Resources

Resources Available at Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics

Allergies

If your child is experiencing or bothered by seasonal and/or chronic allergies, asthma, or food allergies, we can guide your family here at Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics. Our provider team specializes in allergy services to help your child manage their respiratory allergies, food allergies, and skin allergies. We can provide customized care plans to help your child find relief from sneezing, itchy skin, and other common allergy symptoms. Call our office at 978-256-4363 to schedule an allergy consultation, allergy testing, or for an allergist referral.


What are the symptoms of allergies in a child?


An allergic reaction can happen anywhere in the body. This includes the skin, eyes, lining of the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. These are the places where immune system cells are found to fight off germs that are breathed in, swallowed, or come in contact with the skin. Allergic reactions can cause:


  • Stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, or runny nose, and itching in ears or roof of mouth
  • Red, itchy, watery eye
  • Red, itchy, dry skin
  • Hives or itchy welts
  • Itchy rash
  • Asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing
  • A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). This can cause trouble breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, fainting, or death.

 

To diagnose an allergy, the healthcare provider will take a complete health history and examine your child. The provider may also do a blood test.

 

Please see the following helpful Guides & Links from The American Academy of Pediatrics:

 




Breast Feeding

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months and nursing for at least a year. 

Breast milk not only contains all of your baby’s nutritional needs but is more easily digested than formula. It also contains valuable proteins (or antibodies) to protect against infections. Your baby still has, on average, fewer colds, ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, spitting up, and constipation than formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies are less colicky. In addition, breastfeeding is convenient and free! There are no bottles to wash, and it is always the right temperature. Contrary to popular belief, Dads play a necessary and important role in the breastfeeding team.

Nursing mothers receive both emotional and physical benefits. Their uteruses return to normal more quickly, and there is a decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancers.

In theory, breastfeeding should be easy, natural, and trouble-free. However, for many first-time Moms, it is difficult, scary and painful. Don’t be discouraged if you have problems initially. We encourage you to seek help from the nurses in the hospitals, from our nurses, and from us. In addition, there are several lactation consultants in the area and a support group called La Leche League. And most importantly, Dads are an enormous help and support!

For the first few days, you probably notice that you and your baby are pretty tired. Even a “normal delivery is strenuous and exhausting. Your baby will likely fall asleep while nursing or may be too sleepy to nurse. Dads, you can help by waking the baby and keeping him/her awake while nursing. Initially, we suggest that you attempt to nurse the baby at least 10 times/day. Offer both breasts at each feeding. This will help to stimulate your milk production. Breastfeeding follows the law of supply and demand. It is more important to nurse frequently for shorter periods of time (e.g. 10-15 minutes/breast) than less frequently for longer periods of time. Frequent nursing is also less painful on your nipples.

Don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re doing nothing but nursing during these first few weeks. You probably are. As breast milk is more easily digested than formula, your baby will be hungry again sooner. Babies go through growth spurts during the first two months, where they may nurse more frequently than every 2-3 hours. Don’t worry, and your baby will eventually be on a more reasonable “schedule.” The time spent now will be time saved at the pediatrician’s and allergist’s office later on. Remember, the breastfed baby spends less time at the Doctor’s office.

Emergencies vs. Urgent Issues

Emergencies

If you are faced with a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Examples of a life-threatening emergency include, but are not limited to:

  • Difficulty breathing (e.g., choking, stopped breathing, weak breathing, stridor, cyanosis, or other signs of respiratory distress)
  • Possible anaphylaxis (difficulty breathing or swallowing following medicine, bee sting, food, or other possible allergen)
  • Neurological symptoms of consciousness, hard to awaken, confusion, altered mental status, stiff neck)
  • Poisoning or drug overdose
  • Foreign body in the airway (choking) or swallowed
  • Trauma neck or eye
  • Electric shock
  • Near drowning
  • Suicide – threats or attempts

Urgent Issues

Reserve nighttime calls for urgent issues only. Urgent calls include, but are not limited to, calls about the following:

  • Trauma other than neck or eye
  • Asthma, wheezing, or croup with no mention of difficulty breathing
  • Foreign body – ear, nose, or vagina
  • Bleeding (active), including blood in vomit or stool
  • Burns except sunburn
  • Bites (e.g., animal, snake, spider, marine animal, bee, yellow jacket – not insects or ticks)
  • Fever over 105° F
  • Infants less than three months of age with fever
  • Severe pain, especially in the abdomen, head, or chest
  • Possible dehydration
  • Purple or blood-colored rash
  • Heat exhaustion or stroke
  • Hypothermia
  • Psychosocial emergencies (sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence)

Poison

If your child has ingested a poison, please call the Poison Control Center: 

Food Guide

A Daily Food Guide For Your Child

This daily food guide will help you give your child the kinds of foods he or she needs at different ages. Consult your pediatrician for the appropriate time to introduce your child to solid foods and finger foods.

In the 1st Year of Life

4 to 6 Months

Iron-fortified infant cereal. Begin rice cereal before introducing other grain-based infant cereals. - 4 to 8 tablespoons of prepared cereal.

Breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula

 - Varies with age (consult your physician)

Water - As desired

7 to 8 Months

Strained fruit, plain - 1 to 2 tablespoons

Strained vegetable, plain (avoid combination meat and vegetable dinners) - 5 to 7 tablespoons

Strained meat - 1 to 2 tablespoons

Iron-fortified infant cereal - 4 to 6 tablespoons

Toast or crackers - 1 small serving

Breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula - 24 to 32 ounces

Water - As desired

9 to 10 Months

Well-cooked soft, finely diced or mashed pieces of fruits, vegetables, and meats - Small servings

Fortified, enriched infant cereal - 4 to 6 tablespoons

Fruits* - 6 to 8 tablespoons

Vegetables* - 6 to 8 tablespoons

Meat*, poultry, yogurt, cottage cheese - 4 to 6 tablespoons

Breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula - 24 to 32 ounces

Water - As desired

* Decrease amounts of mashed foods as your child handles chewier textures

11 to 12 Months

Infant cereal – After 1 year of age, plain, ready-to-eat cereal may be introduced as finger food with - 4 to 6 tablespoons

Breads, crackers, toast, cooked noodles - 1 to 2 small servings

Fruits: soft, canned or ripe banana cut up - 1/2 cup

Vegetables: soft, cooked, cut into bite-sized pieces - 1/2 cup

Meats: strips of tender, lean meat, cheese - 2 ounces or 1/2 cup chopped

Breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula - 24 to 30 ounces

Water - As desired

Forms

Immunizations

A vaccine (or immunization) is a way to build your body’s natural immunity to a disease before you get sick. This keeps you from getting and spreading the disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) believes that immunization is essential to preventing the spread of contagious diseases.

Together with the AAP, AAFP and CDC, Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics recommends the following immunization schedule:

Additional Vaccine (immunization) Information

Understanding HPV & Cancer

Medical Records

To obtain a copy of your medical records please complete the authorization form and send it to our office.

Authorization Form

New Patients

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! Please call our office at 978-256-4363 and select prompt (1) to register as a new patient.

●     Please call our office at (978) 256-4363 to inquire about registration before scheduling an appointment. When you call please have the following available:

PLEASE HAVE/KNOW

  • Please have your insurance information available
  • We do not accept any new patients to our practice who chose not to vaccinate to the standards of the Massachusetts Immunization Requirements for School Entry
  • A copy of your child's/children's full medical record must be received by Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics prior to scheduling an appointment.

HELPFUL INFO

  • Accepted Insurance Providers
  • Please send medical records to:

Attn: Medical Records

Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics

7 Village Square

Chelmsford, MA 01824

  • New Patient Packet
  • Please complete the New Patient Packet after being registered and prior to or at the patients first appointment.


NEW PATIENTS

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!

Please call our office at (978) 256-4363 to inquire about registration before scheduling an appointment.

When you call please have the following available:

PLEASE HAVE / KNOW

HELPFUL INFORMATION

  • Please have your insurance information available
  • We do not accept any new patients to our practice who chose not to vaccinate to the standards of the Massachusetts Immunization Requirements for School Entry
  • A copy of your child's/children's full medical record must be received by Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics prior to scheduling an appointment.
  • Please send medical records to:



Attn: Medical Records

Chelmsford & Dracut Pediatrics

7 Village Square

Chelmsford, MA 01824

New Patient Packet


  • New Patient Packet


  • Please complete the New Patient Packet after being registered and prior to or at the patients first appointment.


Office Policies

Patient Portal

To sign up for the patient portal, please download the myTuftsMed app on your phone. Please call our office at 978-256-4363 if you have any questions about the portal.

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