News around Pregnancy
Food Standards Agency (FSA) reassesses caffeine guidance for pregnant women. The FSA stated that it was advising mothers to limit caffeine intake to 200mg per day instead of the previous guidance set in 2001 of 300 mg per day. This is based on new research linking higher caffeine intakes to lower birth weight babies. Caffeine is found naturally in tea, coffee and chocolate, but is also added to some soft or ‘energy’ drinks. The FSA have stated that approximately 200 mg of caffeine can be obtained from:
- 2 mugs of instant coffee (about 100 mg of caffeine per mug)
- 1 mug of filter coffee (about 140 mg)
- 2 mugs of tea (about 75 mg per mug)
- 5 cans cola (up to 40 mg in each can)
- 4 (50 g) bars of plain chocolate (up to 50 mg in each bar)
The above figures are rough estimates, and the main point the FSA is making is that there is no need to cut out caffeine altogether during pregnancy, but to consume it in moderation and to be aware of the 200 mg caffeine limit. Further information about caffeine and other foods to avoid during pregnancy can be viewed here.
British Dietetics Association (BDA) issued a press release on 25 March 2009 supporting the supplementary measures to tell mums-to-be about folic acid and warns that women in the UK are still at risk of neural tube defect (NTD) affected pregnancies. The BDA is about to launch a new fact sheet on diet and pregnancy which will be available at www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/index.html. Useful fact sheets on other dietary topics can also be obtained from this website.
In January 2009 the Charity Tommy’s opened the UK’s first placenta clinic at a research centre in Manchester, which aims to treat local women with placenta complications. The placenta is a baby’s life support machine and is crucial to a successful pregnancy and delivery. When things go wrong with the placenta many problems can result, including miscarriage. For further information on this and other recent achievements, visit Tommy’s Charity website at www.tommys.org/Page.aspx?pid=191
News around breastfeeding and weaning
Mum’s who breastfeed may be less likely to develop heart attacks and strokes. According to Dr Schwarz from the University of Pittsburgh, benefits in mothers who breastfeed have been observed during their research. The study looked at data from 139,681 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative, all of whom had given birth. They found those who had breastfed for more than a year were 10% less likely to develop heart attacks, heart disease or stroke compared to those who had never breastfed. Moreover, the benefits, which include reduced risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are reported to be long term e.g. an average of 35 years, as this is how long it had been since many of the women had last breastfed. The Study was published in the May 2009 issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology volume 113(5). For further information, visit BBC news at news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8008678.stm
National breastfeeding awareness week was held on 10-16th May 2009 with the theme ‘Breastfeeding: every day makes a difference to your baby’. The underlying belief behind the event is that mothers are more likely to breastfeed for longer if they receive help and support (whether that be from family, a friend, or a healthcare professional), which in turn has important health benefits for their child. The Department of Health has developed a range of new resources that supported the week and the National Breastfeeding Helpline. www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=2&n2
Breastfeeding may be protected by equity bill. On 27th April 2009, the National Childbirth Trust – a parenting charity, together with other breastfeeding supporter organisations submitted an equity bill to parliament which if passed, means it will be unlawful to force breastfeeding mothers and babies out of coffee shops, restaurants and public transport in England, Wales and Scotland. Further information can be found at: www.nct.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/view/143
Can the timing of introducing lumpy foods to infants influence diet in later life? The paediatric group of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) position paper on weaning infants onto solid foods was updated in March 2009. The BDA position statement refers to a study by Coulthard and colleagues based on the ALSPAC cohort (a large UK population based longitudinal study) which shows that infants not offered lumpy foods by nine months of age are more likely to be fussy eaters at an older age e.g. at seven years. Therefore, the introduction of lumpy foods is crucial to an infants subsequent acceptance of a wide variety of foods, and in this study, delayed introduction led to long term feeding problems and the reduced consumption of important food groups such as fruit and vegetables.
The ALSPAC study had previously reported that delayed introduction of lumpy foods leads to feeding difficulties at 15 months, but this new research is showing these effects to be longer lasting and even observed at seven years of age. The WHO recommendation is for lumpy solid foods to be introduced to the diet between the ages of six and nine months. During weaning, it is important for infants to be exposed to variety of tastes and textures, which assist with the long-term development of food preferences and dietary variety.
General News
New UK-WHO growth charts for children aged 0-4 years of age were launched during National Breastfeeding week (10-16 May 2009) and all babies born during this week and beyond are now plotted using these new charts. The new growth charts are based on measurements of approximately 8,500 globally breastfed children, and include an adult height predictor as well as a chart for specifically monitoring weight of preterm infants. The Department of Health, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the BDA offer materials to help healthcare professionals use the new growth charts. These downloadable materials will include powerpoint presentations, video clips, activity sheets and guidance notes. For further information, visit www.rcpch.ac.uk/Research/UK-WHO-Growth-Charts
For further information on the new UK-WHO growth charts, plus a video from the child growth foundation on how to use them, click here
Department of Health
Healthy start: a welfare food scheme since 2005 has increased the value of its vouchers to £3.10 from 6th April 2009 (an initial voucher worth £2.80 was distributed). These vouchers are aimed at helping low income families and can be spent on cow’s milk, infant formula, fresh fruit, and vegetables for children or pregnant women. Further information can be found at: www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Tackling inequalities from the ground up (Department of Health)
As of 22 April 2009, a new support team has been launched by the Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, to tackle infant mortality. The aim is to assist local health teams deal with maternal obesity, smoking, teenage pregnancy, housing and child poverty – all known to influence an infant’s life expectancy. This new national support team will visit 43 areas with the highest rate of infant mortality and deliver education and training programmes. For further information visit the Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_098440