ChildrensOmaha.org
Fall 2014
JustKids
Calories Count for Kids p4 PURPLE CRYING?
TWEENS AND TEENS
FACT OR FICTION?
Here’s What to Know 6
Get the Care They Need 8
Common Health Questions 10
Contents ➍
Calories Count for Kids
➎ Staying Active–
One Step at a Time!
➏ Understanding the
Period of Purple Crying
➐ Children’s Is a Regional Milk Depot
➑ Getting Tweens
and Teens the Care They Need
➓ Fact or Fiction: 5 Common Health Questions
Receive Appointment Reminders Via Text Message
Your Online Source for Health Info
Children’s is bigger, busier and attracting more patients regionally and nationally than ever before.
For the latest information and news, support groups, events, patient stories, recipes and perspectives from our physicians, check out these online resources:
— Gary A. Perkins, Children’s president and CEO
Facebook.com/ ChildrensOmaha YouTube.com/ ChildrensOmaha Twitter.com/ChildrensOmaha Pinterest.com/ChildrensOmaha
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To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
JustKids
ChildrensOmaha.org
Gary A. Perkins President and CEO Martin W. Beerman Vice President, Marketing & Community Relations David G.J. Kaufman, MD Medical Advisor Dannee Schroeder Senior Editor
JustKids is published by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. © 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
What’sNew? New Rainbow House Opens Soon Construction is underway for the new Carolyn Scott Rainbow House, which will be located at Farnam and Beverly Drives, close to Children’s. Since 1983, the current Rainbow House at 7815 Harney has been a “home away from home” for parents and family members of children receiving care at Children’s who live 60 miles or more away from Omaha. In 2013, the Rainbow House served approximately 2,000 families from more than 25 states. The evolving needs of patients and families, as well as a steady increase in hospital volume and growing demand contributed to the decision to build a new facility. “Children’s is bigger, busier and attracting more patients regionally and nationally than ever before,” explains Gary A. Perkins, Children’s president & CEO. “There are many nights when the Rainbow House is full, and important new services, including the Heart Transplant program and Fetal Care Center, will continue to stretch our supply of rooms.”
The new three-story, 43,500-square-foot Rainbow House will feature 56 guest rooms, compared to 31 in the current Rainbow House. Families who stay at the new Rainbow House will enjoy a large kitchen and dining area and each family will have access to a private mini-refrigerator. When they need a break from the hospital, families will be able to relax and socialize with other guests in the Rainbow House media room, game room, children’s playroom and fitness center. They’ll be able to take advantage of two guest laundries, an outdoor patio and a playground during their stay. There is no formal charge to stay at the Rainbow House–just a suggested donation of $10 per night. Like Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, no child or family is ever turned away because they are unable to pay. The new Rainbow House will open in January 2015.
Upcoming Parenting U Classes Tuesday, Oct. 28 AT 6 p.m. Preparing for Your Newborn Annie Zimmer, MD, Children’s Physicians Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, 8200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68114 Tuesday, DEC. 2 at 6 p.m. Preparing for Your Newborn Chandrika Razid, MD, Children’s Physicians Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, 8200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68114 Call 800-833-3100, or log on to ChildrensOmaha.org/ParentingU to register today.
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healthy eating
Calories Count for Kids
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To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
According to a national survey, nearly one in three children and adolescents is overweight. In the last two decades, the number of obese children has doubled. Overweight children face an increased risk for heart disease, asthma and diabetes when they grow up. And studies show that obese children tend to become obese adults, which poses even more health risks down the road. In the meantime, they are often the brunt of teasing and bullying from their peers. But you can stop the cycle. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, when it comes to weight loss, cutting calories is key. If you have an overweight child, making these simple changes will help reduce calories, which can lead to weight loss: • Make sure your child eats breakfast every day. Eating breakfast prevents overeating later. • Eat meals together at the table. Watching
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TV while eating is distracting and can lead to mindless overeating. Never force your child to eat when he or she isn’t hungry. It’s OK if your child doesn’t clean his or her plate. Stock your home with low-calorie snacks like fresh fruit, carrot and celery sticks and low-fat yogurt instead of junk food like chips and cookies. Don’t buy sugary drinks like juice and soda—even if they’re labeled “natural” or “organic.” Offer your child water, plain or flavored seltzer or low-fat milk instead. Limit trips to fast food restaurants to no more than once per week. Fast food is high in calories and low in nutrition— even most items that are marketed as healthier options.
By making lots of little changes over time, your child’s health—and weight—will improve.
Staying Active–One Step at a Time! In addition to eating healthy, encourage physical activity and active play. Children need a minimum of one hour of physical activity every day. Here are some easy changes you can make to help your kids exercise more during the day: • Make a plan for physical activity for your family each day. If you don’t have a full hour at one time, plan three 20-minute sessions throughout the day. • Keep the activities simple. It can be as simple as walking together or playing a game. All you need is a piece of chalk
to play hopscotch. Or, your child might like spinning a hula hoop in the front yard or tossing a flying disc at a grassy area. • Set time limits for TV. Children should have no more than two hours of screen time a day. If your family does watch TV, be active during commercials, such as stretching or doing sit-ups. • Make sure physical activities are fun for your children so they’ll be more likely to participate again.
Healthy Kohl’s Kids Healthy Kohl’s Kids is a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores focused on educating children and families on the importance of good nutrition and fitness. The program’s website, ChildrensOmaha.org/HKK, features up-to-date fitness and nutrition info and advice for children and parents. The site also has a library of healthy recipes with how-to videos of young chefs making nutritious meals and snacks. Healthy Kohl’s Kids invites parents to engage via social media on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter (@HealthyKohlsKid). Share your own healthy recipes, activity ideas and fitness- and nutrition-related links, and receive updates about future Healthy Kohl’s Kids events.
Be sure to praise your child for being active. Encouragement is always a good thing.
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baby care
Understanding the Period of
Purple Crying You’ve fed, burped, changed, and rocked your baby, but he or she is still crying—and crying. You may wonder if something is wrong with your baby. If your baby has no apparent signs of illness or injury, chances are he or she is simply going through a normal phase in development. In the past, an inconsolable crying infant used to be labeled as “colicky,” but experts now describe this time as the Period of Purple Crying. The Period of Purple Crying begins around 2 weeks of age and peaks during the second month. The amount of crying will then decrease through ages 3-5 months. All babies will go through the Period of Purple Crying, with some babies crying a lot more and others very little. Your baby will not turn purple during these crying episodes. It’s just an acronym used to help describe what babies and parents will experience. The word Period is used to indicate this is a temporary stage in your baby’s life—and it will end. The acronym PURPLE stands for: Peak of Crying: Crying peaks during 2 months of age and decreases after that. Unexpected: Crying comes and goes unexpectedly, for no apparent reason. Resists Soothing: Crying may continue despite all soothing efforts by caregivers. Pain-like Face: Infants look like they are in pain, even when they are not. Long-Lasting: Crying can go on for 30-40 minutes at a time, and often for hours Evening Crying: Crying occurs more in the late afternoon and evening.
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Inconsolable crying can frustrate parents, but remember to never shake your baby. Often, frustrated parents feel that shaking their baby is a harmless way to make the baby stop crying. In fact, the main reason a baby is shaken is due to inconsolable crying. However, shaking a baby is not harmless. This forcible shaking causes fragile blood vessels in the brain to shear off and break. Almost 25 percent of all babies with Shaken Baby Syndrome die. If you are frustrated and feel the urge to shake your baby, place her in the crib for a few minutes and simply walk away or have someone else take care of her until you are calm again. Experts recommend these tips to soothe your crying infant: • Carry infant in a sling • Go for car rides • Rock gently • Vacuum • Sing to baby • Bathe baby • Breast-feed • Use a pacifier • Skin-to-skin contact • Direct eye contact/kiss baby/ direct contact
Children’s Is a Regional Milk Depot For babies whose mothers cannot supply sufficient milk for their little ones’ special needs, donor milk is a wonderful alternative. In fact, breast milk has been called “liquid gold” for its ability to help these babies grow and thrive. Mothers who breastfeed their babies may have excess milk and look for ways they can donate it. A safe way to donate milk that is ethical, as well as life-saving for sick, hospitalized babies, is to have mothers donate to a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) Milk Bank. The closest milk bank to Omaha is located in Denver. Children’s Hospital & Medical Center now serves as a milk depot for the Denver Milk Bank. “Children’s works through the Denver Milk Bank to provide milk to babies in our NICU,” said Christina Schill, RN, BSN, IBCLC, lactation consultant. “Through the Milk Depot at Children’s, now we are able to give back to the Denver Milk Bank.” Because Children’s Milk Depot is not a milk bank, it is only responsible for: • Receiving and storing frozen milk from qualified donors who were approved by the milk bank • Providing lab services for the blood draw • Shipping the milk and blood to the milk bank for processing. “When people think babies, they think of Children’s, and we believe it is important to give back to the Denver Milk Bank, while also providing this essential service to mothers and babies in the region,” said Christina.
Donor milk is much like blood donation. Some mothers have an abundance of milk and wish to share with mothers who do not. Mothers donating milk go through a stringent screening process, and must be pre-approved. Children’s serves as a conduit between the mothers and the Denver Milk Bank. Here’s how the process works at Children’s: • Mothers who call Children’s Milk Depot are directed to contact the Denver Milk Bank for a brief phone interview regarding their lifestyle. • The Denver Milk Bank will send the mother paperwork and tubes for her to use for blood draws. These are sent directly to the donor mother’s home address. The mother will also receive a donor number to use for future donations. Donor moms can opt for a one-time donation. • Once the donor mother receives her blood tubes by mail, she will call Children’s Milk Depot to set up a time to drop off her milk and have her blood drawn. • Children’s Milk Depot will then ship the blood and the milk to the Denver Milk Bank.
More Milk Info For more information, contact Children’s lactation consultants at 402-955-6152 or email Lactation@ChildrensOmaha.org.
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adolescent health Have a Health Question? If you have questions about children’s health, you’ll find a variety of information on our website. Visit ChildrensOmaha.org/ HealthAndSafety.
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To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
Getting Tweens and Teens the Care they Need They’ve gone from playing with dolls and toy trucks to needing a weekend curfew. Tweens and teens are in that awkward stage where they are neither children nor adults, yet they are dealing with important physical and emotional changes. Adolescence is a vital time for routine health care, yet their rate of primary care visits is lower than that of any other American age group. Teens and tweens are forming habits that will affect their health for the rest of their lives. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts recommend that teens get a checkup once a year. Pediatricians are uniquely equipped to care for adolescents through age 21. They are specially trained to address not only the physical changes taking place, but the emotional and social struggles as well. Plus, they know your child almost as well as you do, and your teen or tween may feel more comfortable confiding in them than in mom or dad.
Clued-In on Adolescents’ Concerns During your child’s annual visit, his or her pediatrician may: • Provide guidance on how to prevent sports-related injuries. • Discuss the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise. • Check if your child has high blood pressure or high cholesterol. • Perform a Pap test on your teenage daughter, if appropriate. • Give your teen any needed immunizations. • Talk about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse. • Check to see if your teen might have an eating disorder or a problem with body image. Remember that pediatricians have been trained to care for young adults up to age 21. And pediatricians are concerned with more than just physical well-being. Some teens today are being drawn toward risky behaviors that could endanger them
now or in the future. Those behaviors may include sensitive topics like substance abuse or sexual activity, but some adolescents’ concerns about confidentiality may keep them from speaking up. Pediatricians are actively involved with the prevention, early detection and management of these problems that affect children and adolescents, including: • Behavioral difficulties • Developmental disorders • Functional problems • Social stresses • Depression or anxiety disorders Remind your teens about the importance of regular health checkups. And when your teen visits the pediatrician, make sure they have some private time to talk with the doctor in confidence.
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ask the experts
Fact or Fiction: 5 Common Health Questions We’ve all heard them–those simple tricks or bits of advice for your child’s health. Whether coming from your neighbor, colleague, family member or television commercial, it can be hard to determine what is true–and what isn’t. We’re tackling five common misconceptions when it comes to children’s health.
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Does mayonnaise really work for treating head lice?
No. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no clear scientific evidence that supports the notion that mayonnaise effectively treats head lice. Some people have wondered the same thing about olive oil, margarine, butter or similar substances, but again, no proof exists to support these household goods being used to treat head lice.
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To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
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oes yellow or green nasal D mucus mean that your child has something worse than a cold?
Not necessarily. When a cold first starts, the mucus from a runny nose is clear. After two to three days, as immune cells begin fighting back, the mucus changes to white or yellow. Then, as bacteria that normally live in the nose start recovering, the mucus may change to a greenish shade. On the flip side, your child may have a terrible ear infection or other condition, but his or her mucus is still clear.
A better way to determine if your child has something worse than a cold is to determine if other symptoms of infection are present, such as a fever or pain in a particular area.
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Can young children really experience mental health problems?
Yes. Mental health concerns can pop up in very young children. Most of the time, these mental health problems can be clinically diagnosable. Unfortunately, most children
Find the Right Doctor and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems don’t receive the treatment they need. If your child has unexplained changes in mood or behavior, don’t ignore them. Talk with your pediatrician who can help refer you to a pediatric mental health provider. Seeking professional help early can make a difference in your child’s development.
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Vaccine-preventable diseases are almost nonexistent in the U.S., so is it safe for my child to skip vaccinations? No. While vaccination has helped reduce most vaccine-preventable diseases to very low levels in the U.S., some of them are still prevalent around the globe. It’s possible for travelers to accidentally bring diseases back into the U.S. And for diseases that still exist within the U.S., if enough people aren’t vaccinated, that relatively small number of cases can grow into a full-blown epidemic.
It’s important to have your children receive all of their vaccinations on time in order to protect them, as well as those around them. A very small number of people can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons. The only chance of protection for these few is if everyone around them gets vaccinated.
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Can acne be cleared up quickly?
No. Despite the flashy television ads and promises on product packages, acne treatment doesn’t work overnight, or even in a few days. Improvement with at-home treatment requires four to eight weeks. Once acne clears, you must continue to treat the skin to prevent breakouts. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products can treat the condition. OTC products are usually the first step, but if they aren’t working, it’s time to see a dermatologist.
Selecting a physician who’s a good fit for your family is important. You—and your child—should feel comfortable with the physician. To find the right one for your family, call Children’s FindA-Doctor service at 1-800-833-3100 or visit childrensomaha.org/ findadoctor
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Receive Appointment Reminders Via Text Message Families today are busy and constantly on the go. That’s why Children’s Hospital & Medical Center has made it easier to keep up with your child’s health care. You can now receive appointment reminders via text messages. Text message reminders are available for families who have upcoming appointments with Children’s Lab, Radiology, Behavioral Health, Children’s Physicians or Specialty Pediatric Center outpatient clinics. The process for enrolling in text reminders involves two steps:
Y ou must share your cell phone number with a front desk staff member.
T hen, text “CHMC” to 622622 to receive hospital text reminders, or text “PHYSICIANS” to 622622 to receive Children’s Physicians text reminders. Families who have appointments with both a hospital specialist and with a Children’s Physicians pediatrician must perform both texts in order to receive text reminders from each entity.
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Standard message and data rates may apply. Sign up today for an easy way to remember upcoming appointments!
Find the Right
Doctor
Selecting a physician who’s a good fit for your family is important. You—and your child—should feel comfortable with the physician. To find the right one for your family, call Children’s Find-A-Doctor service at 1-800-833-3100 or visit childrensomaha.org/findadoctor