Dr. Allen Cherer | Neonatal Care & Pediatrics

Dr. Allen Cherer is a neonatal care expert with over 30 years of medical accomplishments to his name.

Tag: parents

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Irregular Breathing in Newborns: What You Should Know

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On October 27, 2020

In Neonatal Care, Newborn Screening, Newborns

New parents may be alarmed when their newborn has trouble breathing. Babies often breathe irregularly in the hours following their birth and in the first few days of life. Here is a brief overview of irregular breathing in newborns — and what warrants a visit to the pediatrician.

Normal Breathing in Newborns

Newborns typically breathe through their nose rather than their mouth and have smaller breathing pathways. These smaller pathways mean babies can’t take in as much as oxygen and breathe more rapidly. Babies usually take between 30 and 60 breaths per minute while they are awake and 20 breaths per minute during sleep. In comparison, an adult breathes between 12 and 20 times per minute.

It is normal for a baby to take several rapid breaths and then pause for several seconds. This is especially true in the newborn days when the respiration system is still developing. Most breathing irregularities typically resolve within the first few months of life.

Breathing Problems in Babies

Becoming familiar with a baby’s normal breathing pattern can make it easier for parents to distinguish any problems that occur. Some of these problems may include:

Barking cough and/or hoarse cries

Croup often hits in the middle of the night and terrifies parents. It is marked by a barking, seal-like cough, hoarse cries, breathing difficulties and/or a fever.

Whistling noises

Whistling sounds are often due to blockages in the nostrils. Babies breathe through their nostrils rather than their mouths. Any blockage in the nostrils due to allergies or a cold can make breathing difficult.

Wheezing

Wheezing can be a sign of a more serious condition in babies. When the airways become constricted due to asthma, pneumonia or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the baby isn’t able to draw enough oxygen during each breath.

Fast-paced Breathing

Fast-paced breathing is often accompanied by an elevated heart rate. Fluid in the airway from pneumonia or another infection could be the cause.

When to See a Doctor

Breathing problems are common during cold and flu season. An estimated 15 to 29 percent of all hospital admissions in babies are due to breathing problems. If parents notice any changes in their child’s breathing, they should notify a doctor immediately. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if:

  • the baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds
  • a blue color is noticed in the lips, toenails or fingernails
  • the muscles in the neck pull in during breathing

Taking care of a child when their breathing is irregular can be very stressful. Learning to watch for the signs and knowing when to alert the child’s pediatrician can help keep newborns safe and healthy as they grow.

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COVID-19’s Potential Impact on Newborns

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On July 6, 2020

In Child Health Care, Neonatal Care, Newborn Screening, Newborns

COVID-19 produces victims of all ages. Concern grows for pregnant women and unborn children. Facilities around the world continue studying the microbe and reveal their findings thus far. Some studies suggest that infants born to mothers having the virus have a high risk of suffering ill effects.

From January 20 to February 5, nine women gave birth to 10 infants in five different hospitals in China’s Hubei province. Eight of the expectant mothers tested positive for COVID-19 before delivery. One mother tested negative. However, a fever and a CT scan of her chest revealed pneumonia that could not be contributed to any other underlying cause but the virus.

The women suffered a variety of prenatal complications that included intrauterine distress, ruptured members prior to the onset of labor, amniotic fluid abnormalities and placenta previa. Seven of the mothers delivered their babies via cesarean section. The other two women had normal vaginal deliveries.

The mothers were treated with Tamiflu or a combination of the antiviral plus interferon following delivery. After birth, all of the infants were tested for COVID-19 via oral swabs. All of the tests were negative. Four of the babies were full-term and six were premature. All of the infants exhibited unusual symptoms that included fevers, difficulty breathing, elevated heart rates, inability to feed, vomiting, gastric bleeding and bloating from liver malfunction. Seven of the infants exhibited abnormal chest X-rays. Two of the premature babies died nine days after birth.

A team of researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois recently discovered that the virus damages the placenta in expectant mothers. The study involved 16 pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19. Following delivery, the placenta tissues were evaluated. The team discovered that the blood vessels within the placentas exhibited abnormal development or were otherwise damaged. However, all of the infants tested negative for the virus and were in reported good health.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego expanded the MotherToBaby program to gain a better understand the short- and long-term effects of the virus on expectant mothers and infants. Previously, the program was designed to evaluate medications and environmental factors that might affect pregnant women, newborns and breastfeeding.

The study will involve the examination of medical records and phone calls to women who volunteer for the research. The program also includes monitoring the neurological development of children to determine possible emotional, learning or memory issues.

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Top Pregnancy Myths: 2020

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On April 17, 2020

In Neonatal Care, Newborns, Research

Some of the information expectant mothers receive is often based on myths or old wives’ tales. Dispelling the myths may bring comfort and reassurance in addition to ensuring the health of the expectant mother and growing infant.

You’re Eating for Two

For decades, women were encouraged to substantially increase their dietary intake in order to ensure they were consuming enough nutrients for the growing infant. However, overeating leads to obesity, which leaves the mother and baby at risk. Being overweight increases the chances of developing gestational diabetes or hypertension. The excess weight also stresses the cardiovascular system. Health care providers suggest that increasing daily calorie intake by a mere 200 to 300 calories is more than sufficient to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Belly Size and Shape Reveals Gender

Physicians rebuke the belief that external appearance correlates with the baby’s gender. Some women carry the baby high while others carry it lower. However, the difference is often equated with genetics and physical characteristics and not infant gender.

Moisturizing Prevents Stretch Marks

Cocoa butter has long been touted as being one of the solutions to prevent stretch marks. While moisturizing preparations are good for the skin, they do not prevent the physiological effects that a growing infant causes on external skin. Women develop varying degrees of marks depending on genetics and the extent that the abdomen needs to stretch to accommodate the infant.

Stay Away from Cats

There is no reason why expectant mothers cannot have and care for a feline companion. The danger lies in changing the litter box. Feline waste products commonly contain a parasite that has the potential for causing toxoplasmosis. While the mother may or may not experience flu-like symptoms, the illness has the potential of becoming serious in infants. Best to leave litter box duties to someone else. The disease can also be contracted by eating undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables.

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Exploring Current Neonatology Trends

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On February 24, 2020

In Neonatal Care, Newborn Screening, Newborns

As technology has aided in advanced medical care over the last few decades, neonatology treatments and care options have improved and grown in number. Maternal mortality prevention is the goal of neonatology, and these trends are helping caregivers achieve their goals.

Here are a few prevailing neonatology trends to keep an eye on in 2020. 

More Resources for Practicing Neonatologists

There are more available than ever for practicing neonatologists, primarily because of the growing need for more highly capable practitioners. The increasing number of mothers who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, increasingly poor nutrition, diabetes and high blood pressure are some driving factors of this trend. Neonatologists and medical professionals with similar disciplines can connect with the Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) website, which is an affiliate of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Preventing Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is another condition that affects millions of children every year. This is a bacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) that is potentially life-threatening to babies, especially those of low birth-weight. This can happen quite unexpectedly and for many reasons, including pneumonia, meningitis and gastroenteritis. This makes the detection of neonatal sepsis before it fully takes hold of the child imperative. Treatments can be applied speedily to rid the bloodstream of the infection when it’s detected early.

Improving Communication with Parents

When your newborn child is in the intensive care unit (ICU), it can be the most trying experience of your life. To reduce the stress and anxiety that can come from not knowing, neonatologists are trying to be more transparent and open to communicating with the parents. In cases of premature infants, this can mean encouraging skin-to-skin contact between the parents and the baby. Research has even shown the babies’ vital signs tend to suddenly improve when they are being held by their parents. The relief the parents feel to know their child is in good care is an added benefit.

With the help of specialized supplements for newborn babies, malnutrition is no longer a problem. However, optimizing the use of breastmilk is a tradition that most neonatologists are trained to believe in. Breastfeeding is encouraged, but when this can’t happen, donor milk is promoted as an option before other methods for nutrition aid are considered.

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