Showing posts with label #PreemieProtection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #PreemieProtection. Show all posts

Saturday, November 17, 2012

November 17th is World Prematurity Day #ProtectPreemies #RSV



As you may remember on April 24th Ascending Butterfly hosted an Infant Nutrition Twitter Party, where we discussed the importance of Infant Nutrition for preemies, so I definitely couldn't let today go by without a reminder on the importance of prematurity awareness as today is ‘World Prematurity Day!’

Did you know that worldwide, 13 million babies are born early/premature every year? More than a half of a million in the United States alone? Prematurity is actually the leading cause of neonatal deaths! A recent survey on prematurity awareness revealed that 3 in 10 mothers of preemies weren't aware of the possibility of prematurity until they had their first child.

Because their immune systems and lungs aren’t fully developed, preemies are more likely to develop infections and are more susceptible to respiratory problems. In fact, 79 percent of preemie moms have a baby who was hospitalized due to a severe respiratory infection. One virus in particular that parents of preemies should know about is respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. RSV is contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, often causing relatively minor symptoms that mimic the common cold. However, preemies are most at risk for developing much more serious symptoms, including a serious respiratory infection (severe RSV disease) from the virus, because their lungs are underdeveloped and they don’t have the antibodies needed to fight off infection. Below are a few quick facts that all parents should know about RSV:

RSV Quick Facts:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, and severe RSV disease causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - RSV is most prevalent during the winter months. The CDC has defined the “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - In addition to prematurity, common risk factors include low birth weight, certain lung or heart diseases, a family history of asthma and frequent contact with other children.

Premature Baby in NICU


Prevention is Key:

RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Since there’s no treatment for RSV, parents should take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Avoid large crowds and people who are or have been sick

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Never let anyone smoke near your baby (that includes YOU!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Speak with your child’s doctor if he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available

Know the Symptoms: Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Severe coughing,  wheezing or rapid gasping breaths

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Speak with your child’s doctor if he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available

My Take:

Do your research! Sites like the RSV Protection Site provides detailed information on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Virus Sincicial Respiratorio). Being born prematurely, can have long-lasting effects on health well into adulthood. It is important that pregnant women give up smoking (even after the baby is born as second hand smoke exposure is as harmful to children if not more so as it to adults), and it also important that elective C-sections and labor inductions are discouraged unless there’s an important medical reason to do. Because of my own scare this year with my Lungs (and I have NEVER smoked by the way) I take Flu and RSV prevention very seriously and I hope you will too!

Butterfly, are you a Preemie Mom? What did you learn from your doctor about Preemie Care?

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FTC DisclosureThis is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina BloggersConnect and the RSV Protection Site, however all opinions are 100% my own.