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Qualities to Look For in a Pediatrician


If you have become the parent of a newborn, you may be looking for the right pediatrician for your child, or you may simply be looking for a better pediatrician than the one who looks after your child now. Some people with special needs children may ask whether or not they need a special pediatrician for their kids. Although there’s no need for any special pediatrician in case of special needs, however, they should make sure that the pediatrician they choose has all the characteristics of a good pediatrician.

So, listed below are some of the qualities you should look for when searching for a pediatrician for your kid, whether no special needs or special needs.

 

1. The pediatrician must listen to you well

As a parent, you are the person who knows your child best, and there is a likelihood of something being wrong, if you think something to be wrong. Consider it as a red flag if you find your doctor blowing you off. Choose a pediatrician who listens well to the concerns you have, and is ready to invest the time needed to make you understand why he/she thinks that testing is not needed, or is ready to carry out the proper testing for ruling out your concerns. This implies that you, as a parent, also need to listen well, and in case you receive education and reassurance, you need to leave your concerns for the time being.

The greatest concerns are which may make you lose your night’s sleep due to worry. So, consider letting your pediatrician know the things about which you are really worried about. A common example is that many parents with kids having Down Syndrome have fear of cancer. Kids usually deal with issues like congestion, fever and other troubles, however, if this happens quite often, the idea of cancer may sprout in the head of the parents. Ensure that you ask this question to your pediatrician, as he/she can easily answer it and you would be reassured. Ask the pediatrician if imaging or lab work needs to be done for ruling out your such a concern, would he/she be ready to do that.

 

2. You both must have comfortable conversations

You must be comfortable talking with the pediatrician and asking him/her the questions you have in your mind. In case you are fearful or intimidated of putting forth your queries, you would perhaps leave with dissatisfaction after every visit and wish that you would have asked the question or got cleared the doubt you had in your mind. A key job of pediatricians is answering the questions asked by parents. So, if you aren’t comfortable asking questions to your pediatrician, you should reconsider the pediatrician. You are likely to get a gut feeling regarding this after paying visits to a pediatrician for the first time. Put trust on your instincts and if necessary, simply move on.

 

3. The pediatrician must spend time with your kid

The pediatrician you are choosing must have adequate time for spending with you when you visit him/her. It’s not enough to give just five minutes. In the present world of busy private practice, physicians face a crisis of time, as they try to run their practice smoothly. If the pediatrician is very busy, and is unable to make extra time for your child, you may feel dissatisfied or things may get missed. A pediatrician would be the center of all your care, and would also be collaborating with different specialists. Looking at the whole picture well with a pediatrician would take time.

Ensure that the pediatrician is ready to invest additional time with you, if needed. To make the best use of the time your pediatrician gives you and your child, ensure that you note down the questions you wish to ask before you pay a visit. Listed below are some of the important questions you may ask a pediatrician:

   What number of children do you see per day?

   In case I have many questions to ask you or a number of issues to discuss, how to schedule such appointments?

   Is it possible to request for a longer visit if needed?

 

4. The pediatrician should be available for emergencies

Although no parents should expect that a pediatrician would take house calls each time their child coughs, however, your doctor must have a system in place to deal with emergencies at any time of the day. Ensure that the doctor’s office consists of a 24-hour contact to address emergencies. Whether a nurse is there to contact your doctor in case of an emergency, or there’s a different doctor, you would feel reassured if you know that there’s someone to contact in case a situation arises, which you cannot tackle by yourself.

These are some of the key traits you should look for when selecting a pediatrician for your child. There are many other qualities too that you need to look for before making the final decision. It’s a good idea to check out reviews about the pediatrician before finalizing him/her for your kid. You can check out the internet to get reviews, or you may also ask the parents of children whom the pediatrician saw previously, or is seen at present. This would help you make a better decision.

To find the best pediatrician for your child get an EZDoctor Report. EZDoctor Reports contain important information about doctors such as malpractice claims, criminal offenses, real patient reviews and average procedure pricing. Go to ezdoctor.com to get started today! You can also schedule appointments through ezdoctor.com! Filter doctor by name, specialty and insurance plans. 

Original and full article: healthinthelaughlane.com 

Obstetrician or Certified Nurse- Midwife: Which one is right for you?

Obstetrician: also commonly called an OB/GYN, usually offers a variety of women’s health services, such as annual Pap smears. Obstetricians are also trained to help manage complications during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

An OB-GYN might be right for you if... you have a high-risk pregnancy, an awesome relationship with your current OB-GYN, or you don’t want to give birth without an epidural.

But keep this in mind: OB-GYNs are more likely than midwives to use surgical or technological interventions during labor. 

If you’re considering one but aren’t sure you want to spend your pregnancy with the OB-GYN you're already seeing, now’s a good time to start shopping around

Certified Nurse- Midwife: Is a professional in midwifery. In addition to providing care to women during pregnancy and birth, midwives also provide primary care related to reproductive health, including annual gynecological exams, family planning, and menopausal care. Many developing countries are investing money and training for midwives and other community health workers so that they can provide well-woman primary care services that are currently lacking.

certified nurse-midwife might be right for you if... you’re concerned about your physical and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy; having a natural childbirth is your number one priority (or you’re really opposed to cesarean delivery — CNMs tend to have much lower cesarean delivery rates and higher rates of vaginal birth after cesarean than physicians); or you’re on a tight budget (the cost of prenatal care with a CNM tends to be lower than that of an OB-GYN). Find a certified nurse-midwife.

But keep this in mind: You might need a doctor in a high-risk or complicated pregnancy (most CNMs use a physician as a backup in case of complications, because they cannot perform C-sections themselves.) 

If you’re considering one, be sure to select a midwife who is both certified and licensed

Also, make sure to always get an EZDoctor Report before choosing any healthcare provider. 


EZDoctor and April Partner to Offer Virtual Doctor Visits to International Travelers


EZDoctor, the leader in healthcare transparency and April, a global travel insurance provider have recently partnered to offer telemedicine services to patients traveling abroad that are in need of medical assistance.

The alliance between EZDoctor and April, allows patients to remotely consult with a U.S. board certified physician while traveling abroad.

With EZDoctor's support, April will be connecting their travelers from around the world with doctors anytime, anywhere needing only a webcam enabled device and a reliable internet connection.

These virtual physician consultations are not intended to treat emergency medical conditions/situations. Patients will receive primary care services, treatment for common ailments like the flu, allergies, rashes etc. and educational and informative medical advice from a trained and thoroughly screened professional.

EZDoctor and April are working together to improve the doctor-patient experience by providing on demand consultations and with doctors readily available to treat patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To serve the needs of April's global travelers patients are connected with U.S. physicians within 15 minutes and can currently request doctors that are fluent in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

According to the American Telemedicine Association, approximately 10 million patients benefited from using telemedicine last year. The telemedicine industry is developing quickly and becoming more prominent in societies around the world. EZDoctor and April are two leaders expanding quality telemedicine services worldwide.

"We're very excited about this partnership, we believe patients should have access to a board certified physician anywhere and anytime. As telemedicine continues to be a rapidly growing component of healthcare in the United States, we want to provide patients an accessible way to treat their healthcare needs when they are away from home," said David Marsidi, EZDoctor's founder and CEO.

"April & EZDoctor are both convenient, progressive thought leaders in the way we prioritize the patient's needs and that is what we want to deliver through this new service by offering a fast, easy, reliable and secure doctor consultations," continued Marsidi. "Together we will deliver the world-class healthcare service that patients deserve."        

EZDoctor and April patients will:

  • Have access to telemedicine services 24/7.
  • Resolve unexpected medical problems when traveling.
  • Receive virtual physicians consultations from any location worldwide.
  • Connect with a physician within 15 minutes of their request.
  • Have better outcomes because of timelier access to a physician.
  • Reduce unnecessary admissions, save time and money.
  • Receive primary care services on the go.

About EZDoctor
EZDoctor, healthcare technology business located in Florida, provides healthcare services nationwide. As an advocate for healthcare information transparency, EZDoctor developed a Carfax type of report but for doctors called EZDoctor Reports, to help patients make better decisions when it comes to choosing a doctor. With their rapid growth in the healthcare technology industry and over 1.5M+ doctor profiles, EZDoctor has radically transformed the industry by connecting healthcare consumers with the best doctors and equipping them with accurate information to make an informed healthcare decision.

About April
April has been a leading brand providing quality Travel and other Specialty Insurance programs providing services in Europe, Latin America and the U.S.
April offers comprehensive travel insurance & assistance plans covering multiple trips for frequent travelers. 

Quick Tips for Choosing a Doctor

When you choose a primary care doctor for yourself or a loved one, make sure to choose a doctor you can trust. A primary care doctor can help you make important decisions, like which screening tests and shots to get, treat many health problems, refer you to a specialist when you need more help with a specific health issue.

Here are some things you should know before selecting a physician

  • Listens to your opinions and concerns
  • Encourages you to ask questions
  • Explains things in ways you can understand

When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get better health care. Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for you.

Research your doctor.

If you have health insurance, you may need to choose a doctor in their network. Some insurance plans may let you choose a doctor outside the network if you pay more of the cost.

What you should know about your doctor:

  • Contact information, Locations and Gender. 
  • License Information. It is important to know if your doctor is licensed to provide the care that you need.
  • Education. To learn more about your physician’s background EZDoctor Reports contain information regarding where they studied, graduation date, board certifications, as well as their internship, residency and fellowship. This will help you make an educated decision regarding your doctor’s training and ability.
  • Hospital Affiliations/Privileges.  Its common practice for a doctor to have their office in one location and perform treatment in a separate location. For example, you could go to a doctor’s office for a consultation regarding your knee and that doctor might provide treatment and/or surgery at a hospital that he is affiliated with or has privileges. By having this information before hand, it can help you in deciding whether this doctor would be the most convenient for you.
  • Procedure Pricing Information. When taking care of any health concern, one of the main things we consider is the cost associated with any procedures that might be necessary. An EZDoctor report will display an average charge for procedures performed by the physician you are reviewing.
  • Patient Referral Summary.  Primary care physicians, when needed, refer patients to a specialist. Especially when they face a diagnosis that is beyond their Scope of Practice. With an EZDoctor report you will see the  physicians referral pattern.
  • Pricing/Prescribing Habits. Is your  doctor more likely to prescribe a name brand versus a generic drug? Despite your preference, by seeing a breakdown of the most common prescriptions a physician orders you can get a clear view of his prescribing tendencies and average price per prescription.
  • Disciplinary Actions. Finding out if a physician has been sanctioned or not by a state medical board can be very useful when it comes to selecting a doctor to visit. Equally important is to know  what those infractions were related to.
  • Criminal Offenses. While federal criminal records are not available to the public, EZDoctor reports include state government records that indicate whether a physician has ever been charged or convicted of a crime. Allowing you to have this information prior to any consultation and/or treatment.
  • Malpractice Claims. You have the right to know if your physician has been involved in any incidents regarding his medical care. From surgical and medication errors to misdiagnoses, EZDoctor will provide the information you need.
  • Patient Reviews. It’s always good to know what other patients are saying about a physician. EZDoctor reports collect patient reviews from multiple sources.

Other important questions to ask about the doctor:

  • Is the doctor taking new patients?
  • Is the doctor part of a group practice? Who are the other doctors?
  • Who will see you if your doctor isn’t available?
  • Which hospital does the doctor use?
  • If you have a medical condition, does the doctor have experience treating it?
  • What languages does the doctor speak? 

You can find all the information you need on a physician by obtaining an EZDoctor Report. Go to ezdoctor.com now to get started! 

Source: healthfinder.gov

Vitamin Deficiency Symptoms in Children


Vitamins are essential nutrients that the body needs in small amounts to sustain life. The body absorbs these very important organic compounds by our everyday food; however some foods are known to have more vitamins and minerals than others. 

Vitamins can be divided into two categories, fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins: 

  • Fat-soluble vitamins: can be stored in the body. These are vitamins A, D, E and K. 
  • Water-soluble vitamins: need to dissolve in water before the body can absorb it, because of which your body doesn’t store these vitamins. These are vitamins C and B complex. 

Vitamins are the building blocks and support system of the body, which a healthy and well-rounded diet can easily provide. Vitamin deficiency in children can lead to potential ailments and health conditions. 

Some symptoms of vitamin deficiency in children are the following:

  • Vitamin A deficiency: night blindness and eyesight related issues.
  • Vitamin B deficiency: infant development delays, movement disorders, anemia, and or nerve damage. Children should receive their daily intake of vitamins trough a well balanced and healthy diet which should include milk and other dairy products like yogurt and cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables (especially the leafy kinds), proteins such as chicken, fish, eggs and meat, and whole grains that include brown rice and oatmeal. Some children need vitamin supplements because, due to their parents busy lifestyle, home cooked meals might not be possible everyday or because kids can be picky eaters, or don’t eat enough. Children with medical conditions related to the digestive system as well as those with asthma, active children who play physically demanding sports, might also require vitamin supplements. Consult a pediatrician before giving your child any vitamin supplements.
  • Vitamin C deficiency: bleeding gums, easy bruising, reduced wound healing rate, decreased ability to ward off infections, anemia, dry and splitting hair, gingivitis, rough and scaly skin, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamels or painful and swollen joints.
  • Vitamin D deficiency: muscle spasms, seizures, respiratory problems, soft skull or bones, poor growth (height), teeth formation, weakness of the heart muscles.
  • Vitamin E deficiency: chronic cholestatic hepatobiliary (liver disease), muscle weakness, Ptosis (drooping eyelid), dysarthia (motor speech disorder), ophthalmoplegia, loss of position and vibration senses, truncal, and limb ataxia, or spinocerebellar ataxia (gross lack of muscle movement coordination).

Vitamin Benefits

  • Vitamin A benefits: Promotes tissue and bone repair, development and normal growth, immune responses, and healthy eyes and skin. Some good sources of vitamin A include eggs, cheese, milk, sweet potatoes, carrots and squash.
  • Vitamin B benefits: Are vitamins B2, B3, B6 and B12, which help in production of energy, metabolism, healthy nervous and circulatory systems. Some good sources of vitamin B are meat, fish, chicken, milk, eggs, nuts, beans, cheese, and soya beans.
  • Vitamin C benefits: Encourages healthy connective tissue, muscles and skin. Some sources of vitamin C are strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, and green vegetables, like broccoli.
  • Vitamin D benefits: Aids in bone and formation of teeth, as also helps the body absorb calcium. Some healthy sources are yogurt, milk, cheese, tofu and calcium fortified orange drinks.


Childhood Cancer Awareness Month


September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor and remember children and families affected by these rare diseases, and help rally support to give kids with cancer better outcomes by supporting our ground-breaking research.

A cancer diagnosis is upsetting at any age, but especially so when the patient is a child. It’s natural to have many questions, such as, Who should treat my child? Will my child get well? What does all of this mean for our family? Not all questions have answers, but the information and resources on this page provide a starting point for understanding the basics of childhood cancer.

Treating Childhood Cancer

Children's cancers are not always treated like adult cancers. Pediatric oncology is a medical specialty focused on the care of children with cancer. It's important to know that this expertise exists and that there are effective treatments for many childhood cancers.

Where To Receive Treatment

Children who have cancer are often treated at a children’s cancer center, which is a hospital or unit in a hospital that specializes in treating children with cancer. Most children’s cancer centers treat patients up to age 20.

The doctors and other health professionals at these centers have special training and expertise to give complete care to children. Specialists at a children’s cancer center are likely to include primary care physicians, pediatric medical oncologists/hematologists, pediatric surgical specialists, radiation oncologists, rehabilitation specialists, pediatric nurse specialists, social workers, and psychologists. At these centers, clinical trials are available for most types of cancer that occur in children, and the opportunity to participate in a trial is offered to many patients.

Types of Treatment

There are many types of cancer treatment. The types of treatment that a child with cancer receives will depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Common treatments include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant. Learn about these and other therapies in our Types of Treatment section.

NCI’s PDQ® pediatric treatment cancer information summaries explain treatment options for all children’s cancers. The summaries also include information about diagnosing and staging cancer.

Clinical Trials

Before any new treatment can be made widely available to patients, it must be studied in clinical trials (research studies) and found to be safe and effective in treating disease. Clinical trials for children and adolescents with cancer are generally designed to compare potentially better therapy with therapy that is currently accepted as standard. Most of the progress made in identifying curative therapies for childhood cancers has been achieved through clinical trials.

Treatment Effects

Children face unique issues during their treatment for cancer, after the completion of treatment, and as survivors of cancer. For example, they may receive more intense treatments, cancer and its treatments have different effects on growing bodies than adult bodies, and they may respond differently to drugs that control symptoms in adults. 

All cancer survivors can develop health problems months or years after cancer treatment, known as late effects. For childhood cancer survivors, late effects are of particular concern because these may last for many years. 

In the United States in 2015, an estimated 10,380 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed among children from birth to 14 years, and more than 1,000 children will die from the disease. Although pediatric cancer death rates have declined by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. The major types of cancers in children ages 0 to14 years are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), brain and other, and neuroblastoma, which are expected to account for more than half of new cases in 2015.

The causes of most childhood cancers are not known. About 5 percent of all cancers in children are caused by an inherited mutation (a genetic mutation that can be passed from parents to their children).

Most cancers in children, like those in adults, are thought to develop as a result of mutations in genes that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and eventually cancer. In adults, these gene mutations reflect the cumulative effects of aging and long-term exposure to cancer-causing substances. However, identifying potential environmental causes of childhood cancer has been difficult, partly because cancer in children is rare and partly because it is difficult to determine what children might have been exposed to early in their development. 

Source: childrenscancer.org, cancer.org

How to Manage Migraine in Children

Migraine is not just a bad headache. It is a neurological disease, with head pain and associated symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to touch, sound, light, and odors, abdominal pain, and mood changes. While children generally have fewer and shorter migraine attacks than adult sufferers, childhood migraine can be just as disabling, and it can seriously affect the child’s quality of life.  A doctor should be consulted if a child suffers from frequent or disabling headaches or migraine symptoms.

Get Diagnosis and Treatment

If your child is experiencing frequent headaches, have him/her be seen by healthcare professional (a migraine specialist, if possible) to determine if the diagnosis is migraine, the severity and frequency of the attacks, and which treatment approaches are best. Types of treatments: 

  1. Acute treatment uses drugs to relieve the symptoms when they occur. 
  2. Preemptive treatment is used when your child's migraine is triggered by a known activity such as exercise or specific foods.
  3. Preventive treatment uses drugs taken daily to reduce the number of attacks and lessen the intensity of the pain.  If a child has three or four disabling headaches a month, the doctor should consider using preventive medication, which includes certain anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antihistamines, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and NSAIDs. Sometimes herbals and supplements, such as butterbur, magnesium, riboflavin, CoQ10, and feverfew, are recommended.
  4. Complementary treatment does not use drugs and includes relaxation techniques (biofeedback, imagery, hypnosis, etc.), cognitive-behavioral therapy, acupuncture, exercise, and proper rest and diet to help avoid attack triggers.  For some children, eating a balanced diet without skipping meals, getting regular exercise, and rising and going to bed at the same time every day help reduce migraine frequency and severity.  

Take Your Medications

Some young people need to be reminded to take their medication. Make sure you understand from your doctor how and when the medication should be taken and take a pro-active role in being sure your child takes the medication as prescribed. If your child's migraine attacks change (become more frequent or more severe, for instance) be sure to tell your doctor, since a new treatment approach may be needed. 

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Your child's migraine attacks can be brought on by many factors, big and small -- not getting enough sleep (or getting too much), stressing out about life events like a big test, family troubles, illness or death of a loved one and even outside events like natural disasters and acts of terrorism. Try to stay alert to events in your child's life and help guide him or her to maintain healthy habits.

Manage Stress

In addition to life events that can throw your child off track and bring on a migraine, new research in stress management (also called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT) shows it has significant value in helping youngsters with chronic headache. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback and other stress management tools may reduce the severity of migraine attacks and related disability. Although young people (and their parents) may resist this approach, evidence is mounting that it's well worth trying when migraines are debilitating. 

Keep a Migraine Diary

Many people with migraine find that keeping a diary is a great tool for understanding why they get migraines and how to prevent them. With diary entries, they can track when they have an attack, how long it lasts, what they were doing before and during the attack, what foods they ate, and how bad their headache was. Mobile phone apps may have more appeal for your youngster and may actually help kids comply better with medication regimens and track their migraines more closely. New apps are being developed every day and you can check out some of the best.

What to Keep in Mind:

  • Migraine is very common in children - about 10% of school-age children suffer.
  • Half of all migraine sufferers have their first attack before the age of 12. Even infants can have migraines. Migraine has been reported in children as young as 18 months.
  • Before puberty, boys suffer from migraine more often than girls. The mean age of onset for boys is 7, and for girls it is 11. As adolescence approaches, the incidence increases more rapidly in girls than in boys. This may be explained by changing estrogen levels.
  • By the time they turn 17, as many as 8 percent of boys and 23 percent of girls have experienced a migraine.
  • The prognosis for children with migraine is variable. However, 60% of sufferers who had adolescent-onset migraine report ongoing migraines after age 30. The prognosis for boys tends to be better than for girls.

Sources: migraineresearchfoundation.org./ medical-news.net

Choosing The Right Pediatrician For Your Child.


This is the time of year when shopping for school clothes and the latest electronics and accessories is foremost in your child’s mind. But, for parents, back-to-school season brings up back-to-school physicals. No matter what grade your child is about to enter, it is important to schedule a back-to-school physical exam with your child's primary care provider. 

One of the most important branches of medicine is pediatrics and selecting the right pediatrician is very important. A pediatrician is a medical doctor that specializes in the health care of infants, adolescents and children until the age of 21. Most pediatricians offer a variety of services for children and their parents.

Many women begin their search during their second trimester of pregnancy. But if that’s not your case, or you've already chosen one, no worries! It’s never too late to find the right doctor.

Here are some tips to find the right doctor for you and your child.

What you need to know before selecting a doctor: 

  • Pediatric background (Experience)
  • Specialties
  • Locations
  • Hospital privileges (what hospital uses to admit patients)
  • Appropriate training (medical school, residency, etc)
  • Certifications, (if the pediatrician is board certified)
Some parents rely on physician review sites such as Healthgrades or Vitals. Others rely on recommendations from family and friends. But, is that enough? Is that really enough information to trust your child's life to a stranger? 

Luckily, EZDoctor provides everything you need to know about a physician without having to rely on word of mouth or commit to an appointment with a doctor. Here at EZDoctor.com we have comprehensive doctor background checks called EZDoctor Reports. Where you can find all the information mentioned above and more! 

You can research any physician from the comfort of your home and receive a full report directly to your email! 

EZDoctor Reports include: 

  •       Contact Information
  •       Office Locations
  •       License Information
  •       Insurance Accepted
  •       Education
  •       Hospital Affiliations / Privileges
  •       Procedure Pricing Information 
  •       Patient Referral Summary
  •       Prescribing Habits
  •      Publications
  •      Disciplinary Actions
  •      Criminal Offenses
  •      Malpractice Claims
  •      Real Patient Reviews

**Sample of EZDoctor Report***


 Go to ezdoctor.com now and find the right pediatrician for your child today with an EZDoctor Report! 

Survival Tips For New Parents


It’s about you, your partner and the baby – nobody else! Never mind what in-laws, friends or family have to say, or how they suggest you do things. You and your partner need to determine your own life together as parents, and that decision should be made by you alone. People may want to offer ideas (read: interfere!), but it’s completely acceptable to say no, no matter how pushy they may be.

Be prepared to argue – that’s perfectly normal! Every new parent I know spends more time fighting with his or her spouse after the arrival of baby than ever before. New routines, lack of sleep, and fear of raising your child appropriately – all of these things cause stress. Be prepared for it, and be ready to handle it (not just ignore it); it will make your relationship stronger in the long run.

Relax! Having a new child might be stressful, but if you can’t laugh about being peed on, about the pureed beets all over your crisp white shirt, or the permanent marker on your freshly painted walls, then you’ll lose your mind. Your child will feel your emotion, so laugh it off.

Take some time apart. Some couples seem to spend every waking minute together after baby arrives, but I feel it’s important for both parents to get to know their new little bundle one-on-one. Taking this important time gives your spouse a little break, and it offers essential bonding time between parent and baby.

One at a time. You don’t both need to get up in the night to look after the baby – just one of you can do it! A good friend who had twins last year recently reminded me of this. She couldn’t ascertain why parents of singles both get up in the night to tend to the fussing baby, and she’s totally right! Just take turns; one of you may as well be (somewhat) rested!

Continue to enjoy time together, just the two of you. Whether you and your partner take a weekend away, a night out for dinner or just enjoy each other’s company when the baby’s in bed, be sure to keep connected and tell each other what’s happening and how you’re feeling. It’s easy to be exhausted by the time you have some alone time, but make use of it and keep connected.

Talk about your parenting style before you have the baby, and after the wee one arrives. Take some time to consider the type of parent you want to be, and let your partner know. In many ways your role will evolve organically, but having an idea beforehand can be helpful. Then discussing it as time goes on is important too.

Don’t over-schedule yourselves. People will want to be visiting your new addition all the time, but remember that it’s okay to say no. It’s important for the three (or four, or five…) of you to have time to learn about your new family life. That doesn’t include others; just you!

Lighten up! Parenting is very serious, but it’s also extremely fun. I recall my husband saying, long before our first child arrived, that he thought with my perfectionist personality I wouldn’t let our kids leave the house with their shoes on the wrong feet when the time came. I’ve always remembered that, and now I have to think a little before I let my kids leave the house with the Cinderella dress on, but I’m always glad that I can relax enough to let that happen.

Who does what? Domestic duties become greater the moment the baby enters the house. That few-pound bundle in the blanket may be small, but boy, can they make a mess!! Who will put out the garbage, make dinner, clean the bathrooms, tend the garden? All of these little tasks that seemed easier before become more challenging to get to, and seem like more of a hurdle. Determining ahead of time who will do what takes away the frustration of sitting there just WAITING for your partner to take out the garbage while their perceived lack of motivation drives you crazy!

Keep talking. The moment you stop communicating with one another is the moment you will struggle. Tell your partner what’s frustrating you, what makes you happy, what you’re excited about. Be open and honest about everything so you’re not left guessing at how your spouse is feeling or what they are thinking.

Above all – have fun! Parenting is serious business, but it’s the most fun you’ll ever have.

Source: Skinny Mom

Healthcare spending on kids outpacing general population

Health-care spending on children grew at a much faster pace than the overall U.S. population over a three-year span, driven in part by an increase in hospital admissions for newborn babies, according to a new study.

The wide disparity identified in the Health Care Cost Institute report raises questions about whether that higher spending rate is actually leading to better health outcomes for kids, and to what extent insurance prices will be affected if the trend continues.

"We do know that spending is going up every year, we know that spending on kids is going up faster, and this is particularly true for babies," said Amanda Frost, a senior researcher at HCCI, a nonprofit backed by large health insurers. "We don't know what the impact of this spending is on the population's health, or families or the health-care system."

In its report, HCCI looked at annual insurance claims for more than 10 million children covered by job-based health plans. About half of all children 18 years and younger were covered by such insurance in 2013.

From 2010 to 2013, health-care spending on kids rose by an average annual rate of 5.7 percent, HCCI found.

During the same time frame, spending on health care for all people up to the age of 64 grew at an annual average rate of 3.9 percent.

In dollars terms, per capita spending for children increased by $391 since 2010, landing at $2,574 in 2013. That compares to the $4,864 per capita spending on health care for the general population.

Spending on boys up to the age of 18 was higher than girls—$2,716 per capita for boys compared with $2,426 for girls. But the reverse was true when HCCI looked at just teens: Health spending on teen girls was higher than on boys of that age group.

The higher-than-average spike in spending for children compared with the general population came despite the fact that both prescription drug use and visits to the emergency room dropped in 2013. Price savings also came from a dramatic shift toward the use of less expensive generic drugs.

The overall increase in spending was fueled by higher numbers of inpatient admissions to hospitals by children and increased prices for such admissions, HCCI's report said.

"The largest dollar increase in the average price per service was in inpatient admissions," the report noted. In 2013 alone, "the average price per admit increased by $744," hitting $14,685 per admission.

And the biggest driver of the rise in such admissions were newborn babies, between 0 and 18 days old, who were admitted separately from their mothers.

"We are seeing higher average prices for baby boy admissions than for baby girl admissions," Frost said. "We're not really sure why, yet ... the claims data is not very good at telling us why that is true."

Babies overall — newborns to 3-year-olds — had the highest level of spending by far of any age group for juveniles, $4,813 per capita. In a distant second place was spending on teenagers age 14 to 18 years old, at $2,746 per capita, HCCI's report found. Babies also had the fastest average annual growth of health spending of any other group of kids, at 6 percent.

Per capita spending on babies was even higher than one group of adults, those between the ages of 26 and 44, whose per capita spending was $4,258 a year.

Source: NBC News