The following information was compiled and shared by the National Council on Folic Acid
Folic Acid Awareness Week – 2012
January 8-14th is National Folic Acid Awareness Week. Adequate folic acid intake is important for the prevention of birth defects.
For all women of childbearing age:
Folic acid is a vitamin that can help prevent birth defects. Women of childbearing age need an extra 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day. Check out CDC’s http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html
Women can get the recommended 400 mcg of folic acid by taking a daily multivitamin or by eating fortified foods. Check the label of your favorite cereal to see if it has 100% DV (daily value) of folic acid. See http://www.cdc.gov/features/FolicAcid/
Important growth of the baby happens very early in pregnancy, before most women know they are pregnant. Folic acid can prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine if a woman takes it before and during pregnancy. See http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/folicacidearlyp.htm
If you are pregnant remember to take a prenatal vitamin with iron and folic acid every day. Visit www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/factsheet/folic-acid.cfm
More than half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Talk to your health care provider about a reproductive life plan. Check out the website http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/getready.html
If you are planning a pregnacy or are pregnant, do NOT drink alcohol. No amount of alcohol is safe for the unborn baby. See www.notasingledrop.org for more N.O. FAS http://www.nofas.org/family/pregnant.aspx or information and resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) like “Effects of Alcohol on a Fetus” at http://fascenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNK_Effects_Fetus.pdf
Talk with your doctor or midwife about newborn screening before your baby is born. See the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS webpage NBS at http://www.babysfirsttest.org/ from HRSA
Every woman should talk to their doctor about their and their partner’s family health history. Sharing your Family Health History can help your doctor identify diseases for which you may be at increased risk. See the CDC information at http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/
Sharing your Family Health History can help your doctor identify changes you can make to reduce your risk and your children’s risk of developing disease. See http://www.nim.nih.gov/medlineplus/familyhistory.html for additional information.
Nutritional habits
Although all enriched cereals and grain products in the U.S. are fortified with the B-vitamin folic acid, only one-third of U.S. women of childbearing age consume the recommended amount from their diet. Taking a multivitamin with folic acid every day is a key way that women can get the recommended amount of 400 mcg.
Be prepared before pregnancy
Women need folic acid, even if not planning to become pregnant, since 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned. Taking folic acid before pregnancy reduces the rick of birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects (NTD), by up to 70%.
For the the Hispanic community
Hispanic babies are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than others in the U.S. to be born with an NTD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that Latinas in the U.S. consume the least amount of folic acid and have the least knowledge about folic acid among racial or ethic groups.
National Council on Folic Acid Mission Statement
The mission of the National Council on Folic Acid (NCFA) is to improve healthby promoting the benefits and consumption of folic acid.
Source http://www.folicacidinfo.org/
Posted in Baby's Health, Education, National Health Observances, Nutrition, Preconception, Pregnancy, Uncategorized, Women's Health, alcohol, birth defects, diseases
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Tagged alcohol, babies, Baby, birth defects, diseases, folic acid, healthy, March of Dimes, Pregnancy, pregnant, prenatal care
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Hmmm – what do the holidays and disasters have in common? Nothing, except that disasters can happen on any day, at any time and without warning. That’s why it is so important to be prepared – especially for vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, infants and small children. While the following list is largely for the consideration of professionals, all can benefit from the information provided.
Meeting The Special Needs Of Pregnant Women & Infants:
Six Key Elements For Every Disaster Plan -
1: Designated Shelters For Pregnant Women & Families With Infant(s)
* Medical services for pregnant women and infants provided at the shelter
* Furniture and equiptment – cots and chairs for pregnant women, cribs
* Health and hygiene needs for mothers and infants and pregnant women
* Area for bottle washing or method for bottle exchange
* Identification of women and children via ID bracelets
* Location near a hospital
* Educational materials for pregnant women and families with infants
2: Basic Supplies & Equiptment For Pregnant Women & Infants
* Medical supplies – disposable medical supplies
* Health and hygiene needs for mothers and infants – ready to feed formula, diapers (including preemie diapers), infant and preemie pacifiers, infant clothes, breast pumps, breast pads, feminine hygiene products
* Furniture and equiptment – cribs, car seats, strollers
3: A Plan To Provide Prenatal Care & Well Baby Services In The Aftermath Of A Disaster
* Plan to advise public on where to get prenatal care and well baby services
* Information on availability of Disaster Medicaid and information on various health insurance plans and what coverage is provided
* Prenatal care and well baby services for women living in shelters and temporary housing
* Transportation to get women and infants to prenatal care and well baby services
4: A Plan To Ensure That All Women Have Access To Safe Environments To Deliver Babies
* Plan to provide alternative locations for safe deliveries in the event that existing facilities are not available
* Plan to provide medical personnel for deliveries in alternative locations
* Plan to advise the public on accessing alternative locations
* Information on availability of Disaster Medicaid and information on various health insurance plans and what coverage is provided
* Method to provide women with their own digital prenatal health records
5: A Plan To Keep Families & Infants Together & Reconnect Families With Infants
* Hospitals should have a plan in place outlining where infants will be evacuated to in an emergency
*Method to keep digital health records with patients during a disaster when possible
* Duplicate methods to get in touch with family members including out-of-state contacts provided for all infants such as a website (specific to moms and babies), hotline, and direct contact information for the hospital
6: Educational Materials For Pregnant Women & Families With Infants
* Educational materials on disaster preparedness and recovery
* Educational materials on all maternal and child health issues
*Public information about how to access prenatal and well baby services
* A way to reach women in rural and hard to reach areas
* A way to reach women when traditional methods are not available
March of Dimes (2006)
Below are some additonal resources to utilize when preparing for disaster -
http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/cdc_english/foodwater-3.asp from the American Red Cross
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/pregnant.asp from the Center for Disease Control
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/specialpopulationsanddisasters.html from US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.womenshealth.gov/emergency-preparedness/ from US Department of Health and Human Services
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Posted in Baby's Health, Children's Health, Family, Local Resources, New Baby, Parenting, Preconception, Pregnancy, Safety, Uncategorized, breastfeeding
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Tagged babies, Baby, breastfeeding, breastmilk, healthy, Holiday Season, March of Dimes, Medicaid, Pregnancy, pregnant, prenatal care, Risk factors, Safety, stress, support
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More than a half million babies in the United States—that’s 1 in every 8—are born premature each year. Learn more about premature birth, risk factors, consequences, and opportunities for prevention:
What is Premature Birth?
It is a birth that is at least three weeks before a baby’s due date. It is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks — full term is 40 weeks).
Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy – all the way through the final months and weeks. Although most babies born a few weeks early do well with no health consequences, some do have more health problems than full-term babies. For example, a baby born at 35 weeks is more likely to have—
- Jaundice,
- Breathing problems, and
- Longer hospital stays.
Most preterm deliveries happen spontaneously and without a known cause. Doctors sometimes decide to deliver a baby early because of concerns for the health of the mother or the baby. Medical intervention for an early delivery should only be considered when there is a medical reason to do so.
The more preterm a baby is born, the more severe his or her health problems are likely to be. Although babies born very preterm are a small percent of all births, preterm delivery is the most frequent cause of infant deaths. Some premature babies require special care and spend weeks or months hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Those who survive may face lifelong problems such as—
Warning Signs of Preterm Labor
In most cases, preterm labor begins unexpectedly and with no known cause.
The warning signs are—
- Contractions (abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
- Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina)
- Pelvic pressure—the feeling that the baby is pushing down
- Low, dull backache
- Cramps that feel like a menstrual period
- Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea
Risk Factors
Even if a woman does everything “right” during pregnancy, she still can have a premature baby. There are some known risk factors for premature birth.
The known risk factors are—
Preterm birth can happen to anyone and most women who have a premature birth have no known risk factors. There are things that women can do to help their health and lower the risk of having a premature baby such as—
- Quit smoking and avoid substances such as alcohol or drugs.
- See your health care provider for a medical checkup before pregnancy.
- Work with your health care provider to control diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Get prenatal care early, as soon as you think you may be pregnant, and throughout the pregnancy.
- Discuss concerns during pregnancy with your health care provider, and seek medical attention for any warning signs or symptoms of preterm labor.
Birth is a complex and wonderful process. Fortunately, the outcome for most women is a full term, healthy baby. More research still is needed to understand the risk factors for premature birth, such as how family history, genetics, infections, race and ethnicity, nutrition, and environment may interact to put some women at greater risk for a premature delivery.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PrematureBirth/?source=govdelivery
Posted in Baby's Health, Children's Health, Development, Education, National Health Observances, Preconception, Pregnancy, Uncategorized, birth defects, premature babies
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Tagged babies, Baby, birth defects, healthy, Pregnancy, pregnant, premature babies, premature baby, premature birth, prenatal care, preterm labor
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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.
SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12 months, and is the third leading cause overall of infant mortality in the United States. Although the overall rate of SIDS in the United States has declined by more than 50% since 1990, rates for non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native infants remain disproportionately higher than the rest of the population. Preventing SIDS remains an important public health priority. (http://www.cdc.gov/sids/)
Many infants die during sleep from unsafe sleep environments. Some of these deaths are from entrapment, suffocation, and strangulation. Some infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways for parents to keep their sleeping baby safe.
Read on for more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how parents can create a safe sleep environment for their babies. This information should also be shared with anyone who cares for babies, including grandparents, family, friends, babysitters, and child care centers.
What you can do
- Place your baby to sleep on his back for every sleep. Babies up to 1 year of age should always be placed on their backs to sleep during naps and at night. However, if your baby has rolled from his back to his side or stomach on his own, he can be left in that position if he is already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy. If your baby falls asleep in a car safety seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling he should be moved to a firm sleep surface as soon as possible.
- Place your baby to sleep on a firm sleep surface. The crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard should meet current safety standards. Check to make sure the product has not been recalled. Do not use a crib that is broken or missing parts, or has drop-side rails. Cover the mattress that comes with the product with a fitted sheet. Do not put blankets or pillows between the mattress and the fitted sheet. Never put your baby to sleep on a chair, sofa, water bed, cushion, or sheepskin. For more information about crib safety standards, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
- Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the crib. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and stuffed toys can cause your baby to suffocate. Note: Research has not shown us when it’s 100% safe to have these objects in the crib; however, most experts agree that after 12 months of age these objects pose little risk to healthy babies.
- Place your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep but not the same bed. Keep the crib or bassinet within an arm’s reach of your bed. You can easily watch or breastfeed your baby by having your baby nearby. Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are at risk of SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation. Parents can roll onto babies during sleep or babies can get tangled in the sheets or blankets.
- Breastfeed your baby if possible. Studies show that breastfeeding your baby can help reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Schedule and go to all well-child visits. Your baby will receive important immunizations. Recent evidence suggests that immunizations may have a protective effect against SIDS.
- Keep your baby away from smokers and places where people smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. However, until you can quit, keep your car and home smoke-free. Don’t smoke inside your home or car and don’t smoke anywhere near your baby, even if you are outside.
- Do not let your baby get too hot. Keep the room where your baby sleeps at a comfortable temperature. In general, dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear. Your baby may be too hot if she is sweating or if her chest feels hot. If you are worried that your baby is cold, infant sleep clothing designed to keep babies warm without the risk of covering their heads can be used.
- Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. This helps to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is going well before offering a pacifier. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. It’s OK if your baby doesn’t want to use a pacifier. You can try offering a pacifier again, but some babies don’t like to use pacifiers. If your baby takes the pacifier and it falls out after he falls asleep, you don’t have to put it back in.
- Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Home cardiorespiratory monitors can be helpful for babies with breathing or heart problems but they have not been found to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Do not use products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. Products such as wedges, positioners, special mattresses, and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. In addition, some infants have suffocated while using these products.
What expectant moms can do
- Schedule and go to all prenatal doctor visits.
- Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs while pregnant and after birth. Stay away from smokers and places where people smoke.
Remember Tummy Time
Give your baby plenty of “tummy time” when she is awake. This will help strengthen neck muscles and avoid flat spots on the head. Always stay with your baby during tummy time and make sure she is awake. (http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/sleep/pages/Preventing-SIDS.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token)
Posted in Baby's Health, Education, National Health Observances, New Baby, Preconception, Pregnancy, Safety, Uncategorized, breastfeeding
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Tagged babies, Baby, breastfeeding, death, Pregnancy, pregnant, Risk factors, Safety
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Over 170 Countries Worldwide Celebrate!
http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
The experience of breastfeeding is special for so many reasons – the joyful bonding with your baby, the cost savings, and the health benefits for both mother and baby. Read on for tips and suggestions to help you successfully breastfeed:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/
For local resources, please visit the North Country Prenatal Perinatal Council Directory of Services: http://www.ncppc.org/directory-search-results?limitstart4=0&resetfilters=1&fabrik_table_filter_all=Breastfeeding&search-mode-advanced=all, or call: 315-788-8533 or 1-800-279-8679
Posted in Baby's Health, Groups for Moms, Local Resources, New Baby, Nutrition, Uncategorized, Women's Health, breastfeeding
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Tagged babies, Baby, breastmilk, Cornell Coopertive Extension of Jefferson County, healthy, March of Dimes, NCPPC
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Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep!
Protect your baby from group B strep. If you’re 35-37 weeks pregnant, ask your doctor or nurse about a group B strep test.
If you are pregnant—or know anyone who is—you need to know about group B strep (GBS), also known as baby strep. This disease is caused by group B streptococcal bacteria, which are commonly found in healthy women of all races and ethnicities. In fact, about 1 in 4 women in the U.S. carry these bacteria, which they can pass on to their baby during childbirth. If you have GBS, your baby can get very sick and even die if you are not tested and treated.
Being a carrier for GBS bacteria does not mean you have an infection. It only means you have these bacteria in your body. You would not feel these bacteria or have symptoms like a yeast infection. These bacteria are usually not harmful to you—only to your baby during childbirth or soon after being born.
Preventing Group B Strep
Ask your doctor or nurse for a GBS test when you are 35–37 weeks pregnant. The test is an easy swab of the vagina and rectum that should not hurt.
Each time you are pregnant, you need to be tested for GBS. It doesn’t matter if you did or did not have this type of bacteria before; each pregnancy is different.
Carrying GBS bacteria does not mean that you are not clean, and it does not mean that you have a sexually transmitted disease. The bacteria are not spread from food, sex, water, or anything that you might have come into contact with. They can come and go naturally in the body.
The medicine to stop GBS from spreading to your baby is an antibiotic given during labor. The antibiotic (usually penicillin) is given to you through an IV (in the vein) during childbirth. If you are allergic to penicillin, there are other ways to help treat you during labor.
Antibiotics taken before labor will not protect your baby against GBS. The bacteria can grow back so fast that taking the medicine before you begin labor does not prevent the bacteria from spreading to your baby during childbirth.
Other people in the house, including kids, are not at risk of getting sick from GBS.
If you think you might have a C-section or go into labor early (prematurely), talk with your doctor or nurse about your personal GBS plan.
What You Can Do Before Labor
- Ask your doctor or nurse for a GBS test when you are 35–37 weeks pregnant.
- If you are allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics, make sure to tell your doctor or nurse about any reactions you have had.
- If your test shows that you carry the bacteria, talk with your doctor or nurse about a plan for labor.
- Continue your regular check-ups, and always call your doctor or nurse if you have any problems.
When Your Water Breaks or When You Go into Labor
If you have not had your GBS test when labor starts, remind the staff that you do not know your GBS status.
If you are a GBS carrier:
- Go to the hospital. The antibiotics work best if you get them at least 4 hours before you deliver.
- Tell the labor and delivery staff at the hospital that you are a group B strep carrier.
- Speak up if you are allergic to penicillin.
- Expect to get IV antibiotics (medicine through the vein) during labor.
And remember, breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your baby, even if you have tested positive for GBS.
More Information
- Get a free brochure on GBS
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO
- Send an email request to CDC INFO
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