Non-stick Pans Lower Newborn's Weight

Non-stick chemical surfaces are in the news again; this time for their impact upon infant birth weight. The same coatings that save us minutes of cleanup time in the kitchen can reduce the weight of your baby according to a recent study that tested the blood from 1,400 pregnant women in Denmark and then tracked the outcome of their birth. Although the effect was small, these are the same chemicals—perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)—that have already been clearly linked to cancer and developmental problems in animals tested. In fact, they have been shown to kill pet birds exposed through routine exposure in people’s homes.

A more detailed analysis of birth outcome and exposure to PFOS and PFOA was recently performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Not only did they find a reduction in birth weight, but there was also a reduction of the head circumference in the babies exposed, suggesting an impact upon brain development. The news regarding these chemicals has already convinced the EPA to persuade eight manufacturers of these BioMutagens to voluntarily phase out production by 2015. I suggest that you begin taking simple steps to protect yourself, your baby and the rest of your family now. Here’s how:
• Don’t preheat nonstick pans—temperatures high enough (600 degrees) to release these chemicals can be produced in two to five minutes. Cooking at temperatures below 400 degrees seems to be safe.
• Discard old cookware with flaking surfaces—The Green Guide suggests replacing frequently used nonstick cookware every two years, about the time they begin to degrade even if there’s no evidence of wear.
• Plan your next set of cookware—purchasing cast iron, enameled cast iron or stainless steel will provide more durable and safe cooking surfaces as well as an eco-friendly solution to this problem.
• Keep pet birds out of the kitchen—they are extremely sensitive to these chemicals and can be killed by even a single exposure to these compounds which can easily occur by becoming distracted and overheating a pan.

Breastfeeding Prevents Overfeeding in Newborns

Researchers have just identified one more reason why breast feeding is better than formula. While all babies lose weight during the first few days after birth, a new study published in the Journal of Human Lactation found that exclusively formula-fed newborns lost substantially less weight than breast-fed babies. On the surface, this would seem like a drawback of nursing. In fact, researchers suggest that newborn weight loss is a normal form of self-regulation of infants, and providing formula overrides it, possibly setting up infants for weight gain and obesity later in life.

Newborns mostly lose water weight and meconium as well as a small amount of fat, in the first few days as they learn to regulate their own body temperature. Additionally, the breast milk that they are typically sipping on in the first few days after birth is colostrum, a yellowish, nutrient-dense, but low-calorie substance that new moms produce before their milk comes in. Newborns typically lose 5 to 7 percent of their birth weight in the first week.

If your newborn is in this healthy weight loss range, and the nurses or doctors recommend supplementing with formula to boost your baby’s weight, discuss your concerns about overfeeding. Just like when you’re mother insisted that you “clear your plate,” we’re just now learning that eating more than you need isn’t always a good thing!

Other benefits of breast feeding include:
For the baby:
Lower risk of infections
Lower risk of food allergies and asthma
Higher IQ
Lower risk of obesity and diabetes

For the mom:
Reduced postpartum bleeding
Stress relief
Lower risk of depression
Stronger bones
Greater weight loss

Pregnant Women: Beware Bisphenol A (despite "experts panel's" reassurance)

Once again a panel convened by the government to investigate possible health risks offered reassurance where independent scientists found only concern. The National Toxicology Program (NTP), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, put together a 12 member panel, whose members included scientists tied to plastics manufacturing to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA)—a chemical used in the manufacturing process of plastics. It is estimated that over 6 billion pounds of this hormone-disrupting chemical have already been produced often for use in food packaging. The panel took a reassuring stance, finding that bisphenol A poses minimal risk. The panel’s report did, however, acknowledge “some concern” that prenatal exposure to bisphenol A causes changes in the brain that can create abnormalities in infants and children. By contrast, non-governmental scientists and those not tied directly to plastics manufacturers consistently publish studies and opinions warning about the effects of the BioMutagen.

The Environmental Working Group , comprised of independent scientists, engineers and attorneys, has been warning of the effects of bisphenol A for years, citing nearly 150 research studies that demonstrate links to birth defects, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and prostate and breast cancers. The EWR hired a panel of nine independent experts to analyze last week’s NTP report. Their findings: The NTP report “contains 300 potential errors, 195 incomplete reviews and 48 basic inconsistencies.” In addition, last week the National Institute of Health enlisted an international panel of 38 experts on bisphenol A, which concluded that the chemical presents a clear health risk to people, especially pregnant women. I recommend that you err on the side of caution.

Rather than accept a false sense of security from the recent NTP report, consider taking steps to reduce exposure for you and your developing baby. Begin with the following:
• Don’t heat foods in plastic containers (heating, especially in a microwave oven, increases the release of BPA into your food).
• Stop putting plastics into the dishwasher (harsh detergents increase the release of BPA).
• Only use glass baby bottles.
• Throw out any plastic bottles, cups, or containers that have hairline cracks or are more than a year old.
• Tell manufacturers of products that you purchase for consumption to stop using the plastics that contain the highest amounts of BPA (#3, 6 & 7) by reviewing this chart.

Progesterone in Pregnancy: Useful but not a panacea

The hormone progesterone (named for its ability to “promote gestation”) is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Indeed, research over the last several years suggests that low levels of this hormone may be the most common reason for preterm labor. This has been an important finding, allowing doctors to prescribe progesterone to women at risk of a premature delivery (they’ve already had a preterm birth). This week, the New England Journal of Medicine published two articles that can help physicians more accurately target women that can be helped by progesterone.

One study found that when women with a shorter than normal cervix—the funnel shaped transition between the womb and vagina—were given progesterone starting late in the second trimester, it reduced the risk of a preterm delivery by about 50 percent. The other study found, however, that women carrying twins did not appreciably reduce their risk with this same strategy. That’s not surprising since there is probably a different triggering event in these two scenarios. Women with a shortened cervix may have a uterine muscle that isn’t able to stretch rapidly enough to accommodate the growing baby. Progesterone helps relax the muscle fibers so that they can stretch more easily. In a twin pregnancy however, it is more likely that the placenta is unable to meet the nutritional needs as the babies enter the accelerated growth phase of their third trimester. If you’re pregnant with twins, your best strategy is to promote uterine blood flow through good nutrition and regular exercise as well as good prenatal care to monitor the growth of your babies. For many others, progesterone remains an excellent strategy to reduce the incidence of preterm births.