Birth Weight Very important
By tony leather, 30th May 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsHealth
One in five of the men born at 5lbs or less stayed single, as opposed to the figure being only one in twenty for those who had weighed in at more than 7lbs
Birth Weight Very important
Did you know that your adult health and intelligence can be foretold from the moment that we get placed on the scales as new born babies? New research indicates that the weight of a newborn can even give clues to possible future romance as well.
It seems that reduced growth in the womb can affect psychological development, as well as physical, so smaller babies could be prone to being more shy and having less self confidence.
A study was conducted – of 3,500 men in Helsinki and a further 1,6oo men in England, all of whom had been born between 1920 and 1930 – by Professor David Phillips of Southampton General Hospital, in the UK. One in five of the men born at 5lbs or less stayed single, as opposed to the figure being only one in twenty for those who had weighed in at more than 7lbs
He said that
“We found direct links between the rate that a baby grows in the womb and their marital status in later life. Smaller babies are under nourished, and have to adapt to survive. This lack of proper nourishment has a long-term effect on the physical and mental health, and may even influence the likelihood of having long lasting relationships.”
Birth Weight Two
According to the Southampton research, factors during pregnancy are thought to influence brain chemistry and hormonal developments that determine whether a baby will have a happy or sad personality. It seems that heavier babies – 8lbs 12oz upwards - are more likely to be bright pupils at school, and develop into brainy adults.
Those born under 5lbs 5oz in weight are twice as likely to develop diabetes, three times more likely to die from bronchitis, or to suffer from heart disease. Professor Phillips says that “ Babies born this small have had to compensate for the lack of vital nutrients in the womb, at the cost to themselves of a long term deficit in health.”
These tiny tots are far more prone to illness in later life, possibly because their insufficient food supplies during pregnancy lead them to produce excess levels of the stress hormone, Cortisol, while their bodies are developing, before birth.
Average birth weights in the developed world are around 7lbs 8oz for girls, and slightly more for boys, which is a very happy medium, according to researchers. Don’t imagine, however, that the news for small babies is all negative. They are less likely to develop asthma, and less prone to allergies.
Birth Weight Three
Unlike their heavier counterparts, small babies are also far less likely to have weight problems in later life. Mothers to be can help by ensuring that they eat well during pregnancy, and they avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Avoiding stress is also good for the developing child, and exercise also helps, though of the not too strenuous variety.
Professor Phillips says “ The risks of health problems do reduce, the heavier the baby is at birth. In general, the bigger the baby you were, the better your health outlook in later life.”
Professor Phillips says “ The risks of health problems do reduce, the heavier the baby is at birth. In general, the bigger the baby you were, the better your health outlook in later life.”
Food for thought, don’t you think? In some respects – however painful the labour – you might just want your own baby to be a BIG boy or girl. The chances are that you’d be blessed with a healthy and brainy child, and what more could you ask? Size does matter when you’re born, much more than you might ever have imagined
Food for thought, don’t you think? In some respects – however painful the labour – you might just want your own baby to be a BIG boy or girl. The chances are that you’d be blessed with a healthy and brainy child, and what more could you ask? Size does matter when you’re born, much more than you might ever have imagined
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