The fine art of making babies

While there is an increased risk and solid evidence that some couples are missing out on life’s most valuable scientific facts, many people are getting their health information from social media. Dr Jeff McMullen writes.

THIS NEW YEAR started with joy for my family with the birth of a healthy grandchild.

With the cry of each newborn child, we renew our sense of hope, wonder, and purpose.

As our world falls apart in many places, and children suffer greatly from war, famine, and natural disasters, of course each of these little voices is a reminder that we are here together, part of the human family. We owe every child the opportunity for health.

Here I share with you what I have compiled from leading experts, including mothers and fathers, on the art of making a healthy baby.

Elizabeth ElliottThe world-renowned Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney and Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW, tells me:

There are so many things that can affect the health of the unborn child, we need to raise awareness with a more holistic approach. First, we must teach women and their male partners that every moment counts, and that everything they do during and even before pregnancy can affect their unborn babies.

We need a healthy woman before we can even consider getting pregnant. This includes avoiding alcohol and drugs, eating well, getting iron and folate, avoiding excessive weight gain and not smoking.

These are actions that are critical to your baby’s health. Folate prevents serious birth defects such as: spina bifida and iron prevent anemia in the mother, and smoking can cause premature birth and low birth weight.

With almost 60% of pregnancies in Australia being unplanned, women and male partners need to think twice when they stop birth control. If they are considering starting a family and want to give their baby a chance at good health, both parents need to work supportively on good health habits, especially avoiding the harm caused by alcohol.

Professor Elliott says:

Alcohol in the woman’s blood passes directly across the placenta to the fetus. It affects the brain, facial development, and organ systems such as the heart, lungs, hearing and vision. However, we should not put all the responsibility on women. There is also a real need to raise awareness that men’s lifestyle behaviors such as excessive alcohol and drug use can affect sperm quality and have an impact on the unborn child.

If you drink alcohol and are sexually active, we recommend using birth control.

Only in the last ten years has a father alcohol before pregnancy (PCA) use may cause changes in male sperm count and ability to penetrate the egg. There may also be changes in sperm DNA that may affect outcomes in the unborn child.

We should listen to the research done by neuroscientist Professor at the University of California, Riverside. Kelly Huffmanindicating that a man’s excessive alcohol consumption may cause epigenetic changes Things that can be passed on to future generations to varying degrees:

‘Our research in mice shows that fathers’ exposure to alcohol before pregnancy can have detrimental effects on the child’s brain and behavioral development.’

Professor, one of Texas A&M University’s leading developmental physiologists Michael GoldingHe recommends that prospective fathers who consistently consume very high levels of alcohol should stay away from alcohol for at least three months before having a child:

‘It is the responsibility of both partners to ensure the best health of their baby.’

Regarding Australia’s drinking culture, Professor Elliott notes:

‘There is a risk that some women will continue to drink during pregnancy, especially if their partners drink heavily. ‘There are also subgroups of young women with high disposable incomes who are ‘keeping up with the boy mentality’ when it comes to alcohol, including women working in urban jobs, universities and residential colleges.’

We should be grateful for the wonderful research and advocacy of Australian women supporting children. This includes the late Dr. Tracey Tsang From the University of Sydney, his groundbreaking publication last year provided his first prediction. prevalence Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the general population of Australia.

study found One in 28 Australians, or approximately one child per classroom, may be living with a potentially preventable but often unrecognized FASD caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Professor Elliot, who is also a key member of the University of Sydney research team, said:

‘For the first time, we estimate the prevalence of FASD in the general Australian population to be approximately 3.6% per year. Let’s say there are around 350,000 Australian live births a year, we’re looking at potentially over 12,000 births a year with this brain injury. ‘The FASD tally is cumulative over time, with certain groups being at higher risk.’

I often encounter the frustration of families living with FASD trying to manage this lifelong condition that benefits from early diagnosis. Both diagnosis and early intervention are often delayed. There is still widespread lack of attention to the fact that FASD is the most common preventable cause of acquired brain injury, neurodevelopmental disability and birth defects in Australia.

Sophie HarringtonCEO of the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (NOFASD) Australia is the mother of a teenager with FASD.

Sophie says:

NOFASD, the national voice of parents, caregivers, and individuals with FASD, has advocated for the need for a national prevalence study for many years.

These new data (on the prevalence of FASD) are invaluable in raising awareness of FASD, its effects on individuals and their families, and the need for greater understanding and support. It will provide more information on public health messages and prevention strategies to raise awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; I wish it had been available to me in the first weeks before my pregnancy was confirmed.

Professor Elliott agrees it is time for nationwide action:

Our finding is a wake-up call. We need more action across multiple sectors – health, education, justice and child protection – to prevent future cases and support people living with FASD.

I am also concerned that approximately 70% of Australian children with FASD are exposed to drugs such as ice, cannabis and nicotine, as well as alcohol, before birth.

There is an unknown potential impact of polysubstance abuse during pregnancy, but we know that cannabis and alcohol, for example, have a synergistic effect.

Even if you are not exposed to alcohol, the use of marijuana or other drugs can harm the unborn child. I repeat, every moment of pregnancy is really important.

Maybe we need to personalize our efforts to improve children’s health?

Thinking about this, I asked my daughter-in-law how she prepared for the marathon required for her healthy pregnancy and birth. “This is essentially a common sense thing.” he replied modestly.

My son added: “We both received top-notch health education in high school.”

I will forever respect the openness of such family discussions and the impressive quality of their teachers’ education on all aspects of health. The risks associated with alcohol or drug use before and during pregnancy were clearly outlined and understood.

When I look back to when my son and daughter were very young, Ken WyattA Noongar man, former Indigenous Health Administrator in both NSW and Western Australia and former Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aged Care, gave me the most surprising scientific incentive for a study. life skills approach.

A study by Wyatt shows that for every additional year of schooling we add to a young girl’s education, we will reduce infant mortality by 7-10%.

While we have been promoting literacy as the key to better health for all children for nearly 25 years, Canada’s brilliant scientist, Dr. Fraser Mustard.

I find myself looking into the eyes of any young person at the appropriate time right now, as if they were my son or daughter. I find myself repeating Mustard’s truths about life:

‘Every additional year ‘The time you spend learning at school can add up to four years to your first baby’s life expectancy.’

Dr Jeff McMullen AM is a journalist, author and filmmaker known for his reporting and advocacy for 60 years. McMullen has served as a foreign correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a correspondent for Four Corners and Sixty Minutes, presenter of ABC Television’s 33-episode Issue Series, Opinion Difference, and director of independent documentaries. He was awarded the United Nations Media Peace Prize for his trilogy of hour-long documentaries about the conflict in Central America.

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