Local Experts

Long Island is rich with resources for parents, from organizations that advocate for our children to doctors and psychologists who offer their insight one-on-one. That’s why we’re inviting them to this forum to be guest bloggers. They’ll post their comments, and you’re welcome to respond and ask for advice.

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Why Should You Take a Child Birth Education Class?

By Donna Greenstein R.N.,CEE,CD

I can’t tell you how often I’m faced with the question, “Why should I take a childbirth education class?” With the advent of the cyber world and tons of new DVDs coming out each year, why should any expecting couple sit in a classroom filled with other expectant couples and be actively involved in a class for several hours? To me, the answer to this question is a no-brainer.
Expecting couples gain a wealth of knowledge in a childbirth education class. To begin, couples are introduced to other expecting couples.  Often, I watch friendships begin as couples share their concerns and wishes for their upcoming journey into labor and delivery. Laughter is shared among the nervous couples as they ask what they think to be a “stupid” question. Later they realize that everyone in class was wondering about that very same “stupid” question.
It’s the hands-on experience that you get from learning actively. All senses are used in active learning. My couples are constantly moving, listening, touching, massaging, laughing and sometimes crying. Dads-to-be get to feel what it’s like to push, which provides great entertainment for the moms-to-be.
Childbirth education isn’t just limited to a natural birth experience. C- section is always a chance for every expectant couple and for that reason, a portion of class focuses on what to expect if a C-section is needed.
As a R.N., and a certified childbirth educator and Doula I’ve successfully taught thousands of new couples. Everyone in my childbirth education class leaves relieved, empowered and excited for the delivery of their new baby. Why learn alone? Why have unanswered questions? Why choose to deliver your baby with fear? Why should dads-to-be feel helpless in the delivery room?
Why believe me? Check out www.newbabybelly.com to see what couples have to say about the entire experience.

Donna Greenstein R.N.,CEE,CD, is a registered nurse with years of hospital experience in medical and surgical ICU, cardiac care and burn care.  She became a childbirth educator several years ago and has recently added a Doula certification to her education.  She has studied all methods of childbirth, including Lamaze and Bradley.  She has knowledge in pain management, both natural and pharmaceutical.

Tips to Save Your Child’s Life

By Lori Green, R.N.

When children begin crawling or eating table foods, parents should be aware of the dangers and risks of choking. Children younger than five years old can easily choke on food and small objects. Choking occurs when food or small objects get caught in the throat and block the airway. This can prevent oxygen from getting into the lungs and brain. When the brain goes without oxygen for more than four minutes, brain damage or even death may occur. Many children die from choking each year. Most children who choke to death are younger than five. Two-thirds of choking victims are infants younger than one.

To prevent choking, don’t feed children younger than four round, firm food unless it’s chopped completely. When infants and young children don’t grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. The foods that can be choking hazards are nuts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, whole grapes, hard gooey or sticky candy, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, raw vegetables, fruit chunks and chewing gum.

There are also household items that should be kept away from infants and children, including balloons, coins, marbles and toys with small parts that can fit into a child’s mouth. Use safety devices on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Keep medications out of the reach of infants and children.

Insist that children eat at the table or sitting down. They should never run, walk, play or lie down with food in their mouths. Cut food for infants and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch and teach them to chew their food well. Supervise mealtime for infants and children. Be aware of older children’s actions. Many choking incidents occur when older brothers or sisters give dangerous foods, toys or small objects to a younger child. Follow the age recommendations on toy packages. Check under furniture and between cushions for small items that children could find and put in their mouths.Learn what to do if your infant or child chokes by enrolling in a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and choking course.

Lori Green is a registered nurse, a certified CPR Instructor, a former Emergency Medical Technician and a certified Lamaze childbirth educator. She’s also the founder and director of Child Saver Infant/Child CPR. For information regarding a Child Saver CPR workshop in your area contact cpr4kids@yahoo.com or call ChildSaver CPR at 631-589-8668.

With over 50,000 poisonings and 200 deaths a year, acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States. So, when a federal panel of experts recommended lowering the maximum dose this June, Dr. Tom Caraccio of the Long Island Regional Poison and Drug Information Center was pleased. Last year the center received 866 calls, with an additional 1,064 poisonings combined with other drugs.

What does this mean for your family? Children’s Tylenol will remain unaffected. But a common reason for acetaminophen use is to lower fevers in children. A fever is scary, but in actuality it’s our body’s healthy response to bring us back to balance.  Just as we boil water to sanitize it and pasteurize milk to kill bacteria, our bodies heat up to fight bacteria and viruses. So instead of reaching for acetaminophen, monitor the fever, keep cool with compresses and cool baths, drink plenty of cool liquids and allow the fever to run its course. Of course, if the fever goes above 104 degrees, consult your physician.

For tension headaches, rest, use a heating pad or try essential oils such as lavender. Lavender oil is gentle enough to use on small children. Peppermint oil is also effective and is excellent for sinus headaches. It can be diluted in another oil like sunflower or sesame oil as it’s highly concentrated.

Chronic pain is much more challenging, but meditation and biofeedback techniques are an option to control pain over time. Modalities, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and yoga can also ease suffering.

The more you seek out creative solutions to relieve common aches and pains the better able you will be to protect your family from the potentially devastating side effects of acetaminophen and other pain relievers.

Keri Chiappino, DC, DACNB, is owner of New Life Chiropractic in Smithtown. Learn more at www.newlifechiropractic.com or call 631-265-1223.

When Typical and Special Needs Kids Meet

Finally the weather is allowing children to play in the parks again. But some children aren’t.  Some of our children with special needs stand on the sidelines and watch.  It’s difficult to see a child with a disability who doesn’t have the skills to approach other children to play.  It’s important for parents who have typical children to make them aware that there are special children in the playground.  No, children with special needs aren’t weird and they aren’t strange. It’s just that their behavior is different.  Typical children need to have an explanation because very often they’re either surprised or afraid of the child who acts differently.

What would you say to your child?  My advice is to think about this before you take your child to the playground.  I’ve observed many instances of typical children becoming very upset and/or asking questions that were difficult to answer in a public place.  Talk to your child about the different children that he might meet.

Parents, do you have a comment? Let’s hear from the parent of the special needs child as well. What would you like other parents and children to know or do?

Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
School for Language and Communication Development

Springtime and Autism

For most children, springtime involves playgrounds, games and a whole range of outdoor activities with friends.  This isn’t the case for a child with autism since simple, small and typical changes often result in anxiety and catastrophic temper tantrums.  For parents who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, activity preparation is a wonderful way of short-circuiting a child’s anxiety.

Before you take your child to a playground, drive him and/or walk him around the playground several times.  Any new activity should be presented in “small steps and doses” before the child is exposed to the full activity.  Don’t think that your child doesn’t understand.  Assume that your child does understand but needs to be provided with information in small steps.  Talk to your child, present photographs and pictures to prepare him for a change in routine or a new activity.

My advice to parents is that more preparation is better than less.  The more exposure the child has to an upcoming event, the less likely he is to feel anxious about it.  Without a doubt, there is a component of familiarity that affects the child’s comfort level.

Finally, if your child stands on the edge of the playground, that’s fine for now.  Allow him to get comfortable with his surroundings, the children and the noise level as well as all of the unanticipated distractions before encouraging him to approach peers.  It’s a tremendous accomplishment for the child with autism just to be on the playground.  Be proud of all of the small learning steps because for your child they are “giant steps.”

Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
School for Language and Communication Development

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE A CHILD BIRTH EDUCATION CLASS?

By Donna Greenstein R.N.,CEE,CD

I can’t tell you how often I’m faced with the question, “Why should I take a childbirth education class?” With the advent of the cyber world and tons of new DVDs coming out each year, why should any expecting couple sit in a classroom filled with other expectant couples and be actively involved in a class for several hours? To me, the answer to this question is a no-brainer.

Expecting couples gain a wealth of knowledge in a childbirth education class. To begin, couples are introduced to other expecting couples. Often, I watch friendships begin as couples share their concerns and wishes for their upcoming journey into labor and delivery. Laughter is shared among the nervous couples as they ask what they think to be a “stupid” question. Later they realize that everyone in class was wondering about that very same “stupid” question.

It’s the hands-on experience that you get from learning actively. All senses are used in active learning. My couples are constantly moving, listening, touching, massaging, laughing and sometimes crying. Dads-to-be get to feel what it’s like to push, which provides great entertainment for the moms-to-be.

Childbirth education isn’t just limited to a natural birth experience. C- section is always a chance for every expectant couple and for that reason, a portion of class focuses on what to expect if a C-section is needed.

As a R.N., and a certified childbirth educator and Doula I’ve successfully taught thousands of new couples. Everyone in my childbirth education class leaves relieved, empowered and excited for the delivery of their new baby. Why learn alone? Why have unanswered questions? Why choose to deliver your baby with fear? Why should dads-to-be feel helpless in the delivery room?

Why believe me? Check out www.newbabybelly.com to see what couples have to say about the entire experience.

Donna Greenstein R.N.,CEE,CD, is a registered nurse with years of hospital experience in medical and surgical ICU, cardiac care and burn care.  She became a childbirth educator several years ago and has recently added a Doula certification to her education.  She has studied all methods of childbirth, including Lamaze and Bradley.  She has knowledge in pain management, both natural and pharmaceutical.