Gubernatorial candidate and current Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox joined host Heidi Hatch to talk about the race and the unusual state convention. Voting is happening, but how does it feel not to be there in person to make a pitch to delegates?
Cox talks about his signature-gathering efforts, his campaigning with delegates and the advantage some say he has by leading the coronavirus task force.
Do the protests over shutting down businesses in the state have an impact on state decision making?
If you’re pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have questions or concerns about your upcoming delivery in the hospital and keeping yourself and your family healthy.
Jade Elliott spoke with Angela Anderson, a certified nurse midwife with Intermountain Healthcare, to answer some common questions women may have as they anticipate delivering their baby during these unusual times on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Should I be worried about delivering my baby in the hospital during the pandemic?
No. Intermountain Healthcare is committed to making sure you and your baby have the safest birthing experience possible. We’re taking every necessary precaution against exposure to COVID-19 to ensure the risk is extremely low. We’ve also prepared for any other potential complications of pregnancy that, even if rare, can cause concern.
What should I do to prepare for my delivery?
For most healthy women, their delivery experience will be the same, except for the change in hospital visitor restrictions.
New hospital visitor restrictions
Currently, Intermountain hospitals limit OB patient visitors to one healthy support person for the duration of the hospital stay. It will be mother’s choice: The baby’s father counts as a visitor. A doula counts as a visitor. Check with your provider about adoptive situations.
Healthy newborn patients may have both parents as visitors.
Newborn intensive care (NICU) patients may have one visitor/guardian per 24 hours. However, there can be no more than two people designated as visitors/guardians throughout the entire hospital stay.
Moms can encourage loved ones to use technology to connect with her during her hospital stay if desired. Hospital staff are available to assist if needed.
Moms can help family and friends know that although they are excited to see your new baby, it will be best to wait until you and the baby come home, and risks of infection are lower following the pandemic. Ask your provider for guidance about visitors after you return home.
Hospital visitation for surrogacy or adoption situations are managed on a case per case basis. Discussions on what to expect and instructions for that special day should be coordinated in advance.
Women who are themselves positive for COVID-19, or who are suspected to have it, will not be able to have visitors in the room during their stay to limit the chances of viral exposure. Experienced hospital staff are ready to help you during this important time in a way that is both safe and comfortable.
Do I need to be delivered early if I’m COVID-19 positive (or suspected to have the virus)?
No. The COVID-19 infection is not a reason for an early delivery. In fact, it may be better to wait for your delivery until after your symptoms have resolved and you are no longer shedding the virus. This may reduce the risk to your newborn and healthcare workers from becoming exposed to the virus too.
At this time, some women are still being offered the option to have their labor induced. This usually occurs if there is an increased risk to the mother or baby from continuing the pregnancy. We will continue to offer normal obstetric care based on the usual indications. We don’t recommend early delivery to avoid exposure to the virus.
Hospital staff are prepared to care for COVID-19 patients who need to deliver their baby
Our hospital staff is ready and prepared to care for you and your baby safely if you have COVID-19 symptoms, are COVID-19 positive or are awaiting COVID-19 test results. We have care protocols and personal protective equipment to keep everyone safe and healthy.
If I do get sick, how do I protect my newborn?
If you do get sick near your delivery date with confirmed, or suspected, COVID-19, there are special precautions to be aware of. Though new mothers might not be at higher risk themselves, it’s important to avoid passing the virus to a newborn. Early research has not shown any evidence that the virus can be transmitted in utero, during delivery, or through breast milk.
But transmission can occur after birth when infants are in close contact with someone who has the illness. For this reason, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends avoiding rooming-in (baby sharing the same room) for new mothers with diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 infections. The CDC also recommends that ill women who would like to provide breast milk for their infant use a breast pump, being sure to practice good pumping hygiene.
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.
This week’s Take 2 podcast, the age of social distancing, features candidate for governor, Take 2 alumni and former Utah speaker of the house, Greg Hughes.
Hughes discusses the Republican Convention voting that starts this week and what it might mean for the candidates.
The conversation turned to the COVID-19 epidemic and the protests this week from those who want to return to business in the state of Utah and elsewhere. He said starting the economy isn’t a luxury, it is something that isn’t a choice. And once business begins business again, what will it mean for the economy? What will recovery look like?
As families commit to staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, pediatricians want to remind parents to continue critical medical care including newborn care and well-child checkups involving childhood vaccines. It’s important that children maintain their vaccination schedule to stay safe and healthy. Pediatrician offices have created ways to allow well children to safely access these important appointments.
Jade Elliott talks with Dr. Neal Davis, Pediatrician, Intermountain Healthcare, about making sure your kids stay up to date on checkups and vaccines during this unusual time on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a statement emphasizing the importance of newborn care and well child care as it relates to maintaining childhood vaccines, particularly in young children. Medical providers for children around the state of Utah have largely adopted practices suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics that minimize risk COVID 19 exposure and allow for the delivery of services to newborns and young children.
According to the CDC, these strategies include a combination of ways to separate children who are sick from children who come for well-child checkups in the following ways:
• Scheduling well visits in the morning and sick visits in the afternoon.
• Separating patients spatially, such as by placing patients with sick visits in different areas of the clinic or another location from patients with well visits.
• Collaborating with providers in the community to identify separate locations for holding well visits for children.
Many clinics are using other innovative strategies as well, such as check-ins from cars and expedited rooming, avoiding waiting rooms altogether.
If a clinic is able to provide only limited well-child visits, the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics encourages newborn care and vaccinations for children through age 24 months to take priority. Providers also may opt for telemedicine options.
Contact your child’s medical office to learn about the specific practices they are using to provide needed services while reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure. If you have questions, ask! Providers want to work with families to keep children well, and ensure they stay on schedule with immunizations.
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 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.
What can the Utah Legislature do in its special session now to help Utah businesses and families? Would it include possible tax cuts now and in the future?
The two discuss Utah’s current Stay Safe, Stay Home directive. Is it working? Do we need state-wide orders? Utahns are more worried about the economy than coronavirus; Are these concerns valid? Burningham says a five-point economic recovery plan now his number one issue, including over education.
When you have young kids, sleep is an essential part of your survival as a parent. When your kids sleep well, you sleep well. Thankfully, a bedtime routine can help your kids sleep better. Instead of letting your kids fall asleep whenever and wherever, a bedtime routine can bring structure and security to your child’s day. You and your child will get more sleep when they feel safe and secure.
Jade Elliott sat down with pediatrician Tyson Tidwell, DO, Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss the dos and don’ts of sleep routines.
Bedtime routines with your child can help everyone sleep better
So how can you make it happen? A bedtime routine doesn’t have to be difficult or drawn out. A routine is just something that you do every time your child goes to bed. Your child’s bedtime routine will help them form positive sleep associations. Here are some tips for forming a positive bedtime routine for your child.
Recommended sleep guidelines for babies and children by age
• 1 to 4 weeks old- Newborns sleep about 16-17 hours a day with periods of wakefulness lasting 1-3 hours. However, most newborns have not developed a night/day sleep cycle, so their sleep time can vary to all hours of the day.
• 1 to 4 months old- Babies of this age still tend to sleep about the same amount of hours, but their night/day sleep cycles begin to kick in, allowing them to sleep longer at night, although they still wake for feedings and changes.
• 4 months to 1 year- Babies of this age still require between 14-15 hours of sleep every day. Many of them are able to sleep the night, and take up to three naps during the day and evening. During this period, it’s very important to establish healthy sleep habits.
• 1 to 3 years- Most toddlers need about 12-14 hours of sleep, but often get less due to the schedules of parents and older children in the house. They will more than likely lose their early morning nap and early evening nap and tend to only take one nap a day.
• 3 to 6 years- Approximately 11-12 hours of sleep. Younger children of this group may still require a short nap during the day, but the need to nap usually diminishes by the time they enter the first grade.
• 7 to 12 years- Children of this age group tend to need about 10-12 hours of sleep, but often only get about 9-10 hours.
• 13 to 18 years- Teens require about 8-10 hours of sleep, but rarely get the full amount. The demands of schoolwork and after-school activities often cut into their sleep. Most teens report getting about 6-8 hours of sleep.
Start the bedtime routine early
Your child’s bedtime routine doesn’t have to happen right before bed. In fact, you should actually start your child’s bedtime routine at least 30 minutes before it’s time to start getting ready for bed. Start to wind down. Put an end to raucous games. Move slower. Dim the lights. Turn off the TV and electronic devices. Talk softer. Prepare your child’s mind and body for their upcoming bedtime routine and sleep.
Your child’s bedtime routine
No matter what you do, pick an easy and predictable routine that happens every time your child goes to bed. Try not to draw out your child’s bedtime routine. Fifteen minutes or so should be plenty of time for a good bedtime routine. Decide what is going to help your child fall asleep, and stick with it. Consistency is much more important that what you actually do during your routine. Some examples of bedtime routine elements include:
Bath
Reading books
Telling stories
Singing a song
Saying prayers
Brushing teeth
Putting on pajamas
Goodnight kisses and hugs
Diaper change or going to the bathroom
Snuggling together or tucking them in
Set the stage for good sleep
You’ve prepped your child for a good night of sleep. Don’t just leave them in a space that isn’t going to help them sleep. Don’t leave TVs, tablets, computers or phones in their bedroom. Keep the space dark enough for good sleep, while still comfortable for those who are scared of the dark. Night lights can help. Make the bed up comfortably. Check the temperature so it’s cool enough to sleep without leaving your kids cold. Invest in a white noise machine or fan.
Bedtime Routine Do’s and Don’ts
Avoid poor sleep associations
A sleep association happens when your child learns to fall asleep using certain tools or methods. Most of the time, poor sleep associations sneak in when parents try to get their kids to sleep in sheer desperation. A poor sleep association is one that can harm your child, or is unsustainable so that your child can’t fall asleep on their own. Examples of poor sleep associations include:
Going to sleep with a bottle
Falling asleep to the TV or music
Being rocked to sleep
Falling asleep to a backrub
Sleeping somewhere other than their own crib or bed (usually a parent’s bed)
Safe sleep for infants to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death
1. Always put your baby to sleep on his back until he can roll over.
2. Never bed-share with a newborn. It’s best for baby to sleep in their own crib within earshot of parents for first six months. If mom is sleepy, put baby in bassinette or crib.
3. Crib mattress should be firm, keep soft objects and loose bedding out of crib.
4. Do not overdress baby for sleep.
At what age can you start letting your baby fall asleep on their own or cry it out?
There are many different opinions on this. It’s really about parent preferences. Infants under 3-4 months won’t learn to put themselves to sleep. They need soothing. You can start sleep training at 4-5 months of age. Sleep routines are important for both naptime and bedtime.
When nursing or bottle-feeding, leave the lights on. Then turn off the lights and lay your baby down in their crib and say goodnight or sing or rub their back for just 60 seconds. Wait five minutes. Lay child back down and rub their back again and reassure them. Then, step out of the room for 10 minutes. If they’re still crying. Repeat and reassure them, this time stepping out of the room for 15 minutes. If your baby or toddler is hysterical or very upset you’ll want to console them briefly. They’ll figure it out in 2-3 days.
With a consistent and positive bedtime routine, your child will fall asleep faster and happier. Leaving you plenty of time to get your own shut eye.
Dr. Tidwell suggests these books and websites: Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. and the website Taking Cara Babies, https://takingcarababies.com/ especially the section called The ABC’s of Sleep.
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.
Utah Jazz reporter Alema Harrington joined Dave Fox for the latest edition of The Weekly Huddle, Talkin’ Jazz Podcast covering a wide range of topics including the sports world looking at options for a return. We look at the relationship of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, is it really an issue?
And the Jazz player tweet of the week, sharing a little humor from a bit of an unexpected source. Check out this week’s edition of Talkin Jazz Podcast here.
Take 2 podcast Host Heidi Hatch continues interviewing Utah gubernatorial candidates while practicing social distancing.
This week, Hatch is joined by Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton. She announced her candidacy for the 2020 Utah governor race, Oct. 23, 2019.
Since then, Winder’s campaign has discontinued gathering signatures to focus efforts on winning the Republican State Convention.
The Child Care Task Force has created a new program called One Utah Child Care to meet child care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the dismissal of schools and closures of some child care centers, employees who are vital to maintaining the health and safety of Utahns are in need of options for their children.
Jade Elliott sat down with Tracy Gruber, Office of Child Care Director, to discuss the program and childcare options on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
One Utah Child Care will connect these employees with child care providers prepared to meet this need. Centers will first be available along the Wasatch Front beginning April 1 and continue to roll out additional resources as the needs arise. All centers will follow strict safety and social distancing guidelines outlined by the Department of Health. Parents can begin registering on March 30 at jobs.utah.gov/covid19/.
These efforts represent the coordination of individual providers and organizations coming together to meet a critical need in our community, accurately representing “one Utah”.
There are still resources available to other individuals who are working but do not fall under the category of essential employees. Many Utah child care programs remain open and available with safety protocols in place to protect both the staff and children from the spread of COVID-19. Parents can find available providers at careaboutchildcare.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.
