Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, is an Attending Neonatologist in the Division of Neonatology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She is an expert in infant care and can address a broad range of topics. These include breastfeeding, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS or neonatal withdrawal from medications), prematurity, infant follow-up and their development in and outside the NICU and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Parga-Belinkie’s research focuses on neonatology. Key areas include neonatal intensive care, newborn infant issues, neonates, breastfeeding and overall pediatric wellness.
As an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) spokesperson, co-host of the AAP’s podcast, Pediatrics on Call, and host of a new video series, At the Kids Table, Parga-Belinkie is passionate about connecting with the community and educating patients and families in new and innovative ways.
She is also Director of the Newborn Nursery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
“It’s likely that newborn screening itself is not really going to be sensitive or specific enough to be a great screen for SIDS,” she said, adding that, at best, it might tip off doctors that they need to do additional testing for babies with an abnormal metabolic profile.
Essentially, it (a Synagis shot for RSV) works to block the virus both from entering cells in the lung and from replicating; it’s an added line of defense, says Joanna Parga-Belinkie, M.D., an attending neonatologist in the Division of Neonatology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. “Your typical vaccine tells your immune system, ‘Hey, here are some instructions to get to know this virus so that you can make your own cells to protect the body against the virus.’ An immunoglobulin is sort of like giving the body what it needs to block the virus, but not teaching the immune system to defend itself.”
“It’s normal for your baby not to sleep through the night, but what about you? If you are feeling the sleep deprivation as I did, there are ways that might help calm your infant for a better night’s sleep. Before encouraging your little one to sleep through the night, talk to your pediatrician and make sure that it’s the right time for your baby. Babies need to be out of the newborn phase and thriving before long stretches of sleep are acceptable.”
- Should I worry if my baby doesn’t sleep through the night?