News Moms Need

Last month, my girlfriend had a new baby boy named Sebastian. The first and only time I’ve seen him is when he was just one day old. In the last few weeks, both my husband and I have been hit by a winter cold and bronchitis. And we certainly don’t want to be around a new baby if we’re feeling under the weather.

Newborns are most vulnerable to illnesses during their first few weeks of life. That’s because their little bodies have yet to build up their immune system so that they can fight off infections and diseases.

Whooping cough, an illness that is most dangerous to babies and young children, is on the rise. Most babies won’t get their whooping cough vaccine until they are about 2 months old.

A new study in today’s journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that almost half of all babies with whooping cough actually get it from their parents. Moms and dads may not even know they have whooping cough and may simply think they’ve got a bad cough.

If you’re a new mom and want to protect your baby from whooping cough, consider getting yourself the whooping cough vaccine. Your partner should also think about getting one. If you’re expecting, talk to your health provider about other vaccines to get during your pregnancy. By protecting your body from illnesses, you can better protect your baby.

Respiratory syncytial virus, RSV,  usually causes mild cold-like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever) that go away on their own in about 10 days to two weeks.  It’s very contagious and most children get it by the age of two.  RSV can develop into a serious condition, however, and is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under the age of one and in many older adults.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that “Premature infants, children less than 2 years of age with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, and children with compromised (weakened) immune systems due to a medical condition or medical treatment are at highest risk for severe disease. Adults with compromised immune systems and those 65 and older are also at increased risk of severe disease.”

We’re in the season for RSV infection (in the U.S. usually October to April) so it’s wise to take precautions to help prevent it.  The main thing to do is wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water.  Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, don’t share cups or spoons and forks with others, and people with cold symptoms should not kiss others.

The CDC has good information about RSV symptoms and prevention as does the RSV Protection website.  Take some time to review it, especially if you have anyone in your family who falls into the higher risk category.

With cold season just around the corner, you might be confused about the safety of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines for children.  Yesterday, the makers of children’s cold and cough medicines said they recommend parents not give these meds to children under age 4.  The cold meds will now have a label on them warning parents about giving cold meds to young children.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there isn’t enough research to show that these medicines work in young children.  The FDA had already warned that cold meds aren’t safe for babies and toddlers because they can lead to serious life-threatening side effects, like difficulty breathing and unconsciousness.

If your young child has a cold, there are lots of things you can do to make her feel better without using cold meds. For babies, try using a rubber suction bulb to help clear a stuffy nose. Your provider may recommend nasal saline (salt water) drops to ease stuffiness. Putting a cool-mist humidifier in a child’s room may also help her breathe more easily.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still trying to figure out what to do about cold and cough medicines for children.  At a public hearing late last week, the FDA said that parents should avoid giving children under age 6 over-the-counter cold medicines. They said there isn’t enough research to show whether or not they work in kids aged 6 and under.  But, the FDA is still not sure if a recall of these meds is necessary.

Earlier this year, the FDA warned parents that cold and cough medicines are too risky for babies and toddlers. Some of these cold medications can actually cause serious life-threatening side effects (difficulty breathing, unconsciousness) in children under age 2. 

While the FDA continues to hammer out this issue, there are certain steps you can take without using meds to make your child more comfortable during a cold. For babies, try using a rubber suction bulb to help clear a stuffy nose. Your provider may recommend nasal saline (salt water) drops to ease stuffiness. Putting a cool-mist humidifier in a child’s room may also help her breathe more easily.

News Moms Need will be sure to keep you posted on any new updates to this issue as they come.

October 6-10 is the first Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. It is designed to help all of us learn when it is appropriate and safe to take an antibiotic or give one to our children.

Often parents see a child with a cold (sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, flu symptoms) and they want the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic, “the magic medicine,” to make it go away.  There usually is no such medicine, but sometimes a doctor will comply with the request to please the troubled parent.  The fact is that most colds and flu, even most cases of bronchitis, are caused by viruses and antibiotics do not work on viruses – they fight bacteria.

Taking an antibiotic for a virus can cause more harm than good.  It won’t cure the problem or make you feel better (time will likely do that), but it may encourage your body to begin building up a resistance to the antibiotic.  If resistance occurs and you end up requiring the antibiotic for a bacterial infection in the future, it may not work for you.  That’s why it is important to take antibiotics only when they are appropriate and not to ask for them “just to be safe.”  The CDC has some very good information about when to use antibiotics.  

And while we’re on the subject of medications, remember not to give over-the-counter cough and cold products to infants and children younger than 2 years of age. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these medications can have serious and life-threatening side effects.  Read more about over-the-counter medications.

How many of us have bought and taken Airborne, those fizzy orange tablets, in the hope that they would prevent or cure colds? I’ve tried them because I hate colds. But apparently I wasted my money. 

On August 14, Airborne settled a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission.  The company will pay up to $30 million because it cannot support its advertising claims. 

Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said “There is no credible evidence that Airborne products . . . will reduce the severity or duration of colds, or provide any tangible benefit for people who are exposed to germs in crowded places.”

According to the manufacturer, Airborne Original Effervescent Formula contains 17 ingredients, including vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium. The tablets have been sold as a dietary supplment in groceries and drug stores for many years.

Some dietary supplements have undergone extensive testing. But for many, there is little evidence that they are either safe or effective. Pregnant women should avoid them. To read more, see the March of Dimes article.

Summer colds are the worst!  Even on a beautiful 80-degree day with lots of sunshine, colds can leave one feeling tired, stuffy and uncomfortable.  The only thing worse than having a summer cold is having a child with a summer cold. 

Most babies have 8-10 colds by the time they’re 2 years old.  Soothing a child’s cold symptoms can be very challenging.  But, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that parents should avoid giving children over-the-counter cold medicines because they’re just too risky for babies and toddlers. 

The FDA found that these children’s medications, which can be bought at your neighborhood pharmacy, can actually cause serious life-threatening side effects in children under age 2.  Some of these side effects include difficulty breathing and unconsciousness.

In the meantime, there are certain steps you can take to make your baby more comfortable without using cold medicines. Try using a rubber suction bulb to help clear her stuffy nose. Your provider may recommend nasal saline (salt water) drops to ease stuffiness. Putting a cool-mist humidifier in her room may also help her breathe more easily.