Commenting on the study published today (Wednesday, 3rd February 2010) in the British Journal of Psychiatry on pregnant women and the ‘baby brain myth', Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This is useful research that I have no doubt will be interesting to women and health professionals. It is about time that some research lays to rest this notion of pregnant women and the ‘baby brain' myth.

Commenting on the finding on smoking and its affects on the blood pressure of newborns from the Karolinska Institutet, published 25th January 2010 in ‘Hypertension' the Journal of the American Heart Association, Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said:   "These findings support what we know; that smoking during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. The RCM would urge pregnant women who smoke to seek advice and support from their midwife about stopping smoking, for the benefit of their own long-term health. This would also benefit the health of their child."

Women should be allowed to eat and drink what they want during labour, say Cochrane Researchers. The researchers carried out a systematic review of studies examining the traditional practice of restricting food and fluid intake during labour and found no evidence for any risk or benefit for women at low risk of complications.