bad drugs

by the end of this summer, when forest fires, accommodation and related other issues were no longer of utmost priority, after uniforms had been pressed, classrooms had been memorised and routines had been establised, i got to several similar emails which had been sitting in my inbox for a few weeks.

the subject headers included: "thought you should know" "you probably already know" "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?" "What Does This Mean For Your Kids (Particularly Sebbie and Carys?) and FYI"

What THIS was, was the study put out by the New England Journal of Medicine which revealed that children born to women who were on valproates during pregnancy (and all my four were) will have iq's nine points less than children who weren't.  here's an excerpt......

A study today adds more evidence that women who could get pregnant shouldn't take the commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drug valproate, also used to treat migraines and bipolar disorder.

The study, which is published in The New England Journal of Medicine, assessed 258 2- and 3-year-olds whose mothers took one of four anti-epileptic drugs while pregnant.

On average, children exposed to valproate had an IQ of 92, six to nine points lower than the others. Still, the authors caution, uncontrolled seizures in the mother are riskier than any anti-epileptic drug, so women shouldn't suddenly stop their medication.

Some anti-epileptic medications have been used for more than a century, but doctors didn't begin to recognize their pregnancy risks until the 1960s, says lead author Kimford Meador, an Emory University neurologist in Atlanta.

Some research suggests that the average IQ has risen from 100 to 110 or 115, Holmes says. If so, he says, even lamotrigine, which fared best in Meador's study, might have a significant effect.

So what am I going to do about it? Well, tuck that piece of knowledge away for my next pregnancy? Sure thing.

OBVIOUSLY there's not a lot I can do about this.

And as I was talking it through with another mum the other day at school, I realised it really doesn't bother me that much. Both Charles and I are of average intellect (Charles smarter), and i reckon our children will have average intellect, give or take nine points. And their emotional IQ ought to be all right as well. At the end of the day, we;re in God's hands. This isn't a massive deal. If the study revealed that the drugs caused depression, or another mental illness, or if it prevented them from loving, or feeling...then i would be sad. Nine IQ points? That's all right. They've still got joy.
There's nothing I can do about this. I went on drs advice (and i did see three doctors!) and they went on the medical knowlege there was at the time.

My kids are for the most part, healthy. They are smart and loving. This isn't going to hold them back. They're going to learn about endurance. Obstacles. So many other kids in this world have huge obstacles. IF this is one for them then it is a small one, and they will be fine. We're in God's hands.

Comments

[Coral]

I adore these kind of scientific reports. What on earth are they comparing the children tested to? Um, the person they might have been? What hogwash; and as you say Tess, what are you supposed to do about it? Go shopping for more IQ points? You have to eventually laugh, it is not going to change much in your or your children's lives!

AS they used to say in school 'Carry on regardless'.

[Dad aka GDad Blake]

I think the report is wrong. Many times this summer I asked Sebbie and the trips difficult questions and every answer they gave was absolutely correct.
Love to all.....Dad

[Mo aka Maureen aka Grandmother aka Mum]

"Amen!" to your attitude on this topic, Tess. You and your kids are just great.

Love, M xox

[edebock]

Wonderful attitude, Tess!

[Albert Einstein]

Too bad Blake got the question Sela asked him wrong! See... you have very bright kids! And besides, everything is relative.

[ellen]

Good God that is silly, and this is coming from an IQ tester! There are far too many factors involved to attribute any causation this concrete. Honestly, it's rubbish.

[Carolyn]

...and at the end of the day, an IQ test is merely a set of statistically "significant" results based on a prescribed set of questions and answers. For some really great information on kids and brilliance, check out Dr. Adam Cox (Boys of Few Words) and his latest research on Brilliance Beyond IQ. Now that, made sense to me. Besides, those four little angels are probably so brilliant anyway, a loss of 9 pts might just help the rest of us catch up! Love and hugs to all, Auntie Carolyn

[Super Bobb]

Hello Tess and Charles. I would not worry about this situation to much as you also needed to take care of your health as well. Pammie says you did the right thing and she supports you to inifinity and beyond. Love always Bobb

[Trinie]

Well Tess, I was talking in the weekend to a guy from church who is doing his PhD on the impact of negativity on children's ability. The research seems to be indicating that if a child has a positive attitude towards a problem/subject they are more likely to succeed than their counterparts who may have the same (or greater) IQ but a negative attitude (ie "I can't do this"). So he is finding that with subjects such as maths, long term ability seems to be more linked to attitude than IQ. I'm sure that you and Charles will be instilling a positive attitude in your children therefore they will do well no matter whether their IQ is below or above their peers.

Love to you all, Trinie

[Jill]

One final thing to add to this discussion...your children are exposed to such a colourful and enriched life and have already faced such incredible odds that this study is so miniscule in your lives. Really, you have the perfect attitude and the most beautiful family that its too bad you guys weren't part of the study as you may have brought the bell curve back up again!!