Elaine Smith MSP lodged a motion in Scottish Parliament about National Breastfeeding Awareness Week which takes place across the UK from 11 to 17th May. The text of the motion is below.
That the Parliament welcomes National Breastfeeding Awareness Week which takes place from 11 to 17 May 2008; acknowledges the importance of the week in raising awareness of, and support for, breastfeeding; further acknowledges the extent of the challenges faced in Scotland in facilitating a cultural shift in favour of breastfeeding and securing improvements in rates of uptake and duration; notes the findings of recent research in Belarus which suggests that breastfed babies tend to have higher IQ; further notes with interest the views of health visiting experts in Leeds which indicate that a woman’s choice to start and sustain breastfeeding is highly influenced by the support of her partner; considers that more work must be done at a national level to promote support for breastfeeding among men and to challenge negative attitudes where required; believes that more general information and assistance is required to promote breastfeeding as an important public health priority, and calls on the Scottish Executive to promote material aimed specifically at men to act as a mechanism for discussion to ensure that men are made aware of the advantages of breastfeeding and encouraged to offer support to partners.
May 9, 2008
Susan Kramer MP tabled EDM 1524 in light of news from the National Toxicology Program in the US that exposure to low levels of Bisphenol A ‘can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’. The text of the EDM is below:
That this House notes that Bisphenol A, or BPA, a monomer used to make polycarbonate and expoxy resins, has been found to leak from the plastic used in many baby feeding bottles, especially when the bottles are heated or are scratched through repeated washing; notes that the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health, found that, based on animal experiments, exposure to low levels of BPA `can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty’; further notes that these products are being withdrawn in Canada as a precautionary measure; commends the decision by Asda and other UK retailers to produce BPA-free bottles; joins the National Childbirth Trust in calling for the clear compositional labelling of plastic baby feeding bottles with Bisphenol A so that parents can make an informed choice; and calls on the Food Standards Agency to urgently review the use of BPA in baby bottles in light of the new evidence
May 9, 2008
The main finding of the report, which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is that stillbirth rates are not declining. Factors such as social deprivation, obesity and the mother’s age are blamed. In 2006 the stillbirth rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 5.3 per 1,000 total births, compared to 5.4 per 1,000 in 2000.
However, the report did find that there has been a reduction in the number of babies dying in the month after birth. These neonatal deaths went from 3.9 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 3.4 per 1,000 in 2006.
The report also found that the number of babies dying in the neonatal period from twin pregnancies has also fallen, from 22.3 per 1,000 births in 2000 to 19.3 per 1,000 births in 2006.
To view the full report online report, please go to www.cemach.org.uk.
May 9, 2008
Children’s Ministers Ed Balls and Beverley Hughes celebrated the news that Labour’s target for 2,500 Children’s Centres to be open by the start of this month had been exceeded.
Visiting a Sure Start Children’s Centre in Stockwell, south London they revealed that 2,906 Children’s Centres were opened across England by 31 March 2008 - beating the 2,500 target.
Sure Start Children’s Centres are a one-stop shop for families and children under five. They offer easy access to a range of services including early years learning, childcare, family health services, and advice and support for parents. A recent independent evaluation report found that Sure Start was having a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
April 25, 2008
First Minister, Rhodri Morgan has responded to an oral question on the eradication of child poverty in Wales by Christine Chapman. He noted the effect of child poverty on life chances in terms of its impact on the health of children and their educational aspirations. He emphasized the need for good, up-to-date, accurate figures and announced the production of a child poverty and child wellbeing monitor. Publication of the report, which will report on different aspects of child wellbeing including child poverty in Wales, is likely to start in September this year.
April 11, 2008
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) launched a new Code for the UK’s 674,000 nurses and midwives to mark World Health Day. The updated version of the Code Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives comes into effect on 1 May 2008.
The Code, which was launched with events held in Edinburgh, Belfast, Glamorgan and London, is the foundation of good nursing and midwifery practice and a key tool in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public. It has been updated to meet the ever changing requirements of today’s nurses and midwives and aims to clarify expectations; setting out for nurses and midwives what is expected of them as professionals, and showing members of the public what standard of care they can expect to receive. The amendments made were agreed upon after an extensive review process, including consultation with nurses, midwives and members of the public.
Rather than setting out pages of rules, which would be unsuitable considering the varied roles and individual patient needs, the pocket-sized Code provides a broad set of principles that nurses and midwives can apply to their own area of practise and the diverse environments in which patients receive care
April 11, 2008
The Health and Social Care Bill had its second reading debate in the House of Lords this week. The Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds welcomed the health in pregnancy grant but called for the grant to be based on the number of children rather than on the pregnancy itself. He also raised concern that the grant remains a universal grant, as it is now, throughout its course through Parliament.
April 4, 2008
The NICE guidance advises those who work with pregnant women and mothers on how to help them make decisions about their diet and lifestyle that will keep them healthy and give their babies the best start in life. NICE calls for national consistency in the quality and quantity of support available to help address disparities in the nutrition of mothers and young children from low-income and other disadvantaged groups compared with the general population.
The public health guidance is based on evidence showing how all those who work with families can support mothers in changing their own and their child’s eating habits, thus increasing their chances of a healthy life. It makes recommendations relevant from conception to five years of age. Advice to health professionals includes; making people aware of the Healthy Start Scheme; providing practical and tailored advice on healthy eating through pregnancy and in the early years; advising on vitamin supplements and; setting up easily accessible breastfeeding peer support programmes
March 28, 2008
NICE and the National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health have issued guidance which provides clear and consistent advice to doctors and midwives on how to help women with diabetes manage their condition when they are preparing to conceive, after they have given birth and in the cycle towards their next pregnancy
The guideline recommends that women with pre-existing diabetes should access specialist services prior to conception and be given advice on the importance of planning their pregnancy. It also highlights the importance of providing information to women on staying healthy during pregnancy such as by maintaining proper glycaemic control and taking folic acid to help minimize the risks.
March 28, 2008
