Stress during pregnancy is good for the child?

Moderate stress experienced by the future mother during pregnancy does not cause harm to the child, and even contributes to its rapid development in the first years of life, U.S. scientists believe.

In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Hopkins involved 137 women have not experienced any specific problems in pregnancy. psychological state of participants was monitored during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Health surveillance and the level of development of the children went on for two years after their birth.

The objective of the study was to identify a possible link between stress experienced by the mother during the last period of pregnancy and developmental defects, growth retardation, and behavioral problems in their children. However, contrary to expectations, the data obtained by scientists talking about just the opposite trend : the children born to women who often is experiencing stress during pregnancy, developed faster and were generally healthier than children of women whose pregnancies proceeded in a relatively peaceful environment.

Scientists are now offering two versions of the possible explanations of the observed phenomenon . According to the first version, the link between stress, which is experiencing the mother during pregnancy, and more successful development of the child after birth may be due to beneficial effects on the developing fetus hormone cortisol released by the mother's body during times of stress . "Cortisol is a stress hormone, has a bad reputation, but all the organs of the human body needs it to develop in the right direction, - says the coordinator of the research project, Professor Janet Dipierto - Maybe this hormone can stimulate the development of the internal organs of the child before birth."

On the other hand , the observed pattern can be explained by scientists personal characteristics and lifestyle of women who participated in the study. The majority of women complaining of stress, led an active life, do not suffer depression and have never asked for help from psychiatrists. It is possible that these women are also increasingly concerned to raise children and care for them, and this is due to their more rapid development, suggests Professor Dipierto.

Scientists were surprised surprising results of his research. According to Janet Dipierto, expectant mothers can finally breathe a sigh of relief and get rid of the additional fears about once endured stressful situations. "Avoid the stress should not because it is bad for the child, but because it is harmful to yourself," - she said.

Program offers free birth control for men

Men don't have a lot of birth control options, but a Muskegon County donor has offered to pay for nine men to receive the permanent one.

The Peggy Jensen and Gerald Nehra Donor Advised Fund, part of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, will pay for nine low-income Muskegon County men to receive vasectomies if their insurance doesn't cover the procedure.

A vasectomy cuts and seals off the tubes that carry sperm into a man's semen, so he can still have sex and ejaculate but can't get a woman pregnant. It doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections, so men who are not in mutually monogamous relationships still should use condoms.

The surgery takes about a half hour and general anesthesia isn't typically necessary, making it less complicated then female sterilization.

"Most of the men who've had them have been able to go back to work the next day," Public Health Muskegon County Maternal Child Services Supervisor Gwen Williams said.

Though having an operation may be frightening, it can also be "empowering" for men who are absolutely sure they don't want children, Williams said. Women have multiple reliable birth control options, but men have to use condoms, get a vasectomy or trust that their partners are using female birth control options correctly, she said.

"Of course men cringe when you talk about bringing a scalpel close to their testicles, but the flip side is they're not relying on their partner to be responsible for something that's going to affect the rest of your life," she said. "Think about child support for the rest of your life because of a careless evening."

Planned Parenthood will screen applicants and consider whether they meet the income guidelines, PHMC Health Educator Faith Groesbeck said.

The Affordable Care Act mandated that contraception be covered without co-pays for women, but doesn't provide men with the same coverage, Williams said.

"They're left out of the discussion again," she said. "People lately are not making the connection that birth control is something everyone should care about."

Groesbeck, who monitors fetal and infant mortality in Muskegon County, said despite rhetoric about birth control as a women's issue, it also affects men and society in general. Babies are more likely to be premature, have a low birth weight or suffer other complications if the pregnancy wasn't planned, she said, and they're also more likely to grow up in poverty, which makes them more likely to have health problems later in life and less likely to do well in school.

By Megan Hart mhart2@mlive.com