At Carolina Kids Pediatrics in Raleigh, NC, we try to provide you more than an orientation to our practice. From breastfeeding to what to have at home in those first few weeks, Drs. Robert Foor, Christian Nechyba, Jeff Tanaka and Leanna Willey want you to have the best and healthiest transition possible. Raleigh prenatal education classes provide lots of practical information for new moms and dads.

Expecting?

Congratulations! Along with all the joy your newborn will bring, he or she will also introduce a lot of new equipment, family schedules and expenses into your life. Are you ready? Relax, and take your time with your preparations. You've got several months to gather supplies, take pregnancy and newborn classes, and think about child care. What's most important?

First, your health is critical. So, keep your OB/GYN appointments, take your prenatal vitamins, eat well and check on your health insurance. 

Next, choose your hospital or home delivery mid-wife and doula, if you are using one. Your choices may be limited by your health insurance; so find out where you can and cannot deliver and what home care services are covered (lactation home visits, breast pumps, etc). Of course, we have our own lactation consultant available at Carolina Kids Pediatrics who should be covered in the same way as your other pediatric visits with us.

Then, think about all of the baby equipment you'll need--everything from a car seat and stroller to a diaper bag (and diapers!) to baby clothes, blankets, changing table and crib. Look at the www.healthy children.org link from our home page for great information on infant car seats, cribs and many other infant products. Also, check out the link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for any recalls of baby products. 

In addition, know about maternity leave, paternity leave and how your family budget will be impacted. What will child care cost? Who will provide it? Can you afford to stay home? Plan these things out ahead of time so you are not making important decisions after the baby arrives. One great link for local child care resources is available through Carolina Parent at:

http://www.carolinaparent.com/CP/Childcare/

What to Know as You Journey Home

While you are in the hospital, rest when possible and ask questions as situations arise. Make note of discharge instructions from the hospital and Carolina Kids Pediatrics. The staff at Carolina Kids Pediatrics tells all expecting parents that life will never be the same as it was! Be as ready as you can be. Our prenatal education classes are held in our Raleigh office at 2605 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 100, every 2 weeks and are given by one of our caring pediatricians.

Call (919) 881-9009 to sign-up, or sign up online at:

http://www.carolinakidspediatrics.com/prenatal-education.html

 ...and be prepared for the beginning of a wonderful journey!

Do you have a newborn on the way? Many soon-to-be parents find themselves unsure about the challenges they'll be facing - but the answers are right here in Raleigh, NC.

At Carolina Kids Pediatrics, every new parent can be fully equipped with the knowledge and understanding they need to care and provide fortheir newborns. One of the primary ways our pediatricians accomplish this is through prenatal education courses. The thought of bringing a new life into the world can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially for new parents,  who can often feel on their own. Prenatal education courses prepare you with important knowledge and offer you peace of mind through preparedness.

Take a look at some of the great reasons all new parents should check out the prenatal education course & practice orientation offered at Carolina Kids Pediatrics below:

• They're totally free.
• They're convenient because they occur once every two weeks at 5:30 P.M. - so you can come straight from work and head home for dinner right after.
• They allow you to engage with our pediatricians for questions, and also provide you with a full orientation to our practice.

One of our four pediatricians on site will teach each course & practice orientation, meaning that you can also establish a relationship with your child's pediatrician before your child is even born! While baby books and online resources can assist you in preparing for the birth of your child, there is simply no replacement for face-to-face education under the guidance of an expert pediatrician.

If you'd like more information about our course & practice orientation, give Carolina Kids Pediatrics a call today at (919) 881-9009. Ready to sign up for this class & orientation? You can register conveniently on this very site using our online form. Just choose a day and provide your information to sign up!

If we have diagnosed your child with asthma, you may have a lot questions, and the best thing you can do is to arm yourself with knowledge. At Carolina Kids Pediatrics in Raleigh, we want you to know how to best care for your child with asthma.
 

Asthma Triggers:
As a parent of a child with asthma, you already know what it looks like when they have an asthma attack: shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing. It is also possible for asthma to be less dramatic – a nagging, tight cough that may appear when your child is on the soccer field, or wakes them up at night. But have you been able to figure out what triggers your child's asthma attacks? Here are some common triggers:

• Colds and respiratory infections

• Dust mites

• Molds

• Tree or flower pollens

• Pet dander

• Air pollution such as cigarette smoke, smog, or paint fumes

• Exercise

• Weather conditions

You may already know what triggers your child's asthma. If you don't know, it's important to try to find out. Once you know your child's triggers, then you can work to avoid them. We can help you figure out the pattern or, when needed, allergy test your child to pin down his/her asthma triggers.
 
Treatment
 
Your child may be placed on long term daily preventative medication to manage asthma symptoms. The most common asthma preventative medications are inhaled steroids. Although many parents worry about side effects, inhaled steroids aren’t really absorbed into the body and don’t cause significant steroid side effects. They do control airway inflammation that triggers asthma symptoms, and may even improve your child’s long-term lung function. Your child will also be prescribed albuterol, an inhaler to use for quick relief when asthma symptoms flare-up.
 
Asthma Control
 
A good rule of thumb for determining if your child’s asthma is under good control is the “Rule of 2s.” If your child has asthma symptoms (such as cough or wheezing) requiring albuterol more than twice weekly during the day, more than twice monthly at night, or has more than two significant asthma attacks requiring oral medications in a year, their asthma is under poor control. If this is the case, it’s time to better control asthma triggers or increase preventative asthma medications.
 
Asthma Action Plan
 
When your child is diagnosed with asthma, we will review an Asthma Action Plan with you. This plan should identify your child's triggers, your child's daily medication, and what you should do in the event of a flare-up. This plan should also describe when you should get emergency treatment for your child's asthma.
 
For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at (919) 881-9009. If you are looking for compassionate asthma care in Raleigh, Carolina Kids Pediatrics is the place for you!
 

Important Breast Feeding Myths - Raleigh NC

One of the most important things for a new mom is to be able to separate breastfeeding fact from fiction.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful time for a mother to bond with her child. It also offers a host of benefits for both baby and mom. In fact, the energy needed to breastfed daily is actually equivalent to walking seven miles. Plus, oxytocin is triggered during breastfeeding, which relaxes both you and your little one. You’ve probably read and heard a lot about breastfeeding since you found out you were pregnant; however, here are some of the common myths dispelled!

Myth #1: It’s normal for breastfeeding to hurt: While tenderness during the first couple of days of breastfeeding is normal, this should only be temporary. Breastfeeding should never be so painful that you dread it. If you do experience any pain, even a mild form, it could be caused by your baby not latching on properly. Also, if you notice new pain when breastfeeding it could be a sign of a yeast infection or mastitis. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms occur.

Myth #2: Pumping tells you how much milk you have: The amount of milk you have will depend on multiple factors including stress and fluid intake. If your baby breastfeeds well than he can get more milk than can actually be pumped. Pumping milk will only let you know how much milk you can actually pump.

Myth #3: Formulas today are almost identical to breast milk: While modern-day formulas try to mimic breast milk they do not contain enzymes, antibodies, living cells or hormones like breast milk does. Also the proteins and fats your baby will get with breast milk will be different from those that he would get from formula, and will have beneficial effects on your baby's development and immune system.

Myth #4: Stop breastfeeding if you have an infection: While there are rare circumstances in which this isn’t true, you should continue breastfeeding your baby.  The best defense for your baby against infection is to continue breastfeeding so he gets the proper nutrients he needs for his immune system.

If you ever have any questions about breastfeeding or if it’s time to schedule your baby’s next checkup, then call Carolina Kids Pediatrics, your Raleigh pediatrician, right away for an appointment. Remember that Jerrianne Webb, our lactation consultant, is here to help answer your questions.