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Finding joy and hope in unexpected places: Nolan’s story
June 2nd, 2011 is a day that Melissa will never forget. Her life was forever changed when her newborn son, Nolan, was diagnosed with encephalitis and meningitis. He was airlifted from a local hospital and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit here at Arnold Palmer Hospital.
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To Circumcise or Not: What To Consider
Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin from your infant’s penis, is a personal decision that often can be stressful for parents.
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What we do now may affect our future children’s genetics
We are all aware that mothers who smoke while they are pregnant run a higher risk of having children who are premature, smaller than they should be, or stillborn. This is likely due to reduced oxygen supply to the baby through mom’s diseased body and to toxins shared by mom with baby. We also know that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and even cancer due to direct lung damage from inhaled smoke.
What you do with your body early in life can affect future generations
But recent data suggests that a father’s behavior even years prior to conception may affect the health of his children and future generations. For example, early paternal smoking has been associated with increased body mass in children. Paternal alcoholism has been associated with smaller birth weights in babies, and hyperactivity in children. Most recently, smoking even early in life has been found to be associated with an increased risk of certain forms of asthma in a man’s children. A study which was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress looked at 13,000 men and women and found that non-allergic asthma was significantly more common in children whose fathers smoked before the age of 15. In addition, the longer the father smoked, the higher the risk of his child having this kind of asthma. Interestingly, the same link was not found in children whose mothers smoked before they conceived. -
What every parent needs to know about concussions
We often think of concussions in terms of sports, most commonly football and other collision sports. Concussions also commonly occur in contact sports where helmets aren’t worn like soccer, basketball, wrestling or lacrosse. However, every parent needs to know about this injury, even if your kids aren’t involved in sports. Concussions can occur from a fall from a bicycle or skateboard, running into a goalpost, or getting hit in the head by a ball or other moving object.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a blow to the body that makes the head move back and forth rapidly. The sudden force causes the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull, causing damage to the brain cells and chemical changes within the brain. These chemical changes may make the brain more sensitive to stress or other injury until it recovers. While doctors may describe this as a “mild” brain injury since it is not life-threatening, the effects of a concussion can be serious.What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?
Signs and symptoms of a concussion usually appear soon after the injury occurs, but some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. If your child has sustained a bump or blow to the head and experiences any of the following, it might be a sign of a concussion: Headache Nausea or vomiting Appears dazed or stunned Feels “pressure” in head Loses consciousness Answers questions slowly Confusion Dizziness or balance problems Sensitivity to light or noise Difficulty concentrating Memory problems Double or blurry vision Feeling “foggy” or sluggish Changes in mood or behavior Trouble falling asleep Sleeping more or less than usualYou should continue to monitor your child for these signs and symptoms for a few days after the injury occurs.What should I do if I think my child might have a concussion?
If you think your child may have a concussion, contact your child’s health care provider. If your child is playing sports, remove him or her from the game and don’t resume playing until evaluated by a healthcare professional who is experienced at diagnosing concussions. If your child returns to play too quickly, before the brain is fully healed, they are at risk for a repeat concussion which can be much more serious.How is a concussion treated?
The best treatment for a concussion is complete rest from all physical and mental activity. Television, loud music, and use of computers should be very limited or stopped. Even a child’s school participation may need to be altered according to the child’s symptoms. -
How to talk to your kids about death
Written by Jaya Jagmohan, DO
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Blankets can kill your baby
Putting your baby to sleep in unsafe bedding could cost your child his life, but according to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, half of parents are doing just that.
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What does Florida’s new booster seat law mean for your family?
On January 1st, 2015 a new law became effective in Florida requiring children under the age of six years old to be restrained either in a child safety seat or booster seat while riding in a vehicle. Previously, Florida law mandated only that children under three years of age be restrained in a car seat, allowing parents to use seat belts for older children. Until this law took effect, Florida was one of only two states that did not require these safety measures for children under five years of age.
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Secondary drowning: What you need to know to protect your child
This post was originally posted on June 27, 2014.
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How improper swaddling can harm your baby
Originally published December 12th, 2011
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Is it okay to drink alcohol while pregnant?
A new report from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in every 10 pregnant women has consumed alcohol within the last 30 days.
