Menu
Virtual Visit Request an Appointment ER Wait Times
Search
Back

Filter By

All Search Results

  • Costochondritis: Chest Pain That Feels Like a Heart Attack

    Although it is exceedingly rare for teens to have heart attacks, it is not uncommon for them to have chest pain. That can be really scary for you and your child. But when the cause of the sharp pain is costochondritis, you can rest easy knowing that your child does not have a dangerous condition.

  • Child Heart Defect: Signs You Should Know

    Is your baby not gaining weight, having feeding issues or breathing problems? It could be a congenital heart defect. 

  • Should I be concerned about West Nile virus?

    This year’s outbreak of the West Nile virus could be the worst our nation has ever seen. With 1,118 cases of the disease in 38 states reported so far this year, the incidence is nearly three times that of previous years. Seventy-five percent of the reported cases have been concentrated in five states: Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Texas. According to the newest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 people in the United States have already died from the illness in 2012.

    What is West Nile virus?

    Although identified in Uganda in 1937, the first reported case of West Nile virus in the Western hemisphere occurred in the New York City area in 1999. Since that time, it has spread to nearly every state.

  • Is it safe for your baby to wear jewelry?

    It’s not uncommon to see infants and small children adorned with various types of jewelry. Parents may choose for their child to wear amber necklaces used to help with teething or earrings, bracelets and anklets worn for cultural or aesthetic purposes. 

  • Holiday Cheer to Children in the Hospital

    The holidays are a difficult time to be in the hospital—especially for children. But being a pediatric patient doesn’t mean missing out on the warmth of the season or on holiday cheer. At Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, we know that every child should experience the joy of the holiday season regardless of their current situation. So, since our patients cannot go home to celebrate the season, we bring the holiday celebrations to them. 

  • Advances in Treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy

    Just five years ago, there were no approved therapies to treat the underlying causes of spinal muscular atrophy, a collection of potentially fatal diseases that causes progressive muscle weakness. But in that short time, several advances in research and treatment have been made to help children and adults who have this rare and serious illness.

  • How to Prevent Concussions in School Sports

    While teamwork, hard work and fun are all important aspects of school sports, the focus also should be on safety. It’s up to coaches, families and medical practitioners to work together to ensure that athletic programs are committed to injury prevention and protocol — especially when it comes to concussions and other brain injuries.

  • Car Seat Safety – 5 Tips to Keep Children Safe

    There are few things in parenting as complicated as the rules and regulations of car seats. And yet, there are few things as important for the safety and well-being of our kids.

  • When Should You Start Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods?

    Wondering when it’s time to start adding solid foods to your baby’s diet? While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you wait to feed your baby anything besides breast milk or formula until the age of 6 months, every baby is different. Once your baby is ready to dig into some mashed sweet potatoes, peas and applesauce, here are a few tips to consider.

  • Postpartum depression in young fathers

    A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that young fathers, those who became dads at an average age of 25 years, have a 68% increase in depression symptoms within the first five years of becoming dads. This applied to young dads who lived with their children and their wives or girlfriends. Dads who lived away from their children and older fathers did not show that same increase in rates of depression. So why might “postpartum depression” happen to dads? Isn’t that a “hormonal thing” that happens to new moms? But now that we know that this is an issue, can we and should we do something about it?

    What could cause postpartum depression in dads?

    The study carefully made clear that these results only show an association between becoming a dad and an increase in depression. The results do not show that becoming a father actually causes depression in young dads, but it makes sense that it might. They don’t suffer the same physical changes that are going on in new moms, but lots of aspects of parenthood are very stressful for a young dad. First, they are sleep deprived; exhaustion is a known cause of depression. Second, they suffer a kind of loss of their mate. Now mom is busy loving another person, often more than she loves her partner/spouse. Young dads may feel displaced, jealous, and guilty about that at the same time. The relationship between mother and baby is so intense and so culturally unique and special, that a young dad may really feel like a third wheel. Young dads, in particular, may have been enjoying a sort of fantasy new-love relationship with their beautiful partner, and now all of a sudden the rest of life has to do with spit up, dirty diapers, less sex, and a great deal of long-term responsibility. Young dads are also less likely to be secure in their jobs and their income. They may not feel strong in their ability to provide for their new family. All of this can certainly contribute to depression.

    Why does this matter?

    Depressed fathers “read and interact less with their kids, are more likely to use corporal punishment, and are more likely to neglect their kids. Compared to the children of non-depressed dads, these children are at risk for having poor language and reading development and more behavior problems and conduct disorders.” According to lead study author Dr. Craig Garfield, an associate professor in pediatrics and medical social sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, “Parental depression has a detrimental effect on kids, especially during those first key years of parent-infant attachment. We need to do a better job of helping young dads transition through that time period.”

    What can we all do about this?

    Just being more aware of how dads might feel when their babies are born is a start. So much of our focus is on the baby and on how mommy is doing. Dads are usually assumed to be fine, and to be there to help mom. The solution can start with the family and friends. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can offer to change a poopy diaper or two so that dads are not the only ones doing that. It may be a proud role for some new dads to be the diaper guy, but some may really hate it. Friends can take mom out for a walk so that dads can have some quiet, loving, alone time with the new baby if they want that. Or, if dad just needs to get out of the house for a while, friends can offer to watch over mom and the baby so that dad can get a break. Nights can be tough too, especially if dads have to go to work every day. Many young dads cannot afford to take leave from work when a baby is born, so they work all day and then try to spell mom during the night. Family and friends can spend a night here or there filling in for dad so that he can get a few full nights of sleep if that is an issue.