Watch out for Swimmer's Ear

I don't think anyone in my family has ever had swimmer's ear. However, my youngest son seems to be prone to ear infections. So I do wonder if he will be prone to swimmer's ear. Is there a connection? I will make sure I dry out his ears as much as possible this summer. Although.. I am not sure how I can take three kids who don't swim well to the pool. I'll have to think about that one! I am so excited for warmer weather! 87 and sunny on Sunday-only rainy on Saturday. Yay!

FROM NBC: Swimmer's ear leads to over two million doctor visits a year ... racking up nearly half a billion dollars in health care costs. That's according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control released today. Data show one in 123 Americans went to the doctor for swimmer's ear in 2007 -- with most cases in children from five to 14 years old. Swimmer's ear develops when water stays in the ear canal too long ... allowing germs to grow and infect the skin. You can reduce your risk for swimmer's ear by drying your ears after swimming or showering --- and if you are a frequent swimmer, experts recommend talking to your doctor about using alcohol ear drops.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Treating Cancer while Pregnant

Did you know it's becoming more common for women to find out they have cancer while they're pregnant? According to this CNN article, it has nothing to do with estrogen or hormones. It may be because women are waiting longer to get pregnant and women are more likely to get cancer as they age. And I have always thought if you have a fast growing tumor, you either have to hold having chemotherapy or you have to abort the baby. That's not true in most cases! I am thrilled by this advancement. Did you know this? What do you think? Here's a really interested article on CNN about women finding out they have breast cancer when they are newly pregnant. One woman was told by her general practitioner it was a clogged milk duct at 7 weeks gestation. That makes no sense to me because your milk obviously hasn't come in yet. Other than that strange diagnosis, it's a great survival story!

FROM CNN:

Cancer of any kind is found in an estimated 1 in 1,000 pregnancies, making it relatively rare. But the incidence of cancer in pregnant women appears to be on the rise, probably because of the growing number of women who delay childbearing.

"As women age, their odds of developing cancer go up -- so if they wait until their 30s or 40s to have a baby, it's more likely that a pregnancy and a cancer diagnosis will happen at the same time," explains Jennifer Litton, M.D., a breast medical oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, who treated Jessica Denton.

Litton adds, "The good news is that we can treat the woman without harming the fetus." For the most part, that means proceeding with cancer treatment even as the pregnancy continues.

This wasn't always the case. Not so long ago, women were routinely advised to delay treatment until after the baby was born -- or to terminate the pregnancy and begin the regimen immediately, out of concern that pregnancy would promote the growth of the cancer and even put the woman's life at risk.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Possible change to Children's Medication

How many people actually call and get a hold of a nurse to find out dosage information when your kid is sick in the middle of the night? I would assume it's not a high percentage. Most parents guestimate on the dosage if the child is under two. I should know. I have a 20 month old. I usually just make sure I am not overdosing him, but I am sure sometimes I am sure I don't give him enough medicine. I think the directions should list age and weight. The FDA is looking at what can be done to prevent kids under two from getting the wrong dose of medication.

FROM NBC: Advisors to the Food and Drug Administration will met Tuesday to discuss how to make certain pain relievers safer for babies and children.

Government advisors are poised to address two problems when it comes to getting pain relief to sick young children: 1. Parents don't have the right information on how much to give 2. Parents measure the dosage wrong The label on infant Tylenol and other over-the-counter products that contain acetaminophen says only to "consult a doctor" for kids under age 2.

An FDA panel of experts will consider whether they have enough information to add dosing instructions for children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. Also on the committee's agenda -- whether to change dosing guidance and base it on a child's weight, rather than age. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a change is needed because there's too much variability in how much children of a certain age weigh.

Dr. Daniel Frattarelli/American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs: "The larger child who's given the same dose as a smaller child may not get as much effect of the drug because he's not getting as much as his body needs." And smaller children have a higher risk of an overdose if they get too much acetaminophen. The instructions may also be switched to milliliters so medicine will have to be measured out using dosing devices included in the packaging. right now -- measurements of "teaspoons" are often used.

Dr. Daniel Frattarelli/American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs: "Parents will often -- and you can't blame them for this -- reach into the silverware drawer, pull out a teaspoon, measure it out and give it to the child -- not realizing the teaspoons we have for silverware are not accurate." Accurate measurements -- and dosing clarity -- may help keep kids safe -- and feel better, sooner. The FDA advisors are expected to issue a recommendation on infant and children's acetaminophen dosing when their meeting wraps up on Wednesday.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Should he be allowed to attend prom?

I am beginning to think I am going soft. I read this story about this kid getting suspended for his romantic gesture and being banned from prom. I would let him go to prom. He didn't deface school property. It was cardboard! I would make the suspension end right before the big day. That way the school isn't changing its policy for one kid.

FROM NBC: What began as a minor high school disciplinary case has become an international sensation…thanks in large part to social media. A student in Connecticut thought up an elaborate way to ask his date to the prom, but his grand gesture got him suspended and banned from the dance… Now, hundreds of thousands are outraged by the idea of a young man missing a rite of passage enjoyed by countless teens.

It all started with the writing on the wall. Late last week, in the dead of night, Shelton High School senior James Tate and two friends dragged a ladder and 12-inch cardboard letters to campus taping this message onto a school wall: "Sonali Rodrigues, Will you go to prom with me?" James Tate said, "I figured I'd do something special and do it big." Rodriguez, a classmate and friend said yes. But school officials said no-suspending Tate and his friends for trespassing and banning him from the June 4th prom.

As news spread, so did the outrage. "I just can't believe they're not allowing him to go and it went viral." Supporters gathered online enchanted by the romance of it all--thousands tweeted words of encouragement. The "Let James Tate go to the Prom" Facebook page has more than 174-thousand fans. The town's mayor says he's been inundated with emails from far beyond Connecticut. "China, Japan, Australia."

Every last one supporting Tate. sot - mark a. lauretti/shelton mayor it doesn't make sense. there has to be some common sense. stand-up - mara schiavocampo/nbc news/shelton, ct but not everyone has been swayed. thursday the school's headmaster made one thing clear…rules are rules.

Dr. Beth Smith/Headmaster/Shelton High School :"There has been a practice at Shelton High School for many years that students receiving an in school or out of school suspension for any reason will not attend prom." So while Tate's sorry for his message on this wall. James Tate said, "It won't happen again from me. And I'd like to go to prom very much with her." Online supporters vow to keep up the fight on this one.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Keeping your newborn healthy

There's a good reason many new moms try to keep their babies from being exposed to a lot of people until they are a bit older. Those people are bound to carry viruses and if it happens to be RSV, it can be deadly. I know people who have had newborns in the hospital and on respirators because they contracted RSV. It's just not worth it-especially if your baby is born during cold and flu season. Here's one thing you can do to prevent your baby from getting RSV.

FROM NBC: Pregnant women who take vitamin D can prevent a respiratory illness in newborns called RSV. That's the finding of a new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study suggests that out of the 5-million RSV cases every year in the United States, a million fewer kids would get the respiratory virus if more pregnant moms took vitamin D supplements.

Mikensi Gilbert is six months pregnant. She's been taking vitamin D supplements for this pregnancy. Mikensi Gilbert/Expectant Mom: "It helps with fatigue. It helps with, um, energy." Her first pregnancy was tough. so her mom, who reads a lot of medical studies, recommended she boost her vitamin D intake. Mikensi Gilbert/Expectant Mom: "She knows that I had a difficult time with jae with my pregnancy. I think she was just thinking of me."

Gilbert had gestational diabetes with her son, Jae. This time she's expecting a smoother pregnancy. Mikensi Gilbert/Expectant Mom: "Just had our ultrasound reports read to me yesterday and everything's good. He's healthy. He's growing like he should."

She hopes by taking vitamin D, she can keep him from getting RSV once he's born. Dr. Marcus Blackburn/Pediatrician: "Vitamin D plays a large role in very many systems of the body." Dr. Marcus Blackburn says as for how effective vitamin D is in preventing RSV, it's hard to say. Dr. Marcus Blackburn/Pediatrician: "It's very common. Most children are going to get it by the time they're two. All kids have been exposed to it."

The symptoms mimic a cold. And Blackburn says taking vitamin D may just reduce the severity of RSV in infants. "Vitamin D is not the cure-all for respiratory and other health problems, but doctor's say it's still very important for overall health. just how much to take, though, is still up for debate."

Dr. Marcus Blackburn/Pediatrician: "Right now in this study they quote it as 400 international units. so, that's the same as a newborn child. Although there have been studies that have shown up to four thousand international units. Vitamin D is something that you can have toxicity from so that's something that we're still working out." Blackburn recommends all pregnant women check with their doctor on how much vitamin D to take along with other prenatal vitamins.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Kids' Sleep Connnected to Marital Stress

This seems a little silly to me, but I would love to know what you think. Is it possible that the reason your baby isn't sleeping is because your marriage is having problems? It sounds far-fetched to me. I guess if and your spouse are up screaming at each other and waking up the baby it would be a factor. Or maybe you're not as patient as you need to be because you are stressed out about your marriage? I don't know. It seems like a stretch. I am no scientific researcher, but I don't know that I buy this one.

FROM NBC: New research reveals marital problems can create sleep problems in very young children. A study of 350 families found that marriage instability when children were only nine months old, predicted difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep by the time they were 18 months old.

The children in the study were all adopted, so shared genes were not a factor. Researchers say their findings show marital stress affects children much earlier in their development than previously thought. They say parents should be aware their behavior can affect the well being of their children -- even in the first several years of their life.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you have any moles or spots on your face, neck, ears, nose, back, arms or legs that have changed in size, shape, or color, or if you have a mole that is asymmetrical with irregular borders, varies in color, or is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, then you NEED to be checked out! Early detection is crucial to successful treatment. Come to Soderstrom Skin Institute for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening. If you can spot it… you can stop it!

Moms of Twins Lifespan

At first I thought this might be an advantage for people who have twins. However, if you read on, you will see it is not actually healthier to have twins. Bummer! Those moms could use a break! I had a had time with one baby. I don't know how I could have functioned with two little ones!

FROM NBC: Women who give birth to twins live longer when compared with other mothers. Researchers at the University of Utah collected data on over 58-thousand women born in the 1800's -- who delivered at least one child.

Twin moms' annual risk of dying after menopause was seven-point-six percent lower than women who had one child at a time. These findings don't mean that it's healthier to have twins, but that healthier women have a better chance of delivering twins. So many women now conceive twins through fertility treatments -- but it's not yet clear how that affects their health and mortality.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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