The Flu Shot for Baby-Is it Necessary?

In our house, we have always been big proponents of the flu shot. We all get them every year. And, it is that time of year again. My husband works in the medical field, and in past years, he has had to be in contact with flu patients regularly. Since our children are young, we have always been cautious. In his current job, he is not in close contact with patients infected with the flu, although he does still work in a hospital. So, I found myself asking him if it was really necessary. I had never really questioned it … Continue reading

Baby Melinda, California’s Smallest Preemie, Goes Home

Melinda Star Guido, the smallest preemie to have been born in California, has left the hospital. She holds the title of being the third smallest preemie in the entire world. After a long time spent in the NICU, she was finally able to go home with her parents. When Melinda was born, she weighed less than a can of soda. She was born 24 weeks premature, because there was a problem with the placenta. Due to that problem, she wasn’t able to get the nutrition, blood, and oxygen she needed while she was in the womb. In addition to this … Continue reading

Even Skinny People Can Be Unhealthy

Well here’s some good news…a new study finds that the key to a healthy body (which means a reduced risk of stroke or heart disease) is not necessarily in losing weight but in maintaining a fit lifestyle. Although for some of us losing weight is the number one goal when it comes to fitness, for others it is about warding off some of the serious medical conditions that can shorten a person’s life. In reality, this actually is the most important factor in fitness. Losing weight is definitely a way to help reduce the risk of serious health problems but … Continue reading

Baby Skin Problems 2

Your little one is just perfect. But she still may be vulnerable to baby skin problems. Most of these problems are innocuous and will go away with just a little home treatment. Some common baby skin problems could need a pediatricians attention. Here is what you need to know about the skin problems that may affect your baby. This is part two of a two-part series. Eczema Eczema is a skin rash that should be examined by a pediatrician, especially if this is the first outbreak. It is a very itchy,scaly rash that may develop tiny red bumps that ooze. … Continue reading

Baby Skin Problems

This morning, as I was caressing the cheek of my youngest child, I was in awe at how soft it was. The expression soft as a baby’s bottom is said for a reason. Baby skin is amazingly smooth and glowing. But that doesn’t mean that baby skin isn’t prone to problems. Here is a quick guide to common baby skin problems. Diaper Rash Diaper rash is caused when irritants and wetness come in contact with your baby’s skin. It can usually be cured by using a diaper cream at every changing, especially at night, and, or by letting the baby’s … Continue reading

Baby Blog Month in Review: August 2008

Isn’t it crazy the way babies grow so quickly? It seems that you just get used to one stage and boom they are already into another. Tonight, were busy getting the household all set for my eldest child’s first day of second grade. My two younger ones are excited and want to start school, too. It will be a busy month. Don’t worry about the missing last week of blogs. I’ve gotten quite a few questions about where I have been. The Baby Blog tends to go on hiatus the last week of the month. That may change in the … Continue reading

A Pollutant with an Effect on Baby’s Gender?

By now, most of us have heard of PCBs. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man made chemicals. The chemicals were widely used in industry for decades. In 1976, the federal government in the US banned the production of the chemicals. However, there is still significant contamination of PCBs in the environment. This is largely due to contamination resulting from improper disposal of the chemicals. PCBs have been found in newborn babies and breastmilk, over thirty years after the chemicals were banned. One of the problems with PCBs is they are not soluble in water. This results in a process known … Continue reading

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked with Health Problems

An Austrian study took a look at the health problems that can come with low levels of vitamin D. Researchers followed more than 3,200 men and women from southwest Germany for eight years. Most of the participants had some form of heart disease, and the average participant age was sixty-two. During the study, the participants were tested weekly for vitamin D levels. Over the eight years of the study, 737 participants died — 463 deaths from heart-related problems and the rest from other causes. One of the vitamin tests showed that patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D were … Continue reading

Bonding with Your NICU Baby

Recently, here in the baby blog we have been talking about preemies and the NICU experience. Emotionally draining is an understatement. Bonding is also another challenge as you might not even be able to hold your little one for awhile. NICU babies have unique needs and consequently it’s important that you give yourself permission to observe your baby’s cues and watch them closely. Your baby might not be interested in the outside world for awhile and actually, that’s not a terrible thing. NICU preemies, particularly ones who are sick, need all their energy for recovering. Once your baby is matured … Continue reading

Skin Tags in Pregnancy

If you have noticed small growths of skin on your body, they may be skin tags. This is just one of the many changes you will notice in your skin during your pregnancy. Skin tags are very common among pregnant women. There are some common areas where skin tags are most likely to appear during pregnancy. Skin tags generally tend to occur in areas where the skin rubs against tight clothing. Under the bra either on your torso or under the arm are common areas where skin tags tend to develop. As you gain weight, clothing tends to become tighter, … Continue reading