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Thanks to the vaccinations that have become common place in our society we have been able to eliminate many diseases. Things like whooping cough, measles, and polio have all but disappeared. Vaccination rates are at an all time high thanks to the success of the vaccinations, the information available to parents when making decisions about vaccinations, and the recommendations of pediatricians.
There are still those who question the necessity for vaccinations and worry that the side effects outweigh the benefits. Research has found that the minimal side effects associated with vaccinations are rare and that the benefits seen from getting the vaccinations far outweigh the risks. If you are worried about getting your child vaccinated talk to your pediatrician and be sure you have all the information before you decide to opt out.
Here is the list of the vaccinations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for the first 2 years of life.
- Hepatitis B: three shot vaccination done at birth, 1-4 months and 6-18 months.
- Diptheria,tetanus, pertussis: four shot vaccination done at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15-18 months.
- Haemophilus influenza type B: four shot vaccination done at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12-15 months.
- Inactivated polio: 3 shot vaccination done at 2 months, 4 months and 6-18 months.
- Measles, mumps, rubella: 1 shot vaccination done at 12-18 months.
- Varicella (chicken pox): 1 shot vaccination done at 12-18 months.
- Pneumococcal: 4 shot vaccination done at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12-15 months.
- Influenza: shots yearly starting at 6 months through 59 months.
- Rotavirus: 3 shot vaccination done at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months.
- Hepatitus A: 2 shot vaccination done 6 months apart between 12-23 months.
For more information regarding vaccinations visit the following websites.
A massage can be relaxing anytime, but imagine how wonderful it would feel for the aches and pains of pregnancy. As many women take a more integrative approach to their pregnancies, mixing regular medical care with alternative care, prenatal massage has become more common. Pregnancy is hard on our bodies causing aches and pains all over. Prenatal massage is designed to target those areas where pregnancy has the most impact on our bodies.
If you are interested in prenatal massage be sure to look for a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage as it requires special techniques that some massage therapists may not know about. You can’t of course lay on your stomach as you normally would for a massage. With prenatal massage you will either lay on a special table with the belly cut out or on your side. There are times in your pregnancy when massage should be avoided, including during your first trimester or if your pregnancy is high risk and your doctor advises against it.
Massage has also become more common in the labor room as well. For those women attempting to have a natural childbirth massage can be a great pain management technique. Some doulas are trained in massage, while other women will hire an actual massage therapist to come in during their labor. You can also have your spouse learn some special massage techniques to utilize during labor.
Massage can be a great tool during your pregnancy to help manage the stress of pregnancy as well as the aches and pains. Be sure to talk to your doctor before getting a prenatal massage to make sure it is OK for you during your pregnancy.
Is there anything more frightening than approaching your new baby’s little, tiny hands with a pair of scissors or nail clippers? A baby’s nails tend to grow very fast which means you will need to face your fear early and often (at least you’ll be a pro in no time). When your baby’s nails get too long they tend to cut their little faces, not that cute in pictures and devastating to a new parent.
Here are some tips for tackling this daunting and fear laden task:
- You can use many different things to cut your baby’s nails including baby (round tipped) scissors, baby nail clippers, an emery board, or you can peel them or bite them off.
- Be careful when using scissors and nail clippers that you have only nail in the line of fire and none of the baby’s skin.
- It can be difficult to get your baby to remain still so it is often recommended that you tackle this task when your little one is sleeping. Or, you can tackle the task as a pair. Your partner can hold the baby while you cut the nails.
- Your baby’s nails will be softer after a bath and maybe easier to work with so this may be a good time to cut her little nails.
- If you do accidentally cut your baby’s finger in the process know that you are not the first nor the last parent to do this. Stop the bleeding, calm down, relax and approach the task again later when you feel better.
Often the nurses in the maternity ward will show you how to cut your baby’s nails, if not ask them. You can also ask for advise from friends and family members. Don’t worry, this task will seem very scary and daunting at first, but before you know it you will be a pro.
Exercise is important during pregnancy just as it is throughout life. It is an excellent tool to manage your weight and energy during pregnancy, as well as to help keep you active and limber throughout pregnancy, which can ease pregnancy aches and pains and ease labor. Of course it is not always OK to exercise during pregnancy so be sure to talk to your doctor about any special circumstances in your pregnancy.
A few rules to keep exercise safe during pregnancy:
- Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise routine. It is generally OK for most women to exercise during pregnancy but there are always exceptions so it is important to talk to your care provider first.
- Eat well and take in extra calories. During pregnancy it is recommended that you consume 300 more calories, this is especially important if you are exercising.
- Say no to dangerous sports, especially those that involve contact, require balance, or require you to lie flat on your back.
- Wear the right clothing. Be sure your exercise wear is loose fitting and comfortable. You don’t want to get over heated or be uncomfortable so keep that in mind when you purchase your maternity exercise wear.
- Take time before your workout to warm up and after your workout to cool down. During pregnancy hormones make your joints looser so warming up and cooling down are important to avoid unnecessary injuries.
- Keep hydrated. Dehydration during pregnancy can cause false labor, it can also raise your body temperature which is dangerous to the baby. Keep hydrated throughout the day and then be sure to have water with you so you can keep hydrated during your work out.
- Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body. If you are feeling any pain, discomfort, or are exhausted stop your workout.
- Make exercise part of your routine. If you did not exercise prior to pregnancy this is especially important as it was not part of your routine before. You are more likely to stick with it if it is part of your daily routine.
Again, it is very important to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise routine during pregnancy. Exercise can be very helpful for most pregnant women, but not all.
The rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are continuing to go down every year. In order to continue to help lower this risk remember to always put your baby down on his back to sleep, keep pillows and other stuffed animals out of the crib, and never leave your child unattended on a soft surface either on his stomach or back.
Researchers believe that when babies sleep on their tummies their faces can get wedged in bedding, causing them to re-breathe carbon dioxide and get too little oxygen. A normal reaction to a lack of oxygen in the brain stimulates arousal, faster breathing and a shift of position to get more oxygen. New research being conducted be Children’s Hospital in Boston shows that babies who have died of SIDS may have had a brain abnormality that inhibits this arousal. The hope is that this research will lead to testing that will enable doctors to identify infants at risk for SIDS.
The more doctors, researchers and parents know about SIDS including how to prevent it, what causes it, and what makes a child more at risk the better able we will be of continuing to lower the rate of SIDS and maybe even eliminating it.
For more information on SIDS visit The American SIDS Institute.