Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Decrease in Average Birth Weight in U.S.

A new study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that birth weight in the United States may be declining after being on the rise for almost fifty years. For the study, Sara Donohue of Boston University, along with colleagues, looked at birth records for just about 37 million babies. They found that from 1990 to 2005, birth weight fell by an average of 1.83 ounces.


The research team also looked at birth weights for roughly half a million infants born to young mothers at low risk of complications to make sure the decrease was not related to lifestyle or maternal age. Birth weights in these cases had an even greater decrease, dropping about 2.79 ounces.


Newborns weighing less than 5.5 pounds experience a higher risk of certain problems, including having low blood sugar, reduced body temperatures and an increased amount of red blood cells, which can cause clots. Larger infants weighing more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces may result in a more difficult delivery, possibly causing harm to the baby if proper precautions are not taken.


If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury lawyers will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Queens birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.


Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

CDC: 1 in 110 8-year-olds had autism in 2006

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report that determined that 1 in 110 eight year olds had autism in 2006 in the U.S., an increase of 57% from previously determined. Data collected in 2002 found that 1 in 150 eight year old children were diagnosed with autism. The prevalence of autism is still much higher in boys than in girls, with 1 in 70 boys and only 1 in 315 girls being diagnosed.


For the study, the CDC looked at physician and school records of children with autism from 11 sites included in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Each site was in a different state, with 10 of the 11 sites having been used for the data collected by the CDC in 2002. The data collected in 2006 was then compared with that from 2002, finding a 57% increase in the prevalence of autism. Of the 10 sites represented in both reports, 9 had an increase in the number of children with autism.


Although some experts believe that overdiagnosis of autism is taking place throughout the country, this increase is still very significant. If your child’s autism may have been caused by obstetrical negligence during pregnancy, labor and delivery, please call or e-mail us today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.


Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit us online, www.ask4sam.net