In the long term, for instance, children who are born with low birth weight or preterm tend to have more difficulties in school. The U.S. supplemental nutrition program showed mixed results for its association with better birth outcomes. When pregnant women were trusted with $81 a month in prenatal benefits, no strings attached, their babies' physical health did better, say Manitoba researchers, who would like similar income supplements to be offered across Canada. The Healthy Baby Prenatal Benefit offers support to families with a net household income of less than $32,000, on a sliding scale. While $10,000 was the average income for recipients in the study, Manitoba officials say the threshold to qualify for the full $81.41 per month is $21,744.

Source: CBC News May 12, 2016 03:30 UTC