University Health System Blog

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “When is a baby considered low birth weight?”

This depends on the baby’s gestational age. Low-birth weight for a pre-term infant is different from that of a full-term infant.

Typically we think of newborns as being full-term if they are 37 weeks gestation or greater.

In this case, low birth weight would be considered any child weighing less than 2,500 grams or five pounds, eight ounces.

This may occur for several reasons. It is important to remember these babies may need extra time in the hospital nursery or neonatal intensive care unit.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

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Dr. Scott Hall answers a question from Kate in Toledo, Ohio: “I’ve started running again after a few years off. Now I have lower hip pain. Is this common and should I stop running?”

Hip pain like this is common in runners. It’s often related to the hip flexor muscle group.

Adjusting activity is recommended by cross-training to allow the body to heal the problem.

Physical therapy is sometimes beneficial as well. If persistent, I recommend seeing a sports medicine specialist.

Scott Hall, M.D. is an assistant professor and director of sports medicine at University Health System and the University of Nevada School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine in Reno. Dr. Hall is board-certified and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. He has served as a team physician for several professional and scholastic sports teams. He currently serves as team physician for Damonte Ranch High School in Reno.

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Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “Should I wake my baby when it’s time for her feeding?”

This depends on the age and size of your infant. It is generally recommended that newborns be woken every two to three hours to be fed in the first few weeks of life.

This is especially important for mothers who are breastfeeding their infants. Because mom’s milk supply depends on frequent feedings, for example, the more frequently you are nursing the better the milk supply will become, and because it’s important for newborns to get the benefit of the colostrum, frequent feedings are essential.

As infants mature, these frequent feedings are important, but parents can begin to relax a little. Once a good feeding schedule is set and the infant has regained any weight that may have initially been lost shortly after birth, you can allow your infant to sleep longer at night.

It is still very important to wake the infant during the day to ensure they are receiving at least six to eight separate feedings per day.

As your child gets beyond the first few months of life a feeding schedule should be firmly in place and while the child may wake on his or her own to feed. They typically don’t need to be awoken to feed.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Shawn Tsuda answers the question: “What happens if I regain the weight I lose after gastric bypass surgery? Can the surgery be redone?”

Weight re-gain following bariatric surgery remains a concern for many patients who have had, or are considering, surgery for weight loss.

While weight-loss procedures – whether the gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, or the sleeve gastrectomy – remain the best option for durable weight loss in patients with morbid obesity, regain of most or all of one’s preoperative weight is possible.

While the primary cause of weight re-gain can be from a gastric pouch that is stretched, a gradual re-connection between the remant stomach and “new” stomach, or a band that is too loose or malfunctioning, the most common reasons are poor behavioral choices.

Grazing for food, snacking, eating too close to bed time, lack of exercise, and lack of portion control are the common culprits.

This emphasizes the importance of having weight loss surgery-when indicated-in the context of a comprehensive program that has support groups, personal follow-up with the surgeon, and a committment to life-long care.

Shawn Tsuda, M.D. is vice chief for bariatric surgery at University Health System and the University of Nevada School of Medicine, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Tsuda completed his fellowship training in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Harvard Medical School. He is board certified in general surgery.

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Dr. Mary Beth Hogan answers the question: “Why are my allergy symptoms much worse in the morning?”

Symptoms of sneezing, congestion and itchy, runny nose or eyes are frequently worse in the morning for several reasons. One possibility is that you are allergic to something inside your house. Allergens that you “sleep with” such as pets and dust mites are causing allergic reactions as you breathe them in with symptoms then noticed upon getting out of bed in the morning.

In addition, sleeping with open windows and then breathing in pollens that you are allergic to can cause early morning symptoms. This is particularly true for pollens as peak pollen release time from plants occurs between five to ten o’clock in the morning.

Avoidance measure to improve these symptoms include encasing the pillow, mattress and box spring in dust mite proof covers with frequent washing of bed linens in hot water and hot dryer.

Other measures to improve morning allergy symptoms include sleeping with the windows closed and either removing pets from the house or performing special cleaning measures for pet dander removal.

Mary Beth Hogan, M.D. is professor of pediatrics and section chief  of pediatric allergy, immunology and pulmonary medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and University Health System. Dr. Hogan is based out of Reno, Nevada.

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