HIV and Pregnancy:� Georgia now has a law on the books that requires doctors to offer pregnant women HIV screening tests. According to the bill’s sponsors, around 1/4 of pregnant women in Georgia are not tested for HIV because their doctors do not believe they are at high risk for the virus.� With treatment, the risk of passing HIV to a developing baby in utero can be reduced to between 1 and 3%.

Alcohol and Premature Birth: Researchers out of Wayne State University report that use of alcohol during pregnancy can substantially increase a woman’s risk of extreme preterm delivery. The risks appear to be even greater for women over 30 years old. However, as the patient population of the study was 92% African American, the lead researcher notes that the results will have to be verified in further studies with other ethnic groups.

Recall News:� The CPSC issued a recall of Invincibles Transport Converters Toy Sets, by Soldier Bear, because the toy action figures contain high levels of lead. The toy soldier set was manufactured in Hong Kong.  Also recalled are certain ball rattles, wrist rattles, and wind-up toys sold in dollar stores in California over the past couple years because they pose a choking hazard (check the links for pictures of the hazardous toys).