Category: Babies

Cerebral Palsy Physical Therapy

Cerebral Palsy is one of the most widespread brain-related disorders found in newborn or young children around the world. Cerebral Palsy is a permanent disorder that occurs when the brain undergoes damage either during pregnancy or soon after birth. As a result of this, the child tends to lose control over the muscle coordination of the body.

For years, medical professionals have tried several methods to fight this crippling disorder. Although no definite cure is known, several therapies are available to reduce the effects and give some respite to the patients. Since Cerebral Palsy is related to a loss of control over the body muscles, physical therapy is one of the best solutions to mitigating the disorder.

Physical therapy to treat Cerebral Palsy starts soon after the disorder is diagnosed. It may start sooner, depending on the symptoms, and in acute cases, may continue throughout the life of the patient. The main aim of physical therapy is to strengthen and encourage the growth of the body muscles. The therapy also prevents the muscles from contracting permanently and fosters independent mobility in the patient.

The physical therapy program should be flexible, to adjust to the needs of the child. Most programs start off with basic muscle movements such as stretching and positioning, and then move on to more advanced actions, such as running and kicking. Cerebral Palsy physical therapy may be conducted in a clinic, a hospital or in special schools. However, it must be noted that the therapy will have little to no effect unless it is continued at home.

Physical therapy is one of the best weapons in the fight against Cerebral Palsy. Unlike drug therapy, which has side effects and only eases the discomfort for a short period, physical therapy is seen as a long-term cure. If started on time and followed in entirety, physical therapy will not only help prevent the effects of Cerebral Palsy from escalating, but also prevent a need for surgery.

Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Over 500,000 people in the United States suffer from some form of cerebral palsy. There are a number of maternal and fetal conditions that increase the risk of a child being born with the disease. However, when cerebral palsy occurs during or after birth, medical provider negligence may contribute to this often-preventable condition. There are several examples of preventable causes of cerebral palsy. A premature infant may not be given appropriate therapy to reduce jaundice, thereby leading to brain damage. A delivery may be mishandled and lead to fetal stress and brain injury. A parent may find that their spouse or another caregiver has abused their child, causing brain damage that results in cerebral palsy.

There are no accurate figures on the proportion of cerebral palsy cases attributable to medical provider negligence or child abuse. However, with the knowledge that provider negligence may have played a role in their child’s condition, parents can seek legal action to protect their child’s rights and to seek financial or other restitution. Such restitution becomes important when one considers that the average lifetime cost of providing care to a cerebral palsy patient is close to one million dollars.

A cerebral palsy lawsuit is a civil lawsuit, in which damages are typically sought from the party or parties thought to have contributed, either in part or in whole, to the patient’s condition. Most states have a statute of limitations or a maximum time period during which a cerebral palsy lawsuit may be filed. There are a number of links on the Internet to lawyers who represent cerebral palsy victims. Given the complexity of the diagnosis and management of cerebral palsy, it is advisable to retain lawyers with experience in handling such cases and with access to medical experts. Damages are typically sought to cover medical, disability and psychological costs and to cover income losses.

Cause of Cerebral Palsy

The term cerebral palsy is used to describe a group of conditions that arise during the first few years of a child’s life. These conditions are usually the result of impaired development of, or damage to, the part of the brain that controls movement and posture. This developmental failure or damage results in spastic limb muscles and difficulty crawling, walking and grasping objects. Mental retardation and other symptoms may also be present. Cerebral palsy has no cure at present, and not all the factors that contribute to it are fully understood. However, research has helped explain some of the causes.

If cerebral palsy is present from birth, it is called congenital cerebral palsy. While the cause of congenital cerebral palsy is unknown in most cases, several factors are thought to contribute. Infections during pregnancy, such as rubella (German measles), toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus can cause damage to the fetal brain that may result in cerebral palsy. If the blood groups of the mother and fetus are not compatible, the mother’s body may produce antibodies that destroy blood cells in the fetus, leading to jaundice. Compounds that are produced during jaundice can cause fetal and infant brain damage. If either the mother or the fetus has a blood clotting disorder, this may lead to bleeding into the fetal brain, and subsequent brain cell damage and cerebral palsy.

During labor and delivery, a severe shortage of oxygen supply to the infant’s brain, or asphyxia, can result in brain cell damage. Such damage may lead to cerebral palsy, accompanied in some cases by seizures and mental retardation. Asphyxia only accounts for about six percent of all cerebral palsy cases; most infants with oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery develop normally.

If cerebral palsy develops after birth, it is called acquired cerebral palsy. Common causes of acquired cerebral palsy in infants are brain infections and head trauma.

Bunk Beds

If you have children, the selection of beds for their bedrooms can become an overwhelming experience because of the many styles available. Before buying a bed, you need to consider the size of the room and the number of bedrooms in your home. If you’re dealing with space issues or a limited number of rooms, you might consider bunk beds.

The versatility of bunk beds delights parents, and kids alike. They come in many different styles and colors and can be accented for both girls and boys. They are usually made of wood or metal. The top beds have a ladder and always come with safety rails. You need to be very careful about letting small children sleep in a bund bed, especially on the top. Some bunk beds come with space for storage under the bottom bed, and some have drawers and shelves for convenience. Such additions are useful when there are space constraints.

Before buying a bunk bed, check its sturdiness by placing your hand on the top bed and shaking the whole piece to check if there is any movement. Always make sure the lighter child sleeps on the top bed. The best bunk bed to consider would be a full bed on the bottom and a twin bed on top. The wider bed below would create a better balance. Consider buying bunk beds that can be separated, because as the children grow older, the beds will be still useful. They can be used as separate beds.

Breast Pumps

A breast pump is a mechanical device that can be used to extract milk for later use from a lactating woman. The way a breast pump works is similar to a milking machine used in commercial dairy production.

Extracted breast milk can be stored so that someone else can feed the baby by bottle. Sometimes the breasts produce more milk than the infant can consume. A breast pump can be used in these instances when the breasts become engorged preventing proper latching by the infant. Breast pumping relieves pressure in the breasts. Also, this can be used when some babies cannot latch properly for direct breastfeeding even though the mother desires the benefits of breast milk. A breast pump stimulates lactation in women and can be used to continue lactation to recover from pregnancy even when the pumped milk is not used.

Breast pumps come in a variety of models, the most popular being the manual pump where the woman can directly control the pressure and frequency of pumps and the battery-operated pumps. However, electrically powered pumps are presently gaining in popularity. Some breast pumps are designed so that the portion of the pump is the baby bottle used for feeding. Another popular design available on the market is the Hands-Free pump.

It is suggested to start using a breast pump to provide stimulation immediately after the delivery. A hospital-grade double electric breast pump can be used until the supply is well established. The hospital’s NICU can provide the details regarding the renting of the hospital-grade breast pump. For the first couple of weeks it is advised to use a breast pump 8 to 10 times within a 24-hour period. Frequent stimulation establishes a good supply. So, initially, pump around the clock, although at night go for slightly longer periods between sessions. Initially, ten to twelve minutes per pumping session is enough. Even though much colostrum or milk is not expressed in the first few days, the supply will increase over the next several days with dedicated pumping.

The hospital’s NICU will provide the instructions on storing and transporting the milk to the baby bottles. Please follow the guidelines to avoid passing infections to the baby. Sterile collection bottles and sterilized pump kit is a safe option. Even in the hospital, deliver the expressed breast milk as often as possible.

It is important to use the breast pump at least 6 to 8 times per day that the mother is able to start direct breastfeeding. Decrease the length of pumping by a couple of minutes if the supply becomes extremely large. However, frequent stimulation is necessary. Even when the baby’s intake is low, as in the cases of premature babies, milk production needs to continue on as though the baby was born full-term.

Breast Pumps and Hygiene

Though breast pumps are used quite commonly, it is suggested to consult a doctor regarding a prescription for a breast pump rental or purchase. Though most insurance companies will reimburse either partially or fully for rental costs or for the purchase of a retail hospital grade breast pump, it depends upon the coverage provided by the insurance company for medical equipment.

There are a few important things to consider while using a rented hospital grade pump. First, other patients and employees have used the pump, since it belongs to a hospital. Hence, it is a multiple user medical device. The mothers must use a personal kit that has to be connected to the pump for the collection of the milk. These kits contain one or two breast flanges, container, tubing and connector. Using a personal kit offers protection as it prevents cross-contamination. Another way to prevent contamination is to prevent the breast milk and its moisture from flowing back through the tubing into the pump itself.

All the firms that manufacture, repackage, re-label, and/or import medical devices are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). All these medical devices are classified into Class I, II and III. Since breast pumps are considered Class II devices, they have to follow the quality control system that is the requirement of all Class II devices. They have to undergo a quality control check for any malfunctions, injury, or likely death that might occur by the product’s usage.

To avoid cross-contamination, all the pumps must carry a label on top indicating that a personal kit ought to be used by the mothers with that particular type of breast pump. As also, a descriptive literature providing all the requisite information regarding cross-contamination must be provided along with the medical device.

Breast Pump Reviews

The qualities that are required in a breast pump are comfort, efficiency, high milk production, and ease of use for the nursing mother. Presently, companies like Medela and Ameda, as well as a couple other companies provide top of the line breast pumps.

Mothers must consult a lactation consultant before renting or buying a breast pump. In the event the breast pump is being rented, it will be easier to purchase a rental kit. This includes the breast pump parts necessary for producing milk. A weekly or monthly rental fee will be charged by the rental agency.

The best in the rental pumps are the hospital grade pumps provided by Medela and Ameda. Medela hospital grade rental pumps include Medela Symphony, Classic, and Lactina rental breast pumps. Ameda provides Ameda Elite, Lact-e and SMB electric rental breast pumps.

Mothers must talk to the physician about writing a prescription for a breast pump rental or purchase. Even though a few insurance companies reimburse subscribers either partially or fully for all the rental costs or for the purchase of a retail hospital grade breast pump, it greatly depends upon the coverage the insurance company provides for medical equipment.

The Medela Pump in Style is a highly durable breast pump that can be used for a second or even third child, too. Even when the parts like the tubing, valves, or membranes have to be replaced, mothers using them consider them an excellent investment.

The Medela also has a Mini Electric breast pump that can be used for short-term separations of mother and baby. Traveling with this is very convenient since it is lightweight and completely portable. The pump can be attached to a regular feeding bottle. A transformer is provided along with pump that allows plugging it into any electric outlet or the pump can also be powered using two AA batteries. In the event that the two choices mentioned are not possible, a manual pump adapter is also provided for emergencies.

Consumer reviews show that the most preferred breast pumps are the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump, Medela Pump in Style Original and the Medela Pump In Style Traveler.