Developmental issues in kids spike 62% when mom has key health issue

Around 15% of American kids experience developmental delays, and the number is rising.Now a new study suggests that a specific factor in moms’ health plays a big role in whether her kid will face those challenges.“Pregnancy is not like Vegas, where what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” Dr.

Evelina Grayver told The Post.“What happens in pregnancy carries lifelong effect, not only for their mother, but clearly for their child, as well.”The study shows mom’s heart health affects the environment the baby develops in, which in turn affects development of the brain and behavior years into their life.The results do “not surprise me at all,” said Grayver, director of Women’s Heart Health in Northwell Health’s Central Region and Katz Institute for Women’s Health.

“It actually is incredibly enlightening the fact that we are finally at the point where we could actually recognize it.” Over 8,000 moms were scored on their heart health based on their diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, body mass index, blood lipids (i.e.cholesterol), glucose (i.e.

risk of diabetes) and blood pressure.They were sorted into groups with high, moderate or low cardiovascular health.Of moms with high heart health, only 8.8% had kids with development delays at age 4.

That number nearly doubled (16.8%) for moms who had low heart health.“Those with low cardiovascular health had 62% increased risk of developmental delay, suggesting that maternal heart health may play an incredibly important role in shaping long-term neuro development outcomes,” Grayver said.Lower heart health was associated with delays across development: communication, gross motor (whole body movements), fine motor (movements in the hands and fingers), problem solving and personal-social skills.Personal-social skills were the most affected.“Why? Well, when somebody is not in their optimal cardiovascular health, they are at significantly higher risk of developing adverse pregnancy outcomes...