Since anything that interferes with a mother's ability to respond to her baby's needs can interfere with attachment, the birth environment can dramatically help or hinder attachment. Because of the security of being at home, having more control over the birth process, etc., many mothers feel that homebirth helps them bond with their babies.

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Antibiotics in Early Life Could Lead to Brain Disorders - - Antibiotics save lives. But, as we've known for a long time, the bacteria they are supposed to kill can become resistant. Furthermore, antibiotics can upset the balance of microbes in our gut; Those costs seem especially high when antibiotics are over-used i.e., to shorten the course of a minor illness or to treat a disease for which they are not effective, like a cold. Now, scientists at Rutgers have found that when used early in life, some common antibiotics can have a detrimental effect on human brain development as well.

Exercise during pregnancy may save children from health problems as adults - - Animal and human studies indicate that obesity in parents can affect their children, pre-disposing them to a variety of metabolic diseases, like diabetes, hypertension, and inflamation. This study looked at mice to see what effect, if any, maternal exercise during pregnancy would have on these outcomes. It turns out, the effects are profound: Maternal exercise during pregnancy can completely mitigate obesity's effects on offspring. Whether it will also apply to humans is not known, but if it does, this simple intervention could help slow the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases around the world.

Exposure to Paracetamol During Pregnancy Linked With ADHD and Autism symptoms In Childhood - - Researchers in Spain analyzed data on over 70,000 children from multiple contries and found a strong link between Paracetamol (also known as Acetaminophen, U.S. brand name, Tylenol) use during pregnancy and subsequent symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC). The full study can be found here.

Throwing the baby back into the bathwater - More careful meta-analysis would have demonstrated home birth safety - BMJ - - Science can be a double-edged sword depending on who wields it.

Throwing the baby back into the bathwater - More careful meta-analysis would have demonstrated home birth safety | BMJ - - Science offers a path to the truth, but it can also be a minefield, This article, about a meta-analysis of Home Birth studies, shows how biased selection and manipulation of data can lead to un-warranted conclusions. It's a good example of the kinds of strategies that will be deployed against anypne (In this case, home birth advocates) who dares to challenge the status quo.

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Antibiotics in Early Life Could Lead to Brain Disorders - - Antibiotics save lives. But, as we've known for a long time, the bacteria they are supposed to kill can become resistant. Furthermore, antibiotics can upset the balance of microbes in our gut; Those costs seem especially high when antibiotics are over-used i.e., to shorten the course of a minor illness or to treat a disease for which they are not effective, like a cold. Now, scientists at Rutgers have found that when used early in life, some common antibiotics can have a detrimental effect on human brain development as well.

Exercise during pregnancy may save children from health problems as adults - - Animal and human studies indicate that obesity in parents can affect their children, pre-disposing them to a variety of metabolic diseases, like diabetes, hypertension, and inflamation. This study looked at mice to see what effect, if any, maternal exercise during pregnancy would have on these outcomes. It turns out, the effects are profound: Maternal exercise during pregnancy can completely mitigate obesity's effects on offspring. Whether it will also apply to humans is not known, but if it does, this simple intervention could help slow the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases around the world.

Exposure to Paracetamol During Pregnancy Linked With ADHD and Autism symptoms In Childhood - - Researchers in Spain analyzed data on over 70,000 children from multiple contries and found a strong link between Paracetamol (also known as Acetaminophen, U.S. brand name, Tylenol) use during pregnancy and subsequent symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC). The full study can be found here.

Home birth Information Center - - Angela Horn's site provides information about home birth, for parents who think that it might be the right choice for them, and for health professionals looking for facts and ideas.

The Homebirth Choice - - by Jill Cohen and Marti Dorsey. A well-balanced article that covers history, safety, finding a midwife, labor, complications, the birth, and where to find out more. (30k)

Throwing the baby back into the bathwater - More careful meta-analysis would have demonstrated home birth safety - BMJ - - Science can be a double-edged sword depending on who wields it.

Throwing the baby back into the bathwater - More careful meta-analysis would have demonstrated home birth safety | BMJ - - Science offers a path to the truth, but it can also be a minefield, This article, about a meta-analysis of Home Birth studies, shows how biased selection and manipulation of data can lead to un-warranted conclusions. It's a good example of the kinds of strategies that will be deployed against anypne (In this case, home birth advocates) who dares to challenge the status quo.