CLENGS IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND FROM VIEWERS

LIKE YOU. CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY

LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM

HELLO AND WELCOME "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE."

I'M BETH COURTNEY PRESIDENT OF LPB.

JOINING ME IS MARVIN McGRAW. A FORMER BROADCAST JOURNALIST

WHO WORKS FOR THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND HANDLED PR

FOR HEALTH FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA.

GREAT TO BE HERE. IT WAS HECTIC, BUT REWARDING TO

REBUILD HEALTH CARE IN NEW ORLEANS.

WE ARE HOPING TO DO SOMETHING EQUALLY IMPORTANT TONIGHT.

FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH, PROVIDE

ANSWERS AND PROMOTE LPB'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR

LOUISIANA'S FAMILIES. IN JANUARY LPB WILL START A

NEW SERIES CALLED ONE TO GROW ON TO HELP LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN

THRIVE. LOUISIANA RANKS 48th FOR ITS

CHILDREN'S OVERALL WELL BEING DUE TO LOW-BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES,

OBESE CHILDREN AND ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.

THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED AN UPTICK IN STRESS.

OVER THE NEXT HOUR WE WILL BE ADDRESSING PRENATAL CONCERNS,

CHILDREN'S WELLNESS, SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO TEXT HEALTH TO 4152238013 OR VISIT

LPB.ORG/CHILDRENSHEALTH. WE START AT PREGNANCY.

BRINGING A CHILD TO TERM CAN BE SIGNIFICANT RISK.

A RATE OF 17 DEATHS PER 100,000 LIVE BIRTHS, BUT IN LOUISIANA

THE RATE IS 45, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THE LEADING CAUSE IS HOMICIDE, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER WOMEN.

DOCTORS CAN CONNECT MOTHERS WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES,

BUT MANY LOUISIANA WOMEN DON'T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO MATERNAL

CARE. 22 PARISHES LACK HOSPITALS THAT

OFFER OBSTETRIC CARE OR OB/GYN. WITHOUT REGULAR PRENATAL CARE,

WOMEN PUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN AT GREATEST HEALTH

RISKS. THE ONE TO GROW ON SERIES

INCLUDES SPOTS TARGETING EXPECTANT MOTHERS.

YOU JUST FOUND OUT YOU ARE PREGNANT AND ON TOP OF ALL THOSE

EMOTIONS, YOU THINK, NOW WHAT? THE FIRST STEP IS TO FIND A

QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR A

SMOOTH PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY AND

ALL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. WHEN DOCTORS SEE EXPECTING

MOTHERS REGULARLY, THEY CAN DETECT AND TREAT.

BABIES OF MOTHERS WHO DON'T GET BRE NATAL CARE ARE THREE TIMES

MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND FIVE TIMES MORE

LIKELY TO DIE IN CHILDBIRTH. DON'T ALLOW A LACK HOFF HEALTH

INSURANCE TO GET THE RIGHT CARE. JOINING ME TO DISCUSS

PRENATAL AND INFANT CARE IN THE STUDIO IS, DR. TERRIE THOMAS, A

BOARD-CERTIFIED OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST WITH WOMAN'S

HOSPITAL. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE

SECRETARY OF THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS DR. LAUREN BAILEY, A PEDIATRICIAN

WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAICH CHILDREN'S HEALTH IN LAFAYETTE.

DR. THOMAS, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

WE JUST HEARD THAT LOUISIANA'S DEATH RATE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN IS

TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WITH HOMICIDE THE LEADING CAUSE.

SUBPOENA CONNECTING WITH A PHYSICIAN EARLY IN PREGNANCY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE? GOOD MORNING, MARVIN.

THAT IS A VERY APPROPRIATE QUESTION.

ABOUT ONE IN THREE WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED RAPE, DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE OR STALKING BY THEIR INTIMATE PARTNERS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT HOMICIDES, DEFINITELY HOMICIDES ACCOUNT FOR

THE LEADING CAUSE FOR DEATH AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN, WHICH IS

ASTOUNDING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA IN MEDICINE WHERE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN PR DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED.

IN 2018 ABOUT 63% OF HOMICIDES WERE IN WOMEN OF COLOR.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY A TOPIC THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRENATAL CARE IS MEANT TO DO IS ADDRESS

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS. I FEEL LIKE VIOLENCE AGAINST

WOMEN IS SOMETHING THAT IS MODIFIABLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN MY OFFICE IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM

FOR ASKING THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

SO AT THE VERY FIRST PRENATAL VISIT, WE ASK EVERY SINGLE

PATIENT IN A STANDARDIZED FASHION AND OUR MEDICAL

ASSISTANTS ARE TRAINED TO DO SO IN A VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

SO WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WE ASK THEM IN A SAFE WAY, AND IN A

NONINTIMIDATING WAY AND WE ASK THE QUESTIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN.

WE HAVE A STANDARD SET OF TIMES DURING PRENATAL CARE WHERE WE

CONSISTENTLY MONITOR THOSE PATIENTS AND SCREEN THEM FOR

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON TO

IMPROVE. AND THEN THE THIRD PART OF THAT

IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM FOR REFERRALS.

SO WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER THAT IS IN OUR OFFICE FIVE DAYS A

WEEK. WE ALSO HAVE A GRIEF RECOVERY

COUNSELOR IN OUR OFFICE. I THINK THE THREE KEY COMPONENTS

TO ADDRESSING THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE PART OF SOCIETY IS

THAT, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, NUMBER TWO,

YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS IN A NONINTIMIDATING WAY AND CREATE

A SAFE HAVEN FOR PATIENTS AND NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE TO BE

READY TO INTERVENE AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUR PATIENTS?

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS CAN CAN A REGULAR DOCTOR PROVIDE DURING

PREGNANCY AND WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND TO THOSE MOTHERS IN

PARISHES LACKING ENOUGH OB/GYNs? EXCELLENT QUESTION.

PRENATAL CARE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THE THE LAST 100 YEARS.

IT HAS DEFINITELY MADE SOME GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HEALTH

OF WOMEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAINLY IN

LOUISIANA, BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

THERE ARE STILL SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT ISSUES AND SOME POOR

OUTCOMES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TRY TO TARGET IN TERMS OF

PRENATAL CARE ARE THOSE MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS.

SMOKING A HUGE ONE HERE IN LOUISIANA, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AT THAT VERY FIRST VISIT WE ARE TALKING TO THE

PATIENT AND DECREASING SMOKING. AND NOT NECESSARILY IN A

PUNITIVE FASHION, BUT WE ARE ASKING THE PATIENT, WHAT WILL

YOUR CHALLENGES? WHAT LEADS YOU TO SMOKING?

WHAT CREATES THAT ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO CHOOSE

THAT AS AN OPTION FOR YOU? WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON,

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES LIKE CHRONIC

HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES. I THINK FOR ME, THE IMPORTANT

PART OF PRENATAL CARE IS THE PRE.

MM-HMM. A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO US

WHEN THEY GET THAT POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST, BUT FOR ME AND

FOR SO MANY OTHER PHYSICIANS, PRENATAL CARE STARTS BASICALLY

IN CHILDHOOD. GOOD EDUCATION, GOOD HEALTH

CARE, GOOD NUTRITION, GOOD ACCESS TO CARE.

THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT LEAD UP TO THOSE MATERNAL YEARS

WHEN WE, AS PHYSICIANS, ARE FACED WITH SOME VERY SERIOUS

CHRONIC HEALTHS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THAT

FIRST POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST. SMOKING, CHRONIC HYPERTENSION

AND OBESITY. WE HAVE GOT TO GET A HOLD OF

THAT IN THIS COUNTRY. IT IS NOT JUST LEFT UP TO THE

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS IN

SCHOOL, PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING: IT IS NOT PART OF THE HEALTH

CARE SYSTEM, BUT PART OF OUR WHOLE SOCIETY OF IMPROVING THE

HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS. VERY GOOD.

DR. BAILEY, WELCOME TO THE SHOW. WE KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS

WOMEN SHOULD AVOID DURING PREGNANCY.

WE HEARD DR. THOMAS SAY IT IS RISKY TO SMOKE OR DRINK DURING

PREGNANCY. # ARE THERE FOODS PREGNANT WOMEN

SHOULD AVOID OR SUPPLEMENTS THEY SHOULD BE TAKING?

MARVIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME VIA ZOOM.

YES, THERE ARE THING WE SHOULD WATCH FOR LIKE LUNCH MEAT.

THERE IS A HIGHER CHANCE FF LYSTERIA INFECTIONS THAT COULD

TERMINATE THE FETUS. # FETA CHEESE, RAW FISH AND

OTHER CERTAIN FISHES HIGHER IN MERCURY CAN BE DAMAGING TO THE

BABY, SWORDFISH, SHARK, IF YOU EAT THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SOME TUNAS CAN BE HIGHER IN MERCURY.

THERE IS USUALLY A LOT OF LISTS YOU CAN LOOK AT AND REFERENCE

WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT SO YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HARM THE

BABY. THE OTHER THING IS PRENATAL

VITAMINS. WE RECOMMEND THAT ANYBODY OF

CHILD BEARING AGE TO START A MULTIVITAMIN, PARTICULARLY FOLIC

ACID. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US BABY

DEVELOP MAJOR ORGANS A LOT OF TIMES BEFORE WE KNOW WE ARE

PREGNANT. IF YOU ARE NOT COGNIZANT OF THE

THINGS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL YOU HAVE ALREADY DAMAGED THE BABY

BEFORE YOU KNEW IT. #

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WAITING UNTIL 39 WEEKS TO

DELIVER? OH, THERE ARE SO MANY.

THE MAIN THING IS MORE MATURITY. WE TYPICALLY CALL 37 WEEKS AND

ABOVE FULL TERM, BUT REALLY EVERY CHILD IS VARIABLE.

BY WAITING UNTIL 39 WEEKS YOU HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF LUNG

MATURITY TO HELP THE BABY TRANSITIONING FROM MOTHER

PROVIDING ALL THEIR OXYGEN FOR THEM USING THEIR LUNGS AND

BREATHE ON THEIR OWN. THE OTHER THING IS THEY ARE

GOING TO BE A HIGHER WEIGHT. THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS CHANCE

FOR LOW BLOOD SUGAR. THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO

HAVE MORE OF A TEMPERATURE STABILITY ON THEIR OWN BY BEING

MORE FULL TERM. AS WELL AS JUST BEING ABLE TO

KEEP THEIR HEART RATE UP AND RESPIRATORY RATE UP ON THEIR OWN

WITHOUT ANY DROP VERY GOOD.

DR. THOMAS, WE HERD THAT LOUISIANA IS BELOW AVERAGE IN

LOW WEIGHT BABIES. WHAT CAN WE DO TO DECREASE THIS

NUMBER? EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.

LOW BIRTH INFANTS WEIGH # LESS THAN 5 1/2 POUNDS AT BIRTH.

UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT 8% OF THE BABIES BORN IN LOUISIANA AS OF

2018 FIT UNDER THAT CATEGORY. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO GOOD, SOLID

PRENATAL CARE AND OVERALL HEALTH AND NUTRITION.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS SMOKING.

SMOKING DEFINITELY DECREASES BIRTH WEIGHT FOR INFANTS AND

THEN THERE ARE SOME CHRONIC CONDITIONS LIKE HIGH BLOOD

PRESSURE AND DIABETES, HAVING EXCELLENT CARE, TAKING YOUR

BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION, EXERCISING, EATING RIGHT, TAKING

CARE OF YOUR DIABETES BEFORE GETTING PREGNANT.

THOSE ARE ESSENTIAL THINGS. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS A RISK

FACTOR FOR PREECLAMPSIA. THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE INPEND

RISK FACTORS, LIKE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, FIRST-TIME

MOM. POORLY CONTROLLED DIABETES AND

BLOOD PRESSURE ARE RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PRECLAMPSIA,

WHICH CAN LEAD TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS.

WE HAVE TO DELIVER THOSE MOMS WELL BEFORE 39 WEEKS, 29, 30

WEEKS. THOSE BABIES END UP GOING TO THE

NICU. IT IS ALL ABOUT ADDRESSING

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS. DR. BAILEY, IF YOU ARE A NEW

MOM, YOU KNOW TO CALL THE DOCTOR IF YOUR BABY HAS A FEVER.

WHAT ARE OTHER TRIGGERS? BABIES CAN HAVE LOW

TEMPERATURES WHEN THEY ARE SICK. 97 OR BELOW YOU SHOULD GO TO THE

EMERGENCY ROOM. POOR FEEDING WHERE THEY ARE JUST

CRYING AND CRYING AND CRYING AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO

SOOTHE THEM AS WELL AS BABIES THAT ARE EXTRA SLEEPY, NOT ABLE

TO BE EASILY AWAKENED CAN BE SIPED A BABY CAN HAVE A SERIOUS

LIFE THREATENING CONDITION LIKE AN INFECTION OR SOMETHING LIKE

THAT. THE OTHER THING IS IF A BABY IS

REFUSING TO EAT, DECREASED WET DIAPERS, NOT STOOLING WELL EVEN

EARLY ON RIGHT AFTER COMING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, A COLOR THAT

IS MORE YELLOW CAN INDICATE JAUNDICE AND COULD CAUSE

SIGNIFICANT NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES AND MORE OF A CEREBRAL PALSY

PICTURE GOING FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR

THOSE TIPS FOR LOUISIANA'S PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOTHERS.

WE SPOKE WITH TERESA FALGOUST, THE KIDS COUNT COORDINATOR ABOUT

GENDER FOR CHILDREN AND WHERE THE STATE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

THE ANNIE CASEY FOUNDATION PROVIDE RELIABLE DO IT, POLICY

RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE BETTER POLICIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS HELP THE SUPPORT NATIONAL KIDS COUNT

GROUP PUT OUT THE DO IT BOOK EACH YEAR WHICH RANKS ON CHILD

WELL BEING. LT LOUISIANA CURRENTLY RANKS 48.

OBESITY AND ORR WEIGHT IS ONE OF KID COUNT'S NEWEST INDICATORS.

35% OF CHILDREN 10-17 IN LOUISIANA ARE OVERWEIGHT OR

OBESE. WE KNOW REGARDLESS OF A CHILD'S

WEIGHT WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TO ENSURE A CHILD REACHES

OPTIMAL HEALTH. WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR

INFRASTRUCTURE. ARE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE ENOUGH

FOR KIDS TO WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL, ARE THERE SIDEWALKS AND

WE CAN MAKE FOOD MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.

WITH COVID-19 WE FOUND LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN PREVIOUSLY

FACE SO MANY CHALLENGES. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN

POVERTY, MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POOR HEALTH OUTCOME AND WE HAVE

SEEN IN MANY WAYS THESE CHALLENGES ARE BEING MAGNIFIED

AND ACCELERATED WITH THE PANDEMIC.

# JOINING US TO DISCUSS

CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS, DR. KATIE QUEEN, A

PEDIATRICIAN WHOSE FOCUS IS ON OBESITY.

SHE PRACTICES AT OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS HOSPITAL IN BOGALUSA,

PART OF THE LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN'S HEALTH NETWORK.

AND DR. CHELSEA KRACHT, WHO RESEARCHES PEDIATRIC OBESITY FOR

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER IN BATON ROUGE.

DR. QUEEN, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IN TERMS OF CHILDHOOD NUTRITION,

A LOT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

WE ALL REMEMBER THE FOOD PYRAMID.

THAT HAS CHANGED IN RELATION TO KIDS' NUTRITION.

IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 10 YEARS SINCE THEY CHANGED THE PYRAMID.

NOW THE USDA IS MAKING MY PLATE, IT IS BASICALLY YOU SERVE YOUR

CHILD THE PLATE AND YOU IMAGINE A LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE AND HALF

OF THE PLATE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHICH A LOT OF KIDS

DON'T LIKE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

MY KIDS IN PARTICULAR, I LOAD UP WITH FRUITS.

THAT IS HALF YOUR PLATE, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

TO HELP YOUR KIDS FEEL FULL, MORE VITAMINS, MORE COLORS, MORE

VITAMINS. THE ONE CORNER WILL HAVE

PROTEIN, BEANS, NUTS, LOW-FAT DAIRY, LOW-FAT CHEESE AND

YOGURT, LEAN MEAT, FISH, POULTRY, TURKEY, PORK, IF YOU

LOOK FOR THE WORD LOIN IS HEALTHIER.

THAT PROTEIN HELPS THEIR MUSCLES GROW AND HELPS THEM FEEL FULL.

IN THE LAST CORNER, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

WE ONLY WANT ONE CORNER OF THE PLATE A GRAIN.

CARBOHYDRATES, STARCHES. ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR CHILD'S

HAND. TOO MUCH OF THAT CAN LEAD TO

HIGH SUGAR, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE AND ALL KINDS OF

PROBLEMS. THE RULE OF THUMB FOR YOUR

GRAINS, YOU WANT WHOLE GRAINS. LOOK ON THE LABEL AND WANT IT TO

SAY WHOLE. MORE FIBER, WILL KEEP YOUR KIDS

FULL. IF YOUR KID FINISHES THEIR PLATE

AND THEY SAY, I WANT MORE. THERE IS A RULE.

20 MINUTES. YOU HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES.

IT LITERALLY TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR YOUR STOMACH TO TALK TO YOUR

BRAIN, GO PLAY. IF YOU COME BACK YOU CAN HAVE

MORE FRUIT, VEGETABLES, PROTEINS, BUT NO MORE GRAIN

UNTIL THE NEXT MEAL. CHOOSEMYPLATE.GOV IS A GREAT

VISUAL. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF

EATING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY? A LOT.

I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS A GOOD THING.

EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM IT, SERMON -- SOCIAL MEDIA, TV,

TAKING YOUR KIDS TO KARATE, GYMNASTICS.

IT IS BETTER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, BETTER

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR KIDS, BETTER GRADES HAS BEEN LINKED IN

SOME OF THE STUDIES AND HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES WHEN YOU

ARE SITTING DOWN. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I RECOMMEND

IS JUST START SMALL. TWO DAYS A WEEK, 20 MINUTES.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A LONG, DRAWN OUT MEAL.

20 MINUTES. PUT YOUR SCREENS AWAY, CHECK

THEM IN. MY KIDS TAKE OUR PHONES AND PLAY

A GAME IF YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS. WE PLAY A GAME CALLED PRAISE OR

PRAYER. WE GIVE PRAISE TO ANOTHER FAMILY

MEMBER OR SAY A PRAYER. BEST OR WORST PART OF THE DAY.

THAT IS FUN FOR MY KIDS. OLDER KIDS YOU CAN MAKE UP

SOMETHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR TALK ABOUT YOUR DAY.

I RECOMMEND FAMILY MEALS. DR. KRACHT, WHAT DOES YOUR

RESEARCH SHOW ABOUT EXERCISE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD GET EVEN

BEFORE THEY ENTER SCHOOL? WE WANT TO SPEND TUMMY TIME,

REDUCE TIME FOR TIME IN STROLLERS OR CARRIERS.

2 OR 3 THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THREE HOURS A DAY OF PHYSICAL

ACTIVITIES, ONE HOUR FOR MODERATE AND VIGOROUS.

MOST CHILDREN ARE ACTIVE AND REACH THAT THREE HOURS.

WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS IS MODERATE TO VIGOROUS ACTIVITY.

THE GUIDELINE AND BEING ACTIVE OR VERY ACTIVE FUNDAMENTAL MOTOR

SKILLS LATER ON, VERY IMPORTANT, THE ABILITY TO KICK, HOP, JUMP.

NOT ONLY FOR BONE HEALTH BUT ACADEMICS LATER ON.

WE WANT FAMILY IS INVOLVED. SO WE CAN PROMOTE THE GUIDELINE.

WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN GET THE

PROPER AMOUNT OF EXERCISE. FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT, NOT

ONLY PARENTS, BUT SIBLINGS. THE FIRST STEP IS GO OUT FOR A

WALK, THAT LIGHT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

PART OF BEING OUTDOORS IS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

TAKE THAT FIRST STEP OUT THE DOOR AND WALK DOWN THE BLOCK.

FAMILIES CAN PROMOTE MODELING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES

AND SHOW THEIR CHILDREN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

SINCE MOST FAMILIES HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS AND WE SPENDING

TIME AT HOME, I WOULD FIND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE

INVOLVED WITH EACH OTHER, KICKING, HOPPING, JUMPING,

WORKING TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO BE ACTIVE TOGETHER

AND REDUCING TIME SITTING. VERY GOOD.

DR. QUEEN, GROWING UP MY KIDS LOVED SOFT DRINKS.

NOT SO GOOD. WHAT ARE THE NONSUGARY OPTIONS

AND WHAT THE LAKE IS DOING TO COMBAT OBESITY?

I THINK MOST PEOPLE REALIZE SODAS ARE NOT THE MOST HEALTHY

FOR YOUR KIDS. SODAS AND ENERGY DRINKS ARE THE

NUMBER ONE ADDED SOURCE OF SUGAR IN THE DIET.

ENERGY DRINKS ARE BIG FOR TEENAGERS.

ONE 12 OUNCE CAN CAN HAVE 10 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR.

WOULD YOU FEED YOUR DAUGHTER 10 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR?

IT SOUNDS DISGUSTING. WATER IS THE HEALTHIEST.

A LOT OF KIDS DO NOT LIKE WATER. YOU CAN START WATER AT SIX

MONTHS OF AGE AND ADD FLAVOR, I LIKE TO SWEEZ LEMON IN MY WATER.

IF YOUR KIDS DO NOT LIKE WATER, YOU CAN FLAVOR IT WITH SOME

CRYSTAL LIGHT AND MIO, BUT MY CAVEAT TO THAT IS THAT IS OKAY

AS A BRIDGE AS YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THEM OFF SUGAR SWEETENED

BEVERAGES. IT CAN INCREASE APPETITE AND

CRAVING OF SUGAR, SO THAT IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN'S HEALTH HAVE EXCITING THINGS

GOING ON. IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE JOINING UP

WITH PENNINGTON ON A STUDY CALLED TEAM UP.

IT IS GOING TO IMPROVE CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH OBESITY AT 10 OF

OUR CLINICS IN BATON ROUGE, INCLUDING MY CLINIC IN BOGALUSA.

WE ARE STUDYING INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT TO SEE IF

IT HEMS KIDS. IN MARCH WE ARE PLANNING A

SYMPOSIUM WITH EXPERT SPEAKERS, FOUR PEDIATRICIANS, HEALTH CARE

PROVIDERS AROUND THE STATE TO FIND THE BEST EVIDENCE-BASED

TREMENDOUS FOR OBESITY. THERE ARE OTHER EXCITING THINGS

I CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT YET. EXCELLENT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. DR. KRACHT, CHILDREN LIKE ADULTS

CAN GET ADDICTED TO DIGITAL MEDIA.

THIS CAN LEAD TO OBESITY. WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR MANAGING

SCREEN TIME? THE FIRST THING TO LOOK AT IS

PARENTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SCREEN

TIME. LOOK AT OUR OWN HABITS AND HOW

IT IS INCORPORATED IN THE HOME. HOW CAN WE CREATE A ROUTINE THAT

FACILITATES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE KNOW

SCREEN TIME IS GOING TO BE THERE.

IF WE ARE WATCHING SCREENS, LET'S FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL.

MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SITTING FOR TOO LONG.

TAKING BREAKS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE

INVOLVED WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND WHAT IS BEING SHOWN.

WE HAVE THE STUDY CALLED TEAM UP, FOCUSING ON WORKING WITH

FAMILIES WHO HAVE OVERWEIGHT HABITS TO REDUCE SCREEN TIME AND

HELP FAMILIES BE HEALTHY. DR. QUEEN, HOW DO WE KNOW

WHEN A CHILD IS READY TOP TRANSITION FROM BABY FOOD TO

REGULAR FOOD? FORMULA TO BABY FOOD IS A

QUESTION PARENTS HAVE. SIX MONTHS OF AGE THEY CAN HOLD

THEIR HEAD UP, NECK UP, LOOKING AT YOU WHILE YOU ARE EATING.

YOU CAN START WITH PUREED FOODS. IT CAN BE ANYTHING PUREED.

YOU WANT TO GIVE A VARIETY, LET THEM TASTE SOUR AND SWEET AND

SALTY AND AVOCADO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN TO MAKE SURE IF THEY ARE READY.

IF WE INTRODUCE FOOD BEFORE SIX MONTHS IT LEADS TO HIGHER RATES

OF OBESITY. HOW IMPORTANT ARE

VACCINATIONS AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO MOMS WHO MAY BE RELUCTANT TO

HAVE THEIR CHILD GET ONE? SO VACCINATIONS ARE ONE OF

THE BEST WAYS THAT YOU CAN PREVENT ILLNESS IN YOUR

CHILDREN. YOU CAN PREVENT ILLNESS, BUT YOU

CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT DEATH. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN VERY

COMPLACENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO GO

TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN. OUR VACCINATION RATES IN

LOUISIANA HAVE DECLINED. CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND GET

YOUR VACCINATIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE FLU SHOT.

THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT ILLNESS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT,

TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN. I'M A MOM.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SCARY THINGS OUT THERE IN THE NEWS.

GET YOUR INFORMATION FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES LIKE THE CDC,

AAP, THEY HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN.ORG HAS A LOT OF

INFORMATION ON VACCINATIONS. I DO HIGHLY SUPPORT

VACCINATIONS. THANKS, DR. QUEEN AND DR.

KRACHT FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION ON HEALTH AND

WELLNESS FOR LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN.

AS CHILDREN GROW, THERE WILL BE FALLS.

MANY OF THESE ACCIDENTS TEACH CHILDREN THE LIMITS OF THEIR

DEVELOPING BODIES, BUT SOME ACCIDENTS CAN BE DANGEROUS.

HALF OF CHILDHOOD DEATHS IN IN YOUNG CHILDREN IN LOUISIANA ARE

DUE TO INJURIES THAT COULD BE PREVENTED.

RENEE GUILBEAU, A CERTIFIED CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST WITH

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF NEW ORLEANS SPOKE WITH US ABOUT THE

MOST COMMON AVOIDABLE INJURIES. IN LOUISIANA, FOR INFANTS

UNDER THE AGE OF 1, SUFFOCATION IS TRULY THE LEADING CAUSE OF

DEATH. 9 IN 10 CHILDREN IN LOUISIANA,

88% OF DEATHS THAT HAPPEN UNDER THE AGE OF 1 IS DUE TO

SUFFOCATION. IF YOU PUT A BABY IN A CRIB IT

SHOULDN'T HAVE PILLOWS AND STUFFED ANIMALS AND BUMPERS AND

CLOTH ITEMS WHERE KIDS CAN GET TRAPPED AND NOT BREATHE.

FOR PARENTS IT IS HARD, THEY GET TIRED.

THEY FALL ASLEEP WITH THE BABY ON THEIR CHEST ON THE SOFA, MAY

ROLL OVER, THE BABY CAN'T BREATHE IN THAT SITUATION.

IT REALLY IS JUST ABOUT CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR BABY.

WITH CHILDREN, OVER THE AGE OF 1, MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES,

DROWNINGS AND FIRE ARE SOME OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AND

INJURY. IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT TO

FILL UP, PARTICULARLY A BABY'S LUNGS WITH WATER AND CAUSE

DROWNING FACTOR. IT IS IMPORTANT AT A POOL OR

LAKE OR BY THE WATER THERE IS ALWAYS ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE

FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CHILDREN.

BY LAW IT IS IMPORTANT AND NOW LAW THAT CHILDREN ARE IN THE

APPROPRIATE CAR SEAT. REGARDLESS IF YOU PAY $70 FOR A

CAR SEAT OR $400, THAT IS NOT WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP YOUR CHILD

SAFE IS IF IT IS INSTALLED PROPERLY AND YOU ARE USING IT

PROPERLY. WE HAVE 400 SAFETY TECHNICIANS

ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU INSTALL YOUR

SEAT FOR FREE. WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE WANT KIDS

TO BE SAFE ON THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

JOINING ME IS OUR PANEL. IN STUDIO IS JAMAR MELTON, A

PEDIATRICIAN WITH THE BATON ROUGE CLINIC AND CLINICAL

INSTRUCTOR FOR OUR LADY OF THE LAKE'S PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY

PROGRAM. AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS ALISA

STEVENS, SHE'S THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER FOR THE

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES AND A FORMER

SAFE KIDS COORDINATOR. SHE'S COMING TO US FROM LAKE

CHARLES. JUST A REMINDER, DURING THIS

BROADCAST WE'RE CONDUCTING AN INTERACTIVE SURVEY.

PLEASE TEXT HEALTH TO 4152238013 OR VISIT LPB.ORG/CHILDRENSHEALTH

TO TAKE PART. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR

FEEDBACK. MS. STEVENS, I'D LIKE TO START

WITH YOU. WHAT DO NEW MOTHERS NEED TO BE

AWARE OF WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING A NEWBORN TO SLEEP?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING

ME. AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION

THAT NEW MOTHERS NEED TO HAVE. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT THEY

NEED TO TRY TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND HAVE CONCERNS WITH, BUT SAFE

SLEEP IS ONE AT THE TOP OF THEIR LIST.

AS WE SAW EARLIER, ACCIDENTAL SUFFOCATION IS ONE OF THE

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH NOT ONLY IN REGION 5 WHERE I LIVE IN LAKE

CHARLES, BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT CO-SLEEPING.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU SHARE THE ROOM AND NOT THE BED.

SLEEPING WITH YOUR CHILD CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF SUFFOCATION

BY 40 TIMES. OKAY.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU OFFER YOUR CHILD A CLEAN, DRY

PACIFIER BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP. IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, DON'T

FORCE IT. BUT WHAT THE PACIFIER DOES IS

KEEP THEM -- KEEP THEIR BRAINS AROUSED, SO THEY ARE EASILY

AROUSED WHILE SUCKING A PACIFIER.

THEY ALWAYS HAVE A NEED TO SUCK. THEY ARE NOT IN THAT DEEP OF AH

SLEEP AND IT MAKES THE AROUSAL PROCESS EASIER.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THE ROOM COOL AS WELL.

BABIES BODIES OVERHEAT 7 TO 10 TIMES FASTER THAN OURS DO.

THEY DON'T REGULATE HEAT THE WAY WE DO.

OVERHEATING IS A RISK FACTOR FOR SIDS.

HEALTHY BABIES SLEEP ON THEIR BACK.

WHICH INFANTS ARE AT GREATER RISK OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH

SYNDROME? THOSE INFANTS ARE YOUR LOW

BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES, BABIES THAT ARE PREMATURE.

ALSO IF MOM SMOKED WHILE PREGNANT, THAT INCREASES THE

RISKS FOR SIDES FOR TWO TO FIVE TIMES.

IF BABIES ARE EXPOSED TO SECOND HAND SMOKE THAT INCREASES THEIR

RISK THREE TO FIVE TIMES. DROWNINGS MAKE UP NEARLY A THIRD

OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AMONG LOUISIANA'S SMALL CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE SOME PRECAUTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO PREVENT DROWNING?

MARVIN, WE LIVE IN A STATE WHERE WATER IS INTEGRAL PART OF

OUR LIVES. WE LIVE ON THE WATER, WE WORK ON

THE WATER AND WE PLAY ON THE WATER.

MM-HMM. BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH

WATER INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES, WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

AGAINST DROWNING. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS BUT

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN

CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 1 AND 4.

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS STATISTICALLY SHOWN TO IMPROVE

AND PREVENT DROWNING IN CHILDREN.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MOST CHILDREN BETWEEN 1 AND 4 WHO

DROWN DO SO IN A PRIVATE POOL. ONE THING WE CAN DO IN PRIVATE

POOLS IS MAKE SURE OUR POOLS ARE SURROUNDED BY A FENCE WITH A

SEPARATE GATE THAT LATCHES FROM THE INSIDE.

WE MAKE CERTAIN ALL POOLS HAVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE.

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT CHILDREN WHO TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS REDUCE

THEIR RISK OF DROWNING. IN ONE STUDY, IT APPROXIMATELY

REDUCED DROWNING BY ABOUT 85% IN CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED SWIMMING

LESSONS. IT IS IMPORTANT AND THE AMERICAN

ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SUGGEST CHILDREN RECEIVE SWIMMING

LESSONS TO PREVENT DROWNING. WE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN

UNATTENDED IN A POOL AND KEEP THEM AT ARM'S LENGTH.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR A CHILD TO DROWN.

IF YOU ARE AT A PUBLIC POOL OR AT YOUR POOL YOU NEED TO KEEP

YOUR CHILD AND TODDLER AT ARM'S LENGTH.

THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN STATISTICALLY SHOWN TO IMPROVE

AND REDUCE THE RISK OF DROWNING IN OUR CHILDREN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GUN OWNERS IN LOUISIANA.

WHAT'S SOME BASIC FIREARM SAFETY THEY SHOULD PRACTICE IF THERE

ARE GUNS IN THE HOME. IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WE

LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT IS HUNTING AND GUN OWNERSHIP IS

VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK 2/3 OF LOUISIANA

CITIZENS OWN GUNS. IF WE ARE GOING TO OWN GUNS, WE

NEED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUN OWNERSHIP TO PROTECT OUR

CHILDREN. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN

DO IS STORE OR GUNS SAFELY. IN LOCKED GUN CASES AND UNDER

LOCK AND KEY THE AMMUNITION AS WELL.

CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN YOUR HOUSES DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE

KEYS ARE THE GUN SAFES ARE. YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT IN A

SEPARATE AREA WHERE ONLY YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SO THIS

LIMITS ACCESS CHILDREN HAVE TO GUNS.

WHAT DO PARENTS TELL A CHILD IF THEY SEE A GUN IN SOMEONE

ELSE'S HOME? IT IS VERY SIMPLE.

BASICALLY THREE THINGS WE TELL KIDS AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS

A PARENT IS MAKE SURE YOU ARE ROLE PLAYING THESE SCENARIOS.

BASICALLY IT IS STOP, DON'T TOUCH, RUN AWAY AND GET AN

ADULT. THOSE THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO

BRING UP TO YOUR CHILDREN CONSTANTLY, ALL THE TIME.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS VERY HELPFUL IS ROLE PLAYING.

WITH ALL SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN, ROLE PLAYING WITH YOUR

CHILDREN CAN HELP A LOT. SO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN AND

PLAY, SAY, YOU KNOW, LAY A TOY GUN OUT AND WALK IN AND SAY W

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU CAME INTO A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WALK

THEM THROUGH THE ROLE PLAYS. THE OTHER THING IS MAKE SURE

WHEN YOUR CHILD IS GOING OUT, IF THEY ARE GOING TO A HOUSE, ASK,

DO YOU HAVE GUNS IN YOUR HOUSE? AND IF THEY DO, MAKE SURE YOUR

CHILD KNOWS WHAT TO DO IF THEY COME ACROSS A GUN.

MS. STEVENS, LOUISIANA'S CHILD SEAT

LEGISLATION HAS BEEN APPLAUDED FOR BEING THE BEST IN THE

COUNTRY. WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE ROAD

FOR TRAVELING WITH INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN?

A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 2 RIDES REAR FACING.

YOU MOVE TO A FORWARD FACING SEAT WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS

OUTGROWN THAT REAR FACING SEAT BY HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AND IS AT

LEAST 2 YEARS OLD. THAT FORWARD-FACING SEAT HAS TO

HAVE A FIVE-POINT HARNESS. THE INTERNAL HARNESS OF THE CAR

SEAT WILL HIT AT FIVE POINT, ONE TO THE SHOULDER, THREE AT THE

CROTCH AND FOUR AND FIVE BOTH HEAD.

YOUR CHILD CAN MOVE FROM A BOOSTER SEAT FROM FORWARD FACING

SEAT WHEN THEY ARE AT LEAST 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS OUTGROWN THAT

FORWARD FACING SEAT BY HEIGHT OR WEIGHT.

NOW, THAT BOOSTER SEAT MUST BE INSTALLED WITH A LAP AND A

SHOULDER BELT. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN

LOUISIANA TO RIDE IN A BOOSTER SEAT WITHOUT A LAP AND SHOULDER

BELT. THEY CAN SIT IN A SEAT BELT IF

THEY CAN PASS A FIVE POINT TEST, CAN SIT ALL THE WAY BACK,

SHOULDER BELT ACROSS THE CHEST, NOT THE NECK, FITS ACROSS YOUR

LAP BELT, THE LAP PORTION AND THE CHILD IS NOT SLIDING DOWN,

THE FEET DOESN'T HIT THE BACK OF THE SEAT, THEIR KNEES BEND

COMFORTABLY OVER THE SEAT AND THE LAP BELT IS NOT COMING

ACROSS THE ABDOMEN. MS. STEVENS, GETTING BACK TO

THE SEAT. HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE IF YOUR

CHILD'S CAR SEAT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY?

WELL, THE BEST WAY IS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CERTIFIED

TECHNICIAN TO CHECK YOUR SEAT OUT.

AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED TECHNICIANS

ACROSS LOUISIANA THAT CAN HELP, BUT IF YOUR SEAT IS REAR FACING,

YOUR CHILD'S SEAT IS REAR FACING IT HAS TO BE 30-45 DEGREE

ANXIOUSLE. THE HARNESS SHOULD BE AT OR

BELOW THE SHOULDER AND THAT RETAINER CLIP OR PLASTIC CLIP

SHOULD BE AT THE SHOULDER ARMPIT LEVEL.

IS THERE AN ONLINE RESOURCE THAT PARENTS CAN GO TO TO GET

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAR SEAT

INSTALLATIONS. YES.

YOU CAN GO TO WORLDWIDESAFE KIDS.

YOU CAN GO TO BUCKLE UP LOUISIANA FACEBOOK PAGE AND

THERE ICE LOTS OF INFORMATION THERE.

H THANKS TO MS. STEVENS AND DR.

MELTON FOR THAT HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT KEEPING

CHILDREN SAFE. ACCORDING TO DATA FRR THE U.S.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, MOST OF LOUISIANA'S PARISHES

LACK PSYCHOLOGISTS OR PSYCHIATRISTS.

THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR OUR STATE, WHICH IS NOT ONLY DEALING

WITH A PANDEMIC, BUT HAS ENDURED FIVE MAJOR STORMS THIS HURRICANE

SEASON. HERE'S TERESA FALGOUST AGAIN

WITH WHAT THE KIDS COUNT DATA TELLS US ABOUT LOUISIANA

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH. ONE OF THE IPD -- INDICATORS

LOOKS AT CHILDREN 3-17 HAS A PARENT THAT A DOCTOR TOLD THEM

THEIR CHILD HAS AUTISM, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ADHD OR

BEHAVIORAL CONDUCT PROBLEM. THAT TIED FOR THE HIGHEST RATE

IN THE COUNTRY WITH WEST VIRGINIA AND WE ARE SEVEN

PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN WITH COVID-19, WE SHOULD BE

CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILIES

ECONOMIC WELL BEING. IT CONFIRMED WHAT WE SUSPECTED,

LOUISIANA KIDS WERE VULNERABLE BEFORE ALL THIS STARTED AND THAT

MAKES THEM MORE VULNERABLE WITH COVID-19.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DATA, ONE OF FOUR ADULTS OR CHILDREN HAVE

LITTLE OR NO CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO PAY RENT OR MORTGAGE

ON TIME THIS MONTH. 28% OF CHILDREN WITH ADULTS IN

THEIR HOME SAID THEY FOUND DOWN, DEPRESSED OR HOPELESS FOR MOST

OF THE DAYS OR NEARLY EVERY DAY IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH IS LINKED TO ADULTS MENTAL HEALTH.

ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON PARENTS ON

THEIR OVERALL WELL BEING AND CARE THE WAY OLDER CHILDREN

AREN'TS. JOINING ME IN STUDIO TO

DISCUSS THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OF LOUISIANA'S

CHILDREN AND NEW MOTHERS IS DR. ANNA LONG, A LICENSED

PSYCHOLOGIST WITH A DUAL FOCUS IN CHILD CLINICAL AND SCHOOL

PSYCHOLOGY, WHO TEACHES AT LSU. AND DR. GIGI DUNN AN M.D. AND

PHYSICIAN EDUCATOR WHO TEACHES INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE.

DR. DUNN, DR. LONG, LET'S START WITH YOU.

HOW SERIOUS IS THE SHORTAGE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS

IF WE BEGIN BY TALKING SIMPLY ABOUT THE IN ADDITION OF STRESS.

-- DEFINITION OF STRESS, IF WE LOOK AT WHAT THE CHILDREN HAVE

HAD TO NAVIGATE IN THIS LAST YEAR, THE DEMANDS ARE ENORMOUS.

CHILDREN DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL AND HAVE HAD LESS IN

THIS MOST RECENT TIME. OUR BODIES RESPOND IN OUR

NERVOUS SYSTEM AND HORMONAL SYSTEM TO STRESS.

THE SITE OF OUR STRESS RESPONSE IS THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS

SYSTEM WHICH DOES A RESPONSE CALLED FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

IN OUR BODIES IT IS EXACTLY HOW IT SOUNDS.

INCREASES HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, CAN MAKE OUR BREATHING

VERY SHALLOW AND VERY RAPID. IT CAN IMPACT DIGESTION.

CHILDREN FEEL ALL OF THIS BUT SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE WORDS

TO TELL WHAUS THEY ARE FEELING. THEY MAY ACT THIS OUT.

YOU MAY SEE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, CRYING, ANGER, TEMPER TANTRUMS,

DIFFICULTY SLEEPING OR NIGHTMARES.

YOU MAY SEE THEM ACTING AS THOUGH THEIR LITTLE BODIES ARE

RUNNING ALL THE TIME, HAVING HYPERACTIVITY OR HYPERVIGILANCE.

ALL OF THIS CAN BE A NORMAL STRESS RESPONSE TO WHAT IS

HAPPENING IN THE ENVIRONMENT. CHILDREN ARE LIKE SPONGES.

THEY CAN TAKE IN THE STRESS OF THE FAMILY.

IF THE PARENTS ARE NOT DEALING WITH THEIR STRESS RESPONSES,

CHILDREN COULD ACT THAT OUT AS WELL.

WHAT COULD LEAD TO INTERVENTIONS?

IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS AN EXTREME STRESS

RESPONSE OR TRAUMATIC STRESS RESPONSE.

AN EVENT THAT MAKES A CHILD FEEL A LOSS OF SAFETY OR SECURITY IN

THEIR LIVES, ANYTHING THEY EXPERIENCE AS EXTREMELY NEGATIVE

OR UNCONTROLLABLE, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL OF THESE THINGS WE

HAVE BEEN THROUGH RECENTLY DO CONSTITUTE WHAT WE CALL CRISIS

EVENTS THAT CAN PRODUCE THIS TRAUMATIC OR EXTREME STRESS

REACTION. AND SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE AN

UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CAN CAUSE THAT, THE IMPORTANT THING TO

KNOW IS MOST CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE AN EXTREME STRESS REACTION.

RECOVERY IS THE NORM AND

RESILIENCE IS THE NORM. KIDS DO WELL WITH ADAPTING,

ESPECIALLY IF THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE MANAGING THEIR OWN STRESS

AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR KIDS AND GIVING THEM SUPPORT AND

ASSISTANCE TO ADAPT. BUT THE THINGS THAT LET YOU KNOW

THAT YOU NEED TO SEEK HELP FOR YOUR CHILD ARE SORT OF TWO

THINGS. ONE WOULD BE SOME OF THESE MORE

MINOR CHANGES IN THEIR BEHAVIOR OR FUNCTIONING STAY PROLONGED

OVER TIME. SO OVER WEEKS.

THEY USED TO GO TO SLEEP EASILY AND NOW IT HAS BEEN TWO, THREE

WEEKS AND WE CANNOT GET THEM TO GO TO SLEEP, STAY ASLEEP, STAY

IN THEIR BED OR THEY USED TO BE POTTY TRAINED AND THEY ARE

HAVING ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME AND THAT IS NOT GOING BACK TO

NORMAL. ANY CHANGES THAT ARE MORE MILD,

LIKE IN THEIR THINKING OR THEIR CONCENTRATION OR THEIR LEARNING

OR IN THEIR ABILITY TO REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS OR IN THEIR

BEHAVIOR, IF THOSE STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE, YOU SHOULD BE

GETTING ASSISTANCE. BECAUSE IF YOU LEAVE THEM, THEN

THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET WORSE OR THEY CAN STICK AROUND FOR MUCH

LONGER THAN YOU WANT THEM TO AND THEY CAN CREATE OTHER CHALLENGES

IN WELL BEING AND FUNCTIONING. THE OTHER THING WOULD BE IF YOU

SEE A MORE SERIOUS OR TRAUMATIC STRESS RESPONSE.

YOU WILL NOTICE THIS IF YOUR CHILD HAS INTENTION EMOTIONS,

INTENSE FEAR, SADNESS, AGITATION OR IRRITABILITY, MOOD SWINGS.

IF THEY HAVE A HARD TIME EXPERIENCING POSITIVE EMOTIONS,

ENJOYING THINGS THEY USED TO. THEY START TO SOCIALLY WITHDRAW

FROM OTHERS OR CAN'T GET ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE OR THEY ARE

KIND OF MORE DISORGANIZED OR KIND OF DISREGULATED.

ANY OF THOSE MORE KIND OF INTENTION THINGS, THOSE YOU

SHOULD SEEK HELP FOR RIGHT AWAY. VERY GOOD, DR. DUNN, WHAT ARE

SOME STRESS REDUCTION TOOLS PREGNANT MOTHERS CAN USE AND

WHAT MAY THEIR IMPACT BE ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT?

WE KNOW AN AWFULLY LOT THESE DAYS WITH STRONG RESEARCH ON

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BABE IS STILL IN THE MOTHER'S BODY.

FETAL ORIGIN OF ADULT DISEASE. IT IS A VERY WISE THING THAT

NATURE DOES. WHEN A MOTHER IS IN STRESSFUL OR

TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES IN PREGNANCY HER STRESS HORMONES

HIGHER. THE BABY IS BATHED IN THESE

STRESS HORMONES. NATURE IS GETTING THE BABY READY

TO HAVE THE STRESS RESPONSE FOR THE STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT IT IS

COMING INTO. THE DOWNSIDE SHOWS UP A BIT

LATER. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE BABY

CAN SET UP FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME IN DECADES TO COME.

BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGHER SET LEVEL OF THE STRESS HORMONES

LIKE CORTISOL, THIS CAN IMPACT THE BABY'S BRAIN AND MEMORY AND

LEARNING.

THE OTHER THING BECAUSE OF HIGHER STRESS POINT THE BABY CAN

TAKE A LONGER TIME IN ADULTHOOD TO RESPOND TO STRESSORS AND THIS

CAN UNDERLIE LIFE-LONG ANXIETY THAT IS NOT EXPLAINED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS NATURE GIVES US THE PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS

SYSTEM THAT DOES REST AND DIGEST.

WE CAN DO INEXPENSIVE TOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE MOTHER

CAN EMPLOYEE THEM THROUGH PREGNANCY, SHARE THEM WITH

FAMILIES. AS SIMPLE AS TURNING TO HER

BREATH, MAKING IT SLOWER, DEEPER, QUIETER AND MORE

REGULAR. THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE

DONE ARE FREE MEDITATION APPS. ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS NATURE.

TIME IN NATURE IS ALMOST LIKE A VALIUM PILL IN A WAY.

IT COMPLETELY MELTS AWAY STRESS AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR LONG.

DR. LONG, NEW MOMS AND DADS CAN FACE CRYING BABIES OR TEMPER

TANTRUMS. WHAT CAN THEY DO TO COPE WITH

THIS? I THINK WE KNOW PARENTS IS

STRESSFUL. THEY HAVE STRESS FROM MANY

SOURCES AND UNDERSTANDING HOW STRESS WORKS, EVERY DEMAND PUT

ON A PARENT YOU NEED TO UP YOUR COPING RESOURCES.

STRESS BECOMES UNHEALTHY WHEN PRESSURES AND PARENTS DEMANDS

EXCEED WHAT THEY HAVE TO COPE WITH THEM AND THEY CAN START TO

FEMALE REALLY OVERWHELMED AND BURNED OUT AND INCAPABLE.

SO SOME EASY WAYS FOR PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR STRESS IS

CERTAINLY JUST HEALTHY HABITS IN TERMS OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

WITH EATS, PROPER SLEEP SUBPOENAS -- PROPER SLEEPING, AS

MUCH AS YOU CAN. TAKING A BREAK, EVEN IF IT IS

TAKING A FEW EXTRA MOMENTS IN A LOCKED BATHROOM BEFORE YOU STEP

BACK OUT. MM-HMM.

TO HANDLE THE TROOPS. REMOVING YOURSELF FROM SCREENS,

UNPLUGGING. SURE.

ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STRESSORS FROM THE WORLD, THE

MORE YOU TAKE IN AND LISTEN TO AND READ ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT

IS UPING YOUR STRESS LEVEL FOR YOUR BODY TO MANAGE.

I THINK ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS BEING KIND TO YOURSELF

AS A PARENT. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A PERFECT

PARENT AND, IN FACT, YOUR CHILDREN WILL PROBABLY BENEFIT

FROM YOUR IMPERFECTIONS BECAUSE THEY WILL LEARN LIFE SKILLS LIKE

HOW TO BE PATIENT, HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS, HOW TO DEAL

WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS. I THINK NOT WORRYING ABOUT BEING

PERFECT IN EVERY MOMENT AND THINKING MORE ABOUT THE LONG

GAME IN HAVING THAT CONSISTENCY OVER TIME BECAUSE REALLY ALL

YOUR CHILD NEEDS IS THAT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, THOO --

THAT TIME, THEIR NEEDS TO BE MET AND STRUCTURE AND PREDICTABILITY

TO HELP THEM THRIVE. ASK FOR HELP.

ACCEPT HELP. YOU CAN TAKE THINGS OFF YOUR

PLATE. DUST BUNNIES CAN COLLECT,

DISHING CAN PILE. YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL GUILTY.

REACHING OUT AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER PARENTS IS HELPFUL.

THEIR KIDS CAN ENTERTAIN YOUR KIDS AND YOU CAN VENT.

THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO REDUCE STRESS.

BRIEFLY, WHAT CAN YOUNG CHILDREN BE TAUGHT ABOUT DEALING

WITH STRESS? THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE CAN

DO IT, ONE IS PREVENTIVE WAY, HOW WE CAN BUILD RESILIENCE AND

THE ABILITY TO HANDLE STRESS. FOR KIDS THAT IS HAVING

CONSISTENCY WITH RULES IN YOUR HOME AND ROUTINE, SO THEY HAVE

THAT STRUCTURE AND PREDICTABILITY OR HOME BASE.

HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS AND

SELF-REGULATION. BEING ABLE TO LABEL THEIR

EMOTIONS, DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR BODY WHEN THEY FEEL

THEM. RECOGNIZE THE BEHAVIORS THAT

FOLLOW, WHEN YOU FEEL HAPPY VERSUS WHEN YOU FEEL SAD VERSUS

WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY. KNOWING THE DIFFERENT INTENSITY

SO THEY KNOW WHEN THEY NEED TO STEP IN AND KIND OF USE SOME

STRATEGIES TO HELP REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS.

AND JUST GIVING THEM SOME SIMPLE TOOLS THOO YOU CAN MODEL -- THAT

YOU CAN MODEL, WHETHER IT IS TAKING A BREAK, TAKING A BREATH,

TALKING TO SOMEBODY, REACHING OUT FOR HELP OR THINKING ABOUT

WAYS THEY CAN MAKE A SITUATION BETTER OR HOW THEY CAN MAKE

THEMSELVES FEEL BETTER. THOSE ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS TO

HELP KIDS. VERY GOOD.

I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR DISCUSSION

TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK DR. LONG AND

DUNN AND ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR INPUT.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW BY VISITING

LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE AND CLICKING ON THE "JOIN THE

CONVERSATION" LINK. AND PLEASE TAKE OUR INTERACTIVE

SURVEY ON THE ISSUES WE'VE COVERED BY TEXTING HEALTH TO

4152238013 OR VISITS LPB.ORG/CHILDRENSHEALTH.

LOOK FOR THE LAUNCH OF LPB'S ONE TO GROW ON SERIES IN JANUARY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING.

FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM CALL 18009737206 OR GO TO

WWW.LPB.ORG.