FOUNDER’S CORNER
Hello Better BedRest Family!
Happy New Year! We hope you are staying warm in this cooler weather. For this issue, I’d like to highlight an organization I find to be really important. This is a great resource for social workers to share with patients and for doctors to learn about!
Count the Kicks is a way to monitor the baby’s movement in the third trimester. They are very specific with how to do it. They have an app as well. Their goal is to make this a common practice by reaching as many providers and expectant parents as possible. Make sure you run this by your doctor and share as they might not be aware of this organization.
What’s Inside:-Founder’s CornerGreetings & Count the Kicks! -Community Outreach:More Blankets for Babies!
-Callers Voice: Cheryl Rozanski -Spotlight on RSV:Dr. Erica Leventhal |
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I am glad BBR can help with spreading the word. We also are so appreciative of your continued support!
Happy Reading!
Joanie Reisfeld, Founder BBR
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
In our last issue, we highlighted the Forest Knolls Knitting Club. They have been working in conjunction with BBR for over ten years. They have provided handmade blankets for NICU and general maternity wards at area hospitals as well as creating goodie bags for women’s health care workers during the pandemic. This past year was no exception.
Through the kindness and hard work of the knitting club, BBR was able to donate crocheted, knitted, and hand-tied fleece blankets to the NICU and general maternity ward at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD last fall.
We would like to thank Dr. Erica Leventhal for coordinating this project with St. Agnes and everyone that took the time to create a blanket. All of your efforts are very much appreciated!
CALLERS VOICE:
Like so many of our callers, our latest grant recipient was facing being evicted from her home and having her utilities shut off. She was put on restrictions by her doctor and unable to continue working. In the blink of an eye, her entire world was turned upside down. With a very limited support system, and trying to care for her two year old, she was extremely stressed and scared. BBR stepped in providing a $500.00 grant towards her rental payment. BBR additionally provided her other organizations that were able to help her financially. BBR made phone calls on her behalf to her Landlord explaining her situation and requested for some leniency in her ability to pay her rent on time.
She successfully delivered her baby and is currently back on her feet. She is now enjoying her two bundles of joy without the fear of losing her home or having her electricity turned off.
SPOTLIGHT:
The Importance of RSV Vaccination and Prevention:
RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. The symptoms can lead to severe lung infections in infants (especially 6 months and younger) and older adults.
Each year nationally, RSV infection causes hospitalization of an estimated 58,000-80,000 children under age 5. Most of the hospitalizations are in infants under 6 months, and there are 100-300 deaths in this age group.
On August 21, 2023 the FDA approved the first RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, for use in pregnant people to protect infants 6 months or younger.
Babies born to mothers who receive the vaccine at least 2 weeks before delivery will get passive antibody protection from their mothers.
Maternal RSV vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants by 70-90%.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the CDC recommend a single dose of RSV vaccine (Pfizer Abrysvo only) for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to prevent RSV lower respiratory tract infection in infants.
The RSV vaccine is given during the months when respiratory diseases are common, the months of September through January, and can be given at the same time as the Flu and COVID vaccines.
For babies whose mothers were not vaccinated the CDC recommends one dose of RSV specific monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab) is given to infants younger than age 8 months to prevent severe infection in their first season. Nirsevimab has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 80%.
Adults at the highest risk of severe RSV infection are those that are older, have chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.
Severe infection can cause inflammation of the lung airways, pneumonia, shortness of breath and low oxygen levels. RSV infection can cause worsening of asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or heart failure. Severe illness can result in hospitalization or even death in Adults as well as young children.
The CDC recommends adults 60 yo or older get vaccination against RSV. There are 2 vaccines available for adults Arexvy made by GSK and Abrysvo made by Pfizer. Both vaccines are over 80 % effective in preventing severe lower respiratory tract infections the first season they are given.
**Modified from: ACOG clinical practice advisory on Maternal RSV vaccination 9/2023, CDC RSV vaccine information statement 10/2023, CDC statement on RSV vaccination in older adults 8/2023.
(Synthesis provided by Dr. Erica Leventhal.)
Enjoy Winter!