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Obese mothers are risking the health of their babies - they are more likely to have miscarriages and give birth to malformed babies, according to new Australian research. Sydney gynaecologist Andrew Zuschman, who studied the pregnancy outcomes of obese women between.

June 2008 and July 2009, also found that nearly half of overweight women give birth by caesarean section, often weeks before the child is due.One in four babies born to obese women weighed more than 4kg and their weight - and that of their mothers - could cause problems during the birth, according to Zuschman.

Zuschman explained that the shoulders of large babies could get stuck in the birth canal, brining about a dip in the baby''s oxygen levels and leaving them with injuries or nerve problems. "Women in this body mass index category [greater than 30kg/m2] really should be meeting their family doctor before they become pregnant and discussing all of these implications," news.com.au quoted Zuschman, as saying.

The data is based on research carried out during 2008 and 2009.  The organization has framed their conclusions as a call to action for women’s human rights in America.  The revelation that “more than two women die everyday in the USA from complications of pregnancy and childbirth,” with half of those death being preventable if appropriate maternal health care was accessible, demands accountability.  Since there are no federal requirements to report maternal mortality, the actual number of deaths may exceed those counted by double the amount.

What constitutes maternal health?  The World Health Organization defines it as the “health of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period.”  How does America, the number one global spender on health care, measure up against other nations? The latest available statistics come from 2006, when there were 13.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

In an example of a one-on-one matchup, when compared with Germany, the United States racks up figures at four times the German numbers.Within our borders, the news is even more dismal.  Broken down by state, Maine had the best showing at 1.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.  The District of Columbia had the most disconcerting figures: 34.9 per 100,000 live births.  What, as a country, are we doing wrong?

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A report released by assembly health committee in Wales reveals that babies are at a risk from the badly equipped, congested and short-staffed hospitals. The group of AMs discovered that “extreme" stress is being faced by neonatal services as the resources are not sufficient.

The report demands that the administration should take care of the problems faced due to acute shortage of staff and high occupancy rates. Th Spokesperson of assembly Government said that they will reflect on the results of the report and also its proposals.

Darren Millar, Chairperson of the committee, said that it is the right of the babies to get the best possible start in life. Mr. Millar revealed that the increasing birth rate and high rates of survival for premature babies were putting constant pressure on neonatal units.

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The study contrasts with official guidance from the National Institute of health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which does not support the provision of supplements. However, experts claimed that women who do not have enough vitamin D can experience complications in pregnancy which could be life-threatening for a new-born.

It could also lead to the development of diseases such as rickets and other deficiency linked conditions. Dr Elina Hypponen, from the University College London Institute of Child Health, said that providing women with daily supplements would "reduce related serious risks to their babies".

Her report in the British Journal of Nutrition called for a unified approach from health authorities towards supplements and said that vitamin D deficiency is "largely being overlooked by our health professionals". The Department of Health advises pregnant women to ensure they receive 10 micrograms per day of vitamin D, which the researchers claimed cannot be provided by diet and the sun alone.

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Baby bottles containing a chemical that has raised toxicity concerns will be phased out in Australia. The nation's major retail chains have agreed to not introduce new stock of the bottles which contain Bisphenol A (BPA). Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler said the phase out, to begin on July 1, followed rising public concern and a safety review ordered by US health regulators.The Australian Government appreciates there has been a level of public concern relating to BPA in baby bottles and, as such, has worked extensively with retailers to introduce the phase out," Mr Butler said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Food Standards Australia New Zealand has evaluated the safety of BPA and plasticisers in baby bottles and concluded that levels of intake ... are very low and do not pose a risk to babies health. "However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced earlier this year that it is carrying out further research into the risks for babies and infants associated with BPA."

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Babies, just as their adult counterparts should, are encouraged to get lots of exercise. The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to promote baby's movement:

Babies, just as their adult counterparts should, are encouraged to get lots of exercise. The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to promote baby's movement. Allow your baby to spread out and move in an area that's safe. Don't let your baby spend too much time in a car seat, stroller or crib, which limits baby's movement. Give baby plenty of supervised tummy time to prepare for crawling. Help baby get onto his or her hands and knees. Place a toy just out of baby's reach, encouraging baby to figure out how to retrieve it. Promote walking by letting baby hold onto furniture or your hands as baby moves.

In a candid discussion about the decision to use milk formula, deputy editor Kathryn Blundell said she bottle fed her children because "I wanted my body back. (And some wine) …” She added: “I also wanted to give my boobs at least a chance to stay on my chest rather than dangling around my stomach." The article – which appeared under the headline "I formula fed. So what?" – has reignited the often ferocious debate about the choice between breastfeeding or using powdered milk.

It has already prompted a Facebook campaign supported by about 600 users of the social media site, and at least six complaints to the Press Complaints Commission. The Department of Health recommends that babies are fed only breast milk for the first six months of life but many women are unable to do so or opt for formula milk out of choice in the case of an outspoken pro-breastfeeding lobby.

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A study suggests pint-sized convenience foods aimed at babies and toddlers pack a grown-up wallop of sugar and salt and normalize an unhealthy diet from an extremely early age.

Professor Charlene Elliott of the University of Calgary plucked products intended for the very young off supermarket shelves and examined their nutritional makeup.

The study included items such as cereal bars, child-portioned microwave dinners, fruit jelly snacks, and dessert purees for babies. It excluded pure fruit and vegetable purees, as well as formula meant for infants.

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Quiroz was born in California, but her family moved back to their native Mexico when she was 15 days old. Four years ago, she obtained her birth certificate and moved to Tulsa.

She was pregnant with her second child at the time and was having medical difficulties. She called Babyline, which gave her a referral to a perinatal program for low-income families.

"With my (first) two pregnancies, in the first three months the babies were underdeveloping because of my diet," she said. "I was eating a lot of seafood, unpasteurized cheese and drinking coffee. In Mexico, we drink a lot of coffee. I was at the point of losing my first two pregnancies."

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