In this week’s Take 2 we take a step back from our usual format as we evolve with social distancing.
Today we are joined by Jon Huntsman Jr. candidate for governor, former governor of Utah and ambassador to Russia and China. We talk about campaigning amid coronavirus, signature gathering and his economic plan to ensure the state of Utah remains afloat economically. The big question: If he were governor right now, what he’d do not now, but yesterday, to make it happen?
Join us in the coming weeks as we discuss these issues with all of our Gubernatorial candidates. Next Friday We will be joined by Aimee Winder Newton.
Every pregnancy has about a 3-5% chance having a baby with a major birth defect, that’s about 1 in 33 pregnancies. Those birth defects include things like heart defects, spina bifida, and cleft lip and palate. When we talk about all birth defects, those include functional and developmental delays, like autism, in addition to the major and minor structural defects.
Jade Elliott sat down with Al Romeo, RN, PhD, Utah Department of Health, to discuss birth defects and what you can do to try and prevent them on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
The study of those birth defects is called teratology. Experts at MotherToBaby Utah are teratology information specialists. This means they can answer your questions about exposures that might cause birth defects or other poor outcomes.
Some of the things to do to reduce the chance of having birth defects include: take folic acid before pregnancy to help prevent spina bifida; control diabetes before pregnancy to prevent heart and other defects; avoid alcohol during pregnancy to prevent heart defects and developmental delays; avoid smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding to prevent low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); avoid areas with Zika virus to prevent microcephaly, other defects, and developmental delays; keep up to date on vaccines, including the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine, before pregnancy; talk to your doctor about stopping your isotretinoin (Accutane) before trying to become pregnant; and talk to your doctor about your medications before pregnancy and before stopping them.
Visit MotherToBaby.org to find a fact sheets on a variety of medications, conditions, and other exposures.
Click here to listen to our podcast on taking medications while pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Senate GOP unveils plan for $1,200 “recovery checks” for most taxpayers. They would phase out after $75,000 ($150k for couples), with none going to individuals making more than $99,000 ($198k for couples). +$500 per child. Calculations to be based on 2018 AGI. Romney votes, “Yes;” Lee votes, “No.”
Rep. Ben McAdams has coronavirus: He’s working from home and under quarantine. What Utah politician would you like to quarantine?
John Sallow files as a Republican candidate for Utah Attorney General. He resigned amid a pay-for-play scandal that cost taxpayers $4 million in a House investigation. Ultimately, Swallow was acquitted and paid $1.5 million from the state. Why is he running? Also in the race, Sean Reyes, Utah Attorney David Leavitt and Defense Attorney Greg Skordas.
UTV’s Heidi Hatch hosts Utah’s State Auditor, John Dougall and Maura Carabello with the Exoro Group to talk the state of Utah from both side of politics.
Like most things these days the discussion started with how Utah is handling Covid-19, commonly known as part of the virus family it is part of, the coronavirus. State leaders announced a soft closure Friday as the state practices social distancing to stop the spread of the disease. Many local events and gatherings have been cancelled including Republican caucus meetings. Democrats and Republicans announced they will nix the in-person portion of party conventions scheduled for April 25.
Women lawmakers in the Utah Senate walked out of the debate over mandatory ultrasounds. All six women in those elected positions, from both parties, walked out in protest and refused to vote on a bill mandating a woman be shown an ultrasound before she has an abortion, but the bill passed despite their absence. Republican Sen. Deidre Henderson said it wasn’t planned but was a spontaneous decision about the “invasive nature of the bill.” Henderson said she opposes abortion but the bill goes too far.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that was first identified in December in Wuhan, China, has rapidly spread around the world. As of this writing, more than 100,000 cases have been diagnosed worldwide. Cases have been detected in 36 states in the United States. It is likely it will spread to more locations within the U.S., and people have many questions, particularly about children.
There has not been a lot of focus on COVID-19 in children. We are learning more about this new illness every day but can give a pretty good picture of the disease in children.
Jade Elliott sat down with Dr. Andrew Pavia, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah and Director of Hospital Epidemiology Program at Primary Children’s Hospital, to discuss COVID-19 on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Is COVID-19 dangerous in children?
COVID-19 appears on average to be much milder in children than it does in healthy adults or in older adults. Of the first 70,000 patients in China diagnosed with COVID-19, only 2.1 percent were children under 19. No children under the age of 9 died according to this report. Only one death was reported in a child age 10-19 years.
Are children getting infected?
Yes. While we don’t know exactly how many children are infected, there are a number of studies where all family members have been tested. These suggest that children are frequently infected, but often have few or no symptoms.
If they are infected but not sick, can they spread the virus that causes COVID-19?
We don’t yet know how often children spread the disease, but we think it is highly likely that infected children can spread COVID-19. With most viral diseases, children are most infectious when they have symptoms since coughing and runny noses help spread droplets with the virus. This is probably true for COVID-19.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in children and infants?
Many children have few or no symptoms. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, and dry cough, and occasionally diarrhea. In a few children, this has progressed to shortness of breath. Some of those with progressive symptoms have developed pneumonia. A very small number have required intensive care. As with other viral illnesses in children, most can be treated at home and will do well. At present there are no specific drugs to treat the infection. Drink plenty of fluids. Medications to reduce fever may make your child more comfortable.
Should I get my child or infant tested for COVID-19 if they have a runny nose, fever or cough?
In general testing is not necessary and it is best to avoid visits to a doctor’s office or emergency department if your child has mild or moderate illness. Testing will become more available in the future, but is still largely limited to people who are more severely ill or when knowing the diagnosis will make a difference in treatment or management.
When should I seek care?
You can think of this as you would any cold or flu. If your child has difficulty breathing, is not able to keep down fluids or is very limp or non-responsive you should seek care immediately. There are good sources of information you can use to help you decide. The Utah Department of Health has an information line 800-456-7707. You can also use Intermountain Healthcare’s Connect Care online or through the mobile app.
All Connect Care providers are trained in screening specifically for COVID-19. Connect Care uses a video chat function to be seen by an Intermountain caregiver.
I understand it makes sense to care for my child at home, but how do I protect the family?
First, we should all take precautions to avoid infection in the first place. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or if that’s not an option, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean commonly touched surfaces in your house. Stay home when sick and cover your cough with tissue or cough into your elbow.
If someone in the household is sick, all of these steps become even more important, especially paying attention to cleaning your hands after touching the ill person, handling their tissues, etc. In addition, if age-appropriate, the ill person should sleep in a separate bedroom. Avoid sharing household items with the patient. You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items. After the patient uses these items, you should wash them thoroughly. Wash bed sheets and clothing, especially if they have contact with mucus, blood or stool.
What about face masks?
Face masks worn in public do not provide any meaningful protection to healthy people. However, if the person with COVID-19 wears a mask, it helps protect those around them. Caring for a sick child or adult in your house does increase the close exposure. CDC recommends using a face mask if you are cleaning up blood, stool or body fluid such as saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, or urine.
Are pregnant women at special risk from COVID-19?
In general, pregnant women are at increased risk of infection and severe complications from viral infections like influenza or related coronaviruses, like those that cause SARS and MERS. However, data from COVID-19 patients have not strongly suggested that this is the case for the current situation. While we do not yet know all the ways that COVID-19 affects pregnant women, it is still important for mothers to protect themselves by washing their hands and avoiding people who are sick.
Can a pregnant woman transmit COVID-19 to her child in the uterus?
We have not yet discovered any proof that pregnant women can transmit the COVID-19 virus to babies in the uterus. Scientists and physicians are still studying this to see if it can happen, but for now the risk does not seem high.
Are newborns at special risk from COVID-19?
We still do not know much about young babies with COVID-19 infection, but severe disease seems to be very rare. There are no reported infant deaths from COVID-19.
Should women stop breastfeeding if they have COVID-19?
The COVID-19 virus has not been found in breastmilk from mothers infected with COVID-19. Transmission from a mother with COVID-19 to her baby seems to be more likely by coughing and sneezing. Nevertheless, the decision for a mother with COVID-19 to breastfeed her baby should be discussed with her doctor.
What are some trustworthy sources if I want to know more?
Utah Department of Health information line: 800-456-7707
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
2News Heidi Hatch discusses spring break and underage drinking prevention with guests from Parents Empowered.
The podcast is being offered quarterly to help parents understand the ramifications of underage drinking and how to prevent it. This is the third podcast to date.
Anyone with children knows they tend to get sick, especially this time of year. For parents it can be hard to know when to keep a child home from school and see a doctor, or when they should go to school.
Jade Elliott sat down with Dr. Shellie Ring a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare to provide some simple tips to help parents make their decision on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Fever:
A fever is a sign that your child is fighting off an infection that can be either viral or bacterial. Fever can often be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but do not give your child aspirin. Verify the correct doses on the packaging or with your pediatrician. Your child should be fever- free without medication for 24 hours before being sent back to school.
If your child has a temperature of 101 that does not respond to fever reducing medication, then they should be seen by a medical provider.
Diarrhea or Vomiting:
Viral infections can cause vomiting or diarrhea, and these infections can spread easily. Any time they have those symptoms they should stay home from school. Any time a child has persistent vomiting, fever, or generally appear ill you should contact your pediatrician for advice on managing the illness.
Children should only go back to daycare or school once they have no signs of fever and feel well enough to participate in class.
Sore Throat, Coughs, Colds:
These types of illnesses are the most common with children and it can be tougher to know when to keep them home from daycare or school. If coughing is severe and disrupts learning, then parents should keep their child home. If a fever is associated with any of those symptoms kids should also be kept home.
Rashes:
Illnesses and rashes like chickenpox, measles or hand foot and mouth disease, should be looked at by doctor or school nurse to determine what they are and when they’re no longer contagious. Surprisingly lice, scabies, or ringworm are not reasons to stay home once a child has been treated. Although parents should check with their child’s school or daycare for policies.
If parents need advice, they don’t always have to visit their pediatrician’s office to receive care. In some cases, calling your doctor’s office may be all you need. If you can’t get in to see your doctor, services like ConnectCare or KidCare Clinics are another option for receiving medical care.
Whether a child’s illness keeps them home from school or not it’s always a good time to discuss proper hand hygiene. Regular hand washing especially after using a toilet, coughing, touching pets, or before and after eating are key. Doing so removes germs and helps children avoid getting sick in the first place.
It’s also a good time for parents to make sure their children are current on all vaccines including for the flu.
To listen to the podcast on common daycare illnesses, click here.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Receiving news of an impending pregnancy loss is devastating. You may experience a variety of emotions and have a lot of questions about what may happen and what to do next. That’s why the Angel Watch program was started more than 20 years ago.
Jade Elliott sat down with Amelia Hopkin, a licensed clinical social worker with Intermountain Healthcare, to explain how the Angel Watch program can help you if you learn that your unborn baby is not expected to live on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
How Angel Watch got started
The Angel Watch program was started by two women who saw a need to help support women faced with impending pregnancy loss. In 2000, Intermountain Healthcare took interest and purchased it with the agreement to keep it free of charge and make it available to anyone –not just Intermountain patients – and that outreach would be done in homes. The program has grown beyond the Salt Lake area and is also offered in Utah County, Ogden, St. George and Logan.
Angel Watch is staffed by specially trained social workers and chaplains
Master’s level social workers, nurses, bereavement specialists and chaplains are available on-call to provide home visits when pregnant women receive a diagnosis of impending pregnancy loss.
How do women connect with Angel Watch?
The Angel Watch caregivers receive referrals from doctors, maternal fetal medicine specialist offices, genetic counselors and others familiar with the program, who let them know when a pregnant mom has received news her unborn baby has a life-limiting diagnosis and is interested in these services. These special caregivers work with moms during the transition time when babies are still in utero.
Angel Watch offers in-home services and referrals
Angel Watch services are done primarily in the form of home visits, phone calls, education and providing written materials and referrals to community resources.
Ongoing support provided for two years
We do support for two years following the loss. We can refer to other resources or other families who’ve experienced this at the beginning of the process or later down the road. There is a high risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during and after these experiences. Our goal is to help reduce the trauma associated with this experience. Outcomes can be better for all involved if they get proper support. Parents can learn to model handling loss, so their children can learn how to handle the loss of their potential sibling.
For more information about Angel Watch, click here. You can also call 801-698-4486 or email angelwatch@imail.org.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
The Utah Jazz have snapped out of its losing streak, and in this week’s edition of Talkin Jazz podcast, Alema Harrington joins Dave Fox to explain what’s working.
Topics include the record pace Donovan Mitchell is on in which he could pass Karl Malone soon. Also the return of the 3-pointer, how the Jazz have been on fire in just a two-game stretch, plus Mike Conley, having a better season than many might think. All that plus Mitchell in the community and how the high school champions were boosted by his presence. Check out Talkin Jazz podcast with Alema Harrington and Dave Fox here:
