Cerebral Palsy Prevention

Here's the latest from the Associated Press and HOI 19:

New research suggests doctors can cut the risk of cerebral palsy in half for very premature babies by giving their mothers magnesium sulfate just before they give birth.

In the government-funded study, researchers gave an infusion of magnesium sulfate to women about to give birth to a premature baby to see if it would reduce the risk of cerebral palsy.
More than 2,200 hundred women who were 24 to 31 weeks pregnant were enrolled in the study. Infants born before 37 weeks are considered premature.

Of the babies who survived, moderate or severe cerebral palsy occurred in about 2 percent of those in the treatment group compared to about 4 percent of those whose mothers didn't get the compound.

The research is being presented at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas.

Med Page Today has more on this study.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Potty Training and Bed Wetting

At what age are kids typically potty trained?

Boys: 39 months
Girls: 36 months

Here's a question on potty training I got from a reader:

"Hi Jen,Thanks for this great blog. I was wondering if you could find out if it is normal for my newly turned 5 year old to still occassionally wet her pants. In addition, she still needs to be diapered at night. It seems that she has no nocturnal bladder control whatsoever because her diaper is soaked every morning. My son was completely diaper free by this age. Should I be concerned? Perhaps I should mention that when she was a baby she had frequent bladder infections, but reflux was ruled out. Thank you for any light you can shed on my concerns."

Peoria Pediatrician Dr. Channing Petrak said what this little girl is going through is normal. She said, "Of 5-year-olds, one in five wet the bed every night. So, it is an extremely common thing at this age. Typically, if it's just bed wetting at night I wouldn't consider it a problem at age 5."

Dr. Petrak says if the child reaches age 7 and is still wetting the bed at night, that would most likely signify a problem. She said, "Typically at age 5 it's that they have small bladders, they're neurologically mature, heavy sleepers. So, it's not really considered a problem at that age."

She said daytime wetting in a child who was previously potty trained is a problem. She said that would be a time to look for signs of a bladder infection and other medical issues. Dr. Petrak said if a medical problem like urinary reflux has been ruled out, getting the child in a habit of going to the bathroom every two hours is important. She said, "You have to encourage them to go regularly and make sure they sit in a relaxed position and empty all of their bladder."

Baby Center asks these questions for older kids who still wet the bed:

What to watch out for:If your child "dribbles" urine constantly, strains while she pees, or complains of burning or pain when she goes, she may have an infection or other health problem. If that's the case, call her pediatrician as soon as possible. You should also talk with her doctor if her urine is cloudy or pink, or if she has any redness or a rash in her genital area. These guidelines apply to both girls and boys.

It's very common for toilet-trained 2-year-olds to still wet their bed at night. Occasional nighttime wetting — sometimes as often as twice a week — is perfectly normal at least six months to a year after successful daytime toilet training is completed. If your child consistently wets the bed at night, she may have a small bladder or may not yet have developed the ability to wake up in response to a full bladder, but this problem will probably pass as she gets older.

What you can do: In most cases, the best way to handle this predicament is to treat it as something natural and unimportant. Above all, try not to put pressure on your child and don't punish her. Staying dry all night is a developmental skill that almost all children achieve in time, whether by sleeping through the night without wetting or by getting up to use the bathroom. While you're waiting for your child to outgrow bed-wetting, ensure that her mattress is adequately protected by a plastic sheet, encourage her to wear absorbent undergarments such as extra-thick cloth or disposable training pants, and urge her to get up as soon as she realizes she's damp. If she does wet herself, make sure you change both her bedding and her pajamas so her skin won't get irritated and she'll get used to sleeping in dry pj's.

What's ahead:Typically, children who wet the bed more than once a night will start to outgrow it by wetting the bed fewer times each night. They then move on to wetting fewer nights each week, with fluctuations back and forth, until they eventually outgrow bed-wetting altogether. You'll want to steel yourself for the long haul, though: At this age(2 years) , the entire process can take a couple of years.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

The Impact of Delayed Parenting on Kids

We started this conversation a few days ago with, "Why are people having children later in life?" Today, we are answering another question from 1470 WMBD's Greg Batton,"What kind of psychological impact does having kids later in life have on those kids? Is there something older parents need to keep in mind?"

I posed several questions on this topic to psychologist Dr. Debbie Glasser from newsforparents.org.

Here's what she had to say:

How will having an older parent impact kids psychologically? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a big gap between you and your parents?
Dr. Debbie Glasser: In general, the psychological impact of a parents' age is much less significant than the psychological impact of the quality of the parent-child relationship and overall family experiences. In other words, having older parents don't necessarily suggest that a child will have emotional issues. In fact, there are many advantages to having older parents. Often, they are more financially stable, mature and patient than their younger counterparts. However, there are real challenges for both older parents and their children. Older parents may not have the physical stamina to keep up with physically active kids. Also, kids may feel self-conscious about having older (i.e., "different") parents at their school meetings, soccer matches, and other get-togethers. They may also worry more about death and illness more often than their peers because of their parents' advanced age.


How does growing up without grandparents impact a child? Is there something older parents should keep in mind before it's too late?
Dr. Debbie Glasser: Grandparents can play such a significant and wonderful role in a child's life, it's hard to imagine life without them. However, when parents delay childbearing, this is a reality for some families. Certainly, whenever possible, the relationship between children and grandparents should be nurtured. If a child is born without grandparents, however, there are ways parents can introduce "surrogate" grandparents to bring many of the positive inter-generational experiences that can come from a grandma or grandpa. Aunts and uncles, family friends, siblings and other trusted adults can serve as grandparent figures in a child's life, bringing cherished experiences like: telling stories about parents when they were younger, cooking favorite recipes, and even traveling together. It's important for older parents to share stories about grandparents so their children can learn about their past and their family's history and heritage.

Will having older parents cause financial stress on young kids?
Dr. Debbie Glasser: Older parents are often more financially stable than younger ones because they've had more years of earning power and may have been in a position to accumulate savings. However, when adults are elderly, their earning power typically diminishes (after retirement) and they may have increased medical expenses. In this case, young adult children may be faced with caring for elderly parents before they're financially secure themselves. Parents at any age are encouraged to plan ahead for retirement and their advanced years, whenever possible.

Do you have any tips for older parents to prevent their kids from having negative thoughts about their parents being older?
Dr. Debbie Glasser: It's important for parents of all ages to recognize that parenting isn't about how old you are, it's about how well you connect with your child and support his or her development. It's about being attuned to your child's needs; providing love, support, stability, security and guidance; and maintaining an active and involved role in your child's life. There's not a magic age when these behaviors start - or end. It's a personal decision that will vary from family to family.

How should parents minimize negative thoughts?
Dr. Debbie Glasser: Strive to keep the lines of communication open so your kids can express questions and concerns. Keep a positive perspective about the many advantages you bring to the parenting relationship. Create a supportive network of family members and friends to share experiences that may be challenging for you (like frequent physical activity). And maintain a commitment to building a happy, loving, and meaningful relationship with your child. This, after all, is the most important thing any parent can do - at any age.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

P.S. I am working on a post about how to find out how many eggs you have left. This question was brought up in the "Older Parents" post as well.

Lazy Eye in Kids

What do you picture when someone says they have a lazy eye?
If you're like most people, you think of one eye that wanders or droops. I found out today that is not necessarily true.

Lazy eye or amblyopia is a loss of vision or lack of development of central vision in one eye caused by inadequate use during early childhood. You do not necessarily have an eye that wanders when you have a lazy eye. A wandering eye is called strabismus. Some people have strabismus and amblyopia. According to the Vision Learning Center, about 2-3% of the population has amblyopia.

It is very important to get a lazy eye treated early on. That's why Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky have made it a law for every child in public school to have a complete eye exam within a year before kindergarten. The exam is intended to catch all vision problems, but lazy eye is the most common.

Peoria, IL Opthalmologist Dr. Steve Lichtenstein says he diagnoses lazy eye in 4 to 5 out of every 100 kids he examines. The kids don't realize the extent of their vision problems because they have never had 20/20 vision. He says his daughter had amblyopia and she could pick up the tiniest little object with no problem because her other eye or "good" eye was doing all the work.

Dr. Lichtenstein says if kids with vision problems like lazy eye are treated early on, the problem can be corrected. However, by age 10, it is too late. He explains the process like slow drying concrete. Once we reach 10 years old, the concrete is completely dry. If we catch the "concrete" at age three, it is much softer and easier to shape the way we want it.

There are often no symptoms of lazy eye, but here's the general list for the kids who do show signs:

• Noticeably favoring one eye


• Eye turning in, out or up


• Closing of one eye


• Squint


• Headaches or eyestrain
  

How is amblyopia treated?

• Surgery may be performed on the eye muscles to straighten the eyes if non-surgical means are unsuccessful.


• Eye exercises may be recommended either before or after surgery to correct faulty visual habits associated with strabismus and to teach comfortable use of the eyes.


• Patching or covering one eye may be required for a period of time ranging from a few weeks to as long as a year. The better-seeing eye is patched, forcing the "lazy" one to work, thereby strengthening its vision.


• Medication—in the form of eye drops or ointment—may be used to blur the vision of the good eye in order to force the weaker one to work.

I had a patch on my eye when I was young. One of my eyes veered inward. I realized today I had amblyopia AND strabismus. Interesting. The patches I had looked like a bandage, not like the cute little pink one on the little girl in this picture. I have a horrible memory, but I will never forget having to rip the eye patch off every few days to put on a new one. It was not fun, but I am glad it was treated. Otherwise, I could be functionally blind right now.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Older Parents

Have you noticed people seem to be having children later in life? Peoria, Illinois radio host Greg Batton from 1470 WMBD recently asked me live on the radio why we are seeing more of this. He noted he is an older dad and wonders what impact this will have on his young kids. I am waiting to hear back from a psychologist for the emotional impact this has on kids, but I thought I would post the answer to the first question. Why are we seeing more delayed parenting?

According to a study at Ohio State University on Family and Consumer Sciences:

A growing number of women across America are having their first babies at age 40 or even older. Overall, first births among women over 30 rose to a record 22% of all births in 1995, as opposed to 5% of births in 1975.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the birth rate for women aged 40-45 years rose 20% between 1990 and 1995, and increased 74% during 1981-95. The rising birth rate along with the increasing number of women in this age group means that there were more babies born in 1995 to mothers in their 40s than in any year since 1966.

Why Wait?
What explains this pattern of delayed childbearing? According to a study by Susan Coady, Human Development and Family Science faculty member at The Ohio State University, there are several reasons for waiting to start a family. Women who wait usually have more financial security, more emotional maturity, and more time to commit to their marriages and to their careers before focusing their energy on children.

It isn't so much that people aren't interested in having children, but they are just busy with their lives. Many couples have waited until they've established careers, bought a house and fixed it up, and then realized that it's getting late and they're running out of time.

Deferred marriage also plays a role, and many more females aren't married until a sizeable chunk of their reproductive lives has gone by. The high divorce rate among Americans also plays a part. Many couples delay childbearing until their marriages are stable.

Other factors that account for delayed childbearing include economic problems in the baby boom generation, the availability of legal abortion, and effective contraceptives that make postponement easier.

When Is It Too Late?
The media has generally publicized the virtues of older motherhood and suggested that women can easily conceive in mid-life, maybe even up to menopause. Women who put off trying to have children until their mid to late 30s may worsen their chances of becoming pregnant and lose the chance altogether to become a parent. Over the past 10 or 15 years, millions of couples have had reproductive problems stemming at least in part from the woman's age.

"Women aren't told enough about the decline of fertility with age," David Meldrum, a reproductive endocrinologist who heads the Center for Advanced Reproductive Care in Redondo Beach, Calif., says, "Many don't realize that if they wait, motherhood may pass them by." Female reproductive organs become less effective with age. When couples do decide to start a family, many find that they cannot.

Pregnancies can also be harder to maintain for older women. Studies show that women in their 40s have a rate of one and a half more miscarriages than women in their 20s. Premature and low-birth-weight babies can also be a problem for mature women. The good news is that doctors keep a very close watch on the mother, and many of these problems can be avoided. The wealth of sophisticated new genetic screening methods now available to pregnant women has enabled them to establish the health of their fetuses early in pregnancy.

Rewards
Although these facts can seem depressing or scary, don't panic. It's best to know the facts and see how they fit into the rest of your life. If you are thinking about having a child, talk it over with your partner. If you're not ready, determine why you're not. Many people are just scared to make that commitment - to be responsible for another life.

There are no guarantees in life, and many of the factors affecting older parents can also affect parents at any age. The ability to love and take care of a child is certainly a good prerequisite for becoming a parent.

Midlife parenthood has so many rewards that people feel the benefits outweigh the risks. It's easier to relax and have fun with your children when you know you have the resources to care for them. Age also brings self-knowledge and control, and you are less likely to project your own longings onto your children to fulfill your needs. Older parents can still maintain their careers if they choose because they have the resources to afford good child care - something they might not have been able to do in their 20s.

And of course, the maturity level of older parents is a definite asset. They are past feeling like kids who still need to be parented and can move right into a positive parenting role. Older parents are more calm, confident, and able to go with the flow. Babies can sense this.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Shigella Infection

I just heard about the bacterial infection known as shigellosis today. Kids are most susceptible, so I thought I should pass on the information. Peoria County, Illinois is seeing a high number of cases of the illness right now.

What is Shigella Infection?:

A bacterial infection that typically results in several days of diarrhea and can lead to hospitalization.

Here are the symptoms according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Diarrhea (usually bloody)


• Fever


• Stomach Cramps


• Can cause seizures in kids under 2-years-old


• Symptoms last 5-7 days

How do people catch Shigellosis?

Most Shigella infections are the result of the bacterium passing from stools or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person. (Wow, that's disgusting!)

How is Shigella Infection diagnosed?

Determining that Shigella is the cause of the illness depends on laboratory tests that identify Shigella in the stools of an infected person. These tests are sometimes not performed unless the laboratory is instructed specifically to look for the organism.

What antibiotics are recommended to treat Shigella Infection?:

Ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (also known as Bactrim* or Septra*), nalidixic acid, or ciprofloxacin.

Appropriate treatment kills the Shigella bacteria that might be present in the patient's stools, and shortens the illness. Unfortunately, some Shigella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics and using antibiotics to treat shigellosis can actually make the germs more resistant in the future.

How can we prevent Shigella from spreading?

You guessed it. Simple hand washing with soap and water is our best bet.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Eli Stone: Vaccines and Autism

This Associated Press article is bound to stir up some controversy:

A nationwide pediatricians' group wants ABC to cancel the first episode of a new television series, saying it perpetuates a myth that vaccines can cause autism.
The episode of the legal drama "Eli Stone" features a courtroom battle over a claim that a flu vaccine made a child autistic.
When it's revealed that an executive at the fictional vaccine maker didn't let his own child get the shot, the jury sides with the family.

The American Academy of Pediatrics claims the show is "the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC." It says the network will share the responsibility if parents who watch the show fail to get their children immunized because of it -- and deaths occur as a result.

The show's co-creators say they're not anti-vaccine and they would be "deeply upset" if parents chose not to immunize their children based on a fictional program.
"Eli Stone" premieres on Thursday.

We had a very heated discussion about this topic a few weeks ago on newsanchormom.com. Look for the title Autism and Vaccinations in the archives to get both sides of this controversial issue.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Food Poisoning

I am suprised to learn: Just because you are safe when you cook and you're a clean freak doesn't mean your kids can't get food poisoning. And the symptoms of food poisoning can take weeks to show their ugly face. These are just two bits of information I learned while researching the following Associated Press article:

In interviews with The Associated Press, scientists describe high blood pressure, kidney damage, even full kidney failure striking 10 to 20 years later in people who survived severe E. coli infection as children. They've also found a mysterious paralysis that can attack people who just had mild symptoms. While these conditions strike a small fraction of the millions of people who get food poisoning each year, experts say no one
knows just how many people are at risk.

A consumer group called STOP -- Safe Tables Our Priority -- is beginning the first national registry of food-poisoning survivors with long-term health problems. It's seeking people willing to share their medical histories with scientists in hopes of boosting research.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates foodborne illness leads to the death of about 500 people in the U.S. each year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's bad bug book has a list of the most common types of foodborne illnesses. Most of them you probably haven't heard of. I recognized, E.coli, salmonella, listeria, hepatitis A, and botulism.

S.T.O.P. has some great information that looks at the myths vs. facts of food poisoning:
Myth: Foodborne illness is caused by food that has spoiled or "gone bad."
Fact: While spoiled food can make a person sick, most foodborne illnesses are caused by bacterial or viral organisms that have contaminated the food, not the food itself. Most foodborne contamination that makes people sick does not affect the appearance, taste, smell or texture of the food.

Myth: All foodborne illnesses are the same.
Fact: Thousands of different bacteria and viruses cause foodborne illness, and health consequences can vary from mild flu-like symptoms to death depending on the organism, the amount ingested, and the unique immune response characteristics of the person exposed. Anyone experiencing abdominal pains, blood in urine or bowel movements, or even milder symptoms lasting more than a couple of days should seek immediate attention.

Myth: Foodborne illness is unusual.
Fact: Since people may only hear of two or three outbreaks a year, many assume that foodborne disease is only a sporadic problem. In reality, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1 out of every 3 Americans becomes sick from contaminated food each year, 325,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 5,000 die annually because of the severity of their symptoms.

Myth: Foodborne illness can always be traced to the last thing you ate.
Fact: Foodborne illness can be caused by contamination in food eaten a few hours ago, a few days ago, or even a few weeks ago.

Myth: Safe cooking can prevent all foodborne disease.
Fact: Americans can reduce their family's risk of getting sick by understanding and practicing safe food handling. These include proper refrigeration, cooking to an adequate internal temperature, and guarding against cross-contamination. However, there are many, many instances of foodborne illness where consumer behavior does not play a role. The only sure way to prevent foodborne disease is for food producers to keep disease contamination out of their products in the first place.

Myth: Foodborne illness is no big deal for healthy people.
Fact: Certain populations, like children, elders, pregnant women, and the immune-compromised, have a higher statistical risk of illness and dire consequences, but no one is immune from the ravages of foodborne disease.

Myth: Foodborne illness is inevitable.
Fact: Most foodborne diseases could be prevented by greater industry and regulatory commitment to producing a safe food supply. Every time a case of foodborne illness occurs, it spotlights a gap in the food safety network that has allowed the introduction of potentially deadly pathogens into food. Food producers can and should do more to prevent contamination from happening in the first place, and the government and American families have the right to demand that they do.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Booster Seats

I might not want to be in a such a big hurry to graduate my children to their big kid seats.

The Law: Car seat until 4 years old and 40 lbs
Booster seat until 8 years old and 80 lbs

However, this rule doesn't tell us when to go from a booster with a five point harness to a loose seat and the car's seat belt. Here's a question from a newsanchormom.com reader:

Hi Jen. Thank you for the great website that is loaded with useful information for all of us Moms! I have a question about the safety of booster seats. I am not eager to take our 40 lb 4 year old out and into a booster. I have read about the booster seats not being as safe using the car's seat belt and to keep children in the 5 point harness as long as possible. So, I did find a booster that uses a 5 point harness, but it is pricey. So should we spend the extra money on the 5 point booster?

According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, you should keep your child in a five point harness for as long as he/she fits in into it. The NHTSA says to check the weight limit of your high back booster, but most of them go up to 80 pounds.

However, the NHTSA says many kids get too wide or too tall to use a high back booster by the time they reach 65-70 pounds. The NHTSA says to use a booster seat that has a detachable base at this point because the high back boosters with a five point harness tend to sit up too high for the lap belt in a car.

"Another type of seat for a child who is at least one year old and weighs at least 20-30 pounds, is a forward-facing-only seat with a harness. Most of these seats come with a removable harness and are called combination seats or child seat/boosters. Some manufacturers call these seats high back boosters, which is confusing because the term "booster" is generally used to describe a seat that lifts a child up to improve the fit of vehicle lap and shoulder belts......For best protection, use the built in harness until the child outgrows it. "

If you want to know which safety seat is best for your child, you can find the answer by looking through a list of car seat safety questions.

I have an almost 12 month old and I was surprised to learn the NHTSA recommends keeping him rear facing even if he is 20 pounds. The NHTSA says not to turn the child forward facing until he/she outgrows the weight limit that is printed on the seat. The child could be almost two before this happens.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Child Proofing Your Home

It is way past the time to safety proof my home. I came to this realization this morning when my phone rang. The cordless phone was dead, so I had to use the one connected to the wall. The baby was at my feet. Then, in a moment's notice, he's gone.

I set the phone down and started screaming his name throughout the house. Well, he went straight to the bathroom. I should have known. He likes to pull all the toilet paper off the roll. But on this morning, the toilet seat had been left up. So, this was a whole new adventure for him. I walk into the bathroom and he's standing at the toilet splashing toilet water all over himself. And laughing. Did I mention he was cracking up? I could help but smile at the little cutie even thought the situation was completely disgusting!

I learned my lesson. I am putting those safety knobs on all the doors in my house and getting a new cordless phone. (and making sure the other two boys in the house put the toilet seat down.)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says:

About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today.

1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects. Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.
2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, be sure it doesn't have "V" shapes that are large enough for a child's head and neck to fit into. Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.
3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. To prevent access to swimming pools, door locks should be placed high out of reach of young children. Locks should be used in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools. Cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5 and up.
4. Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns. Cost: of an anti-scald device: $6 to $30.
5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Cost: $10
6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Cost: $8 to $16.
7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Cost: $1
8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution. Cost:$2.
9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning. Cost:$30 to $70.
10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. You can get window blind cord safety information and free tassels by calling 1-800-506-4636 or visiting http://www.windowcoverings.org/
11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges. Cost:$4.
12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas. Cost:$30 and up.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen