Baby Center News

Squeezing the last drops of blood from the umbilical cord has been touted to help preterm babies get more of the nutrients they need, but it may be dangerous, a new study finds.

Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding lessen the number of new allergy and asthma cases in children up to the age of 18 years, according to new research.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents not let a baby sleep in rockers, pillows, car seats or any other product that holds an infant at an incline—with their head higher than their feet.

There is a risk of dilution, or contamination with viruses or bacteria, particularly with donor milk obtained online, explained Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, who chairs the AAP's Section on Breastfeeding.

The study of more than 2.5 million children found that more than half of those born prematurely had no major medical concerns in adulthood.

Less than one-third said they only put their babies to sleep on "approved" surfaces, namely, a crib, bassinet or "pack and play." And just 42% kept their babies' sleep area free of blankets, pillows and toys.

The study found that human breast milk inhibits the growth of the harmful bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium perfringens, but neither cow's milk or infant formula had any effect on those bacteria.

In general, the review found, black preterm infants were most vulnerable: Hospitals with a high percentage of black preemies typically had lower-quality care and fewer nurses, versus those with a smaller percentage of black patients.

Metal pieces were found in one lot of this product, which includes at least 23,388 containers.

The results suggest that using early, limited formula may not have a negative impact on infants, but it may change the mom’s attitudes toward breastfeeding, the study’s first author said.

According to CDC data, more than half of all babies born at 23 weeks do not survive

In the study, researchers assessed heart and blood vessel health in postmenopausal women, along with their breastfeeding history.

All pregnant women and new mothers should be assessed for heart disease, according to new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

Among nearly 14,200 newborns studied, 8 had genitals that did not make their gender clear. That's a rate of 1.3 in 1,000 births -- much higher than the one in 4,500 to 5,500 reported in previous studies.

Rates of major birth defects were similar for children of deployed and non-deployed veterans. And there was no difference in major birth defects among children whose mothers were or weren't deployed.

Surgical site infections occurred in 0.75% of the deliveries covered by Medicaid and 0.63% of those covered by private insurance. In other words, women covered by Medicaid had a 1.4-fold higher risk, the researchers reported.

In yet another finding that points out the positives of breastfeeding, scientists report that beneficial fungi and yeasts reside in breast milk.

Among more than 700 infants in seven countries, the researchers didn't find any measurable neurodevelopmental or behavioral problems up to the age of 5.

Researchers found that breast milk from women who pumped tended to have more potentially bad bacteria than milk from women who fed their infants only from the breast.

While previous research linked heat exposure among pregnant women to heart defects in their newborns, the causes remain unclear.

Delaying the first bath provides more initial skin-to-skin time between mother and baby, and preserves smell, which may encourage babies to latch, the study authors said.

Infantile hemangiomas are bright red or bruise-like birthmarks that appear shortly after a baby is born. They're caused by extra blood vessels and appear on up to 5 percent of infants.

The FDA said it has received reports of infants and children suffering serious injuries due to teething jewelry, including one death. In that case, an 18-month-old child was strangled by his teething necklace during a nap.

Infants born addicted to opioids had significantly smaller head circumferences, researchers have found, potentially putting them at higher risk for mental health and developmental problems.

A parent sucking on a pacifier was linked to suppressed levels of an antibody related to allergic responses in their infant, researchers report.