The winter brings fun holidays, family gatherings and dreaded cold/flu like viruses.   Many parents have anxiety about having a newborn in the winter months because cold and flu viruses are at their peak. In our area of the country, the weather keeps us indoors which increases the risk of spreading airborne illnesses. A newborn has an immature immune system so it is important that parents are aware of the ways to avoid transmission of germs.

Wash Your Hands

The number one way to avoid the transmission of germs is to wash your hands, especially anyone who is going to touch the newborn. Washing your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water for 20 seconds is the recommended practice. Offering the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing your hands is also effective; however, hand washing remains the gold standard. Make sure all who handle the baby, including young children, are vigilant about hand washing.

Fresh Air

Contrary to popular belief, keeping your baby bundled in the winter months will not reduce the risk of the baby getting sick. It will keep him/her from being cold but it will not reduce the rate of transmission of an illness. Babies need to get fresh air as well as sunlight for their Vitamin D absorption. It is OK for new mothers, fathers and or caregivers to take a newborn on a walk on a mild day in the winter months. 
 

Flu Shot

Most cold and flu viruses are airborne. Most often a person is contagious prior to showing symptoms. Therefore, it is important that all who are going to care for a newborn baby in the winter receive their FLU vaccine.

Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease also known as whooping cough, is on the rise in the United States; therefore, it is also recommended that full-time care givers and parents be boosted with the pertussis vaccine.

Vaccinations

Once the baby is of age to receive the recommended vaccine schedule it is imperative that parents have the baby vaccinated. This alone will begin to protect your child from harmful bacterial and viral infections.

Natural Immunity

You can boost your baby's immunity naturally with the proven benefit of breastfeeding in reducing the risk of infection in newborns and infants. Babies who exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of their life have reduced rates of ear infections, pneumonias, and diarrheal infections. Breastfeeding your baby is the best line of defense you can give him/her in the first few weeks to months of life.

Sick Policy

Check in with your daycare about their "sick policy". Most facilities have a no fever, no diarrhea, no rash and no pink eye rule. However, if you see a child who appears ill in the daycare make sure you make an attendant aware.

A Cold Is OK

It is important to know that all children get a cold-like virus in the winter months. Most recover without issue. However a newborn with a fever of 100.4 or greater is a serious matter and your physician should be contacted.

Keeping your hands washed, covering a cough, and boosting your baby's immunity with vaccination and breast milk are great ways to avoid serious issues.  

Dr. Moskowitz is the founder of The Pediatric Center, 556 Central Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974 / 908-508-0400

www.PedCenter.com 

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal raises the concern that "the nation's fertility rate edged down last year to a record low, the latest notch in a long decline made worse by the recent recession."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 1,000 women of childbearing age, there were just 62.5 births. Why is this significant? Lower fertility can have a direct affect on the growth rate of the U.S. population. The thought is this would lead to fewer workers, a smaller tax base to finance benefits for the elderly and less consumer spending. Fewer children equals less diapers, school supplies and the need for larger homes. 

It seems, women are delaying child-rearing, waiting longer and having fewer kids.

The struggle in the economy over that last several years is said to have a direct correlation to this lowered birth rate. Higher levels of unemployment, delayed marriages, increased college attendance, higher cost of living and more women in the workforce all contribute the this lasting decline in babies.

There may be an increase coming in the near future from women in their 30's who are more financially stable and have a higher education.

Women and families are more afraid to have children if they are not financially stable. It is believed as the economy continues to grow, so will the growth rate of babies. Time will tell.  

Our society has made us afraid of eating fat. It really took ground with the boom of the fat-free industry in the 80's. The truth is, the right fats help promote health and well-being. It's about choosing which fats to ingest. The mix of fats that you eat, rather than the total amount in your diet, is what matters most. The key is to eat more good fats and less bad fats.

Fats contribute to the amount of cholesterol in your body. Very simply,

HDL cholesterol is the good kind of cholesterol found in your blood.

LDL cholesterol is the bad kind.

• Monounsaturated fats lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
• Polyunsaturated fats lower triglycerides and fight inflammation.
• Saturated fats may raise your blood cholesterol if you eat too much.
• Trans fats are the worst types of fat. They raise your bad LDL cholesterol and lower the good HDL cholesterol.

Good Fats

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are good for you. They lower cholesterol, protect your heart, reduce the risk of disease and support overall health. Omega-3 fats are in this category and are essential to physical and emotional health. They are highly concentrated in the brain and research indicates they play a vital role in cognitive function (memory, problem-solving abilities, etc.) as well as elevating your mood, fighting fatigue and controlling your weight.

Examples of Good Fats Include:

• Monounsaturated (the best kind!): Olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, avocados, olives, nuts (almonds, macadamia, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews), peanut butter
• Polyunsaturated: walnuts, sunflowers, sesame and pumpkin seeds, flax seed, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines), tofu

Bad fats

Saturated fats have fallen into this category - however, saturated fats are ok if they are eaten in moderation. Coconut oil is a perfect example. The health benefits of coconut oil are immense.

Bad fats raise our cholesterol and put our bodies at risk of certain diseases. Trans fats should be avoided. Trans fats (hydrogenated oils) are are used in the manufacturing of food to help it stay fresh, longer.

Examples of saturated fats that should be eaten in moderation:

High-fat cuts of meat (beef, lamb, pork), chicken with the skin, whole-fat dairy products (milk & cream), butter, cheese, ice cream, palm & coconut oil

Examples of bad trans fats (the worst kind):

Commercially-baked pastries, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, cakes, pizza dough, packaged snack foods (crackers, microwave popcorn, chips), stick margarine, semi-solid vegetable shortening, most pre-mixed products (cake mix, pancake mix, and chocolate drink mix), vegetable shortening, fried foods (french fries, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, breaded fish), candy bars

How to tell a good fat vs. a bad fat

Trans fats and saturated fats tend to be solid at room temperature, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to be liquid (think of olive or sunflower oil).

Important to note - fat-free foods are not healthier. Many fat-free foods are high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and calories.

General Guidelines For Choosing Healthy Fats

• Try to eliminate trans fats and limit fast food
• Limit saturated fats by cutting back on red meat and full-fat dairy foods and replacing them with low fat varieties (ie. use olive oil instead of butter, low-fat cheese vs. full fat, skim or 1% milk vs. whole milk)
• Eat omega-3 fats every day. Good sources include fish, walnuts, ground flax seeds, flax-seed oil, canola oil, and soybean oil.
• Keep total fat intake to 20-35% of calories
• Limit saturated fats to less than 10% of your calories (200 calories for a 2000 calorie diet) 

LoYa, a local yoga facility, is offering a new prenatal yoga class, starting on January 10th. Classes will be held from 10:15-11:45 at their facility at 86 Summit Ave, 3rd Floor, in Summit, NJ.

Prenatal yoga can be a great way to prepare for childbirth and contribute to a healthier pregnancy. LoYa provides a safe and effective yoga class for pregnant women aimed to improve tone, strength and flexibility of your body and relaxation of your mind. The prenatal classes are specifically modified for women in any stage of their pregnancy.

Benefits Of Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga can:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Improve sleep, muscle strength, flexibility and endurance
• Reduce low back pain, sciatica, nausea, wrist and shoulder pain
• Improve pelvic floor strength
• Enhance a connection between mom and baby

What To Expect In A LoYa Prenatal Class

The prenatal class will teach pranayama (breathing) techniques, move you through vinyasa ( flow) yoga sequences, teach restorative positions using cushions and blankets to relieve pain in joints, offer relaxation techniques (savasana) and allow mothers to meet and bond in a nurturing and supportive space. Calming tea and fresh baked muffins are offered at end of class.

Who Is The Instructor?

The prenatal program at LoYa is taught by Gayle Lemke, a mother, writer, yoga teacher and passionate childbirth educator and advocate. She has been a labor support doula and post partum consultant for 15 years and in 2005, created Shakti Ma, where she directed the pre/postnatal yoga and childbirth education programs.

For more information: www.loyayoga.com / 908-277-2270.

 The Rubino OB/GYN Group On LinkedIn

Pay Your Bill Online

You can pay your Rubino OB/GYN Group bills online right from the homepage of our website. Simply click on the button at the top of the page that says "New! Pay Your Bill Online!".

Options include paying by credit card or  echeck. It is an easy one-time registration to create a password.

For easy reference, the direct link is: Pay My Bill. 

We hope you enjoy seeing the practice on a more personal level and welcome your feedback! Simply reply to this newsletter.