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Sooner or later your baby or child will be exposed to germs and may end up getting sick. If your baby goes to daycare or to other places they may interact with many children such as a church nursery, play group or public play areas, they may get sick at a younger age, but that does help them build immunity. Some children may not be exposed to a lot of germs until they start attending pre-school or school. Either way, your child will eventually be exposed to some common illnesses.

Jade Elliott sat down with  Dr. Shellie Ring, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare to talk about common contagious illnesses your baby might be exposed to at daycare or other public settings.

Some of the most contagious diseases among babies and young children:

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus. Common contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract among children under age two. Symptoms are similar to a cold, but if it progresses it can affect breathing and become serious.

Pink Eye

The official name for pink eye is conjunctivitis which is when the membrane that lines your eyelid becomes inflamed. Symptoms in the eye are redness, itchiness, grittiness, discharge that forms a crust during the night and make it difficult for your baby to open their eye in the morning.

Stomach viruses and diarrhea

Viral gastroenteritis is very common and very contagious. Your baby can get it from sharing a cup or utensils with someone who has the virus or coming into contact with infected fecal matter, and then put their hand in their mouth, which can happen a lot in daycare settings.

Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, chills, achiness. It’s important to keep them home from daycare if they have these symptoms.

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, runny nose, and then a blister-like rash on the hands, feet or in the mouth. Children are contagious during the first week and remain contagious until the rash has disappeared.

How to help prevent your child from getting sick

The younger your baby is the more you’ll want to avoid public areas during cold and flu season and avoid being around people that are sick.

Importance of proper hand washing and using sanitizer for young children and caregivers before eating and after diaper changing, using the bathroom, touching pets, being in public spaces or if anyone has symptoms.

Changing tables and potty chairs, should be sanitized after each use at daycare. Toys and other items frequently touched like bathroom fixtures, drinking fountains, doorknobs or handles should be sanitized daily.

Click here for more information about viruses and where in Utah they are active.

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.

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It’s not something that is often talked about, but alcohol use can impact dads and dads-to-be.

Jade Elliot sat down with Marcela Smid, MD, maternal-fetal medicine, University of Utah Health, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss the negative effects of heavy alcohol use in dads.

For healthy men under the age of 65: more than 4 drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week may indicate risky drinking.

Alcohol and other drug use has a familial component, and 40-60% of alcohol use disorder are attributed to genetic/familial components.

Alcohol use among fathers-to-be may decrease fertility among couples with infertility. Among couples experiencing fertility issues, alcohol use may decrease sperm count and motility.

Heavy alcohol use is associated with decreased paternal attachment to infants and increased maternal depressions.

Any substance use disorders increases the risk of substance use disorder in children.

For more information on infertility, click here or listen to our Baby Your Baby podcast on the topic.

Click here to listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on alcohol use before and during pregnancy.

For information on mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, 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.

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Going through miscarriages can be very difficult. It’s important to understand that a miscarriage is not your fault. Miscarriage can’t be prevented and are usually due to a developmental problem or a chromosomal abnormality.

10–25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and one to five percent of women experience two or more pregnancy losses that don’t progress to term. Less than 1 percent of miscarriages are called stillbirths because they happen after 20 weeks gestation.

Jade Elliott talks with Ware Branch, MD, Ware Branch, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine physician with University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss miscarriage.

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?

Bleeding and spotting are the most common signs of miscarriage. Cramping can also happen. These symptoms don’t always mean you are miscarrying. It is important to talk with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these signs. Women may also see large clots or tissue discharge from their vagina.

What causes miscarriage?

Genetic abnormalities is one of the common causes of a miscarriage. As many as 50–70 percent of all early pregnancy loss occurs because the embryo has too much or too little genetic material. Pre-existing medical conditions may also play a role. Those conditions include immune system issues, thyroid/hormonal issues, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and RH factor. Lifestyle, like alcohol and drug use may also play a role as well as the age of the mother.

Can a miscarriage be prevented?

A miscarriage cannot be prevented, but there are some things you can do to increase your chance of a healthy and successful pregnancy.

• Take a prenatal vitamin.
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid smoking and using alcohol or recreational drugs.
• Attend regular prenatal appointments.
• Eat a healthy diet.

Talk to your doctor if you’ve had a miscarriage in the past, or if you have any concerns.

For more information on miscarriages, click here.

To learn how to cope with miscarriage, click here.

To listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on infertility, 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.

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There are a lot of reasons for women to track their menstrual cycle. In the last few years a lot of period tracker smart phone apps have been developed. There’s even one in the health app standardly included on the iPhone.

Jade Elliott sat down with certified nurse midwife, Emily Hart Hayes from Intermountain Healthcare,  to talk about reasons to track your menstrual cycle and whether the apps are reliable at predicting fertility or helping you get pregnant or avoid pregnancy on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.

Why it’s a good idea for women to keep track their period

When you see a provider, they often ask for the date your last menstrual period started.

“In healthcare, asking when you last had a period is like taking a fifth vital sign. If you haven’t had a period in a while or they’ve been irregular, it may indicate pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause or be a signal to check for thyroid problems, polycystic ovaries, or other conditions,” says Hayes.

Apps can help you predict your period, but are they accurate?

“Tracking your period and entering that information into an app can be helpful at predicting your periods, especially if you’ve got pretty regular cycles that happen about once a month. If your menstrual cycles are irregular, it can be harder to predict,” says Hayes.

The more data you input, the better the app becomes at predicting your cycle. “An app can tell you your cycle is 30 days instead of the average of 28 days. The app may help you recognize that ovulation is not always on day 14 for example,” she adds.

Knowing when your period is likely to occur is helpful for planning and to help you manage your life activities: for example, if you know when you might have a pre-menstrual headache or irritability or when cramps may be at their worst you can make adjustments.

There are many period apps – check the privacy terms

Some period tracker apps include: Eve, Ovia, Period Calendar, Period Diary, My Calendar, Flo Period, and even the My Health app that comes standard on iPhones allows you to input your menstrual cycle info. Most apps are essentially the same.

Read and understand the privacy terms you’re agreeing too. You may or may not want to input your sexual activity information.

For the contraception podcast mentioned during this podcast, 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.

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When you find out you’re pregnant for the first time, there are so many things to think about like finding out the gender, choosing baby equipment and decorating the nursery. But don’t forget about the most important event – the birth.

Many women are nervous about labor. One of the best ways to help calm those fears is to take a childbirth education class to help you prepare and know what to expect during labor and learn about some of the different childbirth options available.

Jade Elliott sat down with Kathy Credille, RN, MSN, with the Intermountain Healthcare Learning Network on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss the childbirth classes and options  available for busy moms-to-be.

Why childbirth education is so important

Becoming a parent is such a transitional time, there are so many changes and there’s so much to learn. Our bodies are made to give birth. Knowing how to navigate that and work with your body is empowering. Childbirth education classes help decrease fear and increase knowledge. They also help prepare you to care for your newborn, which can be overwhelming.

Childbirth education classes can help you understand the changes your body makes while pregnant and informs you about the labor and birth process. More knowledge about the birth process can help you make decisions as they arise.

Every labor is different

Learning about the labor and birth process helps you understand not only the common path that labor typically takes, but also the variations in the labor process and how to prepare to be flexible when your labor doesn’t go as planned. It can be helpful to make a labor plan, but you need to keep your mind open and be flexible. You can’t control everything.

The classes also address the mental health aspects of this role transition time and be aware of peripartum depression and mood disorders. The classes also explains the process of your body returning to a non-pregnant state so that you have realistic expectations for that.

Childbirth education classes help especially if you’re hoping for a non-medicated childbirth or low-intervention childbirth

If you want to learn how to manage the pain and contractions of labor without medication, the classes are especially helpful. But even if you’re opting for an epidural, they help you understand and prepare for the labor process.

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.

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Screens and media are everywhere and can be a powerful tool for your child’s learning and play. However, nothing can replace face-to-face interaction and play with your child.

Jade Elliott sat down with Kaitlin Carpenter, MD, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss screen time guidelines for your kids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued several recommendations regarding screen time for children:

• Under 18 months: Avoid screen time other than video-chat.

• 18-24 months: Limit screen time to high-quality programming.

• Over 2 years old: Limit screen time to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming created for young children, like Sesame Street and other PBS shows such as Daniel Tiger.

Make sure you are watching and discussing shows with your child. They can be great ways for you and your child to learn together.

The most powerful thing parents can do is be a “media mentor” and show children how to appropriately interact with phones, tablets, and TVs.

• Co-watch shows and videos or co-play games with kids.

• Try to avoid constant use of your phone around your child. You are your child’s best role model. They will do what you do, so if you are constantly on your phone, your child will be too.

• Designate times and places that are phone- or screen-free, like dinner time or bedtime.

• Like anything else in a child’s life, children do well with consistent limits. Encourage playtime up and away from screens after the limits are up.

It can be tempting to use media as an emotional pacifier (think crying toddler at the doctor’s office). While that is a nice solution that can be used sometimes, try not to make it a habit. Kids need to learn their own coping strategies (like a hug from mom or dad) or another way to channel those emotions.

Here are some additional ideas and AAP resources for families:

• When considering whether to get paper books or eBooks, choose paper books. Research has shown that children learn better and interact more with paper books.

• There seems to be a relationship between increased media use in young children and obesity, research has shown.

• Consider making a Media Use Plan with your family. Visit HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan for tips.

• Learn about age-appropriate apps and game reviews at Commonsensemedia.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.

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Infertility affects about 15% of couples. Infertility is considered the failure to become pregnant within one year of unprotected intercourse for women under the age of 35 and within six months of trying for women over 35.

Jade Elliott sat down with Megan Link, MD, reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, University of Utah Health, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to discuss the causes of infertility and the options for couples who are struggling to become pregnant.

Is infertility just a woman’s problem?

No, men can have infertility issues as well. In fact, male factor is the cause of infertility in 40-50% of couples.

What causes infertility in women?

• Failure to ovulate
• Ovulating irregularly
• Fallopian tube problems
• Uterine problems
• Endometriosis
• Older age

What causes infertility in men?

• Sperm problems: low sperm count, no sperm present in semen
• Prior vasectomy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction

How long should couples try to get pregnant before seeing a doctor?

• Women under 35: 1 year
• Women over 35: 6 months
• Women 40 and older: more immediate evaluation is recommended

If you are concerned in general; however, get evaluated sooner. You don’t have to wait a full year if you have a history of irregular periods, for example. 

When should someone consider IVF?

• Male factor
• Tubal factor
• Other treatment options have failed

Other options:

Older age of the female partner: can use donor eggs

Parents are carriers for genetic disease that could be transmitted to the child (Cystic Fibrosis, muscular dystrophy). IVF can be utilized to create embryos and then test the embryos to see if they are affected by the disease in question.

Gestational surrogacy: Women has a medical condition that makes carrying a child dangerous to her health, or has a condition that makes it impossible for her to carry a pregnancy. In many of these cases, we can create embryos using her own eggs and then transfer one embryo into another women’s uterus.

Oncofertility: Preserve eggs or embryos prior to receiving cancer treatment that is harmful to the ovaries.

Elective fertility preservation: because fertility declines with age in women, an increasing number of women are choosing to freeze eggs until they are ready to start a family.

Approximately 1 in every 100 babies born in the U.S. was conceived through IVF.

For more information on IVF, click here.

To learn more about infertility and your options, 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.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is the term used to describe all types of abuse, neglect, and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18. ACEs are unfortunately quite common; two out of three people have at least one emotional injury during childhood, meaning this essentially effects every family.

Jade Elliott sits down with Dr. William Cosgrove, pediatrician and chair of Salt Lake County Board of Health, to discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they can negatively impact someone throughout their life.

ACEs have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, lower life potential, and early death.  As the number of adverse experiences increase, so does the risk for those outcomes.

Positive experiences or protective factors can prevent children from experiencing adversity and can protect against many of the negative health and life outcomes even after adversity has occurred.

It is important to address the conditions that put children and families at risk of ACEs so that we can prevent ACEs before they happen.

• Strengthen economic supports to families, including family-friendly work policies
• Support positive parenting, including reducing corporal punishment
• Provide quality care and education early in life
• Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development, including early childhood home visitation
• Intervene to lessen harms and prevent future risks

To listen to our podcast about the importance of parental and infant mental health, 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.

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When women are thinking about getting pregnant or first find out they’re pregnant, all kinds of thoughts, questions and worries might run through their heads. Even though they might have friends, sisters or mothers who’ve had children, this is the first time they’re really thinking about themselves and what to expect and what might happen to their body, their baby and how their life might change.

Jade Elliott sits down with certified nurse midwife, Emily Hart Hayes from Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast, to help allay some of those common fears that pregnant women have.

The statistics show that 96 to 97 percent of the time, babies are born normal and healthy

“Birth defects only occur in about 3 percent of births according to the U.S. National Institute of Health,” says Hayes. The US Healthy People 2020 initiative estimates that about 85 percent of pregnant women enter labor at “low risk” for problems. While complications can arise in pregnancy and birth, they are not the norm.

It’s common for women to worry about their health and their baby’s health during pregnancy

“Pregnancy is a normal, natural condition, but it can also be an uncomfortable condition. Women’s worries during pregnancy are often centered around whether what they are feeling is normal. Common worries include concerns about miscarriage, birth defects and preterm labor,” says Hayes.

Keep exercising – it’s good for you

One of the most effective ways you can help your pregnancy stay health and normal is to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. It’s best to start pregnancy at a healthy weight. Continuing to exercise will help you stay health and not gain too much weight.

Hayes recommends women avoid exercise that would increase the chance of a blow to the abdomen or a fall, such as contact sports, skiing, or horseback riding. During exercise, your heart rate should be such that you can you carry on a conversation. Listen to your body. Is it too much? If it doesn’t cause pain or exhaustion then it’s ok. If you’ve been a regular runner then you can continue, but you may find you need to adjust your routine as your pregnancy progresses. You may be more prone to injury. During pregnancy, your balance changes. Cycling could be an issue. You may want to look more to low impact exercise such as swimming. Don’t start a rigorous new sport or exercise program when you’re pregnant, but starting a low-impact program such as daily walks is not only ok, but it’s encouraged.

Be careful with your diet and weight gain during pregnancy

Gaining some weight during pregnancy is normal, but gaining too much or too little can increase risks of developing complications in pregnancy. To learn about the weight gain guidelines, click here.

For more information and resources, 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.