Newborn Belly Button Care

 Baby Care  No Responses »
Jan 022012
 

Think of babies and the first image that crops up into your mind is of a little fluffy, cute, bubbly bundle of joy. Babies tend to bring smile on our faces. That is why they are the apple of your eyes. When your baby arrives, the feeling of being excited and exhausted at the same time, makes one feel pretty nervous and intimidated. Parents fear practically about everything and that’s when the issue of caring for your baby’s delicate areas arises. The umbilical cord is one such area which needs special care. The umbilical cord is the connecting link, which keeps your unborn baby nourished and supplies him/her with oxygen in your womb. Immediately after birth, the cord is clamped and a part of the cord is still attached to the baby’s navel. The navel cord has to dry and fall off on its own. It takes around one to two weeks to dry off. Usually while drying, the cord may change color from yellow-green to black. That is when, following the doctor’s advice and some home care tips come to your rescue.

Tips on Navel Care

Clean the Area Without Water
After the delivery, in the first hour, the cord is cleaned by an antiseptic at the hospital in order to avoid infections. Also, it’s important for the parents to remember that the clamp should be removed by the doctors at the hospital. After discharge, the pediatrician will suggest cleaning the area with alcohol at least 2-3 times in a day so as to fasten the healing process. It is also important to keep the diapers tied below the navel area and let the area be exposed to air. It is best to change soiled diapers immediately so as to avoid leaks, which might affect the navel area. If at all the stump looks dirty, then wipe it gently with a mild soapy, cotton washcloth and then let it dry. Avoid using lotions and powders near the navel area. During this time, it’s most important to stick to sponge baths.

Use Loose Fitting Clothes
Even though you might be tempted to try on those beautiful fitting clothes on your little prized possession, it is best to use loose clothes. Loose clothes do not stick to the body and allow free air flow to the navel area. Natural drying is what most of the doctor’s recommend so as to enable the cord to fall off faster. So stocking on a lot of undershirts is a better idea till the cord dries off. Also, it’s crucial to wash the clothes before your baby wears as it will be hygienic and comfortable for the sensitive skin.

Signs to Lookout for
Even though you might be tempted to remove that dirty thing sticking off your baby’s navel, resist that temptation as it might lead to an infection. Let it dry on its own and even if it’s hanging, it is best to leave it untouched. It is normal to see some swelling and a little bit of discharge as the cord falls off. The doctor might prescribe a silver nitrate powder. After following the above tips, it’s rare that your baby might get infection, but there are some warning signs which require attention.

  • If the stump emits an odorous smell or it releases any foul-smelling fluid, it is necessary to seek the doctor’s help immediately.
  • Even if the area around the navel is irritated or the baby is having fever, it becomes a medical emergency to contact your baby’s pediatrician.
  • When the stump gets dried, it is normal that it bleeds a little as it will get dried and form a crust over the area. But if the bleeding doesn’t stop after seven minutes, you should contact the pediatrician.
  • There might be some minor problems that need to be supervised by your pediatrician. Like, when the cord has fallen off there is swelling, moisture and continuous yellow-green pus around the navel area, which carries a medical term known as ‘umbilical granuloma’. The condition is treated with medicine or stitches might be required.
  • Another condition is ‘umbilical hernia’, which is a protruding tissue around the navel area, which is seen after the cord falls off. Here, with the doctor’s regular monitoring, the condition will go away.

Taking care of the newborn’s needs brings in a lot of apprehensions and anxieties, but with proper understanding about these minor but significant details, the parents can overcome these negative emotions with a smile. Even though some people might say that it’s a challenge to take care of your baby, but with your maternal instinct you can avoid all the blunders.

It’s important to stop stressing and start focusing on time management techniques and in no time you can be a pro to changing diapers, feeding and giving baths to your little angel. The best thing about being a parent is that when you are home after a tired day’s work, your baby provides you with that instant energy which helps you release all the tensions in a second and makes you laugh without a reason. Even if your baby is growing, one thing is never going to change – all the troubles are going to be taken care by Mommy and Daddy.

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Caring for Your Premature Baby

 Baby Care  No Responses »
Jan 022012
 

When you give birth to a premature baby, responsibilities increase in number. It’s because he is born before the gestation period is over and, therefore, he might not be as healthy as a full-term baby. However, there’s nothing to worry about as your doctor will let you know everything about caring your preemie. It’s natural for mothers to face a little difficulty initially, but once they get into the process, it becomes an overwhelming experience. The more quickly you learn the various ways to nourish your baby, the more beneficial it will be for him. Here we explain how to care for your premature baby at home.

Holding Your Baby

The first thing you should know is the right way to hold your baby. His head is intensely delicate and it requires support while sleeping and when awake. Place your hand behind his head and lift it gently. Rest your other hand on his hips or on the back. When you grip your baby this way, his entire body weight will be balanced on your hands. This technique known as containment holding is the safest way to handle your preemie. You can follow the same method while bathing him or laying him down on the bed.

Right Feeding Techniques

Even though it is highly satisfying as a mother to breastfeed your baby, this feeding technique cannot always be opted for in the case of premature babies. Your baby might be too weak to suck or he might get tired while doing so. Doctors suggest mothers to express milk into a bottle and then feed, when their babies are unable to suck naturally. This can be manually done by applying pressure around your nipples and then storing the milk in a sterilized bottle or cup. You can then feed him from the bottle or with a spoon. Sometimes, tube feeding is also performed on premature babies. Although it might seem a tough job for mothers, knowing the technique properly will eliminate every kind of feeding problems. Your baby will receive adequate nourishment and his health will improve very quickly. The feeding schedule will be determined by your doctor and you can follow it accordingly.

Adequate Sleep and Rest

More than ten hours of undisturbed sleep is a must for a premature baby. Babies born before the completion of the gestation period, although tend to sleep more, do so for short periods. Therefore, you have to take care of his surrounding and make it conducive for sleeping. Do not play loud music or keep your television turned on while he is sleeping. Always keep an eye on him while he is sleeping and make sure that he lies on his back and not on his stomach. The mattress should be firm enough to support his back and head. You shouldn’t panic if he wakes up crying in between. This is quite natural as he will take time to get adjusted to the new environment. The best part is to watch the innocent smile on his face when he dreams.

Protecting from Infections

Babies born premature are prone to infections as their immune system take time to become strong. Your baby can have respiration problems and be susceptible to colds and fevers quite often. It’s, therefore, better to take precautions early on. Avoid taking him out to public places, like shopping malls, theaters, etc. Keep his room well-ventilated and not air-conditioned. Feeding bottles should be sterilized and his diapers must be changed at frequent intervals. Make sure that people coming to visit your newborn, wash their hands before touching. To be on the safe side, try to keep your baby away from unnecessary touching and cuddling of visitors.

Bathing your Preemie

It’s the most crucial of all the premature baby care tasks. First place the bathtub on the ground and fill it with lukewarm water (test it before bathing your baby). Place your baby in the tub and support his head with one hand. Gradually apply the soap and rinse gently with water. Let him relax while you wipe his face and wash his hair. Do not pour water randomly. Perform everything with one hand while holding your baby with the other. Wrap a soft towel around his body and dry him completely. You can bathe him properly twice a week and give him a warm sponge bath for the rest of the days.

Essence of Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo care is suggested by doctors for holistic development of preemie babies. So how is this possible? It’s actually a kind of touch therapy, wherein you lie down straight on your back and allow your baby to rest on your bare chest. You can turn your baby on his side so that your heartbeat is audible to him. Another position is placing his head on your bosom and his tummy on your tummy (i.e. tummy-to-tummy contact). So the baby will actually be lying on his stomach on you. You can play, talk, and cuddle him in this position. Kangaroo care boosts growth and regulates body temperature. Your baby will also improve his sucking ability, sleep more, and gain weight rapidly.

Additional Tips

  • You have to monitor your baby’s growth and development. Doctors suggest vitamins and nutritional supplements which must be administered regularly.
  • If your preemie was born with lung disease and gastrointestinal problems, then the medicines prescribed by your doctor must be continued.
  • In chronic conditions, you can install alarm systems, which will immediately make you aware of this health status. Such alarms are usually kept for babies suffering from apnea, irregular heartbeat, etc.
  • The benefits of baby massage should be known to all moms. Let you baby lie on his cot and you can gently massage every part of his body with baby oil.
  • You can learn the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure before getting discharged. This proves helpful in cases of emergency.
  • You must also keep an account of his vaccination doses and get them done on the specified dates.

Apart from all these, you should spend the maximum time with your baby and try to talk, play, and laugh with him. Observe how he responds to your gestures while being in the playful mood. You can also keep a part-time nurse for help. Above all, it’s the mother’s love that he receives improves his health and accentuates growth. So wishing you a happy motherhood

 Posted by at 5:50 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Baby’s First Checkup: What to Expect

 Baby Care  No Responses »
Dec 022011
 

A week after your baby is born, it’s time for his first trip to the pediatrician, referred to as a well-baby checkup. Although newborns usually have their very first checkup at the hospital as soon as they are born, regular pediatric visits begin a week after birth. Most doctors schedule the visit 5 to 7 days after the birth. For most moms and their infants, this can be termed as the very first outing after childbirth!

Before you go to the doctor, jot down each and every doubt you have in mind. Do not hesitate to ask the doctor anything, you are expected to be full of concerns regarding your little one, however trivial they might seem, and doctors are there to help. Also, be prepared to answer a lot of questions the doctor will ask you about your baby. Read on to know what to expect at your baby’s first checkup.

What Happens During the Checkup
The doctor or pediatrician will weigh the baby and measure the height, plotting it on the growth chart to verify if the growth pattern is as expected. He will conduct a thorough head-to-toe physical examination of your infant, starting with:

Head
The circumference of the head is measured and compared with the reading at birth to see if the baby is growing normally. He will also feel the soft spots on the baby’s head, called fontanels, along with the shape of the head. If he finds flat spots on the head, he may recommend you to change the position of the head when the baby is asleep while keeping the baby on a soft but firm mattress. Extended tummy time when the baby is awake is usually recommended by doctors to help reduce flat spots.

Eyes
With an ophthalmoscope, the doctor will inspect the eyes for any discharge, blocked tear ducts, and yellow eyes, an indication of jaundice. Your baby is still too small to focus on an object, so the doctor may question you if you have noticed your baby exhibiting cross-eye, a symptom which clears itself as your baby grows and his vision gets more pronounced.

Ears
The doctor will use an otoscope to check your baby’s ears for their shape, and any fluid discharge or infection.

Mouth
The sucking reflex is checked by placing a finger or pacifier in the baby’s mouth. The doctor may also look for indications of oral thrush, a common yeast infection in infants that can be easily treated.

Chest
The heart and lungs are inspected by placing a stethoscope on the chest and listening to the heartbeats. The doctor will also look for respiratory problems such as difficulty in breathing or any unusual heart rhythms.

Skin
While inspecting the skin, the doctor will check for common skin eruptions like rashes and birthmarks. A few babies develop jaundice at birth, which goes away within a week or two. At the first checkup, he may check if the skin is turning yellow, a sign of jaundice. In case you have noticed signs of cradle cap (inflammation of the scalp) and diaper rash, this is the time to ask the doctor for a remedy.

Abdomen
If the umbilical cord has dried completely and fallen off, the doctor will check if the belly button is healing and free of infection. Gently squeezing your baby’s abdomen will alert the doctor for signs of enlarged organs and umbilical hernia.

Legs
The doctor will move your infant’s legs around to check for dislocated hip joints.

Genitals
For boys, the doctor checks if the testicles have descended into the scrotum, and checks if the baby has not developed a disorder called hydrocele, in which fluid accumulates in the scrotum. In the event of a circumcision at birth, he will make sure the skin is healing properly. He will also look for indications of inguinal hernia, a type of hernia more commonly seen in boys than girls. In case of girls, he might ask you if you have noticed a vaginal discharge.

Apart from the above examination, the doctor might administer a hepatitis B shot to the baby if he has not received one at birth, evaluate your baby’s reflexes, make observations on the interaction parents have with the baby, and offer general tips on upbringing and care of a newborn. Additionally, a heel prick test is done and blood sample collected to test for phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder which can cause extensive brain damage if left untreated. Most importantly, the baby is started off with the immunizations, and a record of the immunizations he has received since birth, and a schedule of all shots he will receive in the future is given to the parents.

Questions the Doctor may Ask You
There will be a horde of questions the doctor will want to ask you, regarding your baby’s sleep cycle, bowel movement, feeding schedule, etc.

How often does the baby sleep? How alert is he when he is awake?
How often does he cry? Does the crying stop if he is picked up? Does he like to be held, or is he content lying on his back?
How does he respond to your (primary caregiver’s) voice? Does he turn his head in that direction? Does he focus his eyes on your face if you hold your face close to his?
What is his feeding schedule? How often does he feed? Is he on formula or is he breastfed? What kind of formula are you giving him? (If you are breastfeeding, he may want to know if you are taking any vitamins/medications. He may suggest you start the baby off on a multivitamin as well.)
Does your baby have regular bowel movements? How often do you need to change the diaper? (Often, hospitals advise parents to maintain a chart regarding the baby’s bowel movements right from birth till the first well-baby visit; so if you have one, show it to the doctor.)

Questions You may Ask the Doctor
Now is the time to put forth all your doubts and worries. Do not hesitate to open up and ask the doctor about every small thing that is bothering you. It can take a few weeks before you notice your baby (and you) falling into a regular routine. You could be battling postpartum depression, so talk to the doctor how to best deal with it. No doubt, you would have received loads of advice from well-wishers on how to bring up the baby, and too much of it can be confusing, and the best person to sort your queries is the doctor. As a new parent, you may face difficulty feeding and comforting your newborn, ask the doctor for some tips. A few questions new parents have are:

How often should I feed the baby? How do I look for baby’s hunger cues? How do I know if he is full or whether he is hungry for more?
My baby sleeps too much (or too little). What do I do?
Should I bathe the baby everyday?
Is it alright if I take my baby out, say for a trip to the local store, or to visit someone’s house?
When is the ideal time to put my baby in daycare if I need to get back to work soon?

And now, before you set off for the first ever doctor visit, stock the diaper bag with the items mentioned below.

List of Things to Carry Along for the Well-baby Checkup
Here is a list of a few things you must remember to take with you on the visit.

The doctor will undress the baby for the checkup, so carry a blanket to keep your baby warm.
If your baby is formula-fed, carry formula and water with you. You never know how long you may need to sit in the waiting room outside, so it’s advisable to carry enough formula along. And yes, do not forget extra diapers, baby wipes, and a spare set of clothes!
Also get the insurance card and the hospital records provided to you at the time of discharge.
Take the list of questions you have noted down to ask the pediatrician concerning the overall health of the baby.

It is advisable to have plenty of time on hand before you leave to visit the pediatrician. Remember you have a newborn with you who does not yet have a set routine, which means that you and your baby are still getting used to each other. Don’t be taken aback if you find out it takes quite some time to buckle up a wriggly infant in his car seat and settle yourself in! And before you leave the doctor’s office, schedule the next appointment. It is a good idea to ask the office who can be contacted in case of an emergency, if the doctor is away. Even though you baby seems happy and healthy, regular well-baby visits are important as they help you keep track of your baby’s growth and development. Being prepared for your baby’s first checkup and knowing what to expect will certainly make your trip to the doctor a smooth ride!

 Posted by at 5:43 am  Tagged with: , , , ,
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