Newborns

Parents will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a new program aimed at alleviating expensesCalifornia families welcoming newborns will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a first-in-the-country program announced Friday by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.During the program’s first year, it will be offered at about 65 to 75 hospitals that handle about a quarter of births in the state and largely serve low-income patients, Newsom’s office said. The initiative will expand to more hospitals statewide, though the governor’s office did not say how many. The state has partnered with nonprofit Baby2Baby to manufacture the diapers under the label “Golden State Start”. Continue reading...

• Researchers analyzed invasive Escherichia coli samples from newborns at a US pediatric hospital, finding increasing resistance to first-line sepsis antibiotics. • Ampicillin nonsusceptibility rose from 46% in 2006-2013 to 61% in 2014-2021, with 54% overall; gentamicin nonsusceptibility affected 11% of isolates. • Cefazolin resistance as alternative therapy surged from 8% to 36%, reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, signaling urgent treatment challenges.

• CDC data reveals sexually transmitted disease rates fell among US adults last year, but congenital syphilis in newborns kept increasing. • This trend highlights persistent challenges in prenatal screening and treatment access for at-risk pregnant women. • Rising newborn syphilis threatens infant health outcomes, prompting calls for enhanced public health interventions.

Exclusive: Survey of 2,000 people by Barnardo’s also finds almost half feel their child has missed opportunities due to costUK politics live – latest updatesFour in 10 parents across the UK are struggling to afford essential items for the care of their newborn babies, according to research.The survey of 2,000 parents with children aged under five by the charity Barnardo’s found that almost half (49%) felt their child had missed out on opportunities to learn or play because of the cost of living. Continue reading...

Hope Scottish pilot will result in heel prick test for rare genetic condition being approved across BritainScotland has become the first part of the UK to screen newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wastage.Campaigners, who have long advocated for newborn testing because early detection is critical for treatment outcomes, hope the Scottish pilot will result in approval for the heel prick test across the UK. Continue reading...