Is Baby Gender Really Random? Some families seem to have “all boys” or “all girls,” raising the question: Is baby gender really a 50/50 chance? A new study in Science Advances suggests not. Researchers analyzed data from over 58,000 U.S. women with at least two children and found families may have their own “weighted coin,” slightly favoring one outcome. For instance, three boys raised the odds of a fourth to 61 percent; three girls, 58 percent. Older maternal age at first birth was linked to more same-sex chil- dren, though genetics and demographics showed little impact. While patterns exist, predicting gender remains largely a mystery. science.org
Can You Forget Labor Pain? Recently, experts explored why many women seem to forget the pain of labor and delivery. They suggest several factors contribute to this phenomenon. Hormonal changes, such as the release of oxytocin after birth, may help soften painful memories. Additionally, the intense emotional experience of meeting the baby can overshadow discomfort. Cultural expectations and the brain’s natural tendency to filter out distressing details also play roles. However, it is possible that some women retain vivid memories of the pain, especially if the birth experience was traumatic or perceived negatively.
LSU Students Develop Car Seat Alert System A team of LSU students—Victoria Irondi, Nnamdi Dike, and Trevor Perrault—has developed a car seat alert system to help prevent children from being left in hot vehicles. Their senior capstone project uses pressure sensors and a keychain alarm to notify caregivers if a child remains in the car seat when they walk away. With numerous child deaths caused by hot cars, the project has earned recognition from state traffic safety officials and child safety advocates. The students hope to soon turn their life-saving design into a widely available product. lsu.edu
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