Breezy Mama

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tlc pediatrics

RSV: What is it? One Mom’s Personal Story and Advice from a Pediatrician

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Finn, happy to be out of the hospital.

I had first heard of RSV when Breezy Mama Kelly gave birth to her first-born at 32 weeks. It was winter, and because her daughter was premature, she was scared to death of her having RSV. That was pre-kid time for me, and I didn’t think much about it after. Since that time, I’ve read the occasional magazine article about RSV, but still didn’t know all the details–until last winter, when my friend Kareen’s newborn, Finn, landed in the hospital because he had it. Kareen shares her story below followed by some explanations and details from Pediatrician’s Dr. Jon Conti about what RSV is, exactly.  He also lets the rest of whose kids haven’t had it, know what to do. –Alex

Kareen’s Story: [Read more…] about RSV: What is it? One Mom’s Personal Story and Advice from a Pediatrician

Whooping Cough: Why You Need to be Concerned

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If you’ve listened to the news lately, you’ve heard about whooping cough. Everyone, from babies to grandmas, has gotten it–no one is immune. Whooping cough–one of those diseases that seems like it should’ve been eradicated long ago–is back. And it’s scary. Breezy Mama turned to Pediatrician Dr. Jon Conti for the low-down on this infectious disease.

What exactly is Whooping Cough?
‘Whooping Cough’ is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. It lasts for many weeks and typically manifests in children as raging spasms of severe coughing,  or ‘whooping’, and vomiting after the coughing episode has completed.

Why are we suddenly hearing about so many cases in the news?
For many people, pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough) is old news—a once-feared disease long controlled by vaccination. The perception that pertussis is something we don’t have to worry about obscures the fact that, despite effective vaccines and generally high coverage, pertussis remains a stubborn public health threat, more prevalent and severe than [Read more…] about Whooping Cough: Why You Need to be Concerned

Rear-Facing or Forward-Facing–What To Do and When To Do It

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At 4 years old, and 40 pounds, my son faces forward. But, my daughter, at 16 months and 18 pounds, remains rear facing.

In the three years between when I had my first born to second born, a lot had changed. New strollers, joggers with front swivel wheels, a whole new array of toddler snacks, and one of the most important things–recommendations on car seats. When my son turned one, I was so excited to have him face forward that I switched the car seat around on the day of his first birthday. Then, I had my daughter and I was hearing that parents should wait to turn them from rear-facing to forward-facing. But wait for what? A certain age? A weight milestone? Breezy Mama turned to Pediatrician Dr. Jon Conti for some answers. –Alex

Four years ago, the thing to do was to turn your child from rear-facing to forward-facing on their first birthday–this is no longer so? What is the new recommendation?
Although the official recommendation remains (once a child is 1 year old AND at least 20 pounds they may be turned around), compelling new data is emerging.  In April 2009, the official news magazine of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) declared that rear-facing car seats are safer for children.  The article cited that toddlers between the ages of 12 & 23 months who ride rear facing are 5 times safer and 75% less likely to experience serious injury or die than their forward-facing peers.  More telling perhaps is the 2005 Swedish study detailing 17 years of accident data showing that the highest injury-reducing effect was [Read more…] about Rear-Facing or Forward-Facing–What To Do and When To Do It