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THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
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Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to share information, and do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support, opinions or efforts towards these issues.
Follow First 5 Kern on social media (@First5Kern) for more kids news, as well as information about our funded programs and initiatives.
Now for the headlines...
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Pregnant and breastfeeding women may opt to receive the COVID vaccine |
Though Pfizer has not yet tested its vaccine on people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the FDA allowed them under the emergency use authorization -- deciding that the benefits of COVID immunization likely outweigh the possible risks. Other news on expected side effects are reported.
Here, Kaiser Health News features a compilation of new stories from several outlets such as the Washington Post, NY Times, NPR and several others on the choices that pregnant or nursing women face when deciding whether to receive the COVID vaccine. (KHN)
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Maternal diet during lactation affects milk bacteria
Scientific evidence suggests that what a mother eats while she is breastfeeding can modulate the beneficial composition of the mother’s milk.
In a new study, researchers report the first evidence that the mother’s diet while breastfeeding can shape the profile of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), a type of complex carbohydrate in the mother’s milk. Changing the HMOs in turn modifies the functional abilities of the milk. (Baylor)
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When to call the doctor for your newborn baby
Unfortunately, newborn babies don’t come with a manual on how to care for and handle them. Your new bundle of joy can’t tell you what’s wrong, so mom and dad are left scrambling and wondering if every cry or symptom might be something to be concerned about.
“There’s a lot of parenting advice out there,” says pediatric specialist Jason Sherman, DO. “But parents should never feel guilty about calling the doctor if something just doesn’t seem right with their baby or if they have concerns.” (Cleveland Clinic)
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What would you pay to feel safe during childbirth? |
While research shows that the overall cost of midwifery care is generally lower than the overall cost of obstetric care, that’s not always reflected in what the patient pays. Moms may discover that their health insurance plan completely covers maternal care with an obstetrician in a hospital setting, but does not fully cover out-of-hospital midwifery care at a birth center or at home.
Yet many women are willing to take on the costs. Conscious of rising maternal mortality rates and also hesitant to birth in hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic, some women of color in particular are taking control of their birth experiences — no matter the price. (TODAY)
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EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
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The U.S. Child-Care Crisis Is Torturing Parents and the Economy |
The pandemic has shined a harsh light on what has been a long-festering problem.
The world’s largest economy notoriously lags other industrialized countries in investing in child care and early education: The U.S. spends less than 1% of gross domestic product, putting it ahead of only Turkey and Ireland among the member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
“Almost all developed countries have things like subsidized child care, paid family leave, universal health care,” says Sandra Black, an economist at Columbia University. “The economics make sense.” (Bloomberg)
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Hundreds of San Diego child care providers have closed due to COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic has closed 535 child care businesses in San Diego County while simultaneously raising operating costs and shrinking revenues for an already struggling industry.
The number of closures represents about 12 percent of child care providers in the county, according to a November report from the YMCA Childcare Resource Service. (SD Union Tribune)
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Use It Or Lose It: Parents Set Wages Aside For Child Care. Now It's At Risk.
Like many parents, Norah Perez initially thought the pandemic might last a few weeks. Turns out, that was wishful thinking.
Now, she could lose some of the money she set aside from her paycheck, pre-tax, to pay for day care. She has $2,200 stuck in what's called a dependent-care flexible spending account, money that is "use it or lose it" unless Congress or the IRS act. (NPR)
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CDC reports uptick in child abuse-related hospitalizations amid pandemic |
Mounting stress, job losses, school closures, isolation and other factors have all compounded to raise the risk of child abuse and neglect amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a report released Friday, the federal health agency said visits to the emergency department (ED) for reasons related to child abuse and neglect plummeted by 53% in early 2020 over the same period in 2019. However, related hospitalizations significantly increased. (Fox News)
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'Hearing' autism
Autism spectrum disorder can be challenging to diagnose early when interventions are most likely to avert or mitigate some of the more serious long-term developmental consequences.
Now research led by Harvard Medical School investigators suggests that a relatively simple hearing test—already used in newborns worldwide—could enhance screening efforts. (Harvard)
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How to help when your newborn is constipated
What should you do if you suspect your newborn is constipated? Dr. Jane Sneed, a pediatrician who has been practicing since 1993, told TODAY Parents that constipation is extremely common in babies.
“I would estimate 50 to 75 percent of infants have issues during their first year of life with some form of constipation," Sneed said. (TODAY)
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Best children's books from 2020 |
'Tis the season... for everybody's "Best of 2020" lists!
Below are three links to stories on the top children's books from 2020. Different media outlets have different perspectives and they all highlights different books, so take you time, read them over, and maybe you'll get some inspiration - books make great gifts!
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Meet the black cowgirl that inspires kids to read |
The only thing better than receiving a book is getting one delivered by a horse.
Caitlin Gooch, the founder of Saddle Up and Read (SUAR), literally saddles up onto one of her family's horses and visits elementary schools, libraries and youth groups to encourage them to read. The nonprofit in Wendell, North Carolina, also organizes book drives and school-wide reading competitions.
Gooch, 28, says she was inspired by the state's abysmal child literacy rates. (CNN)
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Opinion: Child allowance would boost GDP
Researchers have demonstrated that increasing a family's income leads to higher test scores for their children, decrease crime, improve health outcomes and add up to $1 trillion to our GDP.
So how do we do it? New research from my colleagues and me at the UBI Center shows that a child allowance (a policy that gives cash directly to parents) would work. (The Hill)
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Post-partum depression for dads? Yep, it's a thing.
Although postpartum depression (PPD) in women is widely acknowledged and studied, researchers have only recently admitted what plenty of new dads already knew: it affects men too—in fact, as many as one in four new dads experience the kinds of symptoms associated with PPD in the days, weeks, and even months after the birth of a child. (Medical Xpress)
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ACEs & TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
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Childhood trauma impacts millions of Americans, and it’s having devastating consequences |
Childhood trauma impacts millions of Americans, and its consequences can be devastating. Those experiencing high levels of trauma can see dramatically lower life expectancies, and the CDC estimates it accounts for billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity.
Special correspondent Cat Wise reports as part of our series, “Invisible Scars: America’s Childhood Trauma Crisis." (PBS)
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First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.
For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org and follow us on social media.
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Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics
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