Even before birth, the environment in the womb shapes health, mental health, and cognitive outcomes for decades to come. A growing body of research backs this up, and some of those studies were highlighted in a column over the weekend in one of the country's largest newspapers.
As the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof writes, "Researchers are finding indications that obesity, diabetes and mental illness among adults are all related in part to what happened in the womb decades earlier.” As evidence mounts about the importance of healthy uterine environments, it makes sense to look at whether our communities and public policies are doing enough to promote maternal and fetal health.
What would a community that takes what the columnist calls "fetal origins” seriously do differently? It would limit environmental toxins known to be harmful to developing fetuses. It would ensure women who are expecting have adequate nutrition and access to quality prenatal care, so they can get ongoing advice and care from a health professional. It would also tackle reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies in teenagers, who as a group are at higher risk for a host of issues that negatively impact their children's health.
At Texans Care for Children, our agenda for the next Texas legislative session includes a focus on giving the youngest Texans a healthy start in life. You can learn more and get involved by visiting our Texas Infant Health Alliance web page.
News and Reports Weekly Round-Up
Child and Maternal Health
10.2.10 New Health Care Law Big Win for Texas Children, Families (Houston Chronicle)
10.2.10 At Risk from the Womb (New York Times opinion)
10.1.10 Austin School District Gets $2.9 Million Sex Education Grant (Austin American-Statesman)
10.1.10 Teen Straight Talk Sex Education Program Loses City of Lubbock Support (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
9.30.10 CDC Chief Picks 6 ‘Winnable Battles' in Health (Associated Press)
9.30.10 Child Nutrition Bill Stalls in House (Associated Press)
More Health News...
Child Protection
10.1.10 Texas Speaker Straus Says Government Alone Can't Care for Foster Children, Commends CASA (PR Newswire)
9.28.10 Study: Foster Children Struggle to Learn, When Bounced from Home to Home (USA Today)
More Protection News...
Family Financial Security Headlines
9.29.210 Texas Prosperity Misses Many (State of the Children blog)
9.28.10 Income Gap Widens: Census Finds Record Gap between Rich and Poor (Associated Press)
More Financial Security News...
Juvenile Justice Headlines
9.30.10 Cuts May Hurt Programs to Keep Troubled Youths Closer to Home, Juvenile Advocates Tell Texas Panel (Dallas Morning News)
More Juvenile Justice News…
Child Mental Wellbeing Headlines
9.28.10 New Resources, Opportunities and Reports in Children's Mental Health (Texas Children's Mental Health Forum)
More Mental Health News...
More About Kids
10.1.10 Campaign for Children, New 501c4, Launches Website (First Focus)
More News about Kids. . .
