We have been hearing that all pregnant women, young children, and elderly people need to get a flu shot. How about your unborn baby? He/she could use one too. “Our data show that a single dose of maternal influenza vaccine provides a considerable two-for-one benefit to both mothers and their young infants,” wrote a team led by Dr. Mark C. Steinhoff, of Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore. They also wrote, “childhood deaths associated with influenza are most frequent in infants under the age of 6 months,”. Unfortunately, for children under 6 months, it is not recommended they receive a flu shot. The researchers knew newborns did receive some immunities to the flu virus from the mother’s antibodies which circulate in the fetal environment. They wondered if a flu shot would have the same effect. To find out, the team tracked 340 Bangladeshi mother-infant pairs during 2004-2005.

The researchers found that babies born to vaccinated mothers had a 63% lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza compared to babies whose mothers had not received the flu shot. The incidence of any type of respiratory illness with fever also declined, from 153 cases among infants born to unvaccinated mothers to 110 cases among babies whose mothers had gotten the flu shot. Researchers say this trial offers “unique evidence supporting the strategy of maternal immunization to prevent influenza infection in young infants and their mothers.”

Few pregnant women actually follow CDC recommendations and receive the flu shot. I know I have never had one. Even my kids don’t get one every year. We are a generally healthy family so I don’t really think about it. Maybe this year, I will have to join the line and get injected (oops did I let the cat out of the bag? I guess another post is needed).

If you are pregnant, get your flu shot!

New motherhood can be a rough adjustment whether this is your first, or your fifth.  Baby massage can step in and give you a little break.  First, you get to spend relaxing time one on one with your infant.  This is also a great way to get daddy involved.  Usually dad’s just aren’t sure how to handle the baby until they can actually play and be active.  When your baby is fussy, you can have some tools to calm the baby down and have a more pleasant mothering experience, especially if your baby has colic (i know your pain!).  Lastly, babies hate ‘tummy time’, however, it’s crucial to their development.  What a great way to make tummy time a fun experience!

Below, Janice Battiste from Growing Baby Prenatal Classes shows us series of simple massage techniques you can use on your baby at home.

There is a commercial (as always i have no idea what it’s even for) where the woman says “Holy Mackerel”.  An angel mackerel drops down playing his harp.  He looks at whatever it is she is reading and says “That’s Bananas!”.  In walks a bunch of bananas.

i am having one of those moments where i am saying “Holy cow!!”, half expecting a cow with wings to come floating down.  Not sure if a huge bovine can float in air..hhhmmm.  Anyways, i just read an article i cannot believe.  A person involved with the negotiations for the first Jolie-Pitt twin pictures opened his mouth about the price.  It is reported they are going to be getting (or rather giving to their foundation) $14 million for pics of lil’ Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon!!  Can you believe it??!!  Yes, i said $14 million!  i think Jenny from the block may be a little upset because that is over twice as much as she got..a measly $6 mil.

Do you want to be the friend with a stand out present at the baby shower?  i have found the cutest newborn outfit that is sure to get a laugh and be used….newborn baby scrubs.  They are just as comfy as the grown up version.  The shirt pocket has the perfect place to write down the “specs”.  It would be really cute to have your hospital visitors write a word they want to speak into the new little one, and sign their name with the included permanent pen.  It is large enough to fit a newborn up to 10 pounds (if the baby is that big, my hat goes off to the mama!!!)  The scrubs come in surgical blue or baby pink and arrive in a gift envelope with a display window.