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The number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is not decreasing, according to a 15-year study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately one in eight women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant, the study says.

The drinking patterns persisted despite repeated warnings from surgeons general about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant. The surgeons general have told pregnant women, and women who may become pregnant, to abstain from alcohol consumption in order to eliminate the chance of giving birth to a baby with alcohol-related birth defects.

The CDC analysis, as well as a study also published by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shows that far too many women use substances (especially alcohol) during their pregnancies. The CDC study, "Alcohol Use Among Women of Childbearing Age, United States, 1991-2005," is in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The CDC study also found that one of every 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking each year during the 15 years. "Exposure to alcohol can cause lifelong physical and mental disabilities that are preventable by avoiding alcoholic drinks while pregnant," says Edwin Trevathan, director of the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. "All women should know that there is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink or safe time to drink it during pregnancy. We encourage all women to pay attention to the surgeon general warnings."

The study found that pregnant women most likely to report any alcohol use were 35-44 years of age (17.7 percent), college graduates (14.4 percent), employed (13.7 percent), and unmarried (13.4 percent). Pregnant women who binge drink were more likely to be employed and unmarried than were pregnant women who did not binge drink. This study did not examine the reasons why women are still drinking while pregnant.

Any alcohol use was defined as at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage in the past 30 days. Binge drinking was defined as having five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past 30 days.

"By screening and advising women about the risks of drinking while pregnant, health care providers can play a key role in reducing rates of fetal alcohol syndrome," says Clark Denny, a CDC epidemiologist and primary author of the study. "This study revealed that there is still a great need for health care professionals to routinely ask all women who are pregnant or at risk of being pregnant about their alcohol consumption."

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/fasd.

Also learn more by reading the following articles:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Why Moms-to-be Shouldn't Even Have "Just One"

Non-alcoholic Drinks for Pregnancy: Spirits of the Season for Mom-to-be

Conquering Addictions: Breaking Bad Habits for a Healthy Pregnancy

(6-30-09)

Elizabeth Castro Wilson, who on March 18, 1985, became the first "IVF baby" born in the East San Francisco Bay Area, joined two other "pioneer IVF babies" in a reunion with the doctors who helped create them, when the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area (RSC) celebrated its 25th anniversary as one of the nation's first private IVF clinics.

Wilson, now 24, lives in Prescott, Ariz., and is a medical assistant, pre-med student and mother of two. At the reunion she will meet two others whose births made news: Travis McCullar, 22, the second baby in the nation born from a frozen embryo (October 26, 1986), and Brian Strickland, 24, the second IVF baby born in Contra Costa County (May 6, 1985).

McCullar's birth was so notable that he was featured in USA Today as "A month-old miracle of science" and on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle. "In those days I was involved in live televised debates with medical ethicists on the news of their births," says RSC surgical and research director Dr. Donald I. Galen, the infertility pioneer who treated the McCullars and Stricklands.

(6-30-09)

A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University researchers reports that amniotic fluid surrounding Down syndrome fetuses shows oxidative stress, a condition that could harm fetal cells and play a role in affected individuals. The results demonstrate secondary adverse consequences of Down syndrome and suggest potential prenatal therapies.

Dr. Diana Bianchi, Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, and Dr. Donna Slonim, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Tufts University, conducted an analysis of the human genome from cell-free fetal messenger RNA in amniotic fluid surrounding fetuses. Their team identified molecular and biochemical pathway changes that were evident in the Down syndrome fetuses as compared to normal fetuses as early as the fourth month of pregnancy.

Down syndrome occurs when an individual has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. The longstanding assumption has been that proteins produced by the additional copy of chromosome 21 were almost exclusively responsible for the atypical development and function associated with the syndrome. A surprising aspect of the findings was that the molecular abnormalities observed were predominantly produced by genes on the other chromosomes.

As a next step, researchers are examining amniotic cells to determine if they show similar genomic profiles to the cell-free material in the fluid. If that is the case, they will begin to look at the effectiveness of anti-oxidant compounds as potential treatment in vitro.

"While more research is needed, this study illuminates a possible pathway to treating some aspects of Down syndrome in the womb," Dr. Bianchi says. "While we do not know the extent to which the developing fetus is affected by oxidative stress, we know this abnormal environment is not conducive to optimal development."

For more information, visit www.tufts-nemc.org or www.pnas.org.

(6-30-09)

CVS Caremark has announced it has been named one of Conceive Magazine's 50 Best Companies in the country for offering superior family-building benefits, such as health insurance coverage for fertility diagnosis and treatment, financial assistance for adoptions and paid and unpaid leave for birth and adoptions. CVS Caremark is featured as one of the 50 Best Companies in the May/June 2009 issue of Conceive, the third annual special feature focused on the employers that offer the best benefits for women and men hoping to be parents.

"The 50 Best Companies issue is an important one that helps raise awareness of the importance of benefits for infertility and adoption for today's employees and employers," says Kim Hahn, founder of Conceive Magazine. "CVS Caremark understands that even in the current economic climate, when many companies are cutting back and reducing costs, offering premier fertility- and adoption-friendly benefits is a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining the best employees."

(6-30-09)

Giving birth to a low birth weight baby may be reduced by taking multivitamins vs. supplements of iron and folic acid, as it's recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 women and their infants. They found that taking a multivitamin, which already contains iron and folic acid, reduced the risk of having a low birth weight baby by 17 percent. The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

(6-23-09)

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association honored Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York) with The 2009 Friends of RESOLVE Award at their Annual Night of Hope Fundraiser, held at Tavern on the Green. This awards program recognizes individuals and practices who have been devoted to assisting women and men struggling with infertility. This Night of Hope supports RESOLVE in helping the 7.3 million people in the United States build a family through increased public education, advocacy and support.

"RMA of New York is truly honored to be awarded The 2009 Friends of RESOLVE Award," says Dr. Alan Copperman, co-director of RMA of New York and director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Mount Sinai Medical Center. "Our mission of providing patients with up to date, accurate information about their diagnosis and treatment options in a caring, compassionate manner is very much in synch with RESOLVE's core goals. RESOLVE's support services have been indispensable to many of our patients and RMA of New York pledges to continue to work closely with RESOLVE to help individuals and couples build families."

"RESOLVE congratulates RMA of New York and all the 2009 Night of Hope Award recipients," says Barbara Collura, executive director of RESOLVE. "We are honored as a patient advocacy group to be able to bring the family building community together to celebrate all our achievements."

Since RESOLVE's inception in 1974, RESOLVE has brought the disease of infertility to the forefront of our nation's attention. The Night of Hope celebration is the industry's premier event saluting the achievements of the entire family building community. RESOLVE is proud to represent the infertility community and to work along-side all those supporting the women and men diagnosed with infertility.

For more information, visit www.rmany.com.

(6-16-09)

Celebrity volunteers who led more than one million people in March for Babies this spring are urging the public to continue to help the March of Dimes raise urgently needed funds for programs that help moms and babies.

"As a mom who had a premature child, I know firsthand the toll that premature birth can take," says Sherri Shepherd, co-host of The View and National Spokesperson and California Chapter March for Babies Chair. "Give hope to babies and families by joining me in supporting the March of Dimes." Shepherd led the walk in Los Angeles on April 25, 2009.

The March for Babies raises funds to support research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten babies and community-based programs that bring comfort and information to families whose babies were born sick or prematurely.

The March of Dimes is making a special effort now to raise another $10 million so that all of the lifesaving research grants recently approved by an expert committee can be funded. Shepherd, along with fellow celebrity volunteers, is urging the public to visit marchforbabies.org to make a donation today.

Joining Sherri Shepherd in Los Angeles were actress Camille Winbush, of the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, the newest March of Dimes Team Youth volunteer and longtime local volunteer and Latina superstar Dayanara Torres. This year, Nancy O'Dell, co-host of Access Hollywood, and a group of Hollywood Moms appeared in a public service ad to support March of Dimes March for Babies.

Kicking off the Miami walk on April 25 was singer, actress and mother Jennifer Lopez, Honorary Chairperson of March for Babies. Lopez also joined the March of Dimes and sanofi pasteur in a national public awareness campaign to help protect the health and wellness of adults and infants called "Sounds of Pertussis."

Celebrities also joined the Nashville, Tenn., March for Babies event on April 19 with Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson and Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman inspiring walkers and volunteers. Clarkson, March of Dimes National Team Youth Ambassador, walked with her own team as part of her ongoing support of the foundation. Kidman, a first-time volunteer, spoke from the stage to thank all walkers and families for their dedication to the mission of the March of Dimes.

In New York City, NY Giants Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning walked on April 26 along with Division leaders. Manning is the New York City Celebrity Honorary Chair and helped generate more than $100,000 in new sponsorship for March for Babies.

Former Washington Redskins player Brian Mitchell and Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Strug walked in Washington, D.C., on April 26. Mitchell, a March of Dimes national celebrity volunteer, served as the National Capital Area's Honorary Celebrity Chair for March for Babies this year. Strug has been active with year-round March of Dimes National Team Youth volunteer initiatives, as well as March of Dimes events in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

In Baltimore, Greg Gumbel, CBS sportscaster and Honorary March of Dimes Trustee, spent his birthday, May 3, walking alongside March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer Howse. The Hall Family, March of Dimes 2009 National Ambassador Family, helped kick off the event, along with many dedicated volunteers.

The Boston March for Babies on May 9 got a boost from the participation of New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney and Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

Join these dedicated celebrities and walkers by getting involved in the March for Babies and other upcoming March of Dimes fundraising events. For more information, visit www.MarchForBabies.org.

(6-16-09)

Before enjoying the outdoors, don't forget to apply the sunscreen. "If used properly, sunblock is very effective at preventing the harmful effects of the sun that may lead to both skin cancer and accelerated aging," says Dr. Sarah Weitzul, assistant professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Ultraviolet light, made up of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) wavelengths, has been shown to cause mutations that lead to cancer in skin cells. Such mutations and other effects can be prevented by the use of sunblock."

To get the most out of sunscreen, Dr. Weitzul suggests the following:

Apply liberally at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun for full absorption into the skin. If applied too thin, the protective factor can be reduced dramatically.

Re-apply after immersion in water, sweating, contact with clothes or after every three hours.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers both UVA and UVB. Look for products that contain avobenzone (Parsol 1789), zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Use daily. Dr. Weitzul tells her patients to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 if they are going to be out in the sun for 15 minutes or less. For prolonged exposure, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is recommended.

(6-09-09)

With a record number of overweight and obese American women getting pregnant, the health stakes of gaining too much weight during pregnancy for both children and mothers are getting increasingly higher, according to a new study by Cornell University.

Kathleen Rasmussen, Cornell professor of nutritional sciences, led the 22-month-long study to review and update the 1990 Institute of Medicine recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy. The study found that up to 73 percent of U.S. women fail to gain an amount of weight within the recommended guidelines, with most overweight women gaining too much. Yet a high proportion of women get little or no advice on how much weight to gain during pregnancy.

A report that Rasmussen has co-authored for the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council spells out the updated guidelines. They stress the need for all obese and overweight women to be counseled before pregnancy to learn how to reach a healthy weight before conception. "This may reduce their risk during pregnancy and normalize infant birth weight as well as improve their long-term health," Rasmussen says.

The report also stresses that all women should be counseled about their weight during and after pregnancy. Implementing these counseling guidelines, she says, "would represent a radical change in the care provided to women of childbearing age."

According to the report, women who gain more weight than is recommended are at greater risk for a host of pregnancy-associated health problems, including excessive postpartum weight retention and possibly subsequent maternal obesity, which are linked to yet more health problems.

The new federal guidelines remain the same for weight gain during pregnancy for underweight, normal weight and overweight women, as defined by body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on the relationship of weight to height. However, the BMI cutoffs to define these groupings have changed. In the past, normal was defined with a BMI of 19.8 to 26; the new guidelines for normal women are stricter at 18.5 to 24.9. The guidelines recommend that underweight women (BMI of less than 18.5) gain 28 to 40 pounds, normal-weight women 15 to 25 pounds and overweight women (BMI of 25 to 29.9) 15 to 25 pounds. But obese women, those with BMIs greater than 30, should gain only 11 to 20 pounds; this guideline establishes a new upper limit for this group of women. The new guidelines also include a relatively narrow range of recommended gain for obese women.

Rasmussen stresses that even though the new weight guidelines may not be significantly different than the Institute of Medicine's 1990 guidelines, "they are derived from a completely different process that involved assessment of the risk -- not just to infants -- but to both mothers and their infants."

For more information, visit www.national-academies.org.

(6-09-09)

Emmy Award-winning actress Christina Applegate, star of ABC's hit sitcom Samantha Who?, returns as the 2009 ambassador for Lee National Denim Day, one of the country's largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer, benefiting the Women's Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).

Applegate, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2008, will appear in a new public service campaign that encourages people to wear their jeans on Friday, October 2, in exchange for a $5 donation to support crucial breast cancer research being funded by the Women's Cancer Programs. She is the first ambassador to return for a second time and the first to be a breast cancer survivor.

"Lee National Denim Day is such an effective grassroots campaign and its importance has become even more real to me in this past year," says Applegate. "By joining together on October 2, we can raise millions to support breast cancer research. It's so simple and so powerful. I truly believe that events like this help save lives."

Registration is now open and people nationwide can sign up for Denim Day 2009. Groups and individuals can register by visiting www.denimday.com or by calling 1-800-521-5533 to receive a comprehensive participation kit, which includes educational materials about breast cancer and supplies for easy coordination. As an added incentive, anyone who signs up by May 21 will be entered to win one of 100 free Denim Day tote bags.

The money raised through the campaign will help the Women's Cancer Programs of EIF to do the following:

Support Lee Laboratories nationwide, which work to find more effective, less toxic treatments for breast cancer and increase patient access to some of the most significant clinical trials in the nation.

Fund EIF's Breast Biomarker Discovery Project, a multi-year effort led by world-class scientists to develop a blood test for earlier detection of breast cancer.

Create resources with the National Breast Cancer Coalition to offer individuals with breast cancer evidence-based information, and train advocates nationwide.

And this year, funds will also support Applegate's newly launched foundation Right Action for Women. The foundation educates women about what it means to be at "high risk" for breast cancer and encourage them to talk to their doctors about appropriate screening. Right Action for Women will also provide aid to individuals who are at increased risk for breast cancer and do not have insurance or the financial flexibility to cover the high costs associated with breast screenings.

"We've watched Christina carry herself with such grace over the past year and we couldn't be happier to have her join us again for Lee National Denim Day," says Liz Cahill, VP of Marketing and Communications for Lee Jeans. "Early detection, along with the translational research being conducted through our Lee Labs, will help us make significant strides in the fight against breast cancer. And through our work with NBCC, we want to arm people with the facts to make informed decisions about how to deal with a diagnosis."

Since its inception in 1996, the program has raised more than $75 million to fight breast cancer. (6-09-09)