Informed Choice News

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.

In the second part of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Podcast; we hear from a mother who talks about how her experience of Supervision of Midwifery helped her to achieve the birth experience that she wanted.

A number of newspaper articles have today reported on a Norwegian study which has found an association between higher levels of male hormones in pregnancy and the ability to breastfeed after birth.

Commenting on the Office of National Statistics' release of homebirth figures today (8 December 2009), Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "The RCM wants women to have a genuine choice of homebirth. A recent survey with RCM and Netmums, the online parenting website, of 3,508 mothers was encouraging and showed that 68 per cent of the women surveyed had a choice about where to have their babies and 55 per cent of those women were offered a home birth.

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Dr Michel Odent, the French obstetrician who introduced birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms to Europe's hospitals, will be visiting Bristol this December. He'll be speaking with health professionals and parents to give his recommendations on labour. The controversial author, whose views on men in the birthing room featured in last week's national press, has over 40 years experience, working in Europe and across the globe. Michel Odent will be joined by his colleague, 'Doula of the Year' nominee Lilianna Lammers.

This year's National Stress Awareness Day (NSAD), organised annually by the International Stress Management Association, will be held on Wednesday 4th November 2009. NSAD, now in its 11th year, aims to help people by highlighting the many coping strategies and sources of help available to people who want to reduce the harmful effects of stress in their lives.

Need2Know would like to announce the publication of 'Pregnancy: Older Women - An Essential Guide'. The role of women in western society has changed dramatically, but basic biology has not. Eight times as many women are waiting to start a family until after the age of 35 than in 1970. However, reports from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists warn that women who wait this long face higher risks.