5 Tips for Newborn Car Seat Safety and Comfort

You’ve taken all the birth and baby classes, baby-proofed your home, purchased a car seat with excellent reviews and bought a family friendly vehicle with the highest safety ratings available. You’re ready for baby, right?

Well, almost…

Even the safest vehicle and highest rated car seat need to be used properly every time to ensure your little one is protected in the event of a crash. Be sure to schedule a car seat installation check up with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST, or ‘car seat tech’) to ensure you are up to date on best practices with your particular seat and vehicle combination. Prepare yourself for this appointment by reading BOTH the vehicle and car seat manuals and installing the seat in your desired position in your vehicle prior to your visit from a CPST.

Here are some tips and common problems we see in terms of newborn car seat safety and comfort. Be sure to reach out

 to our CPST, if you have any questions!

Baltimore car seat

1. Avoid aftermarket accessories

In general, if it wasn’t in the box with your car seat, don’t use it! These accessories, though readily available, have not been crash tested with your seat, so there’s no way to know how it will impact your seat. This includes strap covers, inserts or cushions and covers like the JJ Cole BundleMe.

2. Dress baby in layers

Because Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind which season we are having in Maryland recently, the easiest way to ensure your little one’s comfort is to dress them in layers. For a newborn, typically one layer more than what you are wearing will be most comfortable. Cotton footed sleep and play outfits are often a great option in terms of car seat safety. Avoid bulky clothing and thick outfits or coats.

Here is our go-to steps to ensure baby warm and snug in the car seat:

  • Buckle baby into the seat and tighten straps so that you can not pinch the straps.
  • Using a lightweight muslin blanket, “swaddle” baby by tucking the blanket around baby’s arms, torso and legs. If it’s particularly chilly, you can add a second fleece or knit blanket over baby’s lap.

3. Consider projectiles

There are an abundance of baby toys that appear to be ‘made for car seats’ with rings, hooks, and straps. Consider that in the event of a crash, those connection points may not withstand the impact and could hit your child. The most comforting object to your newborn in the car seat is you; if possible, buckle up in the back seat next to your little one.

4. Time your trips

Since newborns typically set their own schedule, it’s difficult to judge when is the ‘best’ time to get in the car. In general, ensure all of baby’s basic needs are met prior to bucking them in the car seat-  that they are not overtired, have eaten recently and have a fresh diaper.

Heating (or cooling) the vehicle prior to putting baby in can help as well. Consider too that you may need to stop to calm a fussy baby, so be sure to plan some extra time into your trips! Babies don’t actually hate the car seat, they struggle with being away from you, their source of comfort, and being restrained in a position they wouldn’t normally be sitting in. To reassure them that the car seat is a safe place, sometimes it helps to practice getting in and out of the car seat, even if just in the house for a few minutes at a time.

5. Car seats are for cars

How to put baby in car seat safely

Car seats are not meant for sleeping, playing, or spending long periods of time. Car seats are designed to keep babies safe in the event of a collision. Anytime your baby is in the car seat, ensure that the harness is buckled properly and tightly.

This includes while using the car seat as part of a travel system connected to a compatible stroller or if baby has fallen asleep in the car seat in the car and is brought in the house (where you will supervise them, or preferably move them to a safe sleeping surface to continue their nap).

Contact us to learn more about our car seat safety and installation service!

Latent Labor: The Labor Phase You’ve Never Heard Of

The phase of birth you’ve never heard of: Latent Labor

The first stage of labor is divided into two phases: the latent phase and the active phase. In the latent phase, contractions become progressively more coordinated and the cervix dilates to 4 cm (approximately 1.5 inches)

Sounds straightforward enough, right?

The truth is, latent labor is not a term thrown around very often. 

Many of us are familiar with ‘stages’ of labor or even the phrase ‘active labor’. We often don’t explore what exactly is happening in the body between going about your daily life during pregnancy.

One thing we have seen happen time and again is clients feeling confused about this ambiguous period of time. They often want to head to the hospital very early simply because they aren’t sure.

We encourage families to head to the hospital whenever they feel ready with provider approval. However, knowing how to manage latent labor before going in can help avoid long wait times and hallway walking.

Latent Labor Explained

Scientifically speaking, latent labor  (early labor) is the phase when your body is adjusting and developing its own labor pattern. 

Your uterus is finding its ‘sea legs’, we call it an “Uncoordinated Uterus”.  

This is why we experience Braxton-Hicks contractions or “practice” contractions. Your Uterus is doing its best to practice irregularly for the big day.

Many books and providers advise pregnant individuals to head to the hospital when their contractions or surges have reached a predictable pattern of approximately 5-1-1; contractions spaced 5 minutes apart, lasting at least 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. But, how long does it take for your body to go from no contractions at all to 5-1-1?

In the US data shows that birthing individuals who go to the hospital very early in their labor are at a slightly increased risk of complications. Obstetrical best practices now advise that the active stage of labor is defined as beginning when both regular contractions are occurring and at least 6cm of cervical dilation has been achieved. 

For most low-risk pregnant individuals, the closer to active labor one is when arriving to the hospital, the higher their likelihood of avoiding unnecessary or unwanted interventions during labor. Learning ways to gauge when you’ve moved from latent (early) labor to active labor is key!

Signs of Latent Labor

While these are some things to keep an eye out for, you may not experience all of them. 

A good rule of thumb is that if you’re experiencing 2 or 3 of these signs, labor is probably beginning to progress.

Early contractions.

These may simply be a tightening sensation (similar to braxton-hicks) or they may be more uncomfortable, heading toward the feeling of menstrual cramps. Discern contractions from braxton-hicks by noting if they do not go away when you move, eat, or hydrate.

Irregularly spaced contractions.

During latent labor, your body is finding its rhythm. This means that contractions may be unpredictable and frustrating to track. You may describe them as being unable to discern as when one contraction starts and another ends because everything feels tense and uncomfortable.

Frequent bathroom trips/stomach upset.

While you may be no stranger to increased bathroom breaks during pregnancy, a common sign of latent labor in having to constantly empty your bladder. You may also experience what might seem like an acute case of gastric distress.

Persistent lower back pain.

Many pregnant people experience intense, persistent lower back pain during latent labor. Since one of the key features of latent labor is baby rotating, many birthing individuals experience back pain due to increased sacral pressure. Some birthing individuals will feel only tightening sensations all centered in their lower back.

Nesting or ‘shrinking the bubble’.

During latent labor, some may find an intense desire to suddenly get everything done that’s been sitting on your to-do list for weeks. You may also experience an unexplainable desire to be close to home and have your partner or support team nearby. 

Latent labor in first-time moms can extend over a full day, night, and sometimes even off-and-on for a few days. It’s easy to become discouraged when you arrive to the hospital to hear you’re ‘only’ 2cm dilated. Staying home in familiar surroundings is one of the best things you can do to help your labor progress.

Looking for childbirth education classes in Baltimore? Learn more detailed, practical information like this about latent labor and everything you need to feel ready to have your baby. Head to this link to find out more about all of our classes including dates and times.

Baltimore Baby Grows Scales!

Don’t worry, we aren’t talking about the scales you would see on a snake or lizard, we are talking about cradle cap on a baby. The good news is that cradle cap is not painful to the baby at all, and it certainly doesn’t mean the baby is dirty.

Most new parents think they can just wash the baby’s hair and the dry flaky skin will go away.  But when it comes to cradle cap, it’s not that easy.

The good news is that your doula from Doulas of Baltimore can teach you how to care for this common scenario.  Your doula will put you at ease by giving you ways to clear up this often stubborn situation.

So you’re probably wondering, does my baby have cradle cap?  One sign to look for is red, peeling skin on your baby’s head, or what looks like a serious case of dandruff on your baby’s scalp.

Its likely that your doula will notice if your baby has cradle cap while bathing or simply changing your baby.  You may also notice an odor coming from their head.

So, if you’ve determined your baby has cradle cap there are a few things you will need to have handy to help start clearing it up.

You will need:

  • A soft brush or baby comb
  • Olive or vitamin E oil
  • Baby shampoo

Working side by side with the guidance of your postpartum doula they will walk you though this process step by step:

  • First, wet the baby’s hair.
  • Apply the oil to the effected area while gently rubbing it into their scalp.
  • Bathe the baby as usual, allowing the oil to soak into baby’s scalp.
  • Gently comb or brush the baby’s hair to remove the flakes.
    • There’s no time limit on how long to comb. Be mindful of your baby’s comfort and stop if they become overly fussy.
  • Use a small amount of shampoo; then rinse their hair while continuing to gently brush the flaky skin away. Repeat shampoo (to wash away the applied oil).
  • It is normal for the scalp may appear red and sore
  • Do not apply any cream or conditioner. That will only increase the chance of the cradle cap coming back.

Now you have a fresh, clean baby minus some of the “scales”.  You may need to repeat the process over the next few weeks at bath time.

There are many unknowns when it comes to the care and keeping of children, but Doulas of Baltimore is available to make those unknowns a little less scary.

Interview with Shady Grove Fertility’s Wende Allen, PA-C

Last week, DOB had the pleasure of interviewing Wende Allen, PA-C, of Shady Grove Fertility. Wende is a physician assistant who works closely with patients and fertility doctors throughout every aspect of fertility treatment. Because we know that many people struggle through fertility issues, we understand it’s a topic close to the heart of many of our clients and we wanted to learn more about it.
Shady Grove Fertility's Wende Allen, PA-C

Shady Grove Fertility’s Wende Allen, PA-C

What is your background? What attracted you to this field?

I’ve been a physician assistant for 24 years. After spending 2 years in pediatrics, I moved to obstetrics/gynecology so I have spent 22 years working in women’s health. I worked for an OB/GYN office doing annual exams and assisting clients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. A number of those patients also struggled with getting pregnant. It seemed like a natural transition for me to go into fertility work. When you know more, you want to do more. I wanted to expand my skill set into more advanced procedures like ultrasound.

How long have you been with Shady Grove Fertility?

I started with fertility work 12 years ago as part of GBMC’s assisted reproductive technology center, which became part of Shady Grove Fertility. I was the first “mid-level” provider at Shady Grove Fertility. It was several more years until another physician assistant was brought on. We now have 14 other advanced practice providers, to include other PAs, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives.

What are the services that Shady Grove Fertility provides? Can all procedures be done by Shady Grove Fertility or do patients need to go to other providers for some things?

Because our surgery centers are outpatient only, we refer out for large gynecological surgeries, otherwise we provide all tests and procedures on our patients’ journey. We begin the process by taking a thorough history and recommending appropriate testing that may help determine the cause of their infertility as well as what treatment option may be best—we look into number and health of eggs, whether the tubes are open, do a semen analysis—and then make treatment suggestions. Our centers provide basic treatments, like ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI), as well as more advanced treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), frozen embryo transfer, and genetic testing of embryos. We also assist patients with donor eggs or donor sperm and gestational carriers as well as provide elective egg freezing for future use or prior to cancer treatment.

When should a couple be concerned that they are not conceiving?

By definition, infertility is suspected when a couple has been attempting pregnancy for 12 months or longer. But not everyone should wait a year prior to discussing their concerns with a physician. For example, if a woman is 38 years old or older, we do not recommend waiting more than 6 months so we have as much time as possible to evaluate and treat the couple, considering factors relating to advanced age and poorer egg quality. And if there are irregular menses, known low sperm count, or blocked tubes, there is no reason to wait at all. Any patients experiencing these symptoms should make an appointment right away.

After conception, how long do patients stay under Shady Grove Fertility’s care?

We see patients until they are 8 weeks pregnant. The number of times we see them during treatment will depend on their treatment plan. Some of the treatments have fewer appointments but other patients may need to see us 10 to 20 times per month. It can be quite time consuming. Of course, some patients also need a lot of reassurance so having frequent appointments can be comforting.

Do you help patients through the whole process?

New patients initially meet with a doctor and are assigned a primary nurse. As physician assistants, we perform ultrasounds, mock embryo transfers, hysterosalpingograms (HSGs), intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), and other procedures. We also help to explain the process in detail and facilitate the treatment plan. We continue to see patients until their care is transferred back to their doctor/midwife after the 8 week mark.

What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?

It’s challenging when treatment takes longer than expected and when there are losses or complications. But when helping our patients navigate disappointing results we always have other options to explore. We will pull out all the stops until they are successful.
It’s, of course, so rewarding to discharge patients back to their regular care provider – pregnant! Another wonderful thing is developing and maintaining relationships with patients. They will send us cards or stop into the office even years after they’ve completed treatment – it’s so meaningful!

Thanks Wende for sharing with us!

Find more information by clicking on the image below!

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