News Moms Need

My daughter recently started her first job as an assistant teacher in a preschool center (Yay!)  One of the first things she learned was that she can’t bring any peanut butter sandwiches to eat for lunch (her favorite) due to children having peanut allergies. 

At first I was a bit surprised that she could not bring in a sandwich that contained peanut butter, knowing that she would never share her food with the kids, but when I stopped to think about it, it makes perfect sense.  In severe cases a child can have an allergic reaction from accidentally coming in contact with peanut butter.  So, it makes sense to ban peanuts from the school campus altogether, and protect anyone with a peanut allergy from a possible reaction. In many cases, a reaction can happen in seconds and become dire if medical intervention is not swift enough.  Why run the risk?

For parents who find that their children only eat a handful of foods, alternatives to peanut butter may include cream cheese, yogurt, cheese, lean deli meats such as turkey or chicken, and tuna fish. Be sure to put an ice pack in your tot’s lunch box if you are going to send foods that need refrigeration.

Since tots also like finger foods, it is wise to pack an assortment of items so your little one can pick and choose what he feels like eating that day. A variety of sliced fruits, crackers and carrots in addition to the items I previously mentioned provides a mini buffet.  Giving him choices will help your child to adapt to different food textures and tastes – something necessary to encourage his taste buds to grow and develop.  Although food allergies  may be a way of life for some children, it does not have to stop them from experiencing and tasting a variety of foods.

I am entertained every evening as my daughter recounts stories from her day with all the little ones. She is constantly amazed at how they grow and change so fast, right before her eyes. Something a child could not do one day is mastered a week later. By giving your little one a variety of healthy foods every day, he will soon like something that previously he never would touch!

On April 8, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) to treat pregnant women experiencing nausea and vomiting.

More than half of all pregnant women have some nausea during the first trimester. For most women this nausea usually goes away by the second trimester. But for some women, nausea and vomiting may continue even past the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Diclegis is a delayed-release tablet intended for women who have not adequately responded to conservative management of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, such as changes to their diet and lifestyle. These modifications include eating several small meals instead of three large meals, eating bland foods that are low in fat and easy to digest and avoiding smells that can trigger nausea.

“Diclegis is now the only FDA-approved treatment for nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy, providing a therapeutic option for pregnant women seeking relief from these symptoms,” said Dr. Hylton V. Joffe of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Observational studies have shown that the combination of active ingredients in Diclegis does not pose an increased risk of harm to a developing fetus.

For questions and answers about how drugs are approved by the FDA, click on this link.

April is Autism Awareness month. Did you know that the March of Dimes funds Autism research? In fact, in the past 10 years we have funded 55 grants totaling over $10.8 million. It is our hope that one day the answers we find will make further research unnecessary.

This month, many organizations are helping to spread the word about this serious disorder and the impact that it has on an entire family. And, at the same time, they are helping these families have a great time together. Here are two exciting initiatives that I want to share with you. Both welcome the kids and families affected by Autism in a very positive and FUN way!

The first is Major League Baseball’s decision to have all 30 of their Clubs raise awareness for the disorder during one home game in April, or on another date during the regular season. Many of the MLB Autism Awareness games throughout the league will provide special opportunities and a safe, friendly environment for families and individuals affected by autism.  All too often, kids with Autism (and their families) miss out on doing fun stuff like going to a baseball game. On these designated days, MLB teams up with Autism Speaks or other local autism charities to offer special events. Kids with Autism will have special opportunities to participate and enjoy the game.
 
For more information about MLB Autism Awareness and to check on your favorite team’s Autism Awareness dates, please visit MLBCommunity.org.

The second initiative involves AMC Loews and the Autism Society. They have teamed up to present sensory friendly films to families with children with Autism. Often, kids with Autism are particularly sensitive to sounds and can’t sit through a movie due to the volume of the soundtrack. In addition, kids with Autism are often sensitive to light and many can’t munch on typical movie theater snacks due to special dietary restrictions. So, on designated dates, the movie theater will brighten the theater and turn down the sound, eliminate ads and previews, and allow families to bring in their own snacks. Kids can even dance in the aisles if they want to! As AMC says, their “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.” Sounds like a gift to parents as well as to any child with a sound or light sensitivity - a win-win for all.

To find a participating AMC Theatre near you, click here.

So, how great is this…?!  I recommend you get the family out and enjoy these special events and help raise awareness at the same time.

Occupational Therapy (OT) is another service that is available to help your child. OT can help your child adapt to all of his daily life activities. For babies and toddlers, it is part of early intervention services; for kids ages 3 and up, it is part of Related Services.

You may be familiar with OT as the therapy older friends or family members received after they had a stroke. This is true, but OT has many other facets and can be very helpful for babies, toddlers, children and even teens.

OT can help your child with all of his activities of daily living, or “ADLs,” such as dressing, eating, socializing, etc. But it can do more… Therapists can help your child adapt to the rigors of school - from being able to sit in a chair and hold a pencil to making friends. They help children who have sensory issues (to light, sounds, and other stimuli) become more comfortable in their surroundings. OTs provide creative ways for your child to be successful, such as recommending adaptive equipment and providing training on the use of the equipment. They can guide your child’s teachers and work with your family to ensure a smooth transition from the therapy session to school and home life.

What else can OT do?

A great place to go for more information about OT services is NICHCY. They say: “OT services can enhance a child’s ability to function in an educational program and may include such services as:
• self-help skills or adaptive living (e.g., eating, dressing);
• functional mobility (e.g., moving safely through school);
• positioning (e.g., sitting appropriately in class);
• sensory-motor processing (e.g., using the senses and muscles);
• fine motor (e.g., writing, cutting) and gross motor performance (e.g., walking, athletic skills);
• life skills training/vocational skills; and
• psychosocial adaptation.”
OTs help children who have different disabilities or conditions, including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, sensory impairments and emotional disorders.

How do you get OT services for your child?

If you feel that your child would benefit from OT, you can ask that he be evaluated. In prior posts, I outlined how to have your child evaluated for free (through the early intervention program for babies and toddlers or the school based program for kids ages 3 and older). If your child qualifies, services will be provided to him (usually at no cost to you).

Where do OT services take place?

Services can be provided in a number of settings: your home, a hospital, an OT office, at school, etc. It all depends on your child’s individual needs. If he is in school, most OTs advocate that services be provided in the regular education classroom. This way your child remains a part of the class, and the teacher can see how the skills that the OT is teaching can be integrated into the classroom. If your child remains in the classroom, he will not miss important classroom activities or feel left out. But, the place where therapy is held should be decided by the OT, parents and teachers as a team.

Where can you learn more specific info about OT?

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the professional credentialing organization, has a series of short tip sheets that illustrates how OT can help children in many situations (home, school, community). Here are topics that I recommend:

Child Development (what OT’s can do for your child, you and your family)
OT in Schools – (How you get OT in school for your child, what it will do, how your child may be tested, who provides OT services, etc.)
Transitions for Children and Youth – How OT Can Help. This fact sheet lists all the ways that OT can help a child in everyday life, including aiding in the transitions from early intervention to a preschool program, to elementary school, and all the way to adulthood.

Learning Through Play
Building Play Skills for Healthy Children and Families
How to Pick a Toy: Checklist for Toy Shopping

Living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – The Preschool Child
Help Students with Autism Achieve Greater Success in Academic Performance and Social Participation
Understanding ADHD (and what OTs can do to help)

Enjoying Halloween with Sensory Challenges

Backpack: Pack it Light, Wear it Right
Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students

Is Your Child Positioned for School Success?
School Tips for Parents: Academic Success & Social Participation
Occupational Therapy Tips for Health & Success in School
Occupational Therapy Tips for Homework

Handwriting

Will my child like OT?

Most parents report that children love their OT sessions. If your child has sensory issues, the therapy is often so enjoyable that the children don’t want the session to end. Since most OT therapy is play based and creative, children have so much fun they don’t even realize they are receiving “therapy.”

If your child receives OT services, we’d love to hear about your experiences.

Have questions? Send them to AskUs@marchofdimes.com.

Note: This post is part of the weekly series Delays and disabilities – how to get help for your child. It appears every Wednesday, and was started on January 16, 2013. Feel free to go back to look at prior posts as the series builds on itself. As always, we welcome your comments and input.

From a field of enormously popular and well-written blogs, it is with humility (and a great deal of excitement) that we announce that we have won the Readers Choice Award for Best Pregnancy Blog of 2013 from About.com. Thank you SO much for your votes and continued readership of our blog.  You made this possible.

Created in 2008, the blog team has been writing posts every week day on pregnancy, baby, Mom, prematurity and current news. In addition to the regular categories of posts, for our 75th anniversary the blog is now incorporating a history section authored by the March of Dimes archivist. Another new feature launched this year, is our series on Delays and Disabilities: How to get help for your child, which is receiving lots of attention. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on topics you would like covered, give us a shout.

We are delighted with this recognition and are truly pleased that our posts are so well received and helpful.

Speech and language therapy (commonly referred to simply as “speech therapy”) is a special kind of therapy to help your child communicate.  If your child has difficulty expressing his needs, he may become very frustrated and display behaviors such as crying, tantrums, withdrawing, etc. If it is due to a delay or disability, the sooner your child begins therapy, the sooner he will be able to understand language, express his needs and be understood. Once he is no longer frustrated, the happier he and the whole family will be!

Are speech and language problems all the same?

No. There are many different aspects to speech and language. For example, a child may have difficulty speaking due to a structural problem in his mouth or for another reason. Other times a child can understand language but has a hard time getting words out and expressing himself. Yet other times a child does not understand the spoken word (which may be due to a hearing problem, but it could also have no known cause).   Some children develop language more slowly than their peers (a delay), while other children have more choppy development or have more serious problems (a disorder). Sometimes a speech or language problem is one part of a larger diagnosis. It is different for every child.

Here are some common types of speech and language problems:
    • expressive language - how a child speaks or expresses himself
    • receptive language - whether a child can process and understand what is said to him
    • mixed expressive/receptive language- a combination of both problems
    • social language or pragmatics  - using language correctly in a social setting
    • dysphagia – a swallowing disorder
    • dyslexia and language based learning disabilities  – when a child has trouble understanding the written word (reading), learning new vocabulary, expressing ideas clearly, understanding directions, spelling, numbers or telling time.

You can read more about the different kinds of speech and language problems as well as important language milestones here.

How do you get speech and language services for your child?

The first step is to talk to your child’s health care provider about your child’s speech or language milestones.  You can request to have your child evaluated for free through programs provided by your state (for babies and toddlers) or by your school district (for children age 3 and older). This is provided to you under the IDEA, (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). This is the federal law that ensures that children with developmental delays or disabilities receive the help that they need.  Speech and language therapy falls under the umbrella of Related Services.  Keep in mind that parents can request an evaluation without a referral from a doctor or school. See my prior posts for info on how to have your baby and toddler or child age 3 and up evaluated for free. 

According to the IDEA, a “Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.”  The key words are articulation, fluency, voice and language. For a closer look at each one, please see NICHCY’s discussion. 

Once your child has been evaluated and the professionals have met with you to discuss the results of the testing, they may recommend that your child receive services provided by a Speech and Language Pathologist (a professional who provides therapy for communication problems). Therapy may include services for addressing communication problems as well as counseling and guidance for you and your child’s teachers. Although the primary aim is to get your child to learn to speak clearly and understand language, it is sometimes necessary for a child to learn sign language or rely on picture books in order to be able to communicate. Every child is different.

When and how is speech therapy begun?

Speech therapy often begins in infancy for a baby with oral structural problems, and in toddlerhood or preschool for children with delayed speech or other language issues. However, it can begin at any age. If your child is not identified as having a speech and language problem until he is in elementary, middle or even high school, do not despair. The positive effects of therapy may still be very helpful.

If it is decided that your child will receive speech and language therapy, his specific needs and goals will be outlined in his IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan (for babies and toddlers up to age 3) or IEP – an Individualized Education Program (for kids ages 3 and up). This document will provide details of the services he will receive, including how often, where and with whom. Remember, parents are members of the team that write up the goals for the IFSP or IEP. 

Will your child like the therapy?

Most children thoroughly enjoy speech and language therapy – I know my daughter did. SLPs incorporate games and creative ways of learning into the sessions which make it fun and enjoyable for your child. For example, blowing bubbles helps to develop oral facial muscles and also breath control, which are necessary in learning to speak.

The bottom line

If your child is referred for speech and language therapy, be glad that he is going to have the specialized attention he needs to help make communication easier for him and you. It is important to address all communication needs as soon as you learn of them because your child will benefit from the therapy for the rest of his life. 

On a personal note, my daughter started speech and language therapy at age 3 and continued through early high school. It helped so much! She became a thespian in high school and continues to act in plays with a local community theater group. In college, her highest grade (A+) was in a Public Speaking course!  Without receiving speech therapy, I doubt she would have overcome her obstacles to the point where she could speak in front of large groups or act on a stage in front of a live audience. Never say never!

Have questions?  Send them to AskUs@marchofdimes.com.

Note: This post is part of the weekly series Delays and disabilities – how to get help for your child. It was started on January 16, 2013 and appears every Wednesday . Feel free to go back to look at prior posts as the series builds on itself. As always, we welcome your comments and input.

Tuesday, March 26, is Diabetes Alert Day. It is designed to teach the public about the seriousness of diabetes, particularly when the disease is left undiagnosed or untreated.

Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy significantly increases a woman’s future chances of developing diabetes. About half will develop diabetes over the next 10 years. And the mom isn’t the only one at risk - her child of that pregnancy may be at an increased risk for developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

Find out if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking the Diabetes Risk Test and talking to your family about your family history of diabetes. If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, amputation, and even death.

For more information and free resources, visit the NDEP Web site at YourDiabetesInfo.org.

A new study from the CDC released in today’s journal Pediatrics revealed that 40% of mothers surveyed gave solid food to their baby before the age of four months. While the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend breastfeeding or formula feeding exclusively to the age of six months, many of the 1134 mothers involved in the study introduced cereal and fruit long before then, some as early as four weeks.

This early introduction of solid food occurred more than twice as often in women feeding with formula over breastfeeding women. The main reasons women gave for starting solids so early were “My baby was old enough,” “My baby seemed hungry a lot of the time,” “My baby wanted the food I ate,” “A doctor or other health professional said my baby should begin eating solid food,” or “It would help my baby sleep longer at night.”

This low adherence to infant feeding recommendations is of concern because, developmentally, younger infants are not prepared for solid food. Researchers have suggested that “early introduction of solids may increase the risk of some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, eczema, and celiac disease.” The health benefits of breastmilk (lower risk of ear and respiratory infections, diarrhea, diabetes, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome) are significantly impacted when women cut back on breastfeeding as they introduce solids.

When beginning solid foods in your baby’s diet, it’s important to know that solid foods are meant to complement your baby’s overall nutrition, not replace breastmilk or formula. During this transition, your baby’s primary source of nutrition should still be breastmilk or, if he is bottle-fed, formula.

Speak with your baby’s health care provider before introducing solid foods into his diet. Remember these things when you do start:
    • Although you’re starting your baby on solid foods, you don’t need to wean him from breastmilk right away. Some babies may no longer have an interest in breastfeeding after 1 year of age. But breastfeeding can continue beyond the first year of life if mother and child wish.
    • Don’t feed your baby solid or pureed foods through his bottle. This takes away from your baby’s overall learning about how to hold and eat foods. It can also put him at risk for eating too much and becoming overweight. It’s best to use a teaspoon to feed your baby solid foods. Also, feeding baby with a spoon plays an important role in your baby’s language development.
    • Do not give your baby cow’s milk until he is at least 1 year old. At age 1, cow’s milk can become a major source of essential nutrients for your baby. Babies should be given whole milk until age 2.
    • Do not give food or sweets to your baby as a reward for good behavior. Instead reward him with praise, kisses, love and attention.
    • Practice good oral hygiene for your baby right away. As soon as he has teeth, start cleaning them with a small wet washcloth.

Many people I know take off their shoes and leave them by the door when they enter their home. They teach their children to do the same. It keeps from tracking in all sorts of unwanted dirt, germs and other nasty things, and helps keep the house clean. I get it. But we and many people we know don’t do that in our homes. We wipe our feet on the mat before we come in and keep our shoes on. Unfortunately, this causes a bit of a problem for us when the troops come to visit.

Well trained family members, even the tiniest tot, shed their shoes on the rug in the front hall. My husband and I, being empty-nester grandparents for years, are somewhat set in our ways. (Imagine that!) We’re not used to finding anything in the front hall and one of these days we’re likely to take a swan dive over a sandal and land in a heap. Not quite as spry as we once were (hmmmm), there is the remote possibility of cracking our thin candy shells or enduring hip trauma. Ouch! This might also be true for some grandparents you know.

So here’s an idea for all of us - create a shoe shed, boot box, moccasin mat or clog corral to leave by the door for all to use. (This is going to be my weekend project.) This will help eliminate potential accidents. And on behalf of all grandparents who might not see as well as we used to without our glasses, we thank you.

Some women think that pregnancy is a time to sit back and put their feet up. Not so! For most women, it’s important to exercise during pregnancy. In fact, it has many health benefits, so put down the remote, step out of your office and tie up your sneakers.
 
Healthy pregnant women need at least 2½ hours of exercise each week. This is about 30 minutes each day. If this sounds like a lot, don’t worry. You don’t have to do it all at once. Instead, split up your exercise by doing something active for 10 minutes three times each day. Take Fido for his morning constitutional. Walk around the block or parking lot with friends on your lunch hour. Go for a walk or bike ride after dinner to pick up a decaf at the local café or to check out the neighborhood gardens. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring.

For healthy pregnant women, exercise can:
• Keep your heart, body and mind healthy
• Help you feel good and find the extra energy you need
• Help you stay fit and gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy
• Ease some of the discomforts you might have during pregnancy, like constipation, backaches, trouble sleeping and varicose veins (swollen veins)
• Prevent health problems like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
• Help your body get ready to give birth
• Reduce stress

If you’d rather keep going to the gym, you probably can. With their health care provider’s OK, exercising during pregnancy is safe for most expecting moms and their babies. So talk to your doc or midwife before you start any exercise program, and ask about what kinds of exercise are safe for you to do.