three weeks during the last trimester of pregnancy, a second group doing the same during the first two months of breastfeeding, and a control group giving carrot juice a wide berth altogether. The babies who tasted high concentrations of carrot in utero and in their mother's milk went on to happily eat more carrot during weaning. According to Peter Hepper, director of the Fetal Research Centre at Queen's University in Belfast: "foetuses exposed to garlic in the womb are more likely to prefer garlic in later life, indeed studies show up to the age of eight at least."
Read more: How a child's food preferences begin in the womb from The Guardian 8/4/14
Pity the poor participants in this experiment carried out by Mennella. They had to sniff a bunch of amniotic fluid samples, and apparently had no trouble identifying the womb juice that had been extracted from women who had taken a garlic capsule 45 minutes before. All flavours tested so far, says Mennella, have been detectable in the fluid, including mint, aniseed, carrot and vanilla.
Another experiment by Mennella involved one group of mothers drinking 300ml of carrot juice four days a week for three weeks during the last trimester of pregnancy, a second group doing the same during the first two months of breastfeeding, and a control group giving carrot juice a wide berth altogether. The babies who tasted high concentrations of carrot in utero and in their mother's milk went on to happily eat more carrot during weaning. According to Peter Hepper, director of the Fetal Research Centre at Queen's University in Belfast: "foetuses exposed to garlic in the womb are more likely to prefer garlic in later life, indeed studies show up to the age of eight at least."
Read more: How a child's food preferences begin in the womb from The Guardian 8/4/14
Monday, March 31, 2014
Branch Events April 2014
Bumps, Babies and Beyond
Friday 4th 10 - 11.30am
Methodist Church HallChapel Street
Ely
(Map)
FREE ENTRY including refreshments and home-made cakes.
This month's special guest is Ely Nappy Library. Ely Nappy Library is an independent, non-profit service enabling families to see and try reusable nappies to help parents decide which solution will work best for them. Most reusable nappies are sold online, or in sealed packs in shops, which means it can be hard to know exactly what you get when you buy - and with so many choices available, it is really useful to be able to "try before you buy". Ely Nappy Library offers free nappy demonstrations and advice and low-cost nappy hire kits to families in and around Ely. They will be giving a talk and demonstration.
To find out more, visit www.elynappylibrary.org.uk
Open Houses
Tuesday 1st 10-11.30am
At Katy's house in ElyThursday 10th 9.30-11.30am
At Sian's house in Soham
Wednesday 16th 1.30-3.30pm
At Maxine's house in Soham
Wednesday 23rd April 10-11.30am
At Katy's house in Ely
Nearly New Sale!
Saturday 26th April, 10.30-12.30
Ely College
Come along and grab a bargain! We sell newborn and children’s clothes (up to age 10), toys, books and equipment (such as prams and cots). We'll also have a refreshments area selling home-made cakes :0)
Entry is 50p per family.
Entry is 50p per family.
For more info about open house locations see our facebook page or join our facebook group. Alternatively email ely_nct@yahoo.co.uk.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Peterborough teen pregnancy rate falls
Improved sex education in Peterborough has been credited with reducing the number of teenage pregnancies in the city.
New figures show that for every thousand pregnancies in the city, girls aged 15 to 17 accounted for 28.1. The statistics relate to the last quarter of 2012 and for the same period in 2011, the number stood at 34.7 - and were even higher earlier in 2012 when it reached 43, one of the highest rates in the country.
Dr Henrietta Ewart, interim director of public health for Peterborough City Council, said: “We want young people to have the knowledge and confidence to delay sex until they are ready, and to be able to make informed and healthy choices."
Dr Ewart praised the work carried out by Peterborough Regional College (PRC) with youngsters, including young mums.
Despite the reduction in the city, the rate is still higher than the English average, which stands at 26.3.
The number of teenage pregnancies fell across Cambridgeshire as well as in Peterborough, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics. In the county there was a rate of 17.7 teenage pregnancies in every thousand in the final quarter of 2012, compared to 20.4 the previous year.
The national rate for England and Wales has been falling for a number of months, with the figure at the start of 2011 standing at 31.6, but falling to 26.1 by September 2012. There was a slight rise in the final quarter of the year, to 26.4.
Teenage pregnancy rate in Peterborough falls to lowest level for two years Peterborough Telegraph 9th March 2014
New figures show that for every thousand pregnancies in the city, girls aged 15 to 17 accounted for 28.1. The statistics relate to the last quarter of 2012 and for the same period in 2011, the number stood at 34.7 - and were even higher earlier in 2012 when it reached 43, one of the highest rates in the country.
Dr Henrietta Ewart, interim director of public health for Peterborough City Council, said: “We want young people to have the knowledge and confidence to delay sex until they are ready, and to be able to make informed and healthy choices."
Dr Ewart praised the work carried out by Peterborough Regional College (PRC) with youngsters, including young mums.
Despite the reduction in the city, the rate is still higher than the English average, which stands at 26.3.
The number of teenage pregnancies fell across Cambridgeshire as well as in Peterborough, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics. In the county there was a rate of 17.7 teenage pregnancies in every thousand in the final quarter of 2012, compared to 20.4 the previous year.
The national rate for England and Wales has been falling for a number of months, with the figure at the start of 2011 standing at 31.6, but falling to 26.1 by September 2012. There was a slight rise in the final quarter of the year, to 26.4.
Teenage pregnancy rate in Peterborough falls to lowest level for two years Peterborough Telegraph 9th March 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Legal status of foetus at centre of landmark case
A council - which cannot be named for legal reasons but is located somewhere in the north-west of England - is set to argue that a child who was born with serious health defects as a result of her mother's drinking habits should be given a compensation payout for being the victim of a crime. The child, who also cannot be named, was diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) at birth. She is now six years old and living with foster parents.
Susan Fleisher adopted a three-year-old girl who she later learned was suffering from FAS, and has since set up a charity - the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome UK - to help people deal with the condition. The 67-year-old, whose daughter Addie is now 25, believes drinking while pregnant should never be considered a crime. "No mother deliberately holds a gun to their child's head," Mrs Fleisher said.
Current guidelines do not explicitly prohibit the consumption of alcohol for expectant mothers. The Department of Health guidance says that "women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should avoid alcohol altogether". But then it goes on to say that "if they do choose to drink, to minimise the risk to the baby, we recommend they should not drink more than 1-2 units once or twice a week, and pregnant women should not get drunk". The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also concedes there is "uncertainty about how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy".
However, in the case of the six-year-old girl at the centre of these ongoing proceedings, the mother did not adhere to anything close to these restrictions. An earlier tribunal hearing found she had "consumed grossly excessive quantities of alcohol" and had been "using drugs".
Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said while FAS was not common, it could have devastating effects. While she could not comment on the legal case specifically, she added: "It's wrong for a woman to consume large amounts of alcohol while she is pregnant. But let's get away from the moral judgement. It is sold over the counter, as are cigarettes. And the law says the foetus has no legal status as it cannot live independently of the mother."
Pregnancy drinking examined as possible crime in landmark case bbc.co.uk 5th March 2014
Susan Fleisher adopted a three-year-old girl who she later learned was suffering from FAS, and has since set up a charity - the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome UK - to help people deal with the condition. The 67-year-old, whose daughter Addie is now 25, believes drinking while pregnant should never be considered a crime. "No mother deliberately holds a gun to their child's head," Mrs Fleisher said.
Current guidelines do not explicitly prohibit the consumption of alcohol for expectant mothers. The Department of Health guidance says that "women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should avoid alcohol altogether". But then it goes on to say that "if they do choose to drink, to minimise the risk to the baby, we recommend they should not drink more than 1-2 units once or twice a week, and pregnant women should not get drunk". The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also concedes there is "uncertainty about how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy".
However, in the case of the six-year-old girl at the centre of these ongoing proceedings, the mother did not adhere to anything close to these restrictions. An earlier tribunal hearing found she had "consumed grossly excessive quantities of alcohol" and had been "using drugs".
Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said while FAS was not common, it could have devastating effects. While she could not comment on the legal case specifically, she added: "It's wrong for a woman to consume large amounts of alcohol while she is pregnant. But let's get away from the moral judgement. It is sold over the counter, as are cigarettes. And the law says the foetus has no legal status as it cannot live independently of the mother."
Pregnancy drinking examined as possible crime in landmark case bbc.co.uk 5th March 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
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
Resurgence of scarlet fever reaches 24-year high 10th March 2014 bbc.co.uk
Read about Scarlet Fever on the NHS website
Monday, March 3, 2014
Branch Events March 2014
Bumps, Babies and Beyond
Friday 7th 10 - 11.30am
Methodist Church HallChapel Street
Ely
(Map)
FREE ENTRY including refreshments and home-made cakes.
This month's special guest is Baby Sensory. Baby Sensory classes are suitable for babies aged 0-13 months and the session will give the Mums and babies a taster of some of our activities which stimulate baby's senses to aid development and bonding.
Baby Sensory is the only provider of baby development classes designed specifically for babies from birth to 13 months. All activities are excellent for developing physical, social, emotional and language skills, co‑ordination, awareness of the world, and a love of music. The programme is also suitable for babies with physical or learning impairments. Baby Sensory offers a world full of exciting experiences which gives babies and adults a wonderful sense of well being. Activities and experiences vary weekly; there is always something new! The developmental play session is a perfect time to socialise and build up relationships with other parents and babies and you can join at any point in the programme.
Open Houses
Monday 10th 9.30-.11.30am
At Emma's house in ElyThursday 20th 9.30-11.30am
At Maxine's house in Soham
Wednesday 26th 9.30-11.15am
At Mags' house in Ely
Tuesday 1st April 10-11.30
At Katy's house in Ely
Quiz Night! Monday 24th March
We are holding a Quiz ‘n’ Chips evening to raise funds to support NCT.
Please come along and support your local branch! Tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 243 6175 (Option 1) or emailing ely_nct@yahoo.co.uk
- Date: Monday 24th March
- Time: 8pm
- Venue: Deans Bar, 62 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PE
- Cost: £5 (includes a bowl of chips)
Please come along and support your local branch! Tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 243 6175 (Option 1) or emailing ely_nct@yahoo.co.uk
For more info about open house locations see our facebook page or join our facebook group. Alternatively call 0844 2436175 or email ely_nct@yahoo.co.uk.
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