BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) — U.S. researchers found that magnesium sulfate injected into pregnant women can pretect premature babies from cerebral palsy by the rate of 50 percent, media reported Friday.

Researchers gave either magnesium sulfate, popularly known as Epsom salts, or a placebo to 2,241 women going into early labor or with ruptured membranes. The women’s pregnancies were at between 24 to 31 weeks — a full-term pregnancy goes 40 weeks.

Babies born as prematurely as that can suffer brain damage and other problems including cerebral palsy, a range of conditions that affect control of movement and posture.

The magnesium did not prevent any deaths among the premature babies. But 4.2 percent of the babies born to women given magnesium developed cerebral palsy, versus 7.3 percent of those born to women who got the placebo.

“It is not clear how the magnesium works but it may stabilize the blood vessels, prevent the damage caused by having oxygen cut off and also help prevent immune system damage to the brain,”said Dr. John Thorp, a professor of obstetrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

One question he had was why magnesium sulfate could protect against cerebral palsy but not the other brain effects of being born prematurely.

Editor: Song Shutao

Article from www.chinaview.cn

WHEN miracle twins Jaiden and Hannah Rhodes start school in a couple of weeks, it will be a day to cherish.

Mum Junelle’s wedding ring hung like a bracelet around their wrists when they came into the world almost six years ago.

Born at just 25 weeks at the Mercy Hospital, the twins weighed less than 800g each and were given a 40 per cent chance of survival.

Doctors warned that even if the tiny twosome pulled through, there was then an 80 per cent chance they would be severely disabled.

The bubbly pair have their problems, but not enough to stop them from starting prep on February 4.

Ms Rhodes said she and husband Nathan, who live near Frankston, never thought they would see the day they would wave their babies off to school.

“They were so tiny when they were born, there was never a time that we were sure they would survive when they were in hospital,” she said.

“Even when Hannah left the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for a ward, she stopped breathing and was taken straight back.

“They always went back and forth between scares.”

Mr Rhodes said flipping through the family photo album of the twins’ first months felt surreal now that he was dressing them in their new school uniforms.

“I looked through the album not long ago and I just thought, ‘My God. How did we get two beautiful children who are pretty normal out of this?’ ” he asked.

Jaiden proudly showed off his baby photos yesterday.

“That’s me! I weighed like a big packet of cereal!” he said.

The Rhodes were not even sure the twins could attend a mainstream school because of medical problems from their extremely premature arrival.

The twins were in hospital for almost five months after they were born, and Jaiden was on oxygen for a further six months at home.

Both have chronic lung disease, and Hannah underwent heart surgery to close a valve when she was only days old.

She cannot speak loudly because of a paralysed left vocal chord, and Jaiden tires easily because of low muscle tone.

Their condition could have been much worse if not for quick-thinking doctors who managed to avert delivery when Ms Rhodes went into labor at just 21 weeks.

Dr Nick Lolatgis pushed the twins back in and sewed a single stitch to keep them there for another month.

Despite their hurdles, the twins don’t let anything hold them back.

They spent summer camping at the beach, riding bikes and painting pictures, and couldn’t wait for school because they would see friends they made at kindergarten.

“I’m going to invite them to my birthday party. It’s going to be a pony party, when I turn six,” Hannah said.

Jaiden said he would have a Transformers party.

Article & photos from

Your baby’s first year is a time of great change, just as it would be if she had been born on or near her due date. A child’s development is a complex, ongoing process. No two children mature at the same rate or in the same way. Development even varies from day to day and week to week. Over time, you will get to know your baby as an individual.

Because your child was born early, you should think of her progress in terms of “adjusted age.” For example, if your baby was 8 weeks early, adjust your expectations by 2 months. Therefore, a 4 month old premature baby may act like a full-term 2 month old. Try not to compare your child with full-term babies or focus too much on developmental charts. Your pediatrician will follow your child’s developmental progress.

If there are any developmental problems, the important thing is to catch them early, so that your child can be helped to adapt.

Some problems can show up right away; others do not show up for some time. You are in the best position to monitor your child’s development. Become familiar with your child’s general pattern of development, and if you think your child is showing signs of a hearing, vision, speech, muscle or learning delay, see your pediatrician as soon as possible. Early intervention programs that work with children from birth to 3 years may do a lot to lessen any long-term effect on your child’s learning.

One of the most important things you can do for your child is to make sure he receives all recommended check-ups and immunizations. Check-ups will help make sure your baby’s growth is on track, give your pediatrician a chance to catch any health problems early, and help you get your questions answered. If your baby has trouble gaining weight, has breathing problems, or any other problems that are of concern, your pediatrician may wish to see your child more often.

Immunizations can make sure your child’s health is not put at risk by serious childhood diseases, such as whooping cough, hepatitis, and meningitis. These diseases can cause death or leave your child with long-term health problems.

Some parents think their children do not need immunizations until they enter school. Actually, they should start when they are infants. Children should receive most of their immunizations during their first 2 years.

Most premature infants need to receive their immunizations at the same age as full-term infants, unless your pediatrician feels that this is not appropriate. Your pediatrician can help you make sure your child’s immunizations are given on time and are up-to-date.

Article from Medem 

American Academy of Pediatrics