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Posts Tagged "Kid’s 1st Pediatrics"

3Apr2023

7 Checkups During an Infant Newborn Care Visit

There’s no way to completely prepare yourself for the amazing, demanding, and occasionally grueling reality of caring for a newborn, even if you had nine months to get ready for their birth. Fortunately, the doctors at Kid’s 1st Pediatrics are on hand and willing to assist. The first trip to the pediatrician’s office for most parents also marks their first time leaving the house. This is a significant visit. For the first few weeks of life, young infants require careful observation and care to make sure they are developing and growing as they should. What to expect at your baby’s newborn care appointment is listed below.

What Takes Place at a Visit for Infant Care?

Up until the age of one month, a baby is a neonate, or newborn. During this busy newborn period, numerous significant events take place and rapid developmental changes take place. It’s also when many congenital health issues first become apparent and the danger of serious sickness from some illnesses is increased. It’s also when parent-baby bonding starts to take place and feeding patterns are formed. A newborn care visit, which is scheduled during your baby’s first week of life and normally occurs when they are three to five days old, comprises the following examinations:

Growth Evaluation

We measure your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference to make sure they are appropriate. If your child weighs a little less than they did at birth, don’t be frightened. A baby often loses up to 10% of its body weight in the first week and quickly makes that weight back in the second.

Full Physical Examination

Your infant will also get a full physical assessment from head to toe. This include examining your newborn’s reflexes, vision, and hearing as well as the umbilical cord stump. Babies’ vision is still somewhat fuzzy during the newborn era, and they can only focus on nearby things. At this stage, your baby’s motions are largely controlled by involuntary, innate reflexes. These include the startle reflex, grabbing and stepping reflexes, and the rooting and sucking reflexes.

Review of Health Screening

Before being allowed to leave the hospital shortly after birth, all newborns go through two thorough health examinations. The purpose of newborn screenings is to find undiscovered genetic, hormonal, and metabolic problems that may have an impact on your baby’s long-term health. Your pediatrician reviews the findings of these initial hearing, heart, and blood exams during your baby’s first-week checkup. Depending on the findings, they can suggest rescreening your child or referring them to an expert for early intervention services.

Feeding Evaluation

For the majority of new parents, whether their infant is breastfed or given formula, feeding is a primary worry. Whether your baby drinks breast milk, iron-fortified formula, or a mix of the two will be a question you’ll be asked. You’ll also likely be questioned about how effectively your baby latches and suckles. Your newborn is learning to eat during the first week of life, just as you are. Formula-fed newborns normally take two to three ounces of formula every three to four hours, but breastfed infants typically nurse eight to twelve times in a 24-hour period.

Vaccines and Supplements

Within 24 hours of birth, the majority of infants receive their first dose of the Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine. If a newborn misses this crucial vaccination while in the hospital, they will often get it at their first-week newborn care visit. Your pediatrician will also advise starting your newborn on a vitamin D supplement at birth to help good bone development if you are breastfeeding. The majority of your baby’s nutritional requirements are met by breastmilk, however it does not provide enough vitamin D for infants.

Changing of Diapers

How many diapers a new parent should change in the first week is another topic that is frequently questioned by new parents. After each feeding, it’s totally typical for a newborn baby to produce a moist, watery stool. Before they start consuming solid food, babies don’t have solid poop. As the days pass, so does the poop of newborns. It seems dark and tarry at first, then begins to appear greenish, and finally settles into a yellowish-brown hue.

Expectations for Sleep and Safety

Melatonin, the sleep hormone, and circadian rhythms have not yet evolved in newborn newborns. Therefore, despite the fact that babies may sleep a lot in a day, they are also awake whenever they need to be fed or have their diaper changed. Your pediatrician will review safe infant sleep practices with you to assist you lower your newborn’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or unintentional suffocation in addition to letting you know how your baby’s sleep may alter over the next several weeks.

When is My Infant’s Subsequent Checkup Scheduled?

The recommended plan for well-child visits involves pediatric examinations multiple times during an infant’s first year of life, beginning with the first-week newborn care visit. You can schedule your baby’s subsequent appointment—their one-month checkup—after your initial visit. To arrange a consultation with a skilled, educated, and understanding pediatrician at Kid’s 1st Pediatrics, get in touch with us right away.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
3Mar2023

7 Key Considerations for Parents of Children with Autism

Being diagnosed with autism can be challenging, and you might feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. There are resources available to you that can assist you in comprehending your child’s situation and determining how to handle any problematic behaviors your youngster may be exhibiting.

Autism is more widespread than most people are aware. An estimated 1 in 59 kids has been given an autistic spectrum condition diagnosis (ASD). Autism diagnoses occur four times more frequently in boys than in girls.

Working with autistic children and their parents is a specialty that Kid’s 1st Pediatrics has mastered. In addition to providing autism screenings, we can make you a specialized care plan that promotes your child’s growth and well-being.

Describe Autism

Because it affects a variety of circumstances, autism is a developmental disorder known as autism spectrum disorder. These disorders are characterized by repeated habits, social difficulties, motor skill problems, and difficulties with speech and nonverbal communication. Every autistic child is different and faces a particular set of difficulties.

Parenting an Autistic Child

Although raising a child with autism might be difficult, with the correct knowledge and assistance, it becomes simpler. Here are some things you can do that will be quite helpful.

Be Consistent

Your child may find it extremely difficult to implement the things they have learnt in therapy or at school at home. Talk to your child’s teachers and therapists, and try to incorporate as many of their suggestions and methods as you can. Even if your child is unexpected, try to be consistent in your responses to them.

Observe your Child

Since autism is a spectrum disorder, every autistic child is unique. Recognize the messages your child is attempting to convey to you by paying attention to how they behave. Try to embrace your child’s differences, accept them, and recognize their accomplishments.

Maintain Structures

Children with autism may benefit from having a routine they are accustomed to and from knowing what to anticipate. Establish consistent schedules for your meals, appointments, and bedtime. Try to avoid changing the timetable without informing your child beforehand.

Create a Treatment Strategy

A treatment strategy guarantees that your child will receive the necessary care on a regular basis. It is founded on a thorough evaluation of your child’s needs. Therapies like behavioral, speech, or family therapy may be included in this.

Locate Assistance for Yourself

Stress is frequently exacerbated when raising a child with autism. You must take care of yourself in order to take care of your child. Find a means to go to therapy or a support group if you need it to help you manage. Make time for self-care to avoid becoming worn out and burned out.

Parenting a kid with autism can bring many difficulties, but with the right knowledge and assistance, your child can thrive. We are here to support you on your journey. Contact Kid’s 1st Pediatrics by phone to schedule an appointment with one of our professional and pleasant staff members.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
13Dec2022

Having a Pediatrician as Primary Care Provider

Consider selecting a pediatrician to handle your child’s primary medical care. You will be able to take advantage of all of the medical care options offered by expert pediatricians to give your child the routine medical care they require to grow up healthy and strong.

Understanding Pediatric Medical Care

It’s important to recognize the value of receiving medical attention from a pediatrician, as these health care providers have completed additional schooling and training to treat their target age range. Since children’s bodies are still developing, it’s critical that their growth and development follow the prescribed timeline. Preventive care is also possible with annual well-child checkups.

Pediatrics is a comprehensive field that includes children’s physical, psychosocial, developmental, and mental health, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What ages do pediatricians often treat?

The three general age ranges that pediatricians can treat are listed below. Exceptions permit patients up to the age of 21 to continue seeing a pediatrician if both the doctor and the patient’s family concur that further treatment is required. This exception is frequently made for kids who require specific medical care.

Infancy

Infanthood is the period from birth to two years of age. A pediatrician will pay special attention to a child’s behavior, general development, and whether or not the youngster is receiving the recommended quantity of nourishment at this time. At two weeks, two months, four months, six months, nine months, twelve months, fifteen months, and eighteen months, children in this stage need to consult a pediatrician.

Childhood

Between the ages of 2 and 12 is this stage of childhood. A pediatrician will perform a complete evaluation of children in this age range to ensure that their behavior, growth, and development are on target for each age. The physician will also check to see if the youngster is receiving the proper nourishment. Children in this period should see a pediatrician at age two and then at least once a year until they are 12 years old.

Adolescence

Between the ages of 12 to 18, a person is in this period of adolescence. Pediatricians focus on physical changes, emotional swings, social concerns, skincare, and hygiene at this period. A compassionate pediatrician should see children at this stage at least once a year and more frequently if they believe they need to.

Does your youngster require a visit to the doctor?

Do you need to schedule an appointment for your child now that you are aware of the age ranges that pediatricians may treat? Because they can care for your child from birth till adulthood, this type of medical practitioner is a top choice for parents. This makes it possible for the doctor and patient to have a solid, long-lasting relationship.

To begin, get in touch with Kid’s 1st Pediatrics today!

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
24Oct2022

The Importance Measles Vaccinations to Keeping Children Safe

It’s more important than ever for parents to comprehend the dangers of the measles virus and the potential consequences of not getting vaccinated against it in light of the recent outbreak of measles in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Measles is a highly contagious illness that can be transferred by direct contact or by air.

When a sick person coughs, sneezes, or is simply nearby you or your child, air droplets carrying the measles virus can readily spread to you or your child. Measles is an extremely contagious virus that infected hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. The incidence of new cases of measles has considerably decreased since the introduction of the measles vaccine and the combined vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). However, the outbreak in Oregon and Washington serves as a reminder of what might happen if kids are not vaccinated against measles.

Who Is Most Prone to Measles Infection?

Measles can affect anyone, regardless of age or condition. But individuals who are older than 30, pregnant, or have immunological disorders are more vulnerable to the measles than children under the age of five. However, young children aren’t merely more likely to get the measles. They have a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the virus.

What Are Measles’ Symptoms?

Fever, cough, congestion, and conjunctivitis are the typical symptoms of measles, which is subsequently followed by a widespread rash that begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. After infection, symptoms may begin to appear seven to ten days later. The measles rash that affects your child’s skin might take 7 to 21 days to appear.

Can This Virus Kill You?

There is no doubt that measles has the potential to be fatal. Simple side effects like an ear infection are the unfortunate best case possible repercussions of this illness. More dangerously , it can also result in fevers, acute pneumonia, and brain enlargement, all of which increase the risk of blindness and demise. Again, kids under five are most likely to pass away from these grave issues.

Can Children Who Have the Measles Recover?

There is no specific treatment for measles, though children can recover from it. Medical professionals can only assist and treat patients’ symptoms, such as dehydration brought on by fever, as it is a virus that must naturally run its course. Due to the high contagiousness of the virus, your kid will be isolated in a specific hospital room if they are identified as having the measles. Additionally, a rare type of progressive degenerative encephalitis can manifest years after measles exposure. The ideal situation? Vaccinate your child to avoid them ever getting measles in the first place.

Has the Number of Measles Cases Increased?

A now-debunked study that claimed vaccines cause autism sparked a “anti-vax” campaign in some U.S. states and other nations. Measles could return and spread in areas where parents are declining to vaccinate their children more and more. New York, Washington, and Texas all experienced notable outbreaks in 2019. The epidemic in Washington resulted in the declaration of a public health emergency and involved 54 verified cases. Ensure your child has had their most recent dose of measles immunization is the best preventive action you can take as a parent.

How Can Measles be Avoided?

First and foremost, it’s crucial to stress the safety of the MMR and measles immunizations. In fact , we’ve been administering the same measles vaccine since 1968. Most likely, you and even your parents received this vaccination when they were young. Therefore, the best preventive action you can take as a parent is to make sure your child has received the most recent dose of the measles vaccine. Bring your child back for their second scheduled dose because not all patients respond to a single shot. It is also the responsibility of parents of healthy children to safeguard vulnerable youngsters who cannot receive the immunizations due to weakened immune systems.

The best option for ensuring the safety and health of your child and your community is to vaccinate them against diseases like measles. Always get in touch with your pediatrician and discuss any worries you may have about the measles, the MMR vaccine, or other vaccinations.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
13Sep2022

Is Your Child Under The Weather? Signs Your Child Has Caught The Flu

Flu season is coming up fast, and your child may catch the virus even if they are vaccinated. It is important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms to ensure your child visits the pediatrician as needed. Now, you may be wondering if your child has caught a cold, the flu, or another virus. To help you determine your next step, here are several signs your child has caught the flu.

Lack of Appetite

A child suffering from the flu may not have much of an appetite, or they may not have an appetite at all. Your child may also experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, which does not help with their appetite. Both could be a sign of the flu or stomach flu, so you want to have your child examined by a pediatrician to get an accurate diagnosis.

Respiratory Ailments

Your child may also show signs of respiratory ailments with the flu, such as a cough, runny nose, and sore throat. However, these are also symptoms of a cold and Covid-19, so you need to watch for other signs of the flu. If you are still unsure, their pediatrician can administer a flu test and a Covid-19 test to diagnose your child’s illness.

Body Aches

If your child has the flu, they may complain of body aches. The muscles in their back and legs may feel sore, but these aches are normal with the flu. In addition, your child may also experience a headache. Some children even have stomach aches with the flu, which also causes their loss of appetite. Unfortunately, a child with the flu is usually miserable.

Fatigue

You may notice your child is more tired than usual when they have the flu, especially if they are usually active and playful. The best thing you can do is allow your child to get the rest they need. They need to recharge their body and save their energy for fighting off the flu. In some cases, your child may feel dizzy and need to lie down.

Fever

A child with the flu may also have a fever as high as 103 degrees Fahrenheit to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Their fever may also be accompanied by chills and the above symptoms, such as fatigue and body aches. If you are worried about your child’s body temperature, contact their pediatrician immediately.

It is important to note that symptoms of the flu can come on suddenly. If your child is showing signs of the flu or any other illness, schedule an appointment with Kids 1st Pediatrics. You can schedule an appointment online at kids1stpediatrics.net.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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