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What Is the APGAR Score?

February 1, 2016February 3, 2016 admin

What Does a Newborn’s APGAR Score Mean?

The APGAR score (also called “newborn scoring”) is the first test that your newborn baby will ever be given. It is performed in hospitals throughout the world by the doctor, midwife or nurse. It is usually done twice, at 1 minute after birth, then again at 5 minutes. Occasionally, if the baby does not appear to be doing well, or the score was low at 5 minutes, the test may be done a third time 10 minutes after birth.

The APGAR scores are simply a way for the healthcare provider to quickly assess a newborn’s physical condition, and determine whether extra medical or emergency care is needed. The tests indicate if the infant needs help breathing or is having heart trouble.

Reflexes in Newborns

August 11, 2015April 25, 2023 admin

Reflexes Babies Are Born with

Babies come into the world helpless and completely dependent on others to protect them and care for them. That much, we all know. But it turns out that newborns come equipped with a number of instincts — reflexes that will help insure a baby’s survival from the start, even before the infant has had a chance to learn how to do anything. Doctors test reflexes as a way to assess how well infants’ nervous systems are developing.

Most newborn reflexes start fading by the second month, and they’ve generally disappeared by the fourth month. Doctors caution that if baby reflexes continue beyond the fourth to sixth month, parents should tell that to their pediatrician, as it could possibly indicate that there is a neurologic concern.

Newborns Normal Characteristics

July 30, 2015April 25, 2023 admin

Newborns’ Characteristics that May Alarm Parents, but Are Normal

As new parents, you and your spouse are beside yourselves with joy over your new baby. Everything about your newborn seems magical and thrilling. But some characteristics that are perfectly normal in newborns may perhaps make you wonder if they’re something that’s peculiar to your baby, and if you need to do anything about it.

Let’s review a number of characteristics that are common among newborns, to help you decide whether your baby is in the normal range, or you should consult your pediatrician.

Swimming Pool and Water Safety for Children

July 13, 2015 admin

Swimming Pool and Water Safety for Babies and Children

Swimming is the most popular summertime activity for children, according to the American Red Cross. But sadly, drowning is the leading cause of death for American children younger than 5. And according to emergency room doctors, children are more likely to drown in a backyard pool than in any other body of water.

A group might gather poolside for a party or other social event, but if no one is watching the children, it can result in tragic consequences. To avoid such needless danger, it is imperative that parents take necessary precautions whenever their children are in or near the water.

Causes of Infertility

June 22, 2015July 7, 2015 admin

Plus: Natural Ways to Boost Fertility

Increasing numbers of couples are experiencing infertility problems these days, finding that they are unable to conceive, or that the mother is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. Though estimates vary, most fertility experts say that 10 percent or more of all couples in the United States experience infertility problems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources, about one-third of all cases of infertility involve only the woman, one-third of cases involve only the man, and the remainder of cases involve both partners or are of unknown cause.

Opioid Prescriptions and Birth Defects

May 20, 2015 admin

Many U.S. Women of Child-Bearing Age Use Opioid Painkillers: CDC Warns about Birth Defects

A report released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that close to one-third of all American women of reproductive age got an opioid painkiller prescription filled each year from 2008 to 2012. This is of concern to health authorities because these medicines are known to cause serious birth defects.

Pesticide Residue in Produce and Male Fertility

May 13, 2015 admin

Eating Fruits and Vegetables with More Pesticide Residue Linked to Lowered Fertility: Harvard Study

Something for men to take note of: a new Harvard study has found a connection between consumption of fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residue and lower sperm counts, a lower percentage of normal sperm and less ejaculate, compared to men who ate produce with lower residue, and even men who ate almost no produce at all.

Safe, Nutritious, Home-Made First Foods for Baby

May 5, 2015 admin

Great, Healthy Home-Made Foods to Start Your Baby on Solids

The recent news report about a small piece of glass having been found in a jar of Beech-Nut baby food is enough to send chills down a new mom’s spine.

What if you want to be sure about the quality control in the food you’ll feed your 6-month-old when that time comes? What if you want to prepare your own baby foods?

Smoking During Pregnancy May Slow Nervous System Development

April 10, 2015 admin

4-D Ultrasounds Show Fetuses of Mothers Who Smoke Make More Facial Movements

A study published in late March, 2015 showed that fetuses of mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy had more facial and self-touching movements, such as opening their mouths, sucking their hands, grimacing, and touching their heads and eyes with their hands.

More Children Harmed by Pregnant Mom’s Drinking?

April 6, 2015 admin

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders May Affect More American Children than Previously Estimated, Study Found

A study published in late 2014 in the journal Pediatrics found that between 2.4 and 4.8 percent of children in the United States may have some type of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).