Mother pregnant with her TENTH child demands bigger council house on top of her £30,000 a year benefits

Mother pregnant with her TENTH child demands bigger council house on top of her £30,000 a year benefits - A mother pregnant with her tenth child has demanded a bigger council house in the countryside, despite raking in almost £30,000 a year in state handouts.

Iona Heaton, 43, said her four-bedroom home in Blackburn is too small for her enormous family and complained that the property is cold, damp and festering with mould.

The mother of nine shares the terraced house with her boyfriend Paul Brown, 45, and her children Kaiden, nine months, Zak, two, Keegan, three, Kian, four, Elle, six, Kain, seven, Jade, 16 and Shannon, 17.

Crowded house: Iona Heaton and her partner Paul Brown live with her eight children in a four bedroom terraced property in Blackburn, Lancashire

Chaos: Mrs Heaton, pictured with the children in their playroom, wants to move to a larger home in the countryside

She also has a 24-year-old son, Sean, who does not live at home, and she is three months pregnant with her tenth child.

Now she and Mr Brown want housing association firm Twin Valley, which runs the terrace along with Darwen Council, to move her to a larger 'more child friendly' property.

The family receive £575 a week in child benefits and disability allowances - as daughter Elle has epilepsy.

This is despite the fact that Mr Brown takes home £1,000 a month from his job as a metal polisher.

They would need to be earning a combined salary of £41,000 to take home the £30,000 a year they receive just in benefits and allowances.

The housing association said it had spent £4,000 on fixing the problems and visited the property 25 times.

Family trip: From left, back row to front, Iona, Paul, Shannon, Jade, Cain, Sean, Elle and Kian at Pontins in 2008 - where they holiday with each other

Mrs Heaton said today: 'All the kids have asthma now, and we’re constantly back and forth to the doctors for antibiotics. I have to have five children sleeping in my bedroom with me because their rooms are so freezing and damp.

'Paul and I argue all the time because it’s so stressful living in a house like this. Because nothing gets done, I’ve asked to move, but they say we can’t because they haven’t got a house big enough for all of us.

'I like having a big family. None of my family speaks to me any more because I have so many children - but it’s their loss. It’s not about getting more money - if we didn’t cope, then we wouldn’t have kids.

Condition: Six-year-old Elle, pictured with sister Jade, has epilepsy so the family receive £575 a week with her disability allowances as well as child benefits

'Money is not tight; we survive quite well on what we have. As soon as we come back from our summer holiday, we start putting money away for Christmas.

'But it is quite costly buying clothes and shoes for the children - most of them are handed down, but because they are growing all the time, they need new things. Elle is always falling and ripping her clothes because of her condition.

'We have to buy mattresses for the beds and cot, as well as bed covers each month because of the damp.'

Mr Brown said: 'I have to bleach the walls every morning before the kids go to school. The fact that my kids are rubbing against walls covered in green mould is just disgusting.

'I want a bigger house with somewhere for the kids to play; somewhere with a garden. This house isn’t big enough for all of us. It’s not a children-friendly area either because we’re on a main road, so cars fly round the corner.

Iona Heaton, 43, said the house is too small and complained that the property is cold, damp and festering with mould (pictured)

'If I had my way, we would live somewhere in the countryside. I feel like I’m letting my family down, it’s not giving them much of a future. When you look out the back, all you see is an ugly asbestos shed, it’s not very nice.

'We love our children. They’re not starving or under-clothed. People will probably have their opinions, but each to their own.'

The family receive £275 disability allowance each month, £156 a week in child benefits and a further £350 a week from child tax credits.

The family moved into the property seven years ago and Mrs Heaton said the dining room floor has been constantly wet because of problems with a natural spring beneath,

Five of the children - Keegan, Zak, Elle, and Kian - share a double bed with her because their rooms are unsuitable.

Unhygienic: The family claim they have developed health problems including asthma from the damp in the house

Problems: Mrs Heaton said the dining room floor has been constantly wet because of a natural spring beneath

Baby Kaiden sleeps in his cot while Jade and Shannon have in their own bedrooms, and Mr Brown and Kain sleep downstairs on the sofa.

Mr Brown has been in touch with the council for six years about the water problem and has also told them that the house is not big enough for the family.

The house has a wide flat-screen TV, computers, Nintendo Wii, digital camera and iPhone and the family take a two-week holiday to Pontins in Southport each year.

But Mrs Heaton - who had her eldest son when she was 19 - complained: 'The house is disgusting and barely fit for human habitation. The floor in the dining room is damp because water comes through the cracks. There is damp all up the walls in every room.

'My son Sean moved out and lives in a flat. We’ve lived here for seven years and if we knew there was going to be damp problems, we wouldn’t have moved in.

'Two of the rooms are too cold to sleep in at night and the bed covers are always damp. It’s just disgusting - we can’t even replace the wall paper because it just peels off. Green mould is growing in every room of the house.

'Struggle': Mr Brown said the family, who share four rooms, were frustrated because of the council's slowness

'I’m one of eight children and have always wanted a big family. I’ve told Paul we are stopping after this one, but he won’t have the snip so I’ll have to.'

Mrs Heaton, whose first three children are from a previous relationship, said the damp was even affecting her family’s health.

She added: 'Paul went to the doctors with a throat infection and he was struggling to breathe - they found out he was suffering from asthma. He just developed it since moving here.

'Keegan has asthma as well and Kaidan has a really bad cough. We’re always back and forth getting antibiotics because they always seem to have a cold.'

Her boyfriend added: 'We feel very frustrated because they never jump on the job - they’ve only just come to look at our leaking floor now.

'Water coming up through the floor should be judged as an emergency, but they’re just not bothered. We’re shocked that after six years we are yet to be moved into a new home.'

Kevin Ruth, Twin Valley Homes’ Executive Director, said: 'In just under three years, we have been to Miss Heaton’s property 25 times and spent around £4,000 on independent surveys and extra maintenance to try and alleviate her condensation problem.

Maternal: Mrs Heaton, pictured with baby Kaiden, Keegan, Zak, said she is one of eight children and always wanted a big family

'We have given advice on minimising condensation and installed a positive ventilation system, which we have discovered has been covered up with plastic bags and tape on a number of occasions.

'With so many people and pets living in the property condensation is unavoidable unless the property is properly ventilated.

'We have identified the problem with the dampness in the dining room. This is not caused by a natural spring as has been suggested but by a blocked drain from a privately rented property next door. As a goodwill gesture, we cleared the problem next door and offered to replace the damaged flooring.

'While we can appreciate Miss Heaton’s wish for a bigger home, Twin Valley Homes only have 15 of its 8,000 properties that have more bedrooms than the one she is currently in and they are all tenanted.

'But we have sent her an application form for our B-With-Us register - a partnership of 17 social landlords that advertise accommodation across the Pennine Lancashire region - which will allow her to apply for suitable properties.' ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Smoking During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism

Smoking During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism -- Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy are not at increased risk for autism, according to a new study.

Smoking during pregnancy has been considered a possible cause of autism in children due to known links between smoking and behavioral disorders and obstetric complications, but previous studies of a connection between smoking during pregnancy and autism have had mixed results.

In this study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,000 Swedish children with autism and a control group of 39,000 children without autism. The results showed that 19.8 percent of the children in the autism group and 18.4 percent of those in the control group had mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

The study was published online in December in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and will appear in a upcoming print issue.

"We found no evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorders," study leader Brian Lee, an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said in a university news release.

"Past studies that showed an association were most likely influenced by social and demographic factors such as income and occupation that have associations with both the likelihood of smoking and with the rate of autism spectrum disorders," he added.

Lee said the findings help reassure mothers who smoked during pregnancy that their behavior likely didn't cause their child's autism and "crosses off another suspect on the list of possible environmental risk factors for ASD (autism spectrum disorders)."

However, he reminded women that smoking during pregnancy is unhealthy for mothers and has known risks for their children. ( HealthDay News )

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Diet for Obese Kids

Diet for Obese Kids - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the frequency of childhood obesity has continued to increase for decades. The consequences are severe and include a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, asthma and social and emotional problems. If your child is obese, you need to know what an appropriate diet is, and you should also work with your child's doctor to monitor the situation.

BMI and Obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use the body mass index, or BMI, as an indicator of body fatness. You can calculate a child's BMI by dividing weight in pounds by the square of height in inches, and multiplying by 703. Plot your child's BMI on a reference BMI-for-age growth chart to see whether your child is underweight, which is less than the fifth percentile of BMI for age; normal weight, or fifth to 95th percentile; overweight, or 85th to 95th percentile; or obese, which is greater than the 95th percentile.

Goals

Unlike diets for obese adults, diets for obese children should not focus on weight loss unless your physician recommends it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain that the goal should be to slow down weight gain as your child continues to grow taller. Instead of an overly restrictive diet that may cause deficiencies, you want your child's diet to deliver all of the healthy nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals, that she needs for healthy development.

Calorie Balance

Children become obese by eating more calories than they need for daily living, growth and exercise, and a diet for obese children should provide a more appropriate number of calories. Some ways that you can reduce calories in your children's favorite recipes are to substitute lower fat ingredients for full fat options or to add vegetables. Another key factor in calorie balance is physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can help your child balance calories by reducing the hours he spends in front of the television or computer and encouraging him to be physically active by walking, dancing or playing sports.

Healthy Foods

Diets for obese children should emphasize healthy foods while limiting high-calorie, low-nutrient junk foods, such as sugary soft drinks, sweets and fried foods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest having reduced-fat dairy products and lean protein, such as chicken, fish and beans, instead of higher fat alternatives, such as high fat cheese or fatty meats. Make fruits, vegetables and whole grains part of your regular diet. These foods can not only provide nutrients for your child, but are low in calories to support a better calorie balance.
Advice for Parents

As a parent, you can encourage healthy eating patterns by setting a good example because children tend to follow their parents' actions. In addition, KidsHealth recommends that you do not turn food into an emotional battle by using it as a reward or punishment or by making children clean their plates. Remember to leave room in your child's diet for special treats so that she does not feel isolated if her peers are celebrating a birthday or other special event. Always consult your child's doctor to be sure that you are doing your best for your child. ( livestrong.com )

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US mom, doctors eye chemicals for rise in child cancers

US mom, doctors eye chemicals for rise in child cancers – A mom whose four-year-old died after losing a battle to a brain tumor called Wednesday for tougher US regulation of chemicals suspected of being behind a rise in childhood cancers.

"There's growing evidence linking toxic chemicals and carcinogens in the environment with childhood cancer," Christine Brouwer told a telephone news conference as she described losing a child to cancer.

"I'll most likely never know what caused my daughter's cancer, but researchers are finding more and more links between the hazardous substances in our homes and workplaces and cancer and other diseases."

Nurses feed newborn babies from bottles - Nurses feed newborn babies from bottles in 2010. A mom whose four-year-old died after losing a battle to a brain tumor called Wednesday for tougher US regulation of chemicals suspected of being behind a rise in childhood cancers

Brouwer's daughter Mira underwent several operations and endured painful and nauseating treatments to try to beat the cancer she was diagnosed with just before her second birthday, on January 27, 2004.

After several rounds of surgery and months of treatment, Mira's cancer went into remission and she seemed to have won her fight against the ailment.

But it came back on her fourth birthday, killing her weeks later.

Her family questioned why the child was struck by such a serious illness so young, and Brouwer's suspicions turned toward the chemicals found in cleaning fluids for the floors that babies crawl on, in the plastic of the bottles they drink from and in some of the foods they and their parents eat.

Boston University professor of environmental health Richard Clapp said the incidence of childhood cancer in the United States has grown about one percent a year for the past two decades.

"It's clear that at least one component of the cause is environmental chemical exposure," he said.

Epidemiologists have linked chlorinated solvents to childhood leukemia and other solvents to brain cancer in children, said Clapp, who served as director of the Massachusetts Cancer Registry for 10 years in the 1980s.

Pediatrician Sean Palfrey said doctors suspect chemicals and other environmental pollutants are behind a rise in everything from cancer to allergies to asthma in children.

"The problem with our current situation is that we are putting so many chemicals out into our environment, and our bodies have no idea how to detoxify them, don't know how to prevent them being absorbed," he said, calling for tougher US laws on chemicals.

Brouwer, Clapp and Palfrey were participating in a news conference organized by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families advocacy group, which says the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act does not cover the vast majority of chemicals in US consumer products and urgently needs an overhaul. ( Agence France Presse )

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Mothers admit to parenting lies

Mothers admit to parenting lies - Many mothers are under so much pressure to appear like perfect parents that they cover up how much television their children watch or what they cook their families, according to a survey.

Such "white lies" also extend to how much "quality time" mothers spend with their partner, website Netmums said its survey of 5,000 people suggested.

The parenting site said mothers often made each other feel "inadequate".

"Mums need to be more honest with each other," said Netmums' Siobhan Freegard.

The website is calling for a more honest approach to family life and an end to the guilty subterfuge of mothers who feel unable to achieve an idealised view of parenthood.

Mothers are under pressure to keep up an image of coping, says the survey

Sleeping, not baking

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed said they had been less than honest with other mothers about how well they were coping and almost half covered up financial worries.

Almost a quarter of mothers admitted to downplaying how much television their children actually watched - and one in five "span a yarn" over how long they played with their children.

Ms Freegard, co-founder of the site, said there had been another example of a mother who was exhausted and went back to bed during the day, but explained her failure to answer the phone as being because her hands had been covered in flour while making cookies.

“Start Quote

It's just very difficult to put your hands up and admit that you parent differently to your friends”

End Quote Becky Mother

The need to keep up a good impression among other parents becomes even more important for mothers who are living far away from their own extended families, she said.

But the survey suggested that this fear of not being a perfect parent was not driven by images of celebrities in glossy magazines.

Instead the sense of inadequacy was caused by peer pressure from other mothers at the school gate or the nursery, the survey found, with more than nine out of 10 comparing themselves to other mothers.

The website is launching what it calls The Real Parenting Revolution, which encourages parents to accept the reality of how they live, rather than feeling bad about not living up to a myth of perfection.

"It's the imperfections that make us human," Ms Freegard said.

'Profound pressures'

One mother, known as Becky, who responded to the survey explained that it was difficult to be honest: "My friend was telling me about how she limited her son's access to the PlayStation and I agreed, telling her that I also limited my son to an hour a day, after homework.

"After I'd said it, I kicked myself for not telling the truth - I mean, it's no big deal.

"It's just very difficult to put your hands up and admit that you parent differently to your friends."

Parenting expert and sociologist Frank Furedi said that parents were under "profound pressures" from society. He said that a culture of parenting "incites parents to lie and to turn child-rearing into a performance."

He added that even with the best intentions, reports such as these increased the pressure on parents: "Parents are always being judged in one way or another - including by this report. The real solution is to lay off parents and publish less reports."

Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos said that it was common for people to feel that they were being judged in a variety situations. She advised parents to avoid comparing themselves with others.

"You're in competition with no-one but yourself - all you can do is the best for you and your kid." ( bbc.co.uk )

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