Maternity Units Seriously Short of Staff

A report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee has said most maternity units do not have enough senior doctors, with poorer care at weekends leaving women at higher risk of complications. The report said women and babies were being left at higher risk of infections and injury at weekends because of shortages of staff, with just 47 per cent of units having enough consultants, and a national shortage of 2,300 midwives. MPs said shortages of midwives and lack of beds meant more than a quarter of maternity units had to close to new patients for half a day or more between April and September 2012.

Half of maternity units are short of senior doctors warn MPs The Telegraph 31 January 2014

Risk of heart disease shaped in early pregnancy

A link between poor growth in the first trimester and early risk factors for heart disease has been identified for the first time. A study in the British Medical Journal adds to evidence that heart risk is set long before adulthood. A team at the Erasmus University Medical School examined links between the child's size at the first scan (10 to 13 weeks) and markers of future cardiovascular health at the age of six (central body fat, high blood pressure, high insulin levels and high cholesterol). "Impaired first trimester foetal growth is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in school age children," they reported in the British Medical Journal.

Baby heart-disease risk 'shaped early in pregnancy' BBC News 23 January 2014

Smoking ban in cars unenforceable?

Nick Clegg has said he opposes as illiberal plans for a law banning smoking in cars when children are present. He said smoking in such circumstances was irresponsible but he did not see how a law could be enforced. MPs are expected to be given a free vote on the measure, after peers voted on Wednesday to back a ban being inserted into the children's bill. Speaking on LBC's Call Clegg programme on Thursday, the deputy prime minister said:
"I know the temptation is always to say there is a problem, where is the law? I am quite an old-fashioned liberal. I don't think you should legislate unless you think it is going to make a difference. I don't see how this is going to be enforced so families speeding along the M4 and mum or dad is smoking, how on earth are you going to properly enforce it?"

Smoking ban in cars with children unenforceable, says Nick Clegg The Guardian 30 January 2014

Cure for peanut allergy?

A potentially life-threatening peanut allergy has been essentially cured in nine out of 10 recipients of a new treatment which gradually escalates the amount of peanut protein the body can tolerate. Other treatments such as vaccines and antibodies are also under development, but the new oral immunotherapy is claimed to be the first to successfully allow people to tolerate such a food allergy. "We've shown fantastic results, with 80 to 90 per cent of children being able to tolerate eating peanuts regularly after treatment," says Andrew Clark of Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, UK, who co-led the team that developed the treatment.

Peanut allergy cured in children using immunotherapy New Scientist 30 January 2014

Branch Events January 2014

Bumps, Babies and Beyond

Friday 3rd  10 - 11.30am

Methodist Church Hall
Chapel Street
Ely
(Map)
FREE ENTRY including refreshments and festive home-made cakes.


SPECIAL GUEST: We are going to be having a special guest in each month who provides a children's service or activity in the area. This month Monkey Music will be giving a free taster session so come along and have a good sing song! http://www.monkeymusic.co.uk/

The usual toys and craft activities will be available for babies and toddlers. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding welcome. Parking available in St Mary's Street car park. Entrance to the church hall is through the blue gate at the back of the car park.

Open Houses

Wednesday 8th 9.30-11.30am

At Nicola's house in Chatteris

Tuesday 14th 1.30-3.30pm

At Sian's house in Soham

Monday 20th 9.30-11am

At Mags' house in Ely

Tuesday 28th 1.30-3.30pm

At Maxine's house in Soham

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.

New evidence of pregnancy discrimination

The number of women forced out of their jobs because they are either pregnant or on maternity leave has more than doubled in the past decade, according to a major report. Research published today estimates that about 60,000 women suffer such discrimination annually, while the introduction earlier this year of £1,200 up front tribunal fees has exacerbated the problem by deterring tens of thousands from taking legal action against their employer. One in three of those who unfairly lose their jobs and win a tribunal are paid no compensation at all, and only four in 10 tribunal awards are paid in full. Since 2008, as many as 250,000 women have been forced out of their job simply for being pregnant or taking maternity leave, according to the report by the charity Maternity Action.

Pregnant? Don't expect your job back The Independent 8th December 2013

Probiotics in pregnancy not linked to asthma rate in infants

Taking probiotics has health benefits but preventing childhood asthma isn't one of them, shows newly published research led by medical scientists at the University of Alberta. "Taking probiotics had no effect on the asthma rate," said Azad, who works in the Faculty's Department of Pediatrics. "We haven't shown there's any harm in giving probiotics, but it can't really be advised as a strategy to prevent asthma. "That doesn't mean probiotics aren't good for other reasons. There's really good evidence that probiotics are beneficial to infants who are born pre-term and suffer from a bowel condition. There's also good evidence that probiotics might prevent eczema. Her team made another interesting finding that warrants more research: babies who received probiotics as infants or in utero had higher incidences of lower respiratory infections. But "more research is required "

Taking probiotics during pregnancy has no effect on asthma rate amoung infants News Medical. net 9 December 2013