This month we have been discussing baby safety, a topic with a different set of parameters during the summer. New parents can be sure find plenty to worry about any time of the year and as mum’s always say you never stop worrying about your child. A coalition of East Coast residents are launching a new initiative for 4 important baby health and safety issues hoping to spread the word even before baby is born.
Combined efforts of Rochester, NY, health experts including Rochester General Hospital, the Perinatal Network of Monroe County, Monroe County Department of Public Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester Pediatric Society, American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Referral and Evaluation Service for Abused Children (REACH) and Bivona Child Advocacy Center resulted in a coalition to help keep kids safe. The initiative combines messages about car seat safety, safe sleeping practices, second hand smoke, and breastfeeding; all topics which have typically been left to pediatricians to discuss with their patients after the baby was born.
It has now been recognized, however, that these topics should be broached before delivery by the healthcare providers of expecting mothers like midwives and obstetricians. It was also discussed that this outreach needs to extend to lower income populations where health and safety issues for newborns are greater. The coalition is providing brochures entitled “Keeping Your Baby Healthy and Safe” to all pediatric and family practices, as well as all obstetricians, in Monroe County. The goal is not just to make sure all expecting mothers view the information, but also that physicians will open dialogue about these issues with their patients.
The recent trend in preventable infant sleeping deaths sparked the coalition into action, but the partners also saw the need to further the initiative to cover other baby health and safety issues including increasing breastfeeding rates, promoting safe sleeping tips, reducing children’s second hand smoke exposure, and encouraging the proper use of approved child safety seats in vehicles. The “Keeping Your Baby Healthy and Safe” brochure is available online, and was developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health. Thank you Monroe County, we feel safer already.
Tags: Baby Safety
