Summer Infant, Inc. Launched Kenneth Brown Baby Bedding Collection

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0589431.htm

Summer Infant, Inc. announced today that in a continued partnership with Kenneth Brown, one of today's hottest celebrity designers, that it has launched 2 new Kenneth Brown baby bedding collections at Babies R' Us. Provided with these collections is a Designer Workbook and step-by-step video instructions.

One of Los Angeles' most sought-after interior designers, Kenneth Brown blends warm southern hospitality with clean southern california lines. "It's important the nursery reflect you as much as your new arrival," states Brown. The 2 new collections are called Jumping for Joy and Sweet Stitches.

Jumping for Joy is a unisex collection for moms and dads waiting until baby's arrival to find out the sex. This collection would also be a great choice for boy and girl twins. Sweet Stitches is a colorful girl collection adorned with charming details such as hummingbirds and playful swoops.

Along with the collections are the Designer Workbook, online tools and step-by-step video instructions for completing several different looks for each collection. "The unique accessibility Kenneth brings to these collections elevates this baby bedding launch above and beyond what consumers have come to expect," said Jason Macari, President and CEO of Summer Infant.

Acupuncture May Treat Depression in Pregnancy

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575081753471294546.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1&

A new study found that acupuncture may be an effective alternative to anti-depressant medication for pregnant women. As many as 14% of pregnant women are thought to develop significant depression at some point during their pregnancy. Depression in pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression.

"Acupuncture that we have tested works for pregnant, depressed women," said Rachel Manber, an author of the study and professor at Stanford University. However, she cautioned, "no single study is enough to make policy recommendations".

Antidepressants are generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, but research has been limited and concerns continue to grow, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. One study showed that the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension, a potentially serious lung condition, is significantly greater in newborns whose mother took antidepressants.

In the study, 150 clinically depressed pregnant women who weren't previously taking antidepressants were randomly assigned to get either acupuncture for depression, acupuncture not specifically designed for depression, or massage for 8 weeks. Those who got acupuncture for depression had a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, compared with women in the other groups. 63% of the women in the acupuncture for depression group responded to treatment, compared to 44% in the other groups.

Lactation Consultants Help Moms Nurse

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/nyregion/21freda.html?pagewanted=1&sq=baby&st=cse&scp=13

Breastfeeding is supposedly a natural and instinctive act, but often it is not. Many women have trouble getting their baby to nurse or dealing with the pain of sore nipples. Thats where Freda Rosenfeld, a certified lactation consultant, comes in.

Rosenfeld has had success with babies with Down syndrome, despite their poor muscle tone, and with adoptive mothers, using a tool called a supplemental nurser to bring in their breast milk. She prescribes teas and herbs to increase milk supply, as well as exercise regimens for newborn mouths.

Many new mothers try breastfeeding, but struggle to make it work and give up. There are now 20,000 lactation consultants worldwide, including 582 in New York State alone, who can help new moms figure out the best way to nurse their babies.

Most "Test Tube" Children Are Healthy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35507874/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

More than 3 million children have been born worldwide using assisted reproductive technology. In fact, assisted reproduction now accounts for about 4% of live births. More than 30 years after the first "test-tube" baby, researchers are saying they are finding only a few medical differences between these children and children conceived in the traditional way.

These children do face an increased risk of some birth defects and low birth weight, which is associated with obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes later in life. Researchers found differences in 5% to 10% of chromosomes between assisted reproduction children and other kids. However, it is not clear whether these differences result from assisted reproduction techniques or from other factors, possibly ones that caused the couple's infertility in the first place.

Only a small portion of the assisted reproduction children were outside the normal range of gene expression, explained Carmen Sapienza, a geneticist at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "However, because some of the genes found to be affected are involved in the development of fat tissue and the metabolism of glucose, it will be interesting to monitor these children, long term to determine whether they have higher rates of obesity or diabetes."

Baby Walkers Delay Development

http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/the-dangers-of-baby-walkers/

Some parents use baby walkers to help children learn to walk or give them some exercise or just to keep their baby occupied for awhile. This is not a good idea for a number of reasons. Walker use typically delays motor development, delays mental development even more, and is dangerous.

In 1994, the Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that baby walkers were responsible for more injuries than any other children's product. Injuries ranged from head injuries, broken bones, broken teeth, burns, entrapment of fingers, amputations and death.

Walkers allow babies mobility beyond their natural capability, and faster than a parent's reaction time. Most injuries are caused by falls down stairs, but also from allowing the baby to reach hot, heavy or poisonous objects.

Babies who use walkers learn to crawl, stand and walk later than they would have otherwise, and continue to show delayed motor development for months after they have learned to walk. The biggest delays are in mental development and lower scores on mental developmental testing, still present 10 months after initial walker use.

Who Should Consider Genetic Testing?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=9859167

Some insurers cover genetic testing to see if parents carry a gene that would put their baby at risk for a disease, and prenatal testing to see if a baby has a disease or condition like down syndrome. The risk of certain genes varies by racial and ethnic groups.

According to the American College of Medical Genetics, women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should be offered testing for cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy. All pregnant women should be offered testing for Down syndrome, which is caused by an extra chromosome, and is not hereditary.

If you are Ashkenazi, or Eastern European Jew, testing is recommended for 9 diseases, including Tay-Sachs, familial dysautonomia ad Gaucher disease.

Blacks should consider being tested for sickle cell disease. Black, Hispanics, Asians and Mediterranean people are more likely than other groups to carry genes causing thalassemia, a serious blood disorder.

Frozen Embryos May Be Best For IVF

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=9866347

A new Finnish study suggests that women who use frozen embryos for in vitro fertilization are less likely to give birth prematurely, compared to women who use an egg that is removed, fertilized and implanted within the same cycle.

Researchers studied data from nearly 2,300 children conceived with frozen embryos, over 4,100 born after fresh embryos were used, and 32,000 pregnancies that did not require IVF or other fertility treatments.

From the group who used fresh embryos, about 1 in 11 of the babies were born prematurely, compared to about 1 in 16 from the group who used frozen embryos. Frozen embryos were also less likely to be linked to low birth weight and being small for the length of the pregnancy.

It is still unclear why frozen embryos result in a more favorable outcome. The freezing and thawing process may filter out "weak" embryos, leaving only the good quality ones. Frozen embryo transfer also allows doctors to time a woman's hormone cycle to more closely mimic natural conception.

The study's lead author, Dr. Sari Pelkonen, of Oulu University Hospital in Finland, said that considering effectiveness, price and safety, the best IVF option might be transferring one or two fresh embryos, ad freezing the rest for future implantation.

Baby Product Recalled for High Levels of Lead

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9866718

900 bracelets for babies and pacifier clips have been recalled because they contain high levels of lead. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a 10-month-old girl received medical treatment for elevated lead levels after being exposed to one of the baby bracelets.

The bracelets were manufactured in the U.S. by Allred Design, under the name Hidden Hollow Beads. They were sold by resale and consignment stores round the country between June and December 2008.

Owners of the recalled items can call the company for a free replacement at 866-695-3551, or go to the CPSC'c website: http://www.cpsc.gov

Path to Obesity May Begin in Infancy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35352934/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

A new study suggests that the "tipping point" in obesity occurs before the age of 2, and sometimes as early as 3 months. 37% of American children are overweight, and about 16% of children ages 2 to 19 are obese, putting them at risk for many health issues, including type-2 diabetes and high cholesterol and blood pressure.

The medical records of 111 children who were considered overweight, were studied. Researchers found that participants had started gaining weight in infancy at an average weight of .08 excess BMI units per month, or just under 1 BMI point per year. On average, this progression toward obesity began when the children were 3 months old. More than 50% of the children became overweight at or before they turned 2, 90% did before reaching age 5.

"Too often, doctors wait until medical complications arise before they begin treatment. What this study suggests is that prevention of obesity should begin far, far earlier," said lead researcher Dr. John Harrington, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.

Preterm Babies More Likely to Develop Autism

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35351305/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Children born extremely preterm may be at a much higher-than-average risk of developing autism later in childhood. Of 219 children born before the 26th week of pregnancy, 8 percent met the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder at age 11. Included in the comparison group were 153 classmates who were born full-term, none of which met the criteria for an ASD.

The study shows not only a heightened risk among children born preterm, but also points to which of these children are most likely to be affected. The increased frequency of ASD is mainly among children with other disabilities. The risk of it developing in children with no other problems is very low.

More and more premature babies are surviving because of medical advances. Preterm babies' brain develop differently than those of full term babies, and this is associated with a high risk of cognitive problems in childhood. If a parent is concerned about learning or behavioral problems in their premature baby, they should seek advice from a professional.

Cribs Recalled After 3 Deaths

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35315984/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Last Tuesday, more than 500,000 cribs were recalled after the death of 3 infants. Generation 2 Worldwide and ChildESIGNS cribs have plastic hardware that can break and allow the drop side to detach. Also, the mattress supports can break away from the crib frames. Both of these defects create gaps where a small child can be trapped and suffocate or strangle. These cribs were sold at Buy Buy Baby, Kmart, Walmart, and other stores.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 3 reports of children who died after getting trapped in gaps between the drop sides of their cribs and mattresses. There have also been 20 other reports of incidents involving detached dropsides and 8 reports of incidents involving detached mattress supports.

The cribs were made by Generation 2 Worldwide, which went out of business in 2005. Crib owners should contact the place of purchase for information on remedies including refunds, replacements, and store credit. CPSC says owners should contact the agency if they have difficulty getting a remedy.

National Children's Study Examines Children's Health

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/health/16child.html?pagewanted=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

The National Children's Study, a project started last January, aims to enroll 100,00 pregnant women in 105 countries, then monitor their babies until they turn 21. There are several hundred participants so far. The projected cost for this project is about $6.7 billion.

This study will examine how environment, genes and other factors affect children's health. "This is a very important study for understanding the health of our nation's children and for identifying factors that may play a role downstream in adult health," said Dr. Francis S. Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, which is overseeing the study.

While many experts are praising the study, it has also stirred controversy. The Senate committee overseeing financing for the study accused it of a "serious breach of trust" for not disclosing that the initial price tag of $3.1 billion would more than double.

An independent panel of experts and some members of the study's own advisory committee say it misses important opportunities to help people and communities, emphasizing narrower medical questions over concerns like racial and ethnic health differences.

Some changes are being made, putting all but the pilot phase on hold while conducting an inquiry into the cost and scientific underpinnings. The results of this study could be very important to our country, however we should make sure we do it right. "This study is of the magnitude of the accelerator in CERN, or a trip to the moon - a really big science issue," said Milton Kotelchuck, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health and a member of the independent panel. "But if you have a flawed beginning, then you've got 20 years of working on a flawed study."

Parents Concerned Over Newborn Blood Used in Research

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35301574/ns/health-pregnancy/

The heelprick of blood taken from each newborn in the U.S. is now facing an ethical dilemma. The blood taken is used to test for at least 29 rare genetic diseases in the hopes of catching the diseases that need early treatment. The program catches about 5,000 babies per year who are in need of treatment.

In some states, the blood that is leftover after this screening is being stored for years, and used to improve newborn screening and to study bigger questions, like which environmental toxins can harm a fetus' developing heart, or which genes trigger childhood cancers.

The blood spots are stripped of identifying information before being given to scientists, so there is no way to know anything about the person just by studying their DNA. However, people generally need to consent to participate in research.

Parents are seldom asked for their consent for this research. Many parents are not even aware of it. This has raised privacy concerns among many parents. Advisors to the U.S. government hope to have national recommendations in 2 months on how to assure all babies still get their newborn tests while allowing parents more say in what happens next.

Genes in Mother & Baby Raise Risk of Preterm Birth

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wirestory?id=9743107&page=2

U.S. government researchers have found that genes in the mother and the fetus play a role in the risk of preterm labor, a leading cause of infant death and disability. Gene variants in the mother and fetus can make them susceptible to an inflammatory response to infections inside the uterus, increasing the risk that a baby will be born early.

A preterm baby (born before 37 weeks of gestation) has a 120 times greater risk of death than a baby born full term. Survivors are at risk for breathing difficulties, bleeding into the brain, and having a significant neurological handicap. "Preterm births cost the U.S. $26 billion per year. It is one of the most serious and significant challenges to medicine and society and one whose importance is not fully recognized," said Dr. Roberto Romero of the National Institutes of Health.

The findings of this study support the notion that preterm delivery is an evolutionary mechanism intended to protect baby and mother from infection. "We have established that one of every 3 premature babies is born to a mother who has an intra-amniotic infection," Romero said.

After analyzing 190 genes and more than 700 DNA variants from 229 women and 179 premature infants in Chile, they found that the strongest gene influence was the interleukin receptor, which is involved in the baby's response to inflammation. In the mother, the team focused on one gene called tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, or TIMP2, which affects structures in the cervix and uterus that get broken down at the start of labor.

Romero said that when there is an infection, the combination of these 2 genetic profiles raises the risk of preterm labor as the body attempts to save the mother's and baby's lives. The hope is that these findings may leas to genetic tests that assess whether a woman is predisposed to premature labor.

Mother's Age Affects Child's Autism Risk

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6174UC20100208

U.S. researchers have found that the risk of having a child with autism is significantly increased when the mother is older. When the father is older, the risk is only increased if the mother is under 30.

According to this study, a 40-year-old woman's risk of having a child later diagnosed with autism was 50 percent greater than that of a woman between 25 and 29. The older the mother is, the more risk there is of that child having autism, regardless of the father's age.These findings contradict a 2006 study of children born in Israel that suggested that paternal age was much more significant.

The father's age does matter if the mother is younger. Among babies born to mothers under 25, children whose father was over 40 were twice as likely to develop autism than those whose father was between 25 and 29.

The point of the study is to find out what is going on in older parents that could increase a child's risk of developing autism. For example, older parents are more likely to have infertility problems and have used fertility treatments, the mothers are more likely to have autoimmune conditions, including gestational diabetes, both parents have accumulated more toxins throughout their lifetimes, so the sperm and egg are more likely to have some changes that could increase risk.

Infant Massage May Help Prevent SIDS

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29271/

A U.S based, but Australian-led, study last week identified a common lack of the neurotransmitter, Serotonin, among babies who had died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Infant massage may help reduce a newborn's risk of SIDS, because it has been shown to naturally boost a baby's serotonin levels.

"Scientists have known for a long time that touch and skin-to-skin contact play a major role in the development of serotonin pathways in babies' brains," said Dr. Reynolds, who is the director of Pediatric Research at The Canberra Hospital and also patron of the International Association of Infant Massage.

There is not yet direct evidence linking infant massage to a reduced risk of SIDS. However, the practice has been shown to have other benefits. "The other benefits of infant massage are so well documented in the scientific research that there is every reason for parents to learn the basics of infant massage," Dr. Reynolds said. "Studies... show being massaged by a parents not only increases serotonin availability in a baby's brain, but that infant massage also reduces the baby's chance of developing depression, violent behaviors or other mental health difficulties later in life."

Healthy Baby Campaign Reaches Mothers Through Texts

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/03/business/AP-US-Pregnancy-Campaign-Text-Messages.html?_r=1&scp=13&sq=baby&st=cse

A new program, called the text4baby campaign is the first free health education program in the U.S to harness the reach of mobile phones. Through this program, expectant mothers can have pregnancy tips sent directly to their cell phones.

90% of people in the U.S. have cell phones. "Especially if you start talking about low income people, cell phones are the indispensable tool for reaching them and engaging them about their health," said Paul Meyer, president of Voxiva, a company which operates health texting programs in Africa, Latin America, and India. Studies in those countries have shown that periodic texts can reduce smoking and other unhealthy behaviors in pregnant women.

Mothers-to-be can use this service by texting "BABY" to 511411. They will receive weekly text messages, timed to their due date. The messages, which have been vetted by government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics. The messages will continue through the baby's first birthday.

Organizers hope the program will help curb premature births, which can be caused by poor nutrition, excessive stress, smoking and drinking alcohol.

11-Year-Old Girl Gives Birth

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584936,00.html

An 11-year-old girl in the Northeast recently gave birth to a baby boy. The girl and her baby are doing well, despite the fact that there are many dangers and complications associated with having a child at such a young age.

Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan said, "Once you expose a child this young to high amounts of progesterone and especially estrogen, there is a possibility that it could halt her growth." Al-Khan pointed out several other medical challenges facing a pregnant pre-teen:

• The pelvis is not defined for natural childbirth

• The vagina could be injured during natural childbirth.

• The patient is at a high risk for preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition which can lead to convulsions and multi-system organ failure.

• A higher risk of pre-term labor and delivery, meaning that the baby's size would be compromised, putting the baby at risk for developmental issues, fetal growth restriction and chromosomal abnormalities.

• High incidence of stillbirth.

• Higher incidence of cholestasis of pregnancy, which can lead to stillbirth and placenta issues.

• A chance of developing fatty liver, which can be fatal.

There are also many psychological issues associated with with pre-teen pregnancy, said Al-Khan. "There are so many psychological minefields in store for her. Feelings of guilt, feelings of wanting to nurture another human being, and yet this is all very, very complex and intense when she looks to her own family to essentially support, and if you will, father her child."

According to the Guttmacher Institute, nearly half of all 15-19 year olds in the U.S. have had sex at least once. In 2002, 13 percent of never-married females aged 15-19 had had sex before the age of 15. The youngest documented case of a child pregnancy was in 1939 in Lima, Peru. Lina Medina was 6 years old when she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby.

Study Tying Vaccine to Autism Retracted

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704022804575041212437364420.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_emailed

The study that first suggested a link between vaccines and autism has been retracted by the British medical journal that published it. The withdrawal supports the scientific evidence that vaccinations don't cause autism.

The 1998 study of 12 children caused worry that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, particularly the preservative often used, thimerosal, caused autism. Because of this, many parents decided not to immunize their children.

A widely cited 2004 statistical review of existing studies by the Institute of Medicine concluded that there was no casual link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association said the it is "possible" that the MMR vaccine causes autism, but "the science is not there in terms of the mechanism."

The British Journal that originally published the study, The Lancet, decided to issue a complete retraction after an independent regulator for doctors in the U.K. concluded last week that the study was flawed. The General Medical Council's report on 3 of the researchers found evidence that some of their actions were conducted for experimental purposes, not clinical care, and without ethics approval.

SIDS May Be Caused By Low Serotonin Levels

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-03-sids03_st_N.htm

Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, kills 2,300 babies per year. Researchers may have found out what makes some babies more vulnerable to SIDS.

Autopsies were performed on 35 infants who died of SIDS, 7 babies who died unexpectedly of known causes, and 5 who died from other chronic problems related to lack of oxygen. When the chemicals in the babies' brainstems were compared, researchers found that serotonin levels were 26% lower in the tissue of the babies who died from SIDS.

Serotonin is a brain chemical that helps the brainstem regulate breathing, temperature, sleeping, waking, and other automatic functions. This chemical normally helps babies respond to high carbon dioxide levels during sleep, by helping them wake up and shift their head position to get fresh air.

When babies are placed face down, their exhaled carbon dioxide may pool in loose bedding, and be breathed back in. Normally, babies sense the high carbon dioxide levels and wake up. Those who don't have normal amounts of serotonin may not wake up.

Doctors hope to eventually use this information to screen babies for serotonin problems and find a way to protect them.

Advice on Baby Product Recalls

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/tips-navigating-baby-product-recalls/story?id=9467465&page=2

There were a number of recalls on baby products in 2009. It can be hard to know how serious the recalls are and how to keep your children safe. Parents should always pay attention to recalls, especially if there have been reported injuries resulting in a recall, and it's not just voluntary.

2009 saw the largest crib recall in history. More than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs were recalled because of risks of entrapment, suffocation, or fall. Maclaren, a leading stroller company, recalled about 1 million strollers in 2009 because of a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard.

If you have a product that has been recalled, take action. Depending on if the recall was voluntary or not and what injuries were reported, some parents may opt to continue using the product, stop until they receive a repair kit from the company, or try to return the item and get something else. If you have had an incident with a product you bought, it is important that you notify the CPSC so they can look into it and protect the public.

To make sure that you know when something goes wrong with a product you have, register it. A lot of companies allow you to register an item online. This ensures that you'll be personally alerted if anything is found to be wrong with the product. Another easy way to stay informed is to subscribe to an alert. You can subscribe to a recall alert feed on thebump.com. It's a special section on the web site dedicated to updating parents about the latest recall news.

Women Lose 90 Percent of Ovarian Eggs by Age 30

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/women-fertility-falls-lose-90-percent-eggs-30/story?id=9693015

According to a new study, women who put off childbearing for too long could have difficulty ever conceiving. The study published by the University of St. Andrews and Edinburgh University in Scotland found that by the time they are 30 years old, women have lost 90% of their eggs. They only have 3% left by the time they are 40.

This is the first study to quantify the number of eggs lost and it shows that the decline is more rapid than previously believed. The quality of ovarian eggs also deteriorates over time, making it more difficult to conceive and more likely to have an unhealthy baby.

Certain factors within a woman's control have an impact on her fertility. Stopping smoking, keeping your weight down and controlling stress can all slow the loss of fertility. Women who have more pregnancies are fertile for longer, and some women are just born with more eggs than others.

Dr. Marie Savard, "Good Morning America" medical contributor, said that it is important for women to recognize that time does matter. "If you are planning a family, don't wait so long," she said. "It's life, it's the truth - we have all the eggs we're ever going to have and we'd better take good care of them."

New Genetic Test Helps Prevent Baby Illnesses

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/screening-parents-babies/story?id=9720189

A new form of screening, called the Counsyl Universal Genetic Test, could help people find out if they are likely to have children with a rare, inherited disease or some sort of devastating illness.

Unlike traditional genetic tests, which require a blood sample to look for one specific disease, this new test uses only a little saliva to check for genetic markers linked to 109 inherited diseases from cystic fibrosis and Pompe disease to sickle cell disease and Tay-Sachs.

The cost for this procedure is $350. Counsyl screens samples at it's lab in Redwood City, California, looking for more than 400 genetic mutations. The results are available in less than 1 week.

If the man and woman both test positive for the same disease, they have some options to try to protect their future children. The couples could go through in vitro fertilization, for example. Doctors could check each embryo and implant only the ones that appear free of disease.

Many geneticists are excited about the new test, but do urge caution. There are many disease-causing mutations that the test does not cover. Some of the mutations targeted in the test are so hard to interpret that some couples could go through the expense and anxiety of in vitro for no reason.

Can a Baby Have 3 or More Parents?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/opinion/26tues3.html?scp=1&sq=baby&st=cse

Scientists have now created baby monkeys with a father and 2 mothers. Researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center were looking into ways to eliminate diseases that can be inherited through maternal DNA. Defective DNA from the egg was removed and replaced with genetic material from another female's egg. The researchers say that this procedure is likely to work on humans as well, resulting in a baby with 3 biological parents, or "fractional parents".

The law is already not clearly defined on the subject of parenthood. The increased use of surrogates has brought up many questions and disputes. Some states have laws expressly permitting surrogate parenthood, others make it illegal, and others have no law at all. Janet Dolgin, a Hofstra Law School professor, wrote in the Akron Law Review that the problem is that legal thinking is deeply divided over how to judge what makes a family.

If the day comes when 3 or more people combine their DNA to create a baby, there will have to be some changes in the law. Technology is changing what it means to be a parent, and the courts are having a hard time keeping up. Judges and legal thinkers have to decide what are the important values.

Indiana Court to Determine If Genetic Mom or Surrogate is Baby's Legal Mother

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-surrogate-mother,0,4865196.story

An 11-month-old boy, conceived by in vitro fertilization and carried by a surrogate, is now the center of a legal battle. The baby's genetic parents, known as T.G. and V.G. in court records, are a married couple from Indiana who donated the sperm and egg. The wife's sister volunteered to carry the baby.

The couple petitioned Porter County Circuit Court to have the genetic mother's name on the child's birth certificate. The surrogate, V.G.'s sister, filed an affidavit supporting their petition. The judge refused, ruling that "Indiana law does not permit a non-birth mother to establish maternity. Indiana law holds the birth mother is the legal maternal mother."

On Thursday, attorney Steven Litz asked the Court of Appeals to intervene. The problem, said Litz, is that the law hasn't kept up with reproductive technology. Indiana's paternity law was passed more than 50 years ago, when surrogate parenting didn't exist.

There are no federal guidelines for surrogacy, and state laws are "really all over the place," Litz said. In Indiana, surrogacy isn't illegal but contracts are not enforceable and surrogates cannot be required to give up a child. The state's surrogacy law doesn't address cases in which the surrogate is not the genetic mother.

The judges gave no indication when they might issue a ruling in this case. Litz said it might eventually be up to the Indiana General Assembly to untangle the legal issues.