What’s the Data on Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is now endorsed by ACOG, recommending a 30‑60‑second wait before cutting the umbilical cord for virtually all newborns. In preterm infants, a 2023 Lancet meta‑analysis of about 3,000 babies found DCC cuts mortality by roughly 30%, driven by fewer bleedings and lower necrotizing enterocolitis rates. For full‑term babies, DCC raises hemoglobin and iron stores at 3‑6 months, with only a slight increase in jaundice risk. The practice is simple, low‑cost, and increasingly standard in U.S. delivery rooms.
Is the Vitamin K Shot Necessary for Newborns?
The vitamin K injection given at birth remains the standard defense against a rare but potentially fatal bleeding disorder in newborns. Between 2017 and 2024, parental refusal of the shot grew from 3% to over 5%, driven by broader medical mistrust...
Why Kids Lie (And What to Do About It)
The article explains that children’s early false statements are more a product of egocentric development than deliberate deceit. As kids reach ages four to five, their emerging perspective‑taking abilities enable more sophisticated lies, which research links modestly to cognitive maturity....