BILLING SERVICES
PATIENT PORTAL
Labor and Delivery
Johnson Regional Medical Center offers outstanding services to all women. We deliver over 300 babies each year.
Advantages Of Breastfeeding
- Decreases patient’s & baby’s chance of diabetes
- Decreases the chances of breast & ovarian cancer
- Decreases SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- Decreases chances of baby’s blood disorders (like Leukemia)
- Is more economical than bottle feeding
- Is recommended at least 6 months; and ideally 1 year
Storing Pumped Milk
What are the *LLLI guidelines for storing my pumped milk?
Your milk is a living substance so precious some call it “white blood”. It is essential to store your expressed (pumped) milk properly to maximize its nutritional and anti-infective qualities. Human milk actually has anti-bacterial properties that help it to stay fresh. Giving your baby the freshest milk you have pumped ensures its high quality.
This information is based on current research and applies to mothers who:
- have healthy, full-term babies
- are storing their milk for home use (as opposed to hospital use)
- wash their hands before expressing; use containers that have been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed
Milk Storage Guidelines
All milk should be dated before storing. Storing milk in 2-4 ounce (60 to 120 ml) amounts may reduce waste. Refrigerated milk has more anti-infective properties than frozen milk. Cool fresh milk in the refrigerator before adding it to previously frozen milk. Preferably, human milk should be refrigerated or chilled right after it is expressed. Acceptable guidelines for storing human milk are as follows.
At room temperature (fresh milk) 66° to 78° F (19° to 26° C) 4 hours (ideal) up to 6 hours (acceptable)* Contents should be covered and kept as cool as possible; covering the container with a damp towel may keep milk cooler. Insulated cooler bag 5° -39° F (-15° -4° C) 24 hours.
*From La Leche League International LLLI
www.lalecheleague.org
Have Breastfeeding Questions? We can help 24/7!
Breastfeeding experts are available to answer any questions you have. Contact the Arkansas Breastfeeding Help Line.
Local: 501-202-7378
Toll Free: 1-844-344-0408
A guide to counting your baby’s movements
What is Fetal Movement Counting?
Healthy babies are usually active. Unborn babies sleep for short periods of time, but most of the time they will kick, roll, twist and turn. Counting your baby’s movements is a way to tell how your baby is doing. A healthy baby usually moves at least 10 times in 2 hours. Doctors and midwives usually recommend that you begin counting movements around the 7th month of pregnancy (about 28 weeks).
As you get to know your baby’s movement pattern, you will be able to report any changes to your care provider. There are different ways to monitor a baby’s movement. You may wish to ask your prenatal care provider which method he or she prefers.
How do I Count My Baby’s Movements?
- Choose a time of day that your baby is usually active. Try to count around the same time each day. (It may be best to count after a meal.)
- Get in a comfortable position. You can lie down or sit in a chair with your feet up.
- Write down the date and time that you begin counting your baby’s movements.
- Continue counting until your baby has moved 10 times. Count any movements including kicks, rolls, swishes, or flutters.
- After your baby has moved 10 times, write down the time on your chart.
- If you can’t feel your baby move, try to wake the baby by drinking a glass of juice or walking around for a few minutes. Then start counting again.
What Should I do if My Baby Doesn’t Move?
Call your doctor or midwife right away if:
- Your baby has not moved 10 times in 2 hours after following above instructions
- You notice a significant decrease in your baby’s activity.
Protect Your Baby While They Sleep
In an average year in Arkansas, 61 babies die suddenly. In 2018:
- 58 of the 61 babies died from suffocating in their sleep.
- Three babies died from other causes.
The main reason is suffocation caused by two things:
- Something is blocking the baby’s nose and mouth.
- The position of the baby’s body causes their airway (windpipe) to close.
Tips for keeping your baby safe:
Breast is Best.
Breast milk helps protect against suffocation and SIDS.
Always feed your baby while you are alert and sitting up.
Pacifiers Protect
Only use pacifiers that do not have toys or straps.
They can wrap around your baby’s neck and keep them from breathing.
Heat is Harmful
Keep your baby at a comfortable temperature. Dress them in as many layers of clothing as you are wearing.
If they feel cool to the touch, you could add one more layer, such as a onesie or lightweight sleep sack.
Smoke Smothers
Do not allow anyone to smoke around your baby.
Smoke raises your baby’s risk of suffocation.
ABC’s of Safe Sleep
You can help protect your baby with the ABCs of safe sleep. Your baby should sleep Alone on their Back in a Crib.
You can do a lot to prevent your baby from suffocating when they sleep. “sleep” means any time you put your baby down to sleep – including at night and during naps. Studies show that the ABCs can help prevent suffocation. Follow the ABC’s until your baby’s 1st birthday.
A is for Alone
Your baby should sleep ALONE.
This means without:
- Other people or animals. This includes parents, siblings, pets, or anyone else.
- Any items including pillows, blankets, bumper pads, stuffed animals, toys, and any other co-sleeping devices.
A person or item could cover your baby’s mouth or nose and keep them from breathing. If you want your baby near you, put their crib in your room.
Instead of using blankets, put your baby in a sleep sack; it cannot wrap around your baby’s face.
B is for Back
Always lay your baby back on their BACK to sleep.
If your baby sleeps on their tummy, they can suffocate. Suffocation could happen if:
- The mattress, blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals covers their mouth and nose.
- They spit up. If they lay on their tummy, spit-up can get trapped in their airway.
If you just fed your baby, burp them to get any air out before you put them to sleep.
Once your baby can roll from their back to their tummy – and from their tummy to their back – they may try to roll over on their own. When you put them down to sleep, put them on their back. But if they roll over, you do not need to move them.
C is for Crib
Lay your baby in a CRIB every time they sleep.
Full-sized cribs, bassinets, or pack-n-play style cribs are safe because they have a flat, firm surface that keep your baby’s airway open to breath.
Unsafe cribs are not flat and should not be used. In an unsafe crib, your baby could slide into a position that blocks their airway.
Examples of unsafe cribs include:
- Bouncy seats
- Car seats
- Baby swings
- Rock-n-plays
Remember, do not put anything in your baby’s crib (such as toys or blankets).
Learn More
To learn how you can get a safe sleep space for your baby, call 501-364-3400.
Choosing a safe crib:
Cribs for Kids
www.cribsforkids.org
Other safe sleep tips:
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development
safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov
Other safe sleep tips:
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development
safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov
Other baby safety topics:
Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s
www.archildrens.org/ipc
Recalls:
Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
Car Seat Safety
From leaving the hospital with a newborn for the first time to the bittersweet moment they outgrow a booster seat, car seats are an integral part of every parent’s journey. Each year, thousands of children are injured or killed in automobile accidents, and car crashes are a leading cause of death in children ages 1-13. It’s a major reason why Johnson Regional Medical Center is committed to car seat safety in Arkansas.
What Type of Car Seat is the Safest?
Studies show that correctly using car seats can reduce the risk of death in infants and children by 71 percent. While the process of selecting a car seat might seem overwhelming, there are countless resources from organizations such as Safe Kids Worldwide that are available to help you select the right seat for your child.
All car seats being sold today meet U.S. federal safety standards and can be easily installed with a seat belt or LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children) system. Federal car seat standards are designed with your best interests in mind, and provide the highest degree of safety available for your child.
When it comes to selecting a seat, there are four types of car seats for children: rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, booster seats and seat belts.
Rear-Facing Car Seat
A rear-facing car seat is the only car seat infants should be using. Types of rear-facing seats include:
- infant car seats
- convertible seats
- all-in-one seats
In the event of a crash, rear-facing car seats cradle the child and protect the neck and spinal cord.
Rear-facing car seats can be installed with the seatbelt or lower anchors. Always reference your car’s manual and the seat’s manual, when available. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also provides resources for car seat installation.
In the United States, all rear-facing seats should have a five-point harness securing your child at the shoulders, hips and between the legs.
Forward-Facing Car Seats
The AAP recommends a minimum of two years before your child should begin using a forward-facing car seat. Then, compare your child’s height, weight and age to the recommendations on their current seat before letting them transition to a new one.
Convertible and all-in-one car seats can be a great option for families looking to invest in a car seat that can be rear-facing or forward-facing.
Cars with traditional forward-facing seats may require the use of travel vests. If the vehicle has lap-only seat belts, if your child has a disability or if the child exceeds the weight allowed by a car seat, a travel vest may be the solution.
Reference your seat’s manual when installing a forward-facing car seat. You can also find installation resources from verified organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) online.
Booster Seats
As children grow out of their rear- and forward-facing car seats, they’ll graduate to booster seats. Standard types of booster seats include high back and backless models.
Booster seats utilize the shoulder and lap belts of a standard seat belt. The child will be boosted up to ensure the belt comes across their lap and shoulders, safely securing them.
Children sitting in booster seats should have the seat belt snugly across their upper thighs and across the center of their chest.
Most booster seats simply sit on top of traditional seats in the car and do not require LATCH or seat belt installation.
Seat Belts
As much as your child may beg you, do not let them use only a seat belt until they are 8-12 years old and the seat belt fits correctly. Children should not be permitted to use a standard seat belt until they’ve reached 4’ 9” in height and both feet are flat on the car floor.
For the seat belt to fit correctly, it must lie snugly across the child’s upper thighs and not the stomach.
The back seat is always the safest place for a child using only a seat belt to ride. All children under 13 should ride in the row(s) behind the driver and passenger seats.
For added security, engage the seat belt locking mechanism. This can be done by pulling the belt completely out and listening for the lock’s click.
Tips for Car Seat Safety
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies ride in a backward-facing car seat until at least two years of age, and should not graduate to a forward-facing car seat until they meet the height and weight recommendations.
- Utilize the seat belt or lower anchors to secure the car seat, but don’t use both at the same time.
- Make sure the car seat adequately fits your child. This includes height, weight and age limits.
- Be sure to register your new or used car seat. By registering on NHTSA’s website or that of the vehicle manufacturer or car seat manufacturer, you’ll receive information on recalls and repairs.
- Do not allow your older child to tuck the seat belt behind their shoulder.
- Never allow children to share seat belts.
- Pre-owned car seats or hand-me-down-seats are often a financial relief for parents, but be sure to research the model and potential recalls it may have.
- If you don’t know the car seat’s history, be vigilant in your research and use discretion when buying. Purchasing a new car seat could literally save your child’s life.
- Using a blanket to pad excess space in the car seat can prevent children from sliding or slouching in the seat, but never place it underneath or behind your child.
Johnson Regional Medical Center celebrates children’s health in the Arkansas River Valley and believes that access to seat belt resources, physician recommendations and best practices will provide meaningful change to the state.
Browse our patient services, give us a call at (479) 754-5454 or plan your visit today.