A Week in the News - 31st January 2014

Another week has past, and now we're almost in February - it won't be long until Christmas again! This week we've seen Amanda Knox convicted again for murder, and the continued problems of flooding in the West Country. Whilst the government have now stepped in, I can only begin to imagine how difficult it is to live when you're house is essentially turned into an island. Today is also transfer deadline day, but I'm sure this isn't high in many people's agenda! We move on to the news that caught our eye this week though, and there are some interesting pieces.

Multivitamins, Fatty Foods and Smoking

In an article on the Daily Mail there is a suggestion that taking multivitamins in the six weeks before conception could leave to increase risk in miscarriage. In the world that we live in, tablets like multivitamins are becoming far more popular and stories like this may be of interest to some. In fact the study shows that you may be 32% more likely to miscarry if you take multivitamins. That being said, this clearly needs more research, as the correlation could be completely inaccurate. As always you should consult your GP and look for their advice when it comes to taking different vitamins through your pregnancy.

The BBC featured a story which looks at how a high fat diet during pregnancy could affect your baby's brain. The study looked at mice and found that mothers who had a high fat diet passed on signals into their baby which caused them to look for food in higher fats throughout their lives. They are unsure whether or not this might be similar in humans, but believe it could be the case. It could be used to explain health problems that are passed onto the next generation, but also give people a chance to change their diet and help their children. Is this something that would influence you?

A story in the Independent looked at a bill which went to the House of Lords this week asking for smoking in cars with children to be banned. Smoking in a metal box with children in shouldn't be high on many people's priorities, so why people do it in the first place is beyond me. Whether we need a law to enforce this I'm not sure, surely it's just common sense?

Working Mums, Midwives and Alcohol

Are you a guilty working mum? A report in The Telegraph covers a theory that 81% of mums who return to work feel guilty for leaving their child in the care of others. Is this something you felt when you went back to work after giving birth? When it came to Dads only 39% of them felt guilty, which is quite a big difference, but perhaps this reflects the attitude of our society rather than anything else. Although another surprise might be that 22% of men said they'd rather stay at home than return to work, does this sound familiar to you?

MPs have been concerned that a shortage of midwives is affecting care. Today's report in The Guardian reveals that there a big concerns over infant mortality rates in England due to lack of appropriate care. This is something that we've covered before on the blog, and it seems that perhaps it is only now that MPs are beginning to listen. Hopefully we will see a change, and the care that every new mum and baby is to a standard which they should have.

Finally this week a blog on the Telegraph caught our eye - did you drink through your pregnancy? This mum did, and is wondering whether or not she should have done. What is your opinion on drinking during pregnancy?

We'll see you next week, don't forget to follow us - @MumNetwork.

About the author

James Brighton

Since 2011 James has been in charge of working with and organising all our writers to put together Pregnancy.co.uk and Babies.co.uk. Anna, his girlfriend, knows he will be an encyclopaedia of knowledge if she ever falls pregnant!

Click here to read my full biography.

share this page with friends and family

Tweet