Vitamin D: Boosting Baby’s Brain A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that higher mater- nal vitamin D levels during early pregnancy may boost cognitive performance in children. Researchers found that adequate vitamin D in- take could support fetal brain development, potentially en- hancing memory, attention, and learning skills. While more research is needed to confirm long-term effects, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring and maintaining sufficient vitamin D during pregnancy for both maternal health and infant development. ajcn. nutrition.org
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Nursing Mothers Now Exempt from Jury Duty If you’re a nursing mother afraid of being called on for jury duty, you’re in luck: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has officially signed “Parker’s Law,” or bill SB76, which states that “a nursing mother may be excused from service as a juror.” The new law amends a section of a law previously passed by the Alabama legislature that allows individuals to be “excused from jury duty for limited reasons, including extreme physical or finan- cial hardship, incapacity, or public necessity.” The nursing mother is required to provide the court with certification from a health care professional that she is nursing at the time of the summons, which will excuse her for two years. To read the bill for yourself, go to alison. legislature.state.al.us.
The “Smart Pacifier” UAB is collaborating with Purdue University to enhance and create the “smart pacifier,” which will feature technology that uses sound waves to help detect an infant’s lung devel- opment and if they are experiencing breathing problems. “It’s like knocking on a box to see if it’s hollow or if it’s full,” says Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanan in an interview with WBRC. The project received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Health and aim to begin testing in Birmingham in 2027. wbrc.com
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