Editor’s Note: Here at Red Tricycle, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Spoke Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!
Breastfeeding is hard enough, but going through the ups and downs of lactation and feeding during a global pandemic makes things infinitely more stressful for moms. It’s such a vulnerable time for both mom and baby that extra care should be made to make sure everything is functioning properly and the mom feels well supported.
There are 5 essential things new moms can do while breastfeeding during this challenging time:
1. Go Big on Sanitizers: Wash your hands before feeding or pumping. Step up your sanitizing routine by creating a nursing nook that includes a hand sanitizer for your hands and disinfectant wipes for your materials. Make it an important part of your baby feeding schedule but also for any other time with the baby.
2. Balance Your Time Online. While it’s great to stay informed on current events around the web, prioritize time away from the screen to maintain balance of mind and body when feeding your baby. Embrace that time while keeping stress low, practicing both social and mental distancing.
3. Switch up the Normal Routine. You want the newborn journey to be enjoyable, but it’s hard to enjoy your time with your baby when you can’t leave the house. The key is to find activities around your home that are enjoyable—like creating fun new ways to play with the baby, taking the baby into the tub with you, going on walks, creating a fun nighttime routine, etc.
4. If You Have Been Diagnosed, Wear a Mask. If you have symptoms or have been diagnosed, you should still breastfeed, but do so with a mask. The CDC says breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for baby and limited early data suggests that there is no risk of infection to babies via breast milk. However, always check the CDC website for any updates and new findings around breastfeeding.
5. Control Visitors. Keep “non-essential” family members away from the baby. If grandparents want to be close, they must quarantine, or wash their hands, use sanitizer and wear a mask—and even though he/she may seem irresistibly cute, no kissing baby’s face.
This is a hard time for everyone but moms and babies are particularly vulnerable right now to experiencing challenges along the breastfeeding journey. These are just a few of the things moms and their caregivers and family members can do to make sure things go as smoothly as possible during this precious moment in time in the baby’s life.
Linda M. Hanna, RNC, MSN/Ed., IBCLC, and co-founder of Mahmee, has been a registered nurse since 1978. She pioneered the Great Starts program at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills, which was so successful it was adopted by Kaiser locations throughout the US. She also developed Cedars-Sinai's Lactation Education program.
Next week begins the return to school, but this year school will be held in our home and on the computers. My youngest’s long-awaited kindergarten year, after two years of pre-school, because she turned 5 just too late to be admitted last year, and she will not have the experiences I’d hoped for her. The first day of school will look much different than her sister’s, and much different than she has been not-so-patiently waiting for since then.
Granted, this was my choice, but no matter what we decided to do, school was not going to be what we had all dreamed of for her this year. Our options were to stay home, receive a laptop and go virtual with some parts delivered by a teacher from her school and some from the online academy the district was using, or to go to school four days a week for four hours with no specials, no recess, and the looming threat of catching something, a something that there was no for-sure-way to know how it would affect her, her sister, or anyone to whom they may unknowingly spread it.
This was the big year where both girls were to be in school full time, a year during which I had hoped to return to a classroom of my own after leaving mine in 2016 to stay home with them. I too am a teacher, and last year I had the opportunity to sub in their building although my certification is in ELA 7-12. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least, and gave me an incredible appreciation for what elementary school teachers do on the daily. And while there were openings posted this summer in districts in which I would love to teach, I let them pass me by as I would be overseeing school here, for online education would inevitably require my assistance as well.
Friends and family have children returning. Friends and family go about this pandemic in a completely different way than my household has chosen and while in most situations that does not bother me in the least as I am very much a “you do you” and “I will do me” kind of person, it is hard at times and makes me question our approach. Are we doing the right thing?
As we are preparing for the virtual year there is still not as much guidance and clear cut answers as I would like to see. To no fault of their own, the classroom teachers assigned to the online academy kids do not have all the answers, and while I do not begrudge them, I am a teacher too, and planning is a part of my soul. When asked in years past if I would ever homeschool my children, I would laugh in the face of the questioner. Are you crazy?
After spending most of the school year in the primary school with them last year, and even taking a long-term sub spot, homeschool was our first thought as this pandemic broke. We were completely ready to be all in for the long haul. I was delighted and surprised when I heard about the online academy being offered by the district and with the guidance of an actual primary school teacher, we felt that would then be the best option. I wouldn’t have to pull the girls from their district. There would still be some peer interaction. I wouldn’t have to go it alone.
Now the control freak side of me is rearing her head and I again question if we are doing the right thing. Should I have just pulled them? I know the curriculum. I could have ordered the texts needed. I could have started by now. I could have a neat little schedule and be in total control of what and how long and when learning occurs. Fundamental aspects of how the year will go are not clear such as how long will the girls be online each day? When will the teacher portion take place? How are my girls going to react to all of this? Are they truly going to get what they need to be successful? And all I can do is wait, just like with everything else related to the pandemic. Wait and see.
Wait and see about a vaccine. Wait and see about an outbreak. Wait and see who will be the first person I know to get infected. Wait and see how the holidays will go. All the while second-guessing every cautious move because I am not seeing a lot of infection in my social circles. Towns nearby, local prisons have all had cases—nothing like other areas of the country yet, but the uncertainty of whether it will pass our area by or we will be the next big thing seems like such a risk to me. Then when others I know seem completely unconcerned, I don’t know what to think.
Regardless, we are staying the course of wait and see because I know in my heart that if I don’t and something happens, I’m the one who will have to live with that, and so we do “us” despite what sacrifices that means we make. And so all that is left to do is just hope that others are right, and it won’t be such a big deal, and this will all be over sometime soon.
An educator since 2004, now turned stay at home mom to my two toddler daughters, I spend my time chasing my girls while trying to be a stellar wife and “fly” mom. There are successes and failures, and a lot of 90's rap.
With COVID-19 being part of our daily lives let’s try and understand why wearing a protective face mask can help us prevent getting the virus from others and protect the community at large. Also what type of mask is suitable for adults to wear and do children also need to wear one?
Why are people wearing masks right now? The purpose of people wearing masks in public right now is to protect the community. Since so many people who have COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, wearing masks can help reduce the possibility that someone with no symptoms could transmit the disease to others.
Why does wearing a mask help? Face masks reduce the spray of that person’s infectious respiratory droplets so masks can help reduce this kind of spread of the virus. Masks also can protect you from others who may have coronavirus but have no symptoms showing and who could come within 6 feet of you which is the range of transmitting infection through acts like sneezing or coughing.
Is there a right way to wear and use a mask? For a mask to be safest and most protective for children and adults they should securely cover the nose and mouth area. Masks should not be worn when eating and should not be touched when on. Hand washing should take place before and after you remove a mask. Also masks should be washed after each wearing. Remove the mask from behind without touching the front of the mask.
Should children wear masks? It is not recommended for children under age 2 to wear a mask. Some opinions hold that children under age 6 for various reasons should not wear a mask. Also if children can be kept at least 6 feet away from others and not be in contact with surfaces that could harbor the virus then they do not need a mask for the protection of themselves or others. Additionally, a child should not wear a mask if it causes touching their face more frequently hence increasing the child to an increased risk of getting exposed to the virus.
So what kind of mask is best to wear? There are 3 types of protective face masks available in the market at present:
3-ply mask: This is a mask made of 3 layers with the innermost layer used for absorbing moisture, the middle layer is a filter and the outermost layer repels water. You should always wear the 3-ply mask with the pleated side facing out. The pleated material allows you to expand the mask so that it covers the area from the nose to the chin. The better-manufactured ones have a pliable nose piece for proper fit across nose & cheekbones. The 3-ply mask is the most popular and least expensive protective face mask for mass-market use.
KN95 mask: This mask model is similar to the well-known N95 mask. With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. What are KN95 masks, and are they the same as N95 masks? In short, they are both multi-layered protective masks (usually 4-layers) and N95 masks are the US standards for respirator masks and the KN95 masks are the Chinese standards for masks. In reality, the two masks are equivalent or nearly equivalent on the features that most people care about. Even according to mask manufacturer 3M, “it is reasonable to consider” China’s KN95s “equivalent” to US N95s. Mask standards for Europe (FFP2), Australia (P2), Korea (KMOEL), and Japan (DS) are also highly similar. A good comparison is in what percentage of particles the masks capture. On this parameter, N95 and KN95 respirator masks are the same. Both masks are rated to capture 95% of tiny particles (0.3 micron particles, to be exact). If you want a sturdier mask at a reasonable cost the KN95 is a good option.
N95 mask.This is the “professional” mask and the most expensive. The N95 mask reduces exposure to airborne elements, has a higher filtering efficiency and is made to have a better fit than conventional face masks. The N95 typically come in a contour cup design, has an adjustable nose piece and has at least two elastic straps that go around the head, one above the ears and one below. Due to very limited supply now in the market professional grade masks like N95 masks should be reserved for medical professionals on the front lines who have increased risk of exposure to coronavirus in close proximity.
Alternatively you can order one of these clever face masks or make your own protective mask using cotton fabric and elastic bands ensuring that the fabric is securely covering the nose and mouth area.
Whatever mask you decide to buy and wear just keep safe and healthy out there.
Sources: the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC])
Michael Braunold is CEO of Elepho, Inc, the company that created eClip. eClip is a device that attaches easily inside the car and connects to a cell phone via Bluetooth. It alerts parents if they walk more than 25 feet from their car without removing their child along with monitoring the temperature within the car. Elepho has also developed a device called eFloat to constantly monitor water temperature in a baby bath as well as eTherm to check baby temperatures.
The one word that I have heard repeatedly from friends and family as they describe their emotional state during this difficult time is “helpless.” As we cope with the various consequences of the spread of the Coronavirus, we are all grappling with the feeling of a loss of control.
For young children, that feeling may be magnified as they react to school closings, social isolation, and a myriad of other changes to their daily lives. Add in the stress of witnessing their parents struggle with this “new normal,” and if asked, they too might use the word “helpless” to describe their emotional state.
While many things are unknown about the spread of this disease, we do know that wearing a mask, to protect ourselves and others from infection, is the number one action that we can take.
Last spring, when some restrictions were lifted for local businesses, we took my then three and a half-year-old granddaughter to the neighborhood shoe store to get new sneakers. Before venturing out, it was explained to her that she needed to wear a mask—just like her mom and grandmother—so that we could stay safe from germs. It was also emphasized that while staying safe ourselves, we could also be “helpers” to keep others safe as well. And without much resistance, she complied.
When we explain to children that they too have a role to play in stopping the spread of the disease by wearing a mask, this protects them physically but also psychologically. Giving them a concrete action to perform helps to eliminate or minimize their feelings of helplessness. It lets them know that even though COVID-19 is causing problems, there is, in fact, something that we can do about it. And children love feeling that they are part of a solution; it appeals to their natural instincts for optimism and altruism while helping to reduce their anxiety.
These are tough times for all of us, especially kids. While it may seem like a small thing, mask-wearing is vital in stopping the spread of infection while at the same time providing children with some semblance of control. That’s a good thing.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
As the COVID-19 virus rages on, families are facing a crisis on all fronts. For those with children, the question of school reopening is front and center. Not only is it of importance to the cognitive and social development of their kids, in all likelihood, it will also determine whether or not they will be able to return to work.
Most school systems have either decided to have all learning remote or have taken a “wait and see” approach, leaving parents even more panicked about their plans come September.
As a result, many are taking educational opportunities into their own hands. Some parents are forming “pods” or small groups of children (between 5 and 8) to meet in a family’s home with an individual teacher hired to either “homeschool” or supplement the online learning that schools are providing. This accomplishes two goals; first, it provides much needed support for parents who have been struggling to keep up with their children’s distance learning, and secondly, it provides social interaction for children who have been isolated from their peers for several months.
On the face of it, if one can afford it and has the time to organize and supervise it, it may seem like a good alternative. That said, there are many things to consider before starting this journey.
Finding families that you trust and whose educational and social goals align with yours will be your first hurdle. Families who have high-risk members such as grandparents or immune-compromised individuals in their household are not good candidates. It is also essential to take into consideration the occupation of the parents in your pod; healthcare workers or other essential workers who come into frequent contact with the public may not be appropriate members either.
Equally important is a firm commitment that all members of the pod, including teachers and their families, follow best practices: masking, handwashing, and social distancing.
And before planning an academic schedule, parents must make provisional plans for the possible infection of children, staff, and all family and household members. Strict rules must be in place for if and when members of the pod become sick with coronavirus or other illnesses.
Finding and fairly compensating teachers will be the next challenge, especially if there is a broad range in the children’s grade level and abilities in your pod. Many online sites have sprung up to meet the demand of this new phenomenon, and a google search can help find staff in your area.
Parents who are forming pods have been criticized for poaching the best teachers from already taxed school systems, adding to the existing inequities in their communities. In some cases, parents invite families who could not afford to participate in a pod to attend for free. Other attempts to compensate for their privilege, have pod parents donating funds to their school communities to support those families without computers or internet service. These well-meaning gestures can be tricky territory to navigate, and along with all aspects of this pursuit must be carefully thought through to implement successfully.
If your goal is to provide “homeschooling,” you must contact your public school to withdraw your child and find out the curriculum that is being used in your jurisdiction and to get information about websites they recommend for guidelines.
If the goal is to supplement an online academic program provided by your child’s school, then you and the other families need to discuss and agree upon what content and activities you want to implement to augment their distance learning. In establishing daily and weekly schedules, limiting the number of teachers interacting with your pod is a major concern.
This endeavor is not impossible, but it will require tremendous focus and motivation by entire families who choose to participate.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
Check your veggie bins. A salmonella outbreak that has infected more than 500 people in the United States and Canada has been traced back to onions grown in California. Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California is recalling Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions shipped from May 1, 2020 through the present.
The onions are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The onions were distributed in 5 lbs. carton. 10 lbs. carton. 25 lbs. carton. 40 lbs. carton, 50 lbs. carton. bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, and 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks 25 lbs. mesh sacks, 50 lbs. mesh sacks under the brand names Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing such onions. If you cannot tell if your onion is from Thomson International Inc., or your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that may be linked to these onions, so Thomson International is recalling the onions out of an abundance of caution. As of now no specific source of contamination or contaminated shipment has been identified, and FDA is also investigating other potential sources of contamination and has not yet reached a final conclusion.
Infections have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Consumers who have any Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions under the above brand names, or who cannot tell if their onions are from Thomson International, should immediately discard these products and disinfect any surfaces that came into contact with the onions.
Editor’s Note: Red Tricycle wants to keep families informed and safe and we are making every effort to keep information on this topic as up to date as possible.
Updated 4/8/20
Cold and flu season is no stranger to every parent’s household this time of year, but it looks like there’s a new virus to be concerned about. Chances are, you have already seen headlines about the coronavirus. As the virus continues to spread across the globe, what does that mean for you and your family?
An apparent outbreak of an unknown strain of the coronavirus began spreading through Wuhan, China in December 2019.
What is Coronavirus?
According to the WHO, coronaviruses (CoV) belong to a large family of viruses that are most common among animals, but sometimes they can be transmitted between animals and humans. Those coronaviruses which can be passed from animals to humans and then from humans to humans can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases.
The CDC has found a link between the current outbreak and a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan, China. This suggests an animal-to-human spread. However, a growing number of patients who have not had exposure to animal markets are getting ill. This means there may be a possible person-to-person spread of the disease.
Common signs of infection for coronaviruses include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can result in pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
The WHO recommends standard practices to prevent infection spread including regular hand washing and covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. As always, avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of a respiratory illness.
1/22/20
Since December more than 300 people have been infected with this strain of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and at least six people have died. Since then, government agencies have swiftly taken action. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are screening all passengers on direct or connecting flights from Wuhan, China traveling into multiple US hubs. The World Health Organization (WHO) is meeting on Thursday to reevaluate whether or not this outbreak should be considered a public health emergency of international concern.
As per, NBC News, the first US case of 2019-nCoV was found in Seattle, Washington. The patient, a man in his 30s, arrived in the US around January 15 after visiting Wuhan, China. The patient is reported to be in good condition.
1/24/20
A second case of coronavirus was confirmed in Chicago. The woman, a Chicago resident in her 60s, had recently traveled to Wuhan China. She is hospitalized and said to be doing well.
1/26/20
A third case of the new coronavirus in the U.S. has been diagnosed in Orange County, California. The CDC confirmed the case in a traveler from Wuhan, China.
The two other US cases remain hospitalized, but are said to be doing well.
The CDC is conducting entry screening of passengers on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan, China to five airport hubs: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles, (LAX) New York city (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO).
1/30/20
The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency.
While most of the confirmed cases are in China, 98 people have been diagnosed in 18 other countries. The CDC announced a sixth confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in the United States.
The United States has raised its travel advisory, warning citizens to not travel to China.
2/11/20
Guidelines mandated that the name of the disease could not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people. It also needed to relate to the disease and be pronounceable. The name COVID-19 will help guard against the use of other names that might be inaccurate or stigmatizing.
2/12/20
More than 400 experts and funders met at WHO’s Geneva HQ to accelerate research to stop the COVID-19 outbreak.
2/18/20
WHO has shipped supplies of personal protective equipment to 21 countries.
2/26/20
CDC officials say that a California patient being treated for novel coronavirus is the first US case of unknown origin. The patient, who didn’t have any relevant travel history nor exposure to another known patient, is the first possible US case of “community spread.”
2/29/20
A state health official announces that a patient infected with the novel coronavirus in Washington state has died, marking the first death due to the virus in the United States.
3/5/20
There are more than 220 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US according to a dashboard run by Johns Hopkins University. The worldwide count of confirmed cases is over 97,800, with a global death toll of 3,348.
According to the WHO, there are more than 100,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in 100 countries. Of the 80,000 reported cases in China, more than 70% have recovered and been discharged. As shown, with early action the virus can be slowed down, preventing further spread. Among those who are infected, most will recover.
Some school districts, colleges and universities are closing and turning to virtual classrooms. Large gatherings and sporting events may be impacted as the Coronavirus spreads.
3/11/20
There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives.
The WHO has characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
3/13/20
A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund will raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump declared a National Emergency.
3/16/20
The WHO has shipped almost 1.5 million tests to 120 countries. They advise that all confirmed cases, even mild cases, should be isolated in health facilities, to prevent transmission and provide adequate care. People infected with COVID-19 can still infect others after they stop feeling sick, so these measures should continue for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear.
3/19/20
During a press briefing on COVID-19, UN Secretary-General António Guterres asked world leaders to come together and offer an urgent and coordinated global response.
3/24/20
As of today, the WHO reports that there are 372,757 confirmed cases, 16,231 confirmed deaths and 195 countries, areas or territories with cases/
3/31/20
According to the CDC, all 50 states have reported cases of COVID-19.
U.S. COVID-19 cases include, imported cases in travelers, cases among close contacts of a known case and community-acquired cases where the source of the infection is unknown.
Most U.S. states are reporting some community spread of COVID-19.
4/2/20
The WHO is providing advice to help you and your family be healthy at home.
4/6/20
The WHO has joined forces with FIFA to launch the #BeActive campaign on the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace to encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome.
They also issued updated guidance on masks. The CDC is recommending the use of a cloth face covering to keep people who are infected but do not have symptoms from spreading COVID-19 to others.
4/7/20
The White House “Slow the Spread” guidelines are in place until Apr.30. These are part of a nationwide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 through the implementation of social distancing at all levels of society.
Some kids are all about pie. Lila Chen prefers Pi! The sixteen-year-old is channeling her love of math to raise money for The March of Dimes.
Chen from Noe Valley is this year’s March of Dimes San Francisco March for Babies Ambassador. Lila, a junior at Lowell High School, started raising critical funds for March for Babies in the 9th Grade. Two year ago, the Chen family held a “Pi for Babies” event at their home for family and friends, where Lila recited 1,256 digits of Pi from memory. They also ate a lot of pie. Last year, Chen held another fundraiser, this time challenging herself to beat her previous year’s number. She raised nearly $5,500 for the 2019 March for Babies campaign when she recited 1,364 digits of pi for her supporters.This feat unofficially ranks Lila as 43rd in the US or 120th in the world, according to the Pi World Ranking website!
Chen has enjoyed memorizing Pi to challenge herself for years. “For whatever strange reason in Grade 5, I decided that I could and would win the Grade 6 Pi memorization contest at my middle school,” Chen said. “That year, the winner had memorized 150 digits. That’s a lot of numbers! The next year, when I was in 6th grade, I won the contest by memorizing 396 digits! In 7th grade, mainly because my friends dared me that I couldn’t double my number, I won with 800 digits. And in my 8th grade, I memorized over 1000 digits. I was proud of my accomplishments, but didn’t know what good having a freakish memory for these particular numbers would do. That is, until my family and I realized that I could use this random skill of mine to shine light on a cause that means a lot to me.”
The March of Dimes holds a special place in Chen’s heart. She raises money to honor her little brother Jonah, who passed away from a neonatal viral infection, enterovirus, only nine days after he was born.“While nothing could have prevented our family’s tragedy, we know how important it is to focus on healthy babies and mothers,” explained Chen. She continues her fundraising efforts to support the March of Dimes’ “lifesaving research, programs and advocacy so that all moms and babies can be healthy.”
“Lila and her family share our commitment to improve the health of all moms and babies,” says Robert Pinnix, Greater Bay Area Executive Market Director. “It’s not acceptable that each year thousands of moms and babies deal with complications from pregnancy and birth. But together we can do something about it. That’s why we March for Babies — a day for everyone to hope, remember and celebrate together at our walks nationwide.”
You can read more about the Chen family and learn how you can become involved on the San Francisco March for Babies event page.
Congratulations, Katie Lee! On Wednesday, the Food Network Star announced on Instagram that she is expecting her first baby with husband, Ryan Biegel after a history with infertility. Lee, posted a photo of herself at a kitchen counter, holding up a heaping forkful of spaghetti with her shirt pulled up to reveal her baby bump.
“Eating for two 🍝 Baby Biegel is on the way!” she captioned the post.
In an Instagram post last April, the co-host of The Kitchen chronicled her struggles with infertility. She wrote, “I get multiple messages a day asking me if I’m pregnant or why I am not pregnant yet. I get comments saying I look like I’ve gained weight, so I must be pregnant. After one said that I looked ‘thick in the waist’ I finally responded that it’s not ok to comment on a woman’s body and you never know what someone is going through.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a Food Safety Alert for ready-made hard-boiled eggs due to Listeriamonocytogenes contamination. Following the initial alert, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an expansion of the recall to include additional products manufactured by Almark Foods at the company’s Gainesville, Georgia facility.
According to the CDC stats, the outbreak initially caused seven cases of Listeria in five states. According to the FDA’s website, “A more recent FDA sample from the facility also matched the outbreak strain, suggesting the possibility that the strain may have remained present in the facility.”
OUTBREAK ALERT: 7 Listeria infections linked to hard-boiled eggs used in stores and restaurants. CDC has important advice to protect people in high risk groups. If you are pregnant, age 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system, read our advice: https://t.co/GgibpOdxuDpic.twitter.com/h1medczjmJ
The eggs, produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia were packaged in plastic pails for use by food service operators. The eggs were sold to retailers, and not directly to consumers. This means consumers may not know if the eggs in products they’ve purchased are contaminated. Given the new information from the FDA, Almark voluntarily expanded the recall to include all hard-boiled egg products packaged for retail made by the Gainesville plant.
The current recall includes all eggs with “Best If Used By” dates through Mar. 2, 2020. The product used by dates have a “G” prefix, indicating that the eggs were packaged in the Gainesville, Georgia facility. For a full list of recalled products, visit the FDA’s website here. The FDA has also issued additional recall alerts for retailers, such as Trader Joe’s, for products that may contain the affected eggs.
Listeria can cause fever and flu-like symptoms in pregnant women. The bacteria can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a potentially life-threatening infection in newborns. It can also cause headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, muscle aches or confusion in otherwise healthy children and adults. Symptoms often appear within one to four weeks after eating the contaminated food. This infection is treatable with antibiotics—making it important to contact your medical provider immediately.
The CDC had advised retailers and food service operators to stop using the peeled, hard-boiled eggs and wash/sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the eggs. If you have concerns about where a product’s hard-boiled eggs came from, ask the retailer to verify they were not produced by Almark Foods. If the retailer doesn’t know, skip the egg-containing product entirely.
