THE BIG DELIVERY CONTROVERSY A new Australian study suggests that women who have an epidural are more likely to have problems breastfeeding (and are less likely to continue it after six months) than those who choose no pain relief. Researchers think the drugs in the epidural might affect a baby’s sucking reflex. But “for some women, the pain-relieving benefit of an epidural will outweigh the risks,” says lead study author Siranda Torvaldsen, Ph.D., a senior researcher at the University of Sydney in Austrailia. The bottom line: Find out about all your pain-
relief options—and the pros and
cons of each—so you can
make an informed
decision before you
go into labor.
-Fitness
CHECKLIST FOR HAPPINESS Periodically, take stock of your life
and ask yourself questions that require positive answers: What do I want? What kind of person do I want to be? Use the answers to make changes that will ensure your happiness.
-Shape
You and
your kids
won’t have
to sacrifice
healthy eating
on your summer
trip to see Goofy
and friends at
Disneyland or Disney
World. The company is in the
middle of a nutritional makeover to reduce fat, calories and sugar in food it sells and licenses. Look for Dole stands with pineapple spears as well as farm-produce stands at Disney’s California Adventure. Children’s meals come with sides such as grapes or baby carrots, and drinks include juice, water or milk. Burgers with less fat, as well as pizza with whole-grain crust and lowfat cheese are still in the works. The flip side: Nothing’s being taken off the menu, so you’ll still have to manage your child’s (and your own) temptations.
-Health
MENTAL MUSCLE Just thinking
you got a workout
may make you healthier, a report from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., suggests. Among a group of housekeepers, the half who were told that their job provided adequate exercise lost an average of two pounds and lowered blood pressure by nearly 10 percent in a month; those who were told nothing showed no changes.
