Product safety…

Posted on March 31, 2011 by llpitlwp

There really is nothing more important than your child’s health and safety…here is valuable information from the March of Dimes.

Use it when you have questions about any products but especially children’s products that you already own or are planning to purchase.

Product safety database

“A new service exists for consumers looking for safety information on products they own or are thinking about buying. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created a safety database at SaferProducts.gov as part of the Consume Product Safety Improvement Act. This database will work in a unique way. It will provide product safety information but will also allow consumers to report harmful incidents and safety issues.

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Product safety database.

Radiation concerns…

Posted on March 29, 2011 by llpitlwp

Many, many questions about radiation exposure these days due to the earthquake in Japan.

The March of Dimes has made this information available to its followers.

It is specific to those who live on the West Coast of the U.S.

I hope it is helpful…I have learned more in two weeks than I ever thought I would know about nuclear accidents.

Radiation concerns

We have received several questions from people, especially pregnant women, along the west coast of the U.S. about possible negative effects that might result from any radiation coming from the disaster in Japan. Our March of Dimes California Chapter has compiled links to great information, which we offer here.

If you are concerned about radiation exposures, you can find the latest information and resources at the links below, which are being updated regularly as the situation in Japan unfolds.

These websites are listed for information only and are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all resources on this issue.

California Teratogen Information Service

Toll free helpline: 1800 532 3749

Website: http://.ctispregnancy.org/

California Department of Public Health

Radiation exposure information line: (916) 341-3947

Website: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/

Radiation Frequently Asked Questions: http://cdph.ca.gov/Pages/RadiationFAQS2011.aspx

Centers for Disease Control / US Department of Health & Human Services:

http://www.hhs.gov/response/2011tsunami/index.html

Health Physics Society

Radiation exposure information (includes information on radiation exposure during pregnancy):

http://www.hps.org/fukushima/

Tags: Pregnancy, radiation, radiation exposure, teratogen

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Radiation concerns.

March of Dimes takes stand….

Posted on March 24, 2011 by llpitlwp

I was so excited when I read this letter from the President of the March of Dimes to Ther-Rx regarding Makena.

As a maternal-child nurse and clinical social worker I know from experience how important it is for patients to be able to have access to important medications like Makena. I am so pleased to see the March of Dimes take such a pro-active response to the current situation concerning the affordability of Makena and its availability to the patients that need it.

Thank you March of Dimes!

March of Dimes demands action:

“A letter from Dr. Jennifer Howse, March of Dimes President, to Greg Divis, President Ther-Rx Corporation regarding Makena.

March 23, 2011

Greg Divis, President

Ther-Rx Corporation

One Corporate Woods

Bridgeton, MO 63044

Dear Mr. Divis:

Thank you for your letter of March 17th. I am pleased to learn that you are ‘listening carefully to stakeholder concerns about list price, patient access, and cost to payers’. Thank you for considering additional steps to ensure that Makena is available to all eligible women, and for convening stakeholders from the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine next week.

In advance of that meeting, I want to go on the record that March of Dimes expects Ther-Rx to come to the table with substantive commitments including:

1) A significant reduction in the list price of Makena.

2) Adjustments to the patient assistance program to ensure adequate coverage of all patients, insured, uninsured and underinsured.

3) A method for reporting on a regular basis to stakeholders on the patient assistance program to ensure that it is meeting needs in a timely and adequate way.

4) A justification or rationale for your pricing based on your investment in the product, savings to the health care system, or other appropriate methodology, which you are prepared to make public.

Without these elements, I do not believe that Makena can succeed in the current marketplace environment, and as a result, at -risk women will be denied access to a safe and effective treatment to reduce preterm delivery. Therefore if you are unable to make a clear commit-ment to significantly address the above issues at the meeting, the March of Dimes will need to pursue alternative strategies for ensuring that this proven intervention to prevent preterm birth is made available to all medically eligible pregnant women, and we will step away from our longstanding and productive corporate relationship with Ther-RX. Thank you for your consideration of this critical matter.

Sincerely,

Jennifer L. Howse, PhD

President

Tags: 17p, Makena, Ther-Rx

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » MOD demands prompt action.

Parents and Travel….

Posted on March 23, 2011 by llpitlwp

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

I am traveling this week…West Coast …LA…. East Coast…Boston/RI…Midwest…Chicago….

Apropos that I would receive this March of Dimes update for the mom that travels.

Passing it on to the moms and dads.

“Way up in the sky mom…

Many working moms have to travel for their careers. I traveled when my children were babies and still travel now that they’re school-aged. I want to share my six tips for traveling working moms and pregnant moms-to-be too:

1.    Pack less: Don’t physically exhaust yourself from carrying heavy bags; especially if you’re a breastfeeding mom, traveling with baby. I remember traveling with my daughter when she was a baby. With baby on board in one arm, I also toted my breast pump bag with the milk containers inside and placed my diapering essentials in my laptop bag.

2.    Check Baggage: Make it easier for yourself and check your non-essential baggage through the airline. If I do this, I pack an extra set of clothing and my toiletries inside the carry on. You also could pack a scarf in your carry on that will work for business attire and matches your extra clothing set. If your checked baggage does not arrive you will be ok.

3.    Mom, use the crayons: A fun activity for you mom is to write your child a note with their favorite color crayons. Then, have your caregiver in charge (a partner, grandma or your daycare provider) read and show it to them while you’re away.

4.    Connect with a click. The caregiver in charge can introduce technology by sending you photos of your kids or scanning a drawing they created. You also can use Webcams, Skype, email or “old-fashioned” voice mail to stay connected.

5.    Keep family schedules on track. One lesson I learned is that life does not stop when mom is on business travel. No matter what work commitments I have I keep my family rolling with their schedules.

6.    Say no to guilt. One of the toughest things for mom is to get rid of that guilt. Minimize negative thoughts and highlight positives. My kids’ favorite thing is pre-taped recorded bedtime stories. The beauty in this is they can listen to my voice telling the story over and over.

What is one favorite tip you have for traveling working moms?

Tags: breastfeeding moms and travel, travel during pregnancy, working moms

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Way up in the sky mom….

Thumb sucking…

Posted on March 4, 2011 by llpitlwp

Thumb sucking!

Thumb sucking

Lots of babies suck their thumb or fingers. It is part of the normal reflex infants have to root for food. As a survival technique, the sucking urge is strongest in the first three months of life. After the age of six months or so, it has more of a calming influence and helps relieve stress. If your little one sucks his thumb or fingers, especially when he’s tired, don’t get upset – it’s normal.

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Thumb sucking.

Jogging stroller recall….

Posted on February 25, 2011 by llpitlwp

Another recall…

“B.O.B. Trailers, Inc. has recalled about 337,000 B.O.B.® single and double strollers. A drawstring on the stroller can get wrapped around a child’s neck, posing a strangulation hazard. The recall involves eleven different models. They were sold at REI, buy buy Baby and other stores nationwide and on the Web at Babiesrus.com, Target.com and Amazon.com between April 2002 and February 2011. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and remove the drawstring. If using a separately purchased Weather Shield or Sun Shield accessory with the recalled stroller, contact B.O.B. Trailers for a free canopy retro

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Jogging stroller recall.”

Shoulder dystocia…

Posted on February 24, 2011 by llpitlwp

http://trendsupdates.com

Pregnant women hear many horror stories and shoulder dystocia is one of the ones that they may hear as they get closer to labor and delivery.

The March of Dimes has a short but thorough “blurp” on this complication which is not necessarily predictable. There are remedies and usually the outcome is good.

If you have diabetes or a history of large babies in your family consult with your doctor and get your questions answered.

“Shoulder dystocia

Dystocia means “slow or difficult labor or delivery.” Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s head is delivered through the birth canal, but his shoulders are too big to get through and he gets stuck inside the mother’s body. This creates risks for both mother and baby.

Shoulder dystocia can happen when a baby is unusually large. Overweight women and women with diabetes are at risk for having very large babies, or babies with macrosomia. It also happens when a mother’s pelvic opening is too small for the baby’s shoulders to pass through.

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Shoulder dystocia.”

Prematurity Chat with March of Dimes…

Posted on February 22, 2011 by llpitlwp

Prematurity Chat

For those of you who are interested this should be a good exchange of information…check it out.

Evening chat on prematurity

We hosted a great preemie chat in November. Later we learned that many other folks would have participated if we had held the chat in the evening. Well, mark your calendars. This Wednesday, Feb. 23rd we’re hosting a prematurity chat at 8 PM EST.

Join us to talk about your experiences in the NICU, the information you received from hospital staff, your scariest moments, your best moments, how you felt about coming home, what was helpful, what wasn’t… You’ll find us at #pregnancychat on Twitter at 8pm EST. We look forward to chatting with you Wednesday night!

Tags: chat, NICU, premature baby, prematurity

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Evening chat on prematurity.

Chronological Age vs Gestational Age…

Posted on February 18, 2011 by llpitlwp

via: http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/fetal_pain/

Each year babies are born prematurely and the question of chronological age and gestational age can add to the confusion for parents.

Truthfully speaking, these babies can actually have two ages for awhile. These ages help the medical team and the parents know what to expect developmentally from a preemie.

Here is an explanation from the March of Dimes and the link below it is for more information regarding this issue.

“Babies who are born prematurely often have two ages: Chronological age is the age of the baby from the day of birth—the number of days, weeks or years old the baby actually has been in the outside world. Adjusted age is the developmental age of the baby based on his due date.

To calculate adjusted age, you take your premature baby’s chronological age (for example, 20 weeks) and subtract the number of weeks premature the baby was (born 6 weeks early). In this example, the baby’s adjusted age would be 14 weeks. Health care providers may use the adjusted age when they evaluate the baby’s growth and development.

Barring serious physical or neurological injury, most premature babies “catch up” to their peers, developmentally, in two to three years. After that, any differences in size or development are most likely due to individual differences, rather than to premature birth. Some very small babies take longer to catch up. You can stop adjusting your baby’s age when it feels most comfortable to you.”

via News Moms Need.

Car seat safety….

Posted on January 31, 2011 by llpitlwp

CAR SEAT SAFETY

“Child seat safety inspectors

We all know that it’s important to have our children in car seats while driving in the car. But did you know that, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, nearly three out of four child seats are installed or used incorrectly? Those are seriously unsafe numbers!”