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Lisa Marie Presley, 40, is expecting twins with her husband, Michael Lockwood, according to People magazine. The twins are due this fall and will be the third and fourth child for Presley. She has daughter Riley, 19, and Benjamin, 15, from a previous marriage.

Paul Stanley, 56, member of the rock band KISS, and his wife, Erin, 36, are expecting their second child together, according to People magazine. The baby, due this winter, will join brother Colin, who will turn 2 this September. Stanley also has a son, Evan, 14, from a previous marriage.

Clay Aiken, 29, and music producer Jaymes Foster, 50, welcomed a baby boy on August 8, according to People magazine. Parker Foster Aiken weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. Jaymes conceived through in vitro fertilization.

The nation's infant mortality rate inched up slightly in 2005 to 6.9, from 6.8 percent in 2004, although the change is not statistically significant, according to the report. While the infant mortality rate dropped more than 9 percent between 1995 and 2005, the changes since 2000 have not been statistically significant.

"Essentially, there has been no improvement in the infant death rate since 2000, and the increase in the proportion of infants who die from preterm-related causes is troubling," says Dr. Joann Petrini, director of the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center. "Preventing preterm birth is crucial to reducing the nation's infant mortality rate and giving every baby a healthy start in life."

More than a half million babies are born prematurely (less than 37 weeks gestation) each year, and those who survive face the risk of lifelong health consequences, such as breathing and feeding problems, cerebral palsy and learning problems.

Mortality rates for infants born even a few weeks early, or "late preterm" (34-36 weeks of gestation), were three times the rate for full-term infants.

The NCHS report found that the mortality rate for very low birth weight infants (those weighing less than 1,500 grams or 3 1/3 pounds) has not changed since 2000, despite rapid improvement between 1983 and 2000. The mortality rate for this group of infants was more than 100 times the rate for normal birth weight infants (at or more than 2,500 grams or 5 1/2 pounds).

Low birth weight and preterm birth are leading causes of infant mortality, and the rates of both have increased steadily since the mid-1980s. The rise in multiple births from the increased use of assisted reproductive technology and increases in Cesarean sections and inductions of labor for preterm infants have contributed to this increase.

The March of Dimes remains committed to preventing preterm birth and has extended its Prematurity Campaign by 10 years to 2020 and pledged to address preterm birth globally. The expansion, announced in June at the Surgeon General's Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth, supports the national action plan created during the two-day conference that addressed the growing crisis of preterm birth.

For detailed national, state and county perinatal data, visit marchofdimes.com/peristats.

The funding for this effort is a public-private venture with support from the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. "This clearinghouse will link people with model programs with those who are searching for program ideas," says Joe Pyle, President of the Scattergood Foundation. "It will highlight the struggles and successes that other states have experienced when launching their programs to combat perinatal depression."

Secretary of Public Welfare B. Estelle Richman, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare says, "We believe that Pennsylvania can lead the nation in promoting improved behavioral health programs for pregnant women and their families. We are pleased to be part of this partnership."

Depression during and after pregnancy affects as many as one in seven pregnant women and new mothers and is the No. 1 complication of childbirth in the United States today. With more than 145,000 births occurring in Pennsylvania each year, it is estimated that more than 20,000 mothers experience depression either during pregnancy or postpartum.

Travel can pose challenges for pregnant women, but for those in good health, a few tips can make getting from here to there a little smoother.

"Because of changes during pregnancy, women are already at increased risk for developing deep-venous thrombosis, or blood clots in their legs. The risk is increased with longer periods of inactivity and dehydration, which can occur during travel," says Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, an obstetrician with UT Southwestern Medical Center. "I recommend women move around every couple of hours; even just moving feet and legs back and forth while sitting is helpful."

Other recommendations from Dr. Horsager-Boehrer:

When traveling by motor vehicle:

When traveling by plane:

When traveling abroad or on a cruise:

Proper "positioning" of mother and baby during breastfeeding is important because it is the key to successful breastfeeding and can prevent sore nipples and insufficient milk supply. "How you sit, how you hold your baby and how you offer your breast all affect how your baby latches on," says Rubina Mason, international board-certified lactation consultant and member of the Lansinoh Laboratories breastfeeding advisory board (www.lansinoh.com). "Ultimately, these facts determine how comfortable you will be during breastfeeding."

Here are Mason's tips to overcoming some early breastfeeding challenges:

Getting into Position

Mom: It is very important that Mom gets comfortable before starting to breastfeed because once baby is latched on, she could be in this position for 20 to 30 minutes. Sitting upright in an armchair or rocking chair is a common position for breastfeeding, though it's OK to sit up in bed as long as you make sure that your back, shoulders and knees are well-supported. Many moms also find that using pillows to support the baby's body while breastfeeding is helpful as well.

Baby: Babies as well as mothers should be comfortable during breastfeeding since Baby's breastfeeding reflexes work best when the baby is well supported with her body comfortably aligned. The most common breastfeeding positions are:

Ouch, My Breasts Hurt

Many breastfeeding mothers experience engorgement, or swollen breasts, a temporary condition that begins about the third day postpartum. Nursing frequently during this period is the best way to alleviate engorgement. "Breastfeeding while engorged can be difficult since the baby can have a hard time properly latching on due to flattened nipples, but don't let this discourage you," Mason says. If your breasts do become engorged, nursing frequently is a great way to alleviate this condition. If you find that your baby cannot latch on because of your swollen breasts, taking warm to hot showers can also help soften your breasts, allowing you to breastfeed more comfortably.

At the American Academy of Dermatology's Summer Academy Meeting 2008 in Chicago, dermatologist Dr. Sharon E. Jacob, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology) at the University of California, San Diego, discussed the dangers of black henna tattoos and how dermatologists are treating an increasing number of patients, including very young children, with skin problems from allergic reactions to PPD.

Natural henna used for temporary tattoos is made from leaves of the lawsonia inermis plant, which provides a vegetable coloring that comes in shades of brown, green or red. Temporary coloring (dyeing) of the skin with natural henna is considered harmless and only lasts for a few days. To increase the intensity of the tattoo beyond which can be attained with natural henna color and to prolong the longevity of the temporary tattoo from days to weeks, some henna tattoo artists are adding PPD (commonly also used for black hair dye) into the henna mix. This turns the tattoo black.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits the direct application of PPD to the skin because of its known health risks. However, since the tattoo industry is not regulated, people are still getting black henna tattoos and exposing themselves to serious medical problems.

"Perhaps the most alarming issue we are seeing with black henna tattoos is the increase in the number of children – even children as young as 4 – who are getting them and experiencing skin reactions," says Dr. Jacob. "Kids make up a significant portion of the population that receives temporary tattoos, because parents mistakenly think they are safe since they are not permanent and are available at so many popular venues catering to families. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth."

Dr. Jacob notes that, to date, there have been hundreds of case reports of allergic contact dermatitis from black henna tattoos, with reactions ranging from mild eczema to blistering and even permanent scarring. The first sign of a reaction is typically redness and itching, followed by bumps, swelling and then blisters. Topical steroids can be used to stop the reaction, but Dr. Jacob explains that whether or not any scarring occurs depends on the depth and severity of the inflammation.

In addition, some people may become sensitized to PPD from just one exposure – meaning that the immune system becomes prepared to remember the chemical to which it has been exposed or a chemical with a similar structure. When this happens, a person can develop a lifelong sensitivity to PPD and an allergy can cause a cross reaction to other compounds, including certain medications. For example, use of some heart, hypertension and diabetes medications, and even some anesthetics used in topical hemorrhoid preparations or oral gels, can lead to allergic reactions in people previously sensitized to PPD.

"Each exposure to PPD re-challenges the immune system, so each time you get a black henna tattoo or use a hair dye that contains PPD, there is an increased risk of having a reaction," Dr. Jacob says. "Many people are sensitized to PPD, but don't have a reaction to it. However, each time you are exposed to black henna, you increase your risk of developing a lifelong allergy to it."

For more information, visit www.aad.org.