Pregnant Moms and Cellphones

[DiscGo]

Pregnant moms and cellphones: A surprising new 'risk'
A new study finds a link between expectant moms who regularly use cellphones and children who misbehave, but is it just a coincidence?

An unsubstantiated new study may raise concerns for pregnant women with a well-developed cellphone habit.


Here's yet another thing pregnant women may want to avoid: Using a cellphone. That's the conclusion of a University of California study, which found that Danish women who regularly used a cellphone while pregnant are more likely to report behavioral issues with their children. Here's a concise guide to these claims:

What did researchers actually find?
Children whose mothers used mobile phones while they were in the womb were 30 percent more likely to experience behavioral difficulties by age 7 than children of cellphone-averse moms. If the children started using cellphones themselves at an early age, the odds of behaving badly rose to 50 percent. The University of California study was based on a survey of 28,000 Danish 7-year-olds and their mothers.

What's the science behind this link?
Actually, the researchers do not identify a specific, causal link between cellphone use and behavioral problems. They suggest that cellphone use "might" cause mothers to produce excess melatonin, which could "potentially influence the brain development of the fetus." But they acknowledge that conclusion is speculative. According to study co-author Dr. Leeka Kheifets: "If real

[ratagonia]

Pregnant moms and cellphones: A surprising new 'risk'
A new study finds a link between expectant moms who regularly use cellphones and children who misbehave, but is it just a coincidence?

An unsubstantiated new study may raise concerns for pregnant women with a well-developed cellphone habit.

Here's yet another thing pregnant women may want to avoid: Using a cellphone. That's the conclusion of a University of California study, which found that Danish women who regularly used a cellphone while pregnant are more likely to report behavioral issues with their children. Here's a concise guide to these claims:

What did researchers actually find?
Children whose mothers used mobile phones while they were in the womb were 30 percent more likely to experience behavioral difficulties by age 7 than children of cellphone-averse moms. If the children started using cellphones themselves at an early age, the odds of behaving badly rose to 50 percent. The University of California study was based on a survey of 28,000 Danish 7-year-olds and their mothers.

What's the science behind this link?
Actually, the researchers do not identify a specific, causal link between cellphone use and behavioral problems. They suggest that cellphone use "might" cause mothers to produce excess melatonin, which could "potentially influence the brain development of the fetus." But they acknowledge that conclusion is speculative. According to study co-author Dr. Leeka Kheifets: "If real — and given the nearly universal use of cell phones — the impact on the public's health could be of concern."

If there's no scientific proof, couldn't it just be a coincidence?
Yes, or a statistical anomaly. "The pattern of results suggests the increase in behavioral problems may have been caused by factors other than mobile phone use," says University of Southampton Professor David Coggon, quoted in The Daily Mail.

So should we listen to this advice?
Despite the "somewhat vague and inconclusive" results of this study, says Sandy Maple at Babble, it's worth being careful about cellphone use around your unborn child or toddler. "While we would all like to assume that using [cellphones] as much as we do is harmless, the truth is that only time and more research will tell for sure."

http://theweek.com/article/index/210...ising-new-risk

They seem to have missed some obvious points, eh? Correlation does not prove causation. Seems like the kids probably act out because they have trouble getting the Mom's attention - BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS YACKING ON THE PHONE!

"So should we listen to this advice?
Despite the "somewhat vague and inconclusive" results of this study, says Sandy Maple at Babble, it's worth being careful about cellphone use around your unborn child or toddler. "While we would all like to assume that using [cellphones] as much as we do is harmless, the truth is that only time and more research will tell for sure." "

Great conclusion - with little to no evidence, yes we should be scared of everything!!!!

yuck! glad I live in a different world.

Tom

[DiscGo]

I read an article about a month ago that blamed cell phones for trees dying, and then I read another good article about a week ago about how far off the first article was scientifically. I just thought the corolation of percentages was interesting in this article.

[dbaxter]

Don't they know? 85% of all statistics are made up anyway???

[DiscGo]

I realize this article is likely off, but the statistics are at the very least interesting. It could just be that mothers with phones are more likely to be distracted and the kids end up neglected (thus acting out for attention.

[DiscGo]

For the record, I just want to say that by NO MEANS do I mean to imply that all kids with behavioral issues are a result of bad parenting. It can be a symptom but there are plenty of great parents who have kids with behavioral issues (that are not neglected) and plenty of people are born with mental illnesses, social disorders, and chemical imbalances. I was just trying to make more sense of these stats, and am not judging any parents in particular.