Jan/Feb/Mar 2007
Cover Articles:
Health & Development
Growth & Nutrition
Safety
Just for You
In Every Issue:
A Moment of Consciousness
|
 Caring for a Newborn
Giving birth is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a woman's life. A baby is certainly a gift from Almighty God. It's amazing as well as a blessing to finally hold this miracle of life in your arms, that had been squirming inside of you for all these months. You've made it through the excitement of labor and delivery and now you're ready to head home so you can begin life with your new baby. As a new parent, you may experience a flood of emotions racing through your body. In the first few days with your baby, you may feel a mixture of delight, pain, or utter exhaustion due to the challenges in caring for a newborn. As your baby adjusts to their new world, you are constantly moving around the clock, because a newborn is completely dependent on you to meet his every need. You may feel a bit overwhelmed at the beginning, with such routine tasks as feeding, diapering, or dressing your baby, especially if this is your first child. You may have some apprehension about your capabilities as a parent. Rest assured that in due time, things will begin to fall into place as your natural parental instincts kicks in and you become in tuned to your baby's cues. Here are a few basic tips in caring for your newborn.
Ask for Help
- You may want to hire a nanny or have a close family member or friend help with chores around the house, while you care for the baby.
- Consider getting in touch with a feeding specialist or lactation consultants if you are having trouble with nursing or bottle feeding.
- Limit visitors the first few weeks, until you are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to have guests come over. Your friends or relatives are excited about seeing the baby, and mean well, but don't overwhelm yourself the first few weeks. It's important for you to relax, sleep, and gather your strength.
- If your feeling any discomfort, or pain in the next few weeks or months to follow, due to having a C section, or vaginal birth contact your primary care physician right away.
Responding to Your Baby's Cry:
- Respond promptly to your infant whenever he or she cries. You cannot spoil a young baby by giving him attention.
- Hold your baby in your arms, and sway from side to side in a rocking chair or gently walk around the room with your baby.
- Swaddling your baby may help him feel safe and secure. (Contact the nurse at the hospital or birthing center, on how to safely swaddle your baby.)
- Sing, talk, or playing music may help with crying.
- It's normal for a baby to cry when he or she is hungry, sleepy, needs a diaper change, or may have possible gas. However, if your baby's cries sound peculiar or last for an unusual length of time, seek medical attention right away.
Helping your Baby Sleep:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting baby to sleep on their backs, in order to avoid SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
- Newborns sleep about 16 hours or more, but in periods of 3-4 hours. Don't be alarmed if your 3 month old is not sleeping through the night. Their digestive system is small that they need nourishment every few hours and should be awakened if they haven't fed for 5 hours
- Avoid putting any quilts or soft blankets in the crib. Your baby's airway can become blocked if his face becomes burrowed in such surfaces.
- Newborns don't know the difference between night and day. You can begin to teach them at an early age that nighttime is for sleeping, and daytime is for playing, by keeping nigh time feedings as subdued as possible.
- Try not to turn on the lights or prolong night time diaper changes or feedings.
- Put baby right back to sleep after you've fed and changed him.
Bathing your Baby:
- Your baby is ready for a tub bath as soon as the umbilical cord stump and circumcision, if any are healed.
- It is not necessary to bathe your baby everyday in the first few weeks. A sponge bath will help keep baby clean and fresh.
- Before you begin bathing your baby, make sure the room is warm.
- Always pour cold water in your baby's bath water first, then the hot water. Check the temperature by dipping your elbow in the water (do not use your hand, because it can with stand much higher temperature) or by using a bath thermometer. The water should always feel warm.
- Remember to prepare all bath essentials needed for bathing your baby before you begin (shampoo, lotion, diaper, undershirt, pajama, towel etc...)
- Never leave your baby alone in the tub to pick up the phone or answer the door for even a second. An infant can drown in as little as one inch of water.
- You can use your bathtub, kitchen sink or a plastic baby tub. Use something to line the tub to keep your baby from slipping. If you use a foam liner for a tub, it needs to be dried out after each use. This prevents the growth of germs. Or you can line the tub with a bath towel. Be sure to wash and dry it after each use.
- Use a clean, damp washcloth, without soap, to wash her face. Gently wash the outside and back of each ear and wash and dry under his neck.
- Don't use bubble bath or detergents in the bathwater since these may cause rashes.
- Use damp cotton balls or cotton pads to gently wipe your baby's eyes before you put him in the tub. Be sure to support your baby's head when he is in the tub.
 Your newborn baby's skin
Your newborn baby may have some skin conditions that seem unusual to you. Most are fairly common and do not need to be treated.
- Baby acne is a red, pimply rash on the face. Generally, it disappears over time.
- Cutis marmorata is a condition where the skin looks like pinkish-blue marble when exposed to cold temperatures. It is not serious and will improve as your baby gets older.
- Erythema toxicum is a common, splotchy red rash that can affect newborns. Some have firm yellow or white bumps surrounded by a flare of red. The rash tends to come and go on different parts of the body. It is most common on the second day of life, but can appear at birth or within the first two weeks. The individual splotches may stay for only a few hours, or for several days. There is no treatment - it will gradually disappear.
- Milia are tiny whiteheads on your baby's face. They will disappear on their own.
- Mongolian spots are flat birthmarks that can be deep brown, slate gray, or blue-black in color. They sometimes look like bruises and are often found on the lower back and buttocks. Mongolian spots are present at birth and most of them fade (at least somewhat) by age 2 and usually completely by age 5. They are very common in babies of African, Asian, Hispanic and bi-racial descent.
- Vernix is a greasy white substance that coats and protects baby's skin in the mother's uterus. Some babies are born with lots of vernix still on their skin. It is harmless and can be washed or wiped off. Losing vernix may cause the skin to peel during the first week of life. This is normal and will go away on its own.
Cradle cap
- Cradle cap appears as crusty patches on baby's scalp. There may be some redness around the scales.
- You may also notice redness on other parts of the body, including the creases of the neck, armpits, behind the ears, on the face and in the diaper area. This is called seborrheic dermatitis and will usually disappear on its own.
- Cradle cap will go away on its own and does not need to be treated. If you want, you can wash the hair with a mild baby shampoo and gently brush out the scales to help control this condition. However, shampooing your baby's hair too often will also cause dry scalp.
- Baby oil or mineral oil may help soften the scales. When applying the oil, rub only small amounts into the scales. Then shampoo and brush out the oil about an hour later to avoid more build-up.
Eczema
Is a skin rash that shows up as dry, thickened, scaly skin, or tiny red bumps that can blister, ooze, or become infected if scratched.
Eczema usually appears on a baby's forehead, cheeks or scalp, though it can spread to the arms, legs, chest or other parts of the body . O ften - though not always - it occurs in babies who have allergies or a family history of allergy or eczema.
Although there is no cure for eczema, it can usually be controlled and often will go away after several months or years.
- Avoid frequent baths.
- Keep baby's skin from becoming dry and itchy by adding non-allergenic oil to the bathwater.
- Use a gentle, unscented moisturizer on your baby's skin to reduce dryness, especially after a bath when baby's skin is still moist.
- Dress your baby in loose cotton fabrics.
- If the rash persists and your baby is not comfortable, your doctor may prescribe medication.
Diapering your Baby:
- Gather all the supplies you will need before you change your baby, such as diaper, wipes, ointment, changing pad.
- Make sure all your supplies are within reach .A baby should never be left alone on a changing table for even a second.
- Change baby's diaper frequently to avoid getting diaper rash.
- Change wet or soiled diapers to reduce skin exposure to moisture.
- If your baby has a diaper rash, use zinc oxide which acts as a barrier against moisture.
- Use a washcloth dipped in clean, lukewarm water. Wash all the area on your baby that the diaper covers. Wipe from front to back to avoid infection.
- Every time you change a diaper, clean your baby's umbilical cord. Use a cotton swab that you have dipped in rubbing alcohol. If you notice hat the stump becomes infected (pus or red skin at the base of the cord, or crying when you touch the cord or skin next to it), alert your baby's doctor.
- Always wash your hands well after changing your baby's diaper to prevent the spread of germs.
Getting your Baby Immunized
One of the most important things you can do for your baby is to ensure that you have your child immunized against serious diseases. Not only are you protecting your child, but also your next baby and other people's children who may have not been immunized. Your baby should be immunized against serious diseases according to chart given to you by your child's pediatrician. It is important that your baby has all the immunizations at the right time; otherwise she will not be properly protected.
Age Immunization
| 0 and 1 month |
Hepatitus B |
6 months |
Diphtheria
Whooping Cough
Tetanus
Hib |
| 2 months |
Diphtheria
Whooping Cough
Tetanus
HiB
Polio
|
12-18 months |
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
HiB
DPT |
| 4 months |
Diphtheria
Whooping Cough
Tetanus
HiB
Polio |
4 years old |
Diphtheria
Whooping cough
Tetanus
Polio |
Feeding your baby
It's important to think about whether to breastfeed or bottle feed, before your baby is born. Breast milk provides the best nutrition for your baby and helps build stronger immunity to illnesses. If you decide or your doctor recommends that you do not breastfeed for any reason, bottle feeding your baby is a good alternative. You should feed your baby on demand. A newborn usually needs a feeding every 2-3 hours in the first month, and less frequently as he or she grows older. Each feeding should last no more than 10 to 20 minutes.
Important disclaimer : The information on clapclapbaby.com is for educational purposes only and should not be considered to be medical advice . It is not meant to replace the advice of the physician who cares for your child. All medical advice and information should be considered to be incomplete without a physical exam, which is not possible without a visit to your doctor.
|
advertisement
advertisement
 |
