Mother and Child

Jennifer Shu pediatrician To avoid fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen – or when you just don't have any handy – you can try a non-medical approach to lowering your child's fever. Reducing your child's fever doesn't help to cur...

Jennifer Shu pediatrician To avoid fever-reducing ...

Susan Sorensen pediatricianNo. All formula-fed babies need iron-fortified formula from day one. Iron is essential for your baby's health. Iron deficiency can cause significant problems in overall development and has been linked with lower intelligenc...

Susan Sorensen pediatricianNo. All formula-fed bab...

Frank Greer pediatrician and nutrition expertYes, too much fruit juice can cause diarrhea. That's because many juices contain sorbitol, a nondigestible form of sugar. Excess sorbitol levels cause the body to try to dilute the sugar by pulling water f...

Frank Greer pediatrician and nutrition expertYes, ...

Parents often worry about this, but brain damage from a fever is extremely unlikely. It's not unusual for a sick toddler to run a temperature of 104 or even 105 degrees F. Although fevers over 106 degrees are very unusual, unless a child is trapped i...

Parents often worry about this, but brain damage f...

I go swimming twice a week and love the feeling of having the weight taken off my belly! But is the chlorine in the pool bad for my baby? In the past there has been some debate about whether it's safe to swim in chlorinated pools during pregnancy. Ho...

I go swimming twice a week and love the feeling of...

Hey Mom! When making a decision about when to leave work, keep in mind that you'll feel the most discomfort and fatigue during the first three and the last three months. Many women feel full of energy during the second trimester. Before you breathe a...

Hey Mom! When making a decision about when to leav...

Your social habits Whether you're pregnant or are planning to conceive, now is the time to do a safety check on your social habits and home and work environment. Anything that could affect your well-being could affect your baby too, especially in th...

Your social habits Whether you're pregnant or are...

Heartburn and Indigestion The heart has nothing to do with this problem, which was named long before it was understood. Heartburn involves regurgitation of stomach acid back into the throat or esophagus. It's a mild form of indigestion that, once aga...

Heartburn and Indigestion The heart has nothing to...

If you live in the city, you know you're not breathing the best air around. Cars, trucks, furnaces, and industrial machinery all spew poisonous carbon monoxide into the air. If you breathe in a lot of second-hand smoke from cigarettes and cigars, you...

If you live in the city, you know you're not breat...

wouldn't it be great to hear that you should not get on your knees and scrub anything during your pregnancy? The truth is that the majority of cleaning products really can't hurt your baby. Still, it's smart to be cautious about using the toxic chemi...

wouldn't it be great to hear that you should not g...

It's the legal responsibility of your employer to provide a safe environment. In pregnancy, being aware of your rights can help protect you and your baby. In recent decades, women worried about whether working at a computer screen put their babies at...

It's the legal responsibility of your employer to ...

Nosebleeds The tiny blood vessels of the nose become more congested during pregnancy and break open easily. That's why nosebleeds are so common. Dry air tends to worsen the problem. You might try these techniques: Apply pressure—Lean your head forwa...

Nosebleeds The tiny blood vessels of the nose beco...

Fatigue During your first trimester, you may experience extreme fatigue. By the second trimester, your body will probably have adjusted, and you may feel full of energy. By the third trimester, however, you may feel exhausted again and need more rest...

Fatigue During your first trimester, you may exper...

The Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and the Pregnancy Surveillance System (PNSS) are program-based surveillance systems that monitor the nutritional status of low-income infants, children, and women in federally funded maternal and c...

The Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNS...

The following are the most common pregnancy concerns and the strategies to deal with them while you are on the job: Backache Backaches are common during pregnancy because of the increased weight you're carrying, especially if your baby is resting on ...

The following are the most common pregnancy concer...

Are pregnant women tested for Hepatitis B? Yes. When a pregnant woman comes in for prenatal care, she will be given a series of routine blood tests, including one that checks for the presence of Hepatitis B virus infection. This test is important bec...

Are pregnant women tested for Hepatitis B? Yes. Wh...

Rubella (German measles): Rubella infection in pregnant women can cause unborn babies to have serious birth defects with devastating, life-long consequences, or even die before birth. Make sure you have a pre-pregnancy blood test to see if you are im...

Rubella (German measles): Rubella infection in pre...

Did you know that your baby gets disease immunity (protection) from you during pregnancy? This immunity will protect your baby from some diseases during the first few months of life but immunity decreases over time. Babies need to be vaccinated start...

Did you know that your baby gets disease immunity ...

If you’re underweight, you could be damaging your body. It can cause stunted growth, weakened muscles and a lack of energy: bad news if you want to keep up with your mates. You may have wondered for a while if you are underweight. Perhaps friends or...

If you’re underweight, you could be damaging your ...

If you’re underweight, it’s not just your energy that may suffer. How do pallid, blotchy skin, thinning hair and brittle nails sound? You may have wondered for a while if you're underweight. Perhaps friends or your parents have mentioned it. If you'...

If you’re underweight, it’s not just your energy t...

Two- to five-year-olds may be small, but they're growing and that means they need a lot of energy (calories) for their size. If your child is underweight, it's crucial they get their energy from a healthy and balanced diet. If you’re concerned that ...

Two- to five-year-olds may be small, but they're g...