The U. S. ranks second to last among industrialized countries in newborn survival rates, according to a new study. Not surprisingly, this varies along income and racial lines, with infants born to higher-income, white families more likely to survive. The researchers claim that in the U. S., lack of national health insurance and short maternity […]
Scientists in Sweden have found further evidence that sexual orientation is innate. They discovered that certain odors produce different responses in the brains of straight and lesbian women. The pattern of brain activity for lesbians was similar, but not identical, to that of straight men. A year ago, the same team showed a similarity in
3738 women in Manila yesterday set a world record for simultaneous breast feeding. Organizers say the event was meant to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. In the U. S., we’re slowly latching on to the idea that it’s acceptable to breastfeed in public. In Oregon recently, a woman was asked to “cover up”
We try to plant a garden each year, but they’re hit-or-miss affairs. Sometimes the beans grow, but not the squash, or vice versa. No matter how hard we try, we end up with too many tomatoes. Then there was the unfortunate period I call “The Year of the Ten Thousand Habaneros”. . . . Still,
Flying with an infant? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some useful tips on how to calm crying and unblock ears. Parent Hacks has great advice on what to bring, how to board, and why you might not want to take a toilet-training toddler into or out of DC National. My experience has been
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine casts doubt on the efficacy of vitamins C and E in preventing preeclampsia. Researchers caution, however, that the study was of a limited population (1877 low-risk Australian women, pregnant for the first time), and further research should be done to confirm either benefits or risks
The World Health Organization is revising its 20-year-old guidelines for infant birth weights to take into account the increasing number of breast-fed children. Infants fed formula gain weight faster than those who are breast fed, so breast-fed infants would incorrectly appear underweight in the old charts. Of course, if you feed your child formula, for
CNN today reports on a recent study of new chemotherapy treatments for nonhormonal breast cancer. Advances in chemo may give women with this tougher form of breast cancer almost the same odds for survival as those with easier-to-treat hormonal forms of the disease. In the same article, CNN also discusses a new study of hormone
A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced a bill that would require the Agriculture Department to set new nutritional standards for all food sold in schools, with the goal of restricting junk food sales. Current regulations apply to cafeteria breakfasts and lunches, but not vending-machine or school-store snacks. I’m all for this—but wonder if restrictions
Two items of note today in regard to childhood obesity: A study by scientists at the Université Laval (article in French; English summary here) has concluded that amount of sleep was the prime factor in determining childhood obesity among children five to ten years old. In the study of 422 children, those who got less
