Fort Worth, Texas,
16
June
2020
|
14:34 PM
America/Chicago

Pediatricians Offer Virtual Newborn Classes for Parents

Even in the midst of a pandemic, you should be excited to welcome your first child. While I understand you may be nervous, I want to assure you there is still plenty of wonder and awe to be found as you await your bundle of joy.

As a pediatrician, I’ve been privileged to teach a newborn class since 2016, sharing important information and getting to know expectant parents. It’s my first opportunity to step in and give you the information you need to have a happy and healthy journey with your little one.

But like everything else right now, things have changed how we normally do things. It’s so fun for me to offer these parent classes virtually. These classes are available to you and now from the comfort of your own home! Click here to view them.

Live classes are a great opportunity to meet other expectant parents and to ask questions, but if your time does not allow for this, we have videos posted on our website you can view at your leisure.

Here is the information from my video in regard to infant safety and CPR. Be sure to take a child and adult CPR class once it becomes available, as this information is for babies 0-12 months.

Order a CPR kit to practice at home. 

Infant safety

  1. Sick contact precautions
    • Newborns should not be exposed to anyone with sick symptoms.
    • Limit visitors.
    • If caretakers become ill they should wear a mask around the baby. 
  2. Rear facing car seat 
    • Install correctly and go for a car seat check if it is available.
    • Rear facing until at least 2 years of age and until they outgrow the height and weight specifications for rear facing in the car seat (to keep your baby safe keep rear facing as long as possible)
  3. Safe sleep - avoid sudden unexpected infant death - SUID
    • Babies should sleep on their back in their own bed - no blankets, swaddling or positioners. Side sleeping is not recommended.
    • No tobacco exposure (this increases risk of SUID).
    • In your room but not in your bed until 12 months old, nothing else in the bed. 
    • See video safebabysleep.org cookchildrens.org.

Infant CPR (less than 12 months of age)

  1. Take a full CPR class.
  2. Practice often. The more you practice CPR the more effective it will be.
  3. Perform CPR on a firm flat surface.
  4.  Tap and shout - if baby is not responsive call 911 and start CPR
  5.  Chest compressions
    1. Fingers right below the imaginary line between the nipples
    2. Compress 1.5 inches
    3. Hard and fast 100-120 per minute
    4. Allow complete recoil (allows the heart to fill back up with blood and maximizes your chest compressions)
    5. 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths
  6. Rescue breaths
    1. Head tilt chin lift
    2. Mouth covers baby's nose and mouth
    3. Turn your head a little to watch the baby's chest rise
    4. 1 breath over 1 second. Give 2 breaths.

Continue CPR until baby becomes responsive or help arrives.

Infant Choking

  1.  No blind sweeps - this can push the object in further. It is ok to grab the object if you can see it and get it without pushing it further into the airway.
  2. 5 back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of the hand
  3. Follow with 5 chest thrusts with fingers on the chest like you would for CPR
  4. Support the baby’s head below the baby’s body
  5. Avoid covering the baby's face or neck with your other hand
  6. Continue to alternate 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby becomes unresponsive
  7. If infant becomes unresponsive call 911 and start CPR

Please watch the infant safety and CPR video and buy the American Heart Association instructional video with mannequin so you can see demonstrations of above information and practice CPR. Once available, please take a CPR class.

Congratulations! We are here to help you on your upcoming journey as a parent!

Get to know Kim Mangham, M.D., Cook Children's Pediatrics Keller,  Keller Parkway

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mangham, click here.

To learn more about her newborn classes, click here.

My mom had an in-home daycare most of my life. I remember coming home from school and putting down my backpack and helping with the kids. When I volunteered at a local hospital, I was hooked. That was when I truly realized medicine would be my path in life, and pediatrics was a natural choice. I love watching the babies in my clinic grow up into these amazing kids. My job is so wonderful because what I do today affects the health of kids for the rest of their lives, and that legacy of a healthy happy lifestyle will be passed on to their children.

Preventing disease and injury is such a rewarding part of what I get to do every day. Education is my passion. I host newborn classes in my office on a monthly basis – giving expectant parents the first important nuggets of information they need to be exceptional parents. I have a strong interest in breastfeeding education because of known health benefits for mom and baby.

I have written blog posts for Cook Children's Checkup Newsroom and spoken to groups of parents and high school students on a variety of important topics, including the dreaded, "birds and bees" talk.

I earned my medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and completed my pediatric residency program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. I’m board certified in pediatrics and have been a pediatrician in the community for many years and fortunate enough to be a part of the Cook Children's family for most of those years.

An important part of my job is continuing education – keeping up to date on the newest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and attending local and national conferences. My most important teachers are my parents, my patients, and my own children, who humble me daily and help me understand the importance of what I do. I'm grateful for their trust in my care.

​In my spare time, I love to travel, do yoga, do yoga when I travel, and most importantly spend time with my family.

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