Mother & baby Matters

While scanning the Feb. 2012 issue of Parenting Magazine, an article on banning the use of crib bumpers caught my attention.

For the last 20 years Mother & baby Matters’ (MbM) practice standards for newborn care have been based on the recommendations of the AAP. Staff are regularly updated on new standards as well as any revisions or changes made to current standards.  In October 2011, MbM updated our practice standard on “Back to Sleep/Tummy to Play” when HealthyChildren.org of the AAP released their updated recommendations on reducing the risk of SIDS.  These recommendations included bumper pads in the list of objects to be kept out of the crib because they could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation. The AAP’s position is that research has NOT shown us when it’s 100% safe to have these objects in the crib; however, most experts agree that after 12 months of age these objects pose little risk to healthy babies. The AAP also states that there is no evidence that the bumpers protect against injury.

In the Parenting Magazine article, the author, Marilyn Monroe Rosen draws attention to the latest guidelines released by the AAP on October 21, 2012, urging parents to keep cribs bumper-free as a result of the following:

Reports in the Chicago Tribune during the time frame of late 2010 and early 2011, alleging that federal regulators knew for years that crib bumpers posed a suffocation hazard but failed to warn parents. This coverage pushed the Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) to take a closer look at the safety of crib bumpers, and local governments also have started to act. On Sept. 8, 2011,Chicago became the first U.S city to ban the sale of crib bumpers, and on Sept. 28, 2011, Maryland became the first state to propose a ban an the sale of crib bumpers.

Why Many Parents Are Still Using Bumpers

Why are bumpers still so popular despite building evidence that they aren’t safe? For starters, many parents believe bumpers prevent injury from a baby’s head hitting the sides of a crib, or from limbs getting stuck in the slats. And indeed, bumpers were first conceived to cover the space between crib slats so babies couldn’t fall out or get their heads, arms or legs stuck between the bars. But regulations changed in the 1970s and now mandate less space (just 2 3/8 inches—about the width of a soda can) between slats, making bumpers more of an aesthetic choice than a safety necessity.

As to the question of safety,  Rachael Moon, MD, FAAP, of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, chairperson of the AAP SIDS task force and lead author of the new guidelines, explains that young babies (for whom bumpers are designed, given that many carry a warning suggesting that they be removed from the crib once a baby can pull himself to standing) don’t have the muscle strength or coordination to fling themselves across the crib hard enough to really injure themselves. Additionally, she adds, while it is possible for a baby to get an arm or a leg stuck between crib slats, it’s virtually impossible to break a limb by doing so—which means that at most, the experience will be uncomfortable and upsetting, but not life-threatening, until a caregiver arrives to help.

Parents also buy bumpers because they think they’re supposed to, given that they’re sold in crib bedding sets, and because they just plain look good, explains Dr. Moon. And there’s little question that modern nurseries tend to look cozier or more “finished” with bumpers, but Dr. Moon added that if parents stop buying bumpers and manufacturers stop making them, perhaps attention will ultimately be focused on other ways of making a nursery look cute.

Bumper Alternatives: Are They Safe?

As an alternative to traditional crib bumpers, some parents have turned to breathable, mesh bumpers or other bumper alternatives, but Dr. Moon said that the AAP does not suggest that parents buy them. “We’re, right now, recommending nothing in the crib, because again, we don’t see the point of it. So, why have something in the crib if it’s not there for a reason?”

Will Retailers Follow Suit?

The AAP now recommends that infants sleep on their backs, alone in a crib on a firm mattress, without any soft objects or loose bedding, which could also be hazardous, ideally in a room shared with a parent. Really, all that’s necessary when it comes to baby bedding is a fitted sheet.

Despite the fact that the AAP warned that crib bumpers could pose a serious safety risk to infants as early as 2008, little has changed when it comes to what expectant parents can find in their local baby super store—in part because baby bedding is big business. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) says that at least $50 million worth of infant bedding sets that include bumpers are sold each year, as well as more than 200,000 bumper pad sets.

Unfortunately for parents, it can be confusing to see bumpers on display in stores, not to mention challenging to find crib bedding sold without bumpers, since bedding is often sold in four-piece sets, including a sheet, crib skirt, bumper, and quilt (which doesn’t belong in a safe sleep environment for an infant anyway). But it’s not impossible; Carousel Designs, for example, offers a la carte options for purchasing coordinating fitted crib sheets and crib skirts,  and retailers like Babies”R”Us and Buy Buy Baby, as well as web sites like Amazon.com, offer standalone fitted crib sheets.

Dr. Moon said that she hopes retailers will stop selling crib bumpers in response to the AAP’s updated guidelines. “The problem is that a lot of parents don’t understand that the Consumer Products Safety Commission is not a proactive agency; it’s a reactive agency. So, it only recalls things if there’s a problem. It doesn’t approve products before they go on the market. And a lot of parents have this perception that it stores sell it, it must be safe—because if it wasn’t safe, why would people sell it? And that’s clearly not true. I think that it’s important that parents realize that these things are not safe for their babies.”

In the meantime, we can only heighten the awareness of new parents. MbM plans to include this information in our “planning for baby” packet for new clients provided by our doulas at the initial visit.

Read more of the article at  http://www.parenting.com/article/sids-prevention?page=0,0

Spread the word and until next time,

Gerri

Gerri Levrini, RN, MSN, CNAA

President & Founder

Mother & baby Matters, Inc.

There are so many baby products on the market today, as well as items on sale at garage sales and Craig’s list, and items passed down from friends and family.  How can you know which items are safe and which are not?

First, if you purchase an item for use with your baby (i.e. a crib, stroller, carseat, high chair, etc) make sure you fill out and return the product registration card. These cards are used to alert the consumer when a recall is issued, not for further marketing calls or emails. It is very important to return these registration cards, as this is the only way the manufacturer knows who to contact in case of a recall.

Secondly, you can check on-line for a specific product before purchasing it to see if there has been a safety recall for that item. Here are two good references for you:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/child.html
This link is to a section of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website which lists recalls for products relating to children.

http://wemakeitsafer.com/
This link is to the We Make It Safer website. This website includes a listing of recent recalls, a “search” feature for you to input the name of the item to see if there is a recall, and a free newsletter that you can subscribe to. There is also a section called “Items I Own” – a place to input the products you own so that you can be made aware of recalls.  Items I OwnTM checks your items against the last ten years of CPSC recalls at once.

Until next time, be safe!

Gerri

Washington Parent Magazine just published an article about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2011 car seat recommendations.

We found that these recommendations were surprising, and certainly worth sharing.

http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/1201/car-seats.php

Until next time,
Gerri

Today, two great ideas to make baby’s bathtime easier:

Puj tub
Bathing an infant has never been this easy!  The Puj Tub was designed to make bath time quick and easy. The tubs revolutionary design allows you to bathe your infant in any standard bathroom sink.
• No more leaning over the bathtub stressing your knees, neck, and back.
• No more lining the bathroom sink with sponges and wet towels
• No more wondering where you are going to store that awkward plastic bathtub you used to use.
• Hangs and stores flat
• Safe & easy to use for infants 0-6 months
• Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial
• Supports & cradles baby at comfortable height for mom
• Revolutionary patent pending design
• Warm soft foam comforts baby
• Hypoallergenic
• Non-toxic
• Fits both pedestal and countertop sinks
• Works great even in very small bathrooms
Patent Pending design allows for easy set up, bathing, clean-up, and storage.
The Puj Tub simplifies your job as a parent allowing you more time with your precious bundle of joy!

Bath Luv
bathluve.com

Bath Luvē lays on the shoulders and goes around the neck, covering a baby’s chest, stomach and private area while allowing the arms and legs to move unobstructed. As one doctor who saw this said, “It’s brought the womb back to the bath, the crying stops and bathing time is a really special time.” Once the infant is older, it can be turned into a bath cape to keep the shoulders warm.

Just submerge Bath Luvē in water and drape over your infant. The natural design completely covers the baby’s torso and stays put to keep them feeling warm and secure. The premium, soft touch fabrics snuggle baby and are gentle on newborn’s skin.

Made from 100% cotton in three adorable designs (Duck, Fish & Frog).

Happy bathing!
Gerri

Swaddling helps the newborn feel secure and comfortable. Swaddling can also be soothing during fussy periods when the baby is experiencing colic and helps if baby is easily startled, has trouble sleeping, or seems distressed for no reason. Your baby can be swaddled up to about four months, and even longer, depending on how much the baby likes to be swaddled.  Newborns especially like to be swaddled for the first few months, because they are used to being “snug as a bug” in the confined space of the womb.

An American Academy of Pediatrics news brief dated 12/3/02 states the following:

The article, “Spontaneous Arousals in Supine Infants While Swaddled and Unswaddled During Rapid Eye Movement and Quiet Sleep” finds that infants sleep longer when swaddled. It also found that safe swaddling – where hip or chest movement is restricted and breaking free is limited – may help parents keep infants on their backs when sleeping. Keeping infants on their back to sleep reduces the risks associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The authors note that the Back to Sleep campaign, with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation of placing infants on their backs to sleep, has reduced SIDS deaths by nearly 50 percent since it was introduced.

Some hospitals and/or pediatricians are advising new parents against swaddling. This may be due to a possible risk associated with SIDS. Wrapping the blanket too tight may lead to suffocation and wrapping the blanket too loose can cause the blanket to come undone and suffocate the baby.    A swaddle blanket like the Miracle Blanket uses design technology that addresses these issues and is a better choice than a receiving blanket – even “Baby Houdini” will not be able to squirm out of it!  The American Academy of Pediatrics has not made a position statement or recommendation against swaddling.

Mother and baby Matters’ staff are able to keep parents informed of these risk factors and instruct the parents on the proper procedure for swaddling.

Visit our Mothers’ Market for more information regarding the Miracle Blanket, or to purchase one for yourself or a loved one.  http://www.motherandbabymatters.com/products.html

Until next time,

Gerri

This great lactation tool from Hollister shows you the size of your baby’s tummy at different stages. Once you know that your one day old newborn has a tummy the size of a marble, you won’t worry that he’s not getting enough to eat! It also answers the question “Why does my baby want to eat so often?”.

Here’s a link to information about another app (as well as website information) regarding the most up to date information regarding medications and mothers’ milk. The APP is called Lact Med.

For iPhone, go to:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lactmed/id441969514?mt=8

For Android, go to:

https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.nih.nlm.sis.lactmed&hl=en

For LactMed website, go to

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT

Until next time,

Gerri

In 1907, Eli Metchnikoff suggested that the consumption of lactic acid bacteria may be of benefit to the human host. However, not until the mid 1960’s did the term probiotic come into vogue. 

A 2007 study marked the acceptance of pribiotics in the treatment of colic and reflux in newborns. In a study of 90 babies being fed breastmilk, half received “gas drops”, resulting in a 7% reduction in crying and half received probiotic, resulting in a 95% reduction in crying.

The most common recommended probiotic is Lactobacillus reuteri – “L. reuteri”. The NIH has numerous trials ongoing to study safety. Hopefully this will provide the data physicians need to feel comfortable prescribing probiotics.

A two month supply of L. reuteri in powder form costs approximately $12. Consult your pediatrician first, but the common dose is 1/2 tsp. per day with breastmilk.

Do not give L. reuteri at the same time as an antibiotic.

If you are adding it to formula, do not warm over 100 degrees F, as it will kill off the “good germs”.  Currently, the only probiotic that is FDA approved for use in formula is B lactis.

The Doulas and I have used this information to help our own familes (our grandchildren!) and I hope it will help you with your families, also.

Until next time,
Gerri

P.S.  Here is a helpful chart to use to assess your baby for reflux

5 Reasons Dads Should Demand a Doula
by KH Weiss

When my wife told me that she wanted a doula, I was hurt. I truly thought with our first baby that I’d be able to be the end all be all for my wife. She showed me the research. She let me meet some of the doulas. I still wasn’t convinced that it would be the right choice for us. I subscribed to the “If you weren’t at the conception, you shouldn’t be at the birth rule.” My wife wound up vetoing me. Here are the reasons I’m glad that she did:

1. A doula can spell you.

I really thought I’d be able to stay awake for a big event like childbirth. Who didn’t pull an all nighter in college? Bathroom breaks? Ha! I mean, if I could ride my bike for hours, drinking lots of water and not needing a bathroom break, surely I could wait a few hours while my wife was in labor, right? Wrong. Thirty hours into my wife’s first labor and I was toast. I’d been up walking with her for what seemed like days as labor began. We’d come to the hospital and there wasn’t any sleeping for me. I was physically tired and mentally shot. The doula really helped me out. With my wife’s blessing, that 30 minute nap I caught helped me to refocus and be back on my game for the big event. And we won’t even talk about how much fun my wife made of me for my small bladder. Needless to say, having the knowledge that my wife had someone else with her while I scarfed down food, went to the bathroom and grabbed a few winks kept me sane.

2. A doula remembers what she learned in childbirth class.

I paid attention in childbirth class. I’d hear enough horror stories to realize that there was a huge, comprehensive final exam for this course – childbirth. But when push came to shove, no pun intended, the knowledge went out of my brain. Those early hours of labor I couldn’t remember if we were supposed to eat or sleep, which positions were good or not so good. Thankfully, when the doula arrived, she saved my skin and made me look like the good guy. My wife never really realized that it wasn’t my idea that she try certain positions, but that I’d been privately coached by our doula.

3. A doula knows the questions to ask.

When we arrived at the hospital, everyone was bombarding us. Questions were flying from all directions. I was busy trying to help soothe my wife, who was not happy with the bumpy car ride to the hospital. Our doula stepped in and gave them all the information that they needed. Magically doors opened and we were offered a prime birthing room. Our doula also was very helpful in getting information. A nurse or a tech would come in and ask us if we wanted something, like a procedure or a medication. I had no clue. (See above where I forgot my childbirth class information!) Our doula would very calmly ask questions of them and of us until we had enough information to make the decision that matched what we wanted. It was never pushy or mean, just questions. She even reminded us that we could take some time alone to make a decision. That turned out to be a real blessing.

4. A doula speaks the language of labor.

Our doula was an amazing translator. I’d ask a simple question like, “How’s the baby?” And the nurse would respond with something like, “The EFM indicates that there are no decels during periods of stimulation.” I’d give her my biggest smile and nod, like I knew what she was saying. Once she left the room, I’d ask our doula, who would carefully explain each part of what had been said. She also helped us decipher what AROM was as well as second stage.

5. A doula keeps you calm.

Hard. Labor was so hard. And that’s just how it felt to me. Thankfully, when the going got tough and my wife was in hard labor, it was difficult for me to keep anything in my brain. I forgot everything from childbirth class and all I could think of was “Surely this isn’t normal!” Our doula would smile at me from across my wife on the birth ball and as if she had read my mind, would mouth the words “This is normal.” Her calm smile helped me focus again on loving on my wife and keeping her calm. She showed me how and where to touch, she modeled how to behave quietly and efficiently and she made me the star in my wife’s eyes.

When I first heard about doulas, I thought of them as birth interlopers. Now I don’t know how anyone could manage to give birth without one. Our doula really helped bring me together with my wife as she gave birth. My wife remembers my constant support and never failing love or knowledge. She remembers the doula as a nice person who did some stuff in the background. We won’t give birth without a doula.

Posted from “5 Reasons Dads Should Demand a Doula” on about.com

After many years of serving the families in our area, The Lila Guide is retiring. In honor of our many years of association, we’d like to share some of the reviews Mother & baby Matters has gotten on The Lila Guide over the years.

We had not planned for any support, but quickly realized that we were in need of some help at night. Mother & Baby were able to very quickly help arrange for a night doula for us. She and they were wonderful!

We had a great experience with (Doula) as our post-partum doula. Loads of help establishing breastfeeding, newborn care, sleep tips — she was great.

I hired (doula), a postpartum doula, through Mother and Baby Matters. She was wonderful.

I had a wonderful birth doula and also postpartum care from this group – I felt they were really committed to making motherhood a wonderful experience

Super service, knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Very expensive, but worth it. Even for 2-3 days.

My postpartum doula was great and the agency worked hard to match me up with the right person. I will use them again.

I used Mother and Baby Matters with my first son. My husband and my family are out of town and our son had painful reflux. They were a lifesaver! The doulas were wonderful and Gerri, the owner, very personable and responsive. I definitely recommend using them.

I used their services for a baby nurse with my first child and a doula with my second child. Both times they were able to coordinate someone for me at the last minute. The doula provided meals for me and my son, assisted with the baby, did laundry and general cleaning and ran errands for me. Great personality too.

(Doula) from Mother and Baby Matters was an incredible help as a lactation consultant when my son was 4 weeks old. I was still experiencing pain, and (Doula’s) calm, nurturing advice helped my son and I to a successful nursing relationship.

The office is extremely professional. The Doula who helped deliver both of my children was phenomenal. (Doula) was very experienced, calming, and warm. She knew how to inform us and support us during the stressful/painful moments of delivery without taking away from my husband’s participation.

The initial doula suggested by this company did not seem to be compatible, so Mother and baby matters quickly arranged for us to interview a second doula — it turned out to be a perfect fit. She came to our home for several hours a day when we got home from the hospital — really helped ease our minds during those first early days, but was not intrusive. Note that while the company is based in suburban VA, they serve the DC area.

Until next time,
Gerri