The Health Blog

Your newborn goes through a lot right after he’s born. Whether the birth was natural or assisted, he experiences a great deal of stress as he copes with the abrupt change in the world as he knows it. No wonder he’s a little out of sorts those first few weeks.

The first days home with baby can be trying. He’s adjusting. You’re adjusting. Everyone is a bundle of nerves. If you stay calm, however, these simple tips will ease the transition for both of you.

*Sing and talk to your baby. Your newborn begins to hear your voice while still growing inside you. By the time he is born, the familiarity of that sound has a remarkable calming effect. Talk to him, sing your favorite lullaby, and read books to him, especially stories that rhyme.

*Make eye contact. While baby’s do not have 20/20 vision at birth, they can see you. By making eye contact with your baby when you talk to or massage him, you are communicating with him, and if you watch his cues, you’ll learn how he communicates with you.

*Touch your baby. It’s natural act, yet so powerful. Stroke his arms, legs, head, and back. The sensations relax both of you and enhance your bonding. If possible, learn about infant massage techniques and incorporate them into your daily routine. Research suggests that simple massage strokes relieve colic and constipation, as well as help infants establish regular sleep patterns and form stronger bonds with their caregivers.

Diabetes in children is also known as juvenile diabetes, but more commonly known as type 1 diabetes. It is the most common form of diabetes in children with ninety to ninety-five percent of carriers being under 16.

Juvenile diabetes is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. It is an autoimmune disease, which means the bodies own defense system attacks the body’s tissues or organs.

In the last 30 years the number of juvenile diabetes had increased three times over and in Europe and the US we are now seeing type 2 diabetes in children for the first time.

Obesity easily explains type 2, but not why there is such a rise in type 1 diabetes in children. It is believed that a mixture of genetics and environmental factors are what triggers juvenile diabetes. But the majority of children don’t have a family history of diabetes.

The symptoms for juvenile diabetes are the same as in adults. Thirst, weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination is typical, but diabetes in children can also increase stomach pains, headaches and behavior problems.

Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in children who have unexplained stomach pains for a few weeks, along with the typical symptoms.

At night, while parents extend their work at home under bright artificial lights, little kids also lose their sense of a relaxed home. Their stress may be expressed in the form of irritability, crying, bed wetting, and misbehavior.

Here are some tips on how to have your children get a good night’s sleep:

1. Feed your children right. Children get poor sleep with stomach discomforts. Thus, they often wake up and cry at night. To avoid this, feed them with light, easily digestible, carbohydrate-rich food before sunset. Ripe banana of any variety is suggested because it contains serotonin and potassium that induce sound sleep. Children need light stomachs to sleep comfortably. Feeding them while tired or drowsy at late night may lead to indigestion, flatulence and discomfort.

2. Dedicate an early evening time with your kids. As soon as you get home from work, spend time (between 6 and 8 p.m.) with your family. Tag this period as “family time.” Attend to their needs and play with them in a variety of creative, less active endeavors both indoor and outdoor. Make this schedule regular and consistent.

3. Establish prebedtime routines at an early age. After family time, help your kids prepare their bottles, brush their teeth, empty their bladder, wash their face and body, change to their sleep clothes, and set their beddings. Massage them or simply tap them lightly for physical and nervous relaxation. This pattern will eventually become normal and spontaneous as they grow up. Likewise, such routines cue them to get to bed right away and condition them for a comfortable peaceful sleep.

4. Pray as a family before going to bed. Train your kids to say short prayers. Praying makes them feel safe knowing they have asked God to watch over them. Praying also instills int heir young minds faith and trust in God.

Depression that follows the birth of a baby is common, as new moms are overwhelmed by the changes in their bodies and routines.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers this list of reasons for why postpartum depression affects some new mothers:

* New moms can suffer from lack of sleep after the baby’s birth, which can lead to fatigue, stress and depression.
* New moms can feel overwhelmed by all of the new things to do, and by other changes in their lives. They may even feel unsure of their parenting skills.
* New moms may set unrealistic expectations for themselves.
* New moms have less time for themselves, with their partners, and less time to do what they want.

Because of the recent incident of food poisoning at this years Chicago Food Festival, parents were alarmed about the seriousness of this case, thus continue to seek immediate care for food poisoned patient. Here are some useful tips or home remedies while waiting for medical attention:

Short episodes of vomiting and small amounts of diarrhea lasting less than 24 hours can usually be cared for at home. Do not eat solid food while nauseous or vomiting but drink plenty of fluids.

• Small, frequent sips of clear liquids (those you can see through) are the best way to stay hydrated.
• Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated, or sugary drinks, if possible. Over–the–counter rehydration products made for children such as Pedialyte and Rehydralyte are expensive but good to use if available.
• Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade are fine for adults if they are diluted with water because at full strength they contain too much sugar, which can worsen diarrhea.

A new children’s book written by award-wining writer Debjani Chatterjee encourages young people to follow their dreams and also provides self-management tips on asthma.

Funded by Asthma UK through the Challenge Fund, the book, entitled ‘A Special Assembly’, tells the story of a young south Asian boy called Raj, who has asthma and wants to follow in the footsteps of his favourite cricket player.

The book was commissioned by the Asian People’s Disability Alliance (APDA), a voluntary organisation managed and run by Asian people with disabilities. Alongside the story it provides information on managing asthma in a south Asian cultural and social context, with guidance notes for parents in English, Gujarati, Urdu and Bengali.

Healthday News – Pets can help build your child’s self esteem and self-confidence, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

They can also enrich your child’s emotional development by:

• Offering your child important exposure to issues like reproduction, birth, illness, accidents, death and grief.
• Teaching your child responsibility.
• Providing a connection to nature and teaching respect, empathy and patience for other living things.
• Offering unconditional love, loyalty, affection and comfort.

All toys, no matter how safe, may not be appropriate for children of all ages. Other toys may have moving parts or sharp edges that make them inappropriate for children of any age.

Here are suggestions on how to choose safe toys for your child, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Don’t give your child toys with small parts that can be easily removed or broken.
* Follow safety information and age guidelines listed on toys.
* Look for toys that say “non-toxic,” or “washable/hygienic materials” on stuffed animals that can be washed.
* Make sure your child only has access to toys that are appropriate for her age.
* To prevent choking, don’t allow young children to play with marbles, or other small toys less than 1 3/4 inches diameter or 2 inches long.

The American Heart Association has issued eight new recommendations to help reduce congenital heart defects in babies.

The recommendations include actions women can take before becoming pregnant.

The recommendations, printed in the journal Circulation, are as follows:

• Take a multivitamin that contains folic acid.
• Get preconception and prenatal medical care.
• Get screened for diabetes. If you have diabetes, manage it carefully during pregnancy.
• Get vaccinated against rubella and influenza (flu).

If you have an inherited disease called PKU (phenylketonuria), which affects your diet, talk to your doctor about proper nutrition during pregnancy.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death among American children ages 14 and younger, but a few simple measures can greatly reduce the risk of such tragedies, experts say.

Here are simple measures suggested:

1. Pools and spas should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least five feet high with gates that close and latch automatically. This type of isolation fencing could prevent 50 percent to 90 percent of child drownings in residential pools, studies estimate.

2. Consider a pool alarm and alarms on doors, windows and gates leading to the pool.

3. Pools and spas with a single drain should have an anti-entrapment drain cover and a safety vacuum release system to prevent children from being caught underwater in the powerful suction of the drain.

4. Don’t leave toys in or near a pool where they may attract unsupervised children.

Researchers make a series of recommendations about how parents, doctors and nurses can ease the fear and pain surrounding childhood immunizations.

Before the injection:

–While details should be guided by each child’s age and development level, researchers found children over the age of 2 benefit when told what will happen and how it will feel. Children can also be asked to help think of things that will help them cope, such as bringing along a favorite toy.

Researchers suggest the discussions occur as close to the actual injection as possible for toddlers and preschool-aged children to avoid escalating anxiety. For older children, parents need to consider how each child handles stress.

During the injection:

–Parents should adopt a calm and matter-of-fact manner, because research indicates adults who are overapologetic, too reassuring, extremely empathetic or critical of their child’s behavior can cause more distress.