Miracle: “Kangaroo Care Method” Saves Preemie

How many employers do you think are actually aware of this law?

Unfortunately, I’m sure many employers are unaware of this Federal law and are probably unaware of the NYS law that has been in place for a couple of years with similar requirements.  

Here is what the NYS law states, “An employer shall provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break time or meal time each day to allow an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for up to three years following the child’s birth. The Employer should make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location in close proximity to the work area, where an employee who chooses to express breast milk in the work place.”

What was your experience like when you returned to work? Was your employer supportive? We’d love to highlight some of our local businesses.

Sources: Fact Sheet #73: Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA, United States Department of Labor; Going Back to School or Work, Breastfeeding partners.org;

Picture Source: Parenting Magazine

Knowing about the risks for preterm birth is important for all moms. Some risk factors should be managed before a woman becomes pregnant or early during her pregnancy. Some moms in the study were not told that having a previous premature birth would put them at risk for it to happen again. 

If you would like to learn more about preterm labor read our past blog posts Risks for Preterm Labor and Preterm Labor Can Happen to You .

Local pregnant women or moms who recently had a baby: when did your doctor or midwife talk to you about preterm labor?  How did learning about preterm labor make you feel?

Source: New Survey Reveals Communication about Preterm Birth is Too Little, Too Late

For more information on Immunizations in New York State visit the following:

NYS Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

NYS Adult Immunization Schedule 

I didn’t realize I needed certain immunizations until I started a new job. Do you know which shots you need? Does your doctor remind you to get the flu vaccination?

Sources: Adults Need Immunizations Too ; CDC Features: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What you need to know; Protecting Against Influenza (Flu): Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old

Picture source: Alignmap Blog

Skin-to-Skin Contact is between your baby’s front and your chest. If possible, place your baby on your chest right after he or she is born. Skin-to-skin contact is good to do any time, day or night. However, remember to place your baby on his or her back on a firm surface for sleep at night and for naps. 

Exclusive Breastfeeding  means that your baby only needs breast milk either by drinking directly from you or drinking your expressed milk.

Support to the dyad means that even if medical tests and procedures need to be done, health care providers will try not to separate you and your baby.

 Benefits of KMC

• You and your baby are able to begin bonding right away      
• Your baby’s oxygen, breathing and heart rates stabilize 
• Your baby’s temperature stabilizes
• Your breast milk production is signaled to start
• Your baby can breast feed easily and more often
• Your baby will smell breast milk and begin rooting (looking for the nipple)
• Your breast milk provides nutrients and antibodies that promote the health of your baby
• Your baby is less stressed and cries less often                     

The picture in this post is of a mom who delivered at one of our local hospitals. She gave us permission to use her photo to help promote skin-to-skin and breastfeeding.

Do you have any experience with Kangaroo Mother Care? We’d love to hear your stories.

Source: Kangaroo Mother Care Promotions

Why should you be concerned about Whooping Cough (Pertussis)?

Pertussis is a very contagious bacterial infection that causes cold-like symptoms which leads to severe coughing. In many cases, especially in babies, pertussis can lead to hospitalization, pneumonia, convulsions, even death! Babies are at a higher risk because they may not have received their complete DTaP vaccination yet. For maximum protection against pertussis, children need five DTaP shots. The first three shots are given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The fourth shot is given between 15 and 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at 4–6 years of age. Parents can also help protect infants by keeping them away as much as possible from anyone who has cold symptoms or is coughing.

To hear what Pertussis sounds like, visit Sounds of Pertussis

Are you going to enter the contest? We’d be happy to hear all about your epxerience.

Source: CDC Features: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) – What you need to know ; Sound off about Pertussis

Source: http://www.napnanny.com/

With this latest recall from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we have to ask ourselves, are all of these baby products necessary? As we mentioned in our recall post on the stylish slings, New Moms, Don’t Choose Style Over Safety, many new parents feel they need to have the latest and greatest products for their baby. The most important thing to be concerned about is the safety of your baby.

There are two things you can do to help keep your baby safe:

1. Always read and follow safety instructions for any product you purchase for your baby.
2. Be aware of recalls. The CPSC website is the best source for recalls. You can join their email subscription list to begin receiving recall information on infant and child products.

What do you think of this latest recall?

 Source: News from CPSC

After hearing local NICU stories today at our Premature Infant Health Network meeting, I have realized that these families go through so much. They need our support and understanding.

It is frightening to think that many premature babies are born to mothers who are healthy and have no risk factors. That’s why knowing the signs of pre-term labor are so important. Please refer to our past posts to learn more about pre-term labor: Preterm Labor Can Happen to You and Preterm Labor: Know Your Risks.

Do you have a preterm labor story? We’d like to hear from you.  

Source: Discovery Health 

CPSC recommends the following:

1. Safeguard your children by using window guards or window stops.                                                                                                                                                                                      – Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. (For windows on the 6th floor and below, install window guards that adults and older children can open easily in case of fire.)                                                                                                                                               – Install window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches.
2. Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
3. Whenever possible, open windows from the top — not the bottom.
4. Keep furniture away from windows, to discourage children from climbing near windows.
5. Some jurisdictions require landlords to install guards. Check your local regulations.

Every year, about 8 children die from window falls and about 3,300 are treated in the hospital due to falls from an open window. Don’t let your child be one of these statistics.

 Do you have any tips for parents that aren’t mentioned above? We’d love to hear from you.

Source: CPSC

The article is referring to babies that have been hurt or injured when parents have placed their babies on an elevated or soft surface. For example, placing the baby in the car seat and placing the car seat on the sofa. Or, placing the baby in the car seat and placing the car seat on the kitchen counter while you cook dinner. Have you done either of these? I know I have.

What is the risk? Well, from 2003-2007, 43,562 car seat–related injuries were treated in emergency departments. Most of these injuries occurred in the home and to infants aged 4 months or less. Of these injuries 84.3% of the infants suffered head injuries and 8.4 % had to be hospitalized.

Now, I know you are very careful with your baby, but think about whom else is around your baby. Maybe you have other young children or an energetic dog. Bottom line, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you avoid placing car seats on elevated or soft surfaces.

What are your thoughts on this study?

Source: Pediatrics; Soda Baby (Image)