Help Child Care Providers Fight Cytomegalovirus (CMV): Protect Newborns From #1 Birth Defects Virus2/25/2019
Measurable Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to...
2/26/2019 02:04:44 am
Links to CMV prevention resources you can share:
Marti Perhach
2/26/2019 08:01:42 am
Thank you, Lisa, for your excellent presentation! I admire your advocacy for CMV prevention as well as your foresightedness for parents to teach their children not to share cups, not only to protect their future siblings, but also so that children are in the habit of germ prevention for when they become parents. 2/26/2019 08:32:03 am
Marti,
Amy Perhach
2/26/2019 08:12:21 am
Thank you for all the work you are doing to get the word out about CMV! Throughout high school and university, I was a nanny. Working privately and directly for families there was no oversight or information provided about CMV. For a time, I was working in French Polynesia where it was customary to kiss people, including young children on the cheek as a greeting and the closer the personal relationship, the closer you kissed someone near the mouth. I witnessed multiple pregnant women kiss young children. Looking back at my experiences as a nanny, it is shocking to see how vulnerable I was had I been pregnant. There is definitely a gap in knowledge and many vulnerable women, so I thank you again for sharing about CMV to increase awareness! 2/26/2019 08:30:28 am
If moms and toddlers were told about CMV, they could make educate decisions about the type of child care they want to use/work in. If I had known what I know now, I would have gotten tested for CMV to see if I had antibodies for it. If not, I would have only cared for children over the age of two. Or, I would have gotten an out-of-home job and hired someone to care for my young children in my home rather than than send them to an in-home or public child care center where CMV is very prevalent. Most women, however, don't know about CMV so they are unable to make the best decisions to protect their unborn children.
Jolie Patterson
2/26/2019 12:07:58 pm
Had no idea that CMV was so prevalent! I was under the impression it was rare! Just had my third child, all currently under 4. Is this something that my doctor should've told me about??? I don't work with kids though, just have the 3 of my own.
Jolie Patterson
2/26/2019 12:11:54 pm
Also! where would I find a copy of the book that your presentation is based on?? 2/26/2019 12:25:52 pm
Jolie, My book, "Help Childcare Providers Fight CMV: Protect Newborns from #1 Birth Defects Virus," is available as a free 133-page pdf manuscript at: 2/26/2019 12:21:22 pm
Doctors should tell women of childbearing age about CMV, but most don't. Moms at highest risk seem to be those who have a young child in group care. Doctors don’t want to frighten, worry or “burden” patients.According to the New York Times, "The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG] used to encourage counseling for pregnant women on how to avoid CMV. But last year [2015], the college reversed course, saying, ‘Patient instruction remains unproven as a method to reduce the risk of congenital CMV infection.’ Some experts argue that because there is no vaccine or proven treatment, there is no point in worrying expecting women about the virus...Guidelines from ACOG suggest that pregnant women will find CMV prevention 'impractical and burdensome,' especially if they are told not to kiss their toddlers on the mouth — a possible route of transmission.” (Saint Louis, 2016).
Marti Perhach
2/26/2019 02:07:45 pm
Very sad that the focus isn't on empowering women to know how to help protect their babies before birth. So much awareness work to do! 2/26/2019 02:21:15 pm
Marti,
Marti Perhach
2/28/2019 03:46:51 pm
Definitely, Lisa! Comments are closed.
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