News Moms Need

Do you get a knot in your stomach when you hear about people getting sick from eating unsafe hamburger meat? Do you worry when you hear that some canned food has been recalled?

Well, now there’s one place to help you get answers. Several federal agencies are working together on a new Web site about food safety.  Everything in one place. Great idea!

And here are some March of Dimes resources:

   * Food-borne risks in pregnancy
   * Food safety dring pregnancy
   * Feeding and food safety for baby

How do we know the water we use is safe and clean for our families? For most Americans, drinking water from the faucet is among the safest water in the world.

Did you know that the federal government regulates most drinking water in the United States? Problems are most likely to occur in private wells or small water systems that serve less than a thousand people.

If you have a child under 1 year of age, it’s a good idea to test the water for nitrates. Nitrates can cause anemia.

For more tips, read the March of Dimes article Drinking Water for Baby.

Car safety seats are an excellent way to protect children in the first years of life. The best position for baby in the seat is upright. But this same position can compress the chest and cause the baby to get less oxygen. These are the findings from a new study published recently in the medical journal Pediatrics.

What to do? Use the car seat only in the car and not at any other time. For instance, don’t use the car seat as a place for your baby to sit when you’re in your house or visiting. That way, you protect your baby in the car and outside of it, too.

My son was visiting his grandmother with his family a while ago, which was great.  My mom adored having her 3 year old great-grandson around.  But , since she hadn’t had tots in her house for a long time, she didn’t remember what a dangerous place the sink cabinet can be.  And, when he is not a pirate, this kid is an explorer, so into the cabinet he went.

We all did a quick shuffle and moved things around – the cleaning stuff went up and hard plastic bowls and pots came down.  But it got me to thinking about under sink safety.  I picked the following tips from several sources and thought I’d share them:

-  Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers to keep little ones away from dangerous chemicals (this goes for the bathroom as well as kitchen)
-  In an unlatched sink cabinet, make sure there aren’t any cleaning products/chemicals or filters with chemicals around
-  Remove any sharp objects or wire baskets that could turn into sharp objects (pirates and explorers make tools)
-  Make sure there are no loose wires or cords (to the dish washer, retractable spray hose) that a child could get tangled in
-  Make sure any outlets in the cabinet are covered
-  Make sure any trash containers have a tight-fitting lid

Got any other suggestions?

A colleague of mine is taking a course in CPR.   She was telling me that her main reason for doing so is because her elderly mother is going to be moving in with her and she wants to have a better idea of what to do in case of an emergency like passing out, not breathing, choking, etc.

It dawned on me that each of us as parents, future parents, family members and neighbors all would benefit from knowing something about emergency care. I took a first aid safety course a long time ago, I’m talking decades, and I’m sure I could use a little brushing up on techniques.  How up-to-date are you?  The American Red Cross offers courses in CPR and other health and safety services.  You should be able to find a course near you at their web site.  This might make a nice holiday gift for someone, too.

The Delta Enterprise Corporation has recalled nearly 1.6 drop-side cribs because they can cause babies to be trapped and possibly suffocated. The cribs’ drop side can detach, creating a risk for babies.

If you own a Delta crib, go to the crib recall Web site. To find out which models have been recalled, visit the recalled product list.

None of the recalled models are currently in stores. If you are shopping for a crib, read about crib safety on the March of Dimes Web site.

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.

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.

Memorial Day is the traditional start of summer. What are your plans? Beach? Pool? Family BBQ? With all the parties and BBQs going on this weekend, I want to highlight some of the things we need to think about whether we are hosting or being a guest. For starters: not all foods are safe for pregnant women. You know this already. But think about it in terms of a BBQ. Potato, macaroni or other mayonnaise based salads need to be kept cold. If you are eating outside put out small quantities and keep it on ice. Keep cold things cold. Meats should be cooked as they are needed and eaten piping hot from the grill. Eat hot things hot. Do not eat any meat raw, rare or even medium. You need to cook it long enough to kill the bacteria. If you are one of those people that need to measure things, hamburger should be cooked until a meat thermometer reads 160F. No raw or lightly cooked eggs in dressings such as Caesar either. Leave no food out for more than 4 hours. After that it should be thrown out. If you are offering a green salad, make sure to wash all the vegetable and fruits before assembly. Try to get domestic produce if possible. Imported produce often has higher levels of pesticides than that grown in the US.

If you are pregnant, no alcohol for you and limit you soda intake too. I am sure there will be juices and water in the beverage tub.

I hope to have a barbecue if the rain holds off. One of my guests is newly pregnant and another is a new mom. To make sure they enjoy the meal along with everyone else, I am planning on grilled veggies, Indonesian beef skewers, a rice salad and some fresh fruit and sorbet.  Sound yummy?

Whether you are eating exotic cuisine or burgers and potato salad it is important to keep it safe.  What are you doing this weekend?