News Moms Need

A co-worker of mine was talking at lunch the other day about her son’s repeat ear infections.  It reminded me of the many infections my own son had many years ago.

Did you know that about two out of every three children have at least one ear infection before their second birthday?  That is because their immune systems are still developing, and the tiny eustachian tube in each ear has not yet grown enough in position or size to drain fluid that can build up behind the eardrum.  Fluid that sits in one spot can become a breeding ground for bacteria.  Did you know that standing fluid can create hearing loss?

When my son had an ear infection, he would spike a fever and cry all the time.  But my friend’s son has a different symptom – no fever, no crying, he just keeps tugging at his ear.  Since he has had a couple ear infections, his mom now recognizes the ear tugging signs and takes him to his doc for a check.

If you suspect your baby might have an ear infection, give his health care provider a call. Providers can diagnose an ear infection by looking deep inside a child’s ear canal with a special device. Some ear infections clear up without treatment within a few days. Others require antibiotics and your child’s provider will be able to judge what is best for each situation.

Some children are prone to repeated ear infections. In some tougher cases, a provider may recommend inserting tiny tubes in the eardrums to help drain the middle ear. The tubes may help prevent speech and language problems that may result from hearing loss from repeated or long-lasting ear infection.  This, ultimately, is what my son had done and it made a big difference.  But, luckily, it seems like my friend’s son will outgrow his ear trouble without the need for tubes.

Read our article on ear infection for more information.

Continuing our post on the ABC’s of a healthy pregnancy A-G (July 10), here are guidelines H-Q to help increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

H: History can teach us a lot! Understanding your family history can make an important difference in your life and the lives of your children.

I: Iron is a mineral that helps create red blood cells, which are needed to carry oxygen to your baby. Be sure to get enough iron in your diet to prevent getting anemia.

J: Join a childbirth education class to help you understand what to expect during labor and birth.

K: Keep you and your baby safe during a disaster by planning ahead of time. Prepare for a disaster by making a list of medications you’re taking and having a handy contact sheet with your health provider’s information.

L: Lots of back pain? Backache is one of the most common problems for pregnant women. Avoid heavy lifting and standing for long periods of time. Wear comfortable shoes and consider a pregnancy massage to ease some of your pain.

M: Medical conditions, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, should be carefully monitored by you and your health provider. Also, talk to your provider about any medications that may need to be adjusted during pregnancy.

N: Nausea is very common during pregnancy and certain foods can trigger the feeling. Try substituting other nutritious options for the foods that make you feel ill. Eat 5-6 small meals a day, rather than three large ones.

O: Oh, baby! Get ready to care for your baby before you bring her home from the hosital. Choose a health provider for her and make sure your home environment is all set and safe for your new baby.

P: Prenatal care is essential for having a healthy baby, so be sure to make all of your visits. During these appointments, prenatal tests will be given to help your provider know how you and your baby are doing.

Q: Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking. Smoking can cause your baby to grow more slowly and gain less weight in the womb. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause your baby to be born with both physical and mental birth defects.

Visit us next Thursday for the final part of our series, the ABC’s of a healthy pregnancy R-Z. 

Are you planning to find out ahead of time or do you want to be surprised? During your second trimester of pregnancy you can learn the sex of your baby via ultrasound. Just keep in mind that ultrasound results are not 100% accurate — unlike amniocentesis, which determines the sex of the baby through DNA analysis. It really depends on your stage of pregnancy, position of the fetus, skill level of the technician and the equipment being used. 

My two sisters each have three children. They both agree that finding out the sex of the baby at the very moment of birth is one of the greatest feelings in the world. My sister-in-law has two children and says finding out the sex beforehand helped her to bond with her babies sooner and with planning ahead. There’s no right or wrong decision! It’s a personal one between you and your partner, so have fun with it no matter what you choose.

Reasons to find out the baby’s sex may include: you only have to pick one name, you can buy specific clothing, decorate the nursery, bond with a specific baby, and the technology exists so why not?

Reasons to wait may include: the excitement of not knowing, not knowing may help with coping during the last few weeks of pregnancy, knowing the sex is not important – you’ll love your baby either way, it’s the natural way to go

What do you plan to do?

Yesterday the Today program had a segment on peanuts and pregnancy. The March of Dimes has reviewed the new research study from Holland mentioned on Today. Here’s what we think.

For women who do not have a history of nut allergies, peanuts and peanut butter can be a good source of folate and protein as part of healthy, diverse diet. Women with nut allergies should always avoid eating nut products, not just while pregnant or breastfeeding.

A mother who has a nut allergy, or who has a close relative who does, should not eat peanuts or peanut products while breastfeeding.  Her children have a greater than average risk of developing peanut allergies.

Women with a strong family history of serious allergies (such as asthma, atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis) should check with a doctor trained in food allergies about whether they should eat peanuts.

For more information, read Peanuts, Folic Acid and Peanut Allergies. 

If you have diabetes and you want to have a baby, it’s really important to talk to your doctor and to establish good blood sugar control first. A woman with preexisting diabetes can have a healthy baby just as long as her blood sugar level remains normal before and throughout pregnancy. If you have good blood sugar control around the time of conception, your risk of having a baby with a birth defect is nearly the same as that of women without diabetes.

Women with poorly controlled diabetes in the early weeks of pregnancy are at an increased risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect, such as a heart defect or a neural tube defect. They also have an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth as well as increased risk of having a very large baby (macrosomia), which makes vaginal delivery more difficult and puts the baby at risk for injuries during birth.

Lots of us love to garden and spring and summer are when we get to bask in the beauty that comes from all our efforts.  I have some small beds with flowering shrubs and blooming bulbs that make me very happy.  I also have a much wilder section of my yard that has lots of rocks and rock outcroppings covered in pachysandra and ivy, including poison ivy.

My niece discovered the poison ivy by accident.  She was playing Jungle Explorer and she climbed and ran all over the yard.  Three days later my sister called me to say that my niece’s legs were covered in itchy bumps and that I’d better look for the culprit and pull it out.  That’s a little easier said than done.

To help my niece with her itchy, blistery rash and to learn a bit more about what to do with the ivy in my garden, I went on-line and found lots of good information.  These links helped me and my family, and I hope they will help you, too.

My daughter went to a baby shower last weekend and when we touched base on the phone last night, she told me about all the fun and helpful things her friend had received.  There were hand-knit blankets, mobiles, a swing, diapers and towels and pajamas with feet… and a set of pretty bumpers for the crib.  “Aren’t those a bad idea?” she asked. 

The answer is yes, they can be dangerous. Newborns and small infants do not have the motor skills needed to pull themselves free if they become stuck between the bumper pad and the side of the crib or a toy. There have been accidental deaths caused by suffocation or strangulation attributed to bumper pads and they are no longer recommended.  Soft fluffy bedding also can be a hazard and is on the “do not use” list.

The March of Dimes and Consumers Reports have joined forces to provide great information on safe products for your baby.  You can read about crib shopping (buying a new or used crib) and crib safety tips  on our website.

Healthy babies come from healthy pregnancies.  Having a healthy pregnancy starts before a woman plans on getting pregnant.  To help increase your chances of having a healthy baby, follow these ABC guidelines to a healthy pregnancy. 

A: Avoid hazardous substances such as mercury and alcohol that can be harmful to your unborn baby.  Stay away from other environmental factors that can put your health at risk.

B:  Breastmilk is the best food for most babies during the first year of life. Join a breastfeeding group or talk to a lactation consultant before giving birth to answers any questions or concerns you may have.

C: Calcium is needed for strong healthy bones.  When you don’t get enough calcium, your body will take it from your bones and give it to your baby. Be sure to get enough calcium in your diet.

D: Drugs, whether they are over-the-counter, prescribed, dietary supplements or illegal substances, can harm your baby and may even cause birth defects.  Stay away from all street drugs. Talk to your provider about any medications you are taking to make sure they are safe during pregnancy. 

E: Eat healthy and exercise. You only need 300 extra calories per day to support your baby’s growth and development, so make healthy food choices.  Unless there are medical reasons to avoid it, pregnant women can and should try to exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days.

F: Folic acid is very important. Take a vitamin supplement that has 400 micrograms of folic acid BEFORE getting pregnant to reduce your baby’s risk of developing birth defects.

G: Gas or feeling bloated is common in pregnant women.  Identify the foods that bother you and take your time when eating to help prevent excessive gas. 

Visit us next Thursday to continue learning the ABC’s of a healthy pregnancy, H–Q.

Low fat milk may be appropriate for some children between 12 months and 2 years of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Examples:

• * Babies who are overweight or obese
• * Babies with a family history of obesity, high cholesterol, or cardiovascular disease

Before giving your child any low fat milk products, talk to your child’s health care provider.

To learn about your family medical history, go to the March of Dimes Web site.