Choking prevention and First Aid for Babies

Choking is a major risk for infants and toddlers. Choking is a foreign object that is stuck at the back of the throat or cause muscular pains. High risk of choking is observed in little babies and toddlers who have started to crawl around. Young children below 5 years are also prone to choking. During movement from one place to another they will come across objects which they try to put into the mouth.

Choking risks for babies and toddlers:

Any object smaller than a D size battery is a choking risk for babies and toddlers. Keep away tiny objects away from the baby. Even baby toys that are detachable can be a cause of concern. Baby gets attracted to bright colors and will stuff into the mouth. The other concern is health as these objects are not clean and can cause stomach upset and watery motions.

Precautions to avoid choking:

Let us understand the various ways to prevent choking in babies and toddlers.

• Feed the baby in sitting position: The correct posture to feed a baby who has weaned is in the sitting position. If the baby runs around and plays while eating there is a high risk of choking. Keep the baby engaged by conversing or singing some songs / rhymes this will ensure he does not shift focus. He will be less tempted to move around. This way choking risk is eliminated.
• Feed small portion: Till the time the child develops a chewing habit, feed in small quantities i.e the size of a small chick pea. Do not feed large pieces like salad, carrot pieces etc. High chances of choking. The babies airways are small and any large particle will get blocked and cause choking.
• Clear baby’s area of small objects: Babies are very curious about the objects in the surrounding. They are captivated by the colors and shapes. They will put any object into the mouth. Check the area and clear small objects eg: coins,beads,fruits, nuts etc.
• Avoid detachable toys: Check toys during purchase. If you have received gifts for the baby check the toys for any sharp surfaces, loose parts. Check toys ongoing basis to ensure no safety risks / choking risks. Small loose parts can be placed into mouth. Keep a close supervision of the baby.
• Separate toys of the older children: Every child is engaged by the toys associated with their age. If there are siblings you need to watch out for the toys they play with. It is a common observation that little babies always love the items that are in the hands of the other kid i.e a toy or a pencil etc. If the sibling is a school going one keep stationary items out of the reach eg: rubber, sharpener, crayon pencils etc.

Read: How to make home safe for kids

Symptoms of choking in babies:

If your baby is suddenly unable to breathe, cry, cough or make noise i.e baby is still, not moving . This is a sign that the baby’s airways are blocked indicating choking.

You need to act fast and restore baby’s breathing. The baby will try to cough, it is a natural tendency but will be unable to do it. Your aim is to remove the obstruction and take the baby to the Doctor for further diagnosis.

How to act fast- First Aid for choking in infants

If the infant is worried and distressed, unable to cry, cough, or breathe:

• Lay them face down along your forearm, with their head low, and support the back and head
• Give up to five back blows, with the heel of your hand
• Check the infant’s mouth; remove any obvious obstructions
• Do not do a finger sweep of the mouth.

If the obstruction has not cleared, follow these steps:

• Turn the infant onto his back and give up to five chest thrusts
• Use two fingers, push inwards and upwards (towards the head) against the infants breastbone, one finger’s breadth below the nipple line

The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each chest thrust rather than necessarily doing all five

• Check the mouth.
• If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts conduct CPR( Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) . This is basically providing breathe to the baby.

When the baby breath is restored, clean the baby and keep him comfortable as they will make a lot of noise mainly because of the pain and the sudden alarm the baby had gone through. Ensure you take the baby to the doctor the same day for checkup and inputs.

Do your best to prevent choking for your baby.  Mothers with multi-tasking activities and the care takers or grand parents who are responsible for caring the baby in the absence of the mother need to be extra cautious.

You can include your inputs for Choking prevention and share your experiences in the comments.

How Memory Develops for your Baby

In the initial days babies communicate with actions, crying and all sorts of noises to grab the attention of elders. When taken out they scream seeing bright colors, moving objects and are happy going out for a walk. The baby senses that he is not in the usual environment and is out of home.

I’ve noticed this shift of memory when I used to carry my little one back home after a long day in the baby care center. He would smile and laugh aloud seeing his toys and cycle. I’ve seen the quick change in recognizing his father, grandparents only with the voice overheard in the next room. Truly this development in memory is blessed and magical.

Babies have short term and long term memories as they keep growing. Parents play a major role in the memory development of a baby. Baby can be encouraged to memorize through fun loving games and by repeating the process.

Listed below are few interesting ways to develop memory for your baby.

Familiarity and Response

When baby is few weeks old, he will start responding to familiar sounds. The music played before the news on TV will make him turn his head, this indicates that he recognizes sound and people too. If babies are not turning to objects or people and not responding it indicates they have no memory of seeing that earlier. If babies recognize tones and objects, memory has been initiated for the baby. You may have observed your baby staring at certain objects for longer time. The object is new and they are trying to collect details of color, movement etc. If the object is shown and baby does not show attention, certainly he is familiar with it. Baby responds to new stimuli .Now I remember why he craved for new toys always or the toy in the other kids hand.

Delayed Response and Simulation

Deferred imitation or delayed response and simulation is another form of babies memory. When a baby is shown how to play with a toy and the baby does the same act when the baby gets the toy after a gap, it indicates that the memory is good for the baby. As baby grows and is an year old, he replicates most of the activities. Slower response is noticed in few kids. No wonder the saying about parents being role models in the growth and development of a child.

Prenatal Response

Medical science has proved that babies in the womb respond to new sounds and indicate development of short term memory. In the familiar environment there will be no response from the kid. Babies get habituated to the combination of noise and vibration and they only respond to difference in the external situation. The neurons involved in memory of a baby forms at the start of third trimester, making researchers believe that this is the period of actual memory formation in a baby.

Valuable tips on how to develop your baby’s brain

Newborn Baby Response

New born baby can recognize few things they have heard while in the womb. This is an indication that baby has a level of short term memory. Main reason why our elders in the family insists that pregnant women must listen to devotional and pleasant songs, read and listen to stories that have value is to imbibe those qualities and learning’s in the kids. A new born baby responds to only a few voices initially –the mother or granny as their voices are heard frequently from the womb.

Growing Baby Response

When the baby is 6 to 12 months old and is becoming difficult to manage with his naughty pranks, pulling articles, walking all around. You will observe that he is familiar with the flow and remembers the things we had shifted out of his reach the last time. He will be keenly watching that particular area.

Similar examples are the child is happy when he is taken for an evening walk and cries when he is taken to a doctor’s clinic. He relates that place with injections, painful incidents and therefore even if you bribe him with words or articles, he will be fussy. These are few memories each of you can link to in your lives.

By the time baby is one year old, he starts communicating verbally. He will then stop all action and put forward his thoughts and emotions without fear.

Long term Memory Response

Baby is growing and so is the memory recall pattern. Until the baby is 3 years old he has short term memories. The brain structure that holds the memory permanently in the mind is formed only after baby is 3 years old.

Parents involvement in Memory Development

Parents play a major role in the memory development of the baby. Usually elders play games like koo-koo similar to hide n seek. The child will remove the cloth covering the face. You can even hide an object under the mat and you will observe that he is brings out the toy from beneath the mat. You can develop their memory with certain personal items like papa’s dairy or chair, grandpas eye glasses, sibling school bag. This will help him connect with people and the environment, since the ability to communicate is linked with how well he remembers things.

You will notice that he is able to assemble his toys with different shapes and colors. These are signs that your baby is growing and his memory is developing with age. You can improve your baby’s memory with sign language too. He will associate and memorize for eg: barking of dog, crow caw, sounds of pet animals, grand ma’s cough.

Go ahead and conduct your experiments. Have fun with your baby. Observe, learn and do your best to mold a bright kid.

The importance of Setting a Baby’s routine

Setting a routine in the early stages is very important and it reflects in the baby’s growth. The baby will slowly maintain the routine and this will help you manage your time, balance your home and work. The caretaker in your absence can plan taking care of the kid.

Preparing baby feeds, bathing arrangements can be scheduled and this will ensure baby has a good pattern for feed, bath and sleep too. You can also plan for office work (if you have work from home arrangement).

Babies will follow the schedule gradually and the biggest advantage is baby follows the routine and gets adjusted to the timings except on days when baby is unwell. Bonding between parents and the child will develop due to this routine.

Planning a few routines for the baby are: Feed routine, Sleep routine, Bath routine, Toilet schedules.

Feed routine: A popular saying, “Only a crying baby is fed”. Nevertheless the baby trusts that you will feed him when he is hungry. The simple way he communicates is by crying. He will show his irritation and restlessness by crying and wailing. Mother senses this reflux and starts feeding the baby. The cycle of feeds are understood with regular observation. As baby grows the food patterns vary- introduction of semi-solid foods. You need to cook in advance and make things ready for baby.

It is advisable to feed babies every three hours, but do not be fussy with the timing. Doctors also insists to feed the babies when they are hungry and genuinely have appetite. Force feeding can result in over feeding or vomiting. When you start a feed routine, a feeling of love and security is created in the baby, which lasts a lifetime.

Bath routine: Bath time is loved by most babies. Basically bath time is fun time for little ones. They have a nice oil massage and a warm water bath. They are changed into fresh and clean clothes. Babies are fed after a bath and put to sleep. Infact most babies are drowsy during feed time itself due to the refreshing feeling of warmth. Keep all the bath accessories together such that you do not have to leave the baby unattended.

Few babies do not enjoy bathing. They get restless with the massage and warm water. They would like to be left alone in the crib or watch the toys around. Such babies need to be handled with great care. Hold baby close to yourself while performing the bath routine. Bathing need not be done in the early hours of the day. Plan baby bath based on the sleep routine, usually in the afternoon when the sun is warm. Set a particular time and stick to the schedule.

Sleep routine: Sleep routine is the most important routine for the baby in a day. The sleep pattern of a newborn baby is very inconsistent, this will disturb the sleep of everyone in the family. Developing a sleep routine is very important as the baby is slowly adjusting to the new environment he is in. Sleep pattern generally observed is if the baby is born in the night, he’ll be awake during that time and will sleep in the day. If baby is born in the day time, he’ll be awake during the day and sleep during the night.

If babies do not sleep during the set schedules they become irritated. They are overtired and handling the baby becomes tough. Therefore it is recommended that babies are allowed to follow the sleep pattern. Watch for the signs of tiredness, when baby starts rubbing her eyes and becoming cranky. You will observe that the baby goes fast asleep after these signs. You can start the bedtime routine, start putting the baby into the cradle and rocking or placing baby in the crib and patting gently. Lower the lights, close the curtains and make the environment amicable.

You can also hum a few slow melodious lines, sing lullabies and put the baby to sleep. Babies that follow a routine develop the same as they grow up. The child turns to be systematic and this is a good practice imbibed.

Toilet routine can be slowly developed. This can be initiated when baby is around 9 months old. Baby is already on a solid diet and therefore morning stools can be initiated on the toilet chair by holding to the baby. After regular intervals baby can be taken to the toilet for passing urine. This will develop an instinct and the baby understands and communicates with signs the need for nature call.

What are the Soft Spots on my Newborn Baby’s head?

You may have heard elders in the family warning about being careful while carrying a newborn baby. When babies are placed into sibling arms they are cautioned not to touch the top portion of the head. This is basically because there are soft spots on the newborn baby’s head.

Usually all are curious to know about the soft spot on newborn baby’s head.

The soft spots are called Fontanelles. There are two fontanelles, with varying sizes. The one at the top of the head is called anterior fontanelle. It is larger in size and diamond or kite-shaped. The other one at the back of the head is called posterior fontanelle. It is smaller in size and triangular in shape.

You can see or feel a pulse beneath the fontanelles. There is no bone in that area. Don’t be afraid to touch these spots gently. They’re covered with a tough membrane to protect the delicate contents underneath.

After birth also the doctor or the nurse incharge of the delivery will inspect the baby’s fontanelles. This is a routine check to assess the health of the newborn baby.

At birth, baby’s head bones are relatively soft and connected by tissue. This structure of bones actually helps the baby to pass through the birth canal, the bones will gently slide over the other and smoothly come out into open air. This process is called moulding, when the baby comes out through a small space and be born.

Read this article: Umbilical cord care- Basics for a New Mom

This flexible arrangement allows the skull to compress during labor and to continue to grow during the early years of life. The rear fontanel usually closes within four months, while the front one doesn’t close until the child is at least a year old . For few babies it extends to around 15 to 18 months too.

In India when the baby is massaged with oil prior to a warm bath, oil is poured over the soft spot lavishly. In some parts of South India a soft powder called Raasnadhi podi is rubbed over the soft spot to keep away cold and coughs. This is applied for growing kids too.

The fontanelles will also provide clue to identify baby’s overall health:

• If the soft spot is sunken it is a sign of dehydration. This could be a result of watery motions, baby sickness. Do not hesitate to consult a pediatrician.
• If the soft spot is bulging, this is a sign of a serious illness known as meningitis. Consult the child doctor, do not delay.
• The pulse will also seem low if baby is dehydrated due to insufficient feed. In some instances, the soft spot on the top of your baby’s head may seem to be pulsating. There is no need to worry—this movement is quite normal and simply reflects the visible pulsing of blood that corresponds to your baby’s heartbeat.

As your baby grows your doctor will monitor the baby’s growth and if the head bones are developing naturally. Make sure the baby is placed in a crib when mom is busy as this will avoid falls and unsafe incidents.

When you go out of home cover baby’s head adequately to prevent baby from cold and hot weather.

Umbilical cord care: Basics for a New Mom

A baby’s newly cut umbilical cord can be an entry point for bacteria, which can lead to cord infection and potentially life-threatening sepsis. You can prevent any infection that can arise from an umbilical cord by taking good care in the initial days. A new mom need to be careful and prevent infection to the baby.

At birth babies are born with a high level of Anti-body like proteins called immunoglobulin (IgG), which are important for keeping babies free from bacterial and viral infections. However, these drop over the first two to three months of birth making them prone to infections. It is only at around three months your child will start to developing his own antibodies, but at a much slower rate than adults. Therefore babies are at high risk when exposed to external conditions, therefore lot of importance is given for umbilical cord care and preventing infection.

Why does your baby have an umbilical cord stump?

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord supplies nutrients and oxygen to your developing baby in the womb through the placenta, which is connected to the inner wall of the mother’s uterus. The placenta is connected to your baby by the umbilical cord through an opening in the baby’s abdomen. After your baby is born, the umbilical cord is no longer needed and therefore clamped and cut close to the body in a painless procedure, leaving a 2 to 3 cm short umbilical stump.

Your baby will not feel any discomfort during this procedure as the umbilical cord does not contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers.

How long will your baby have an umbilical cord stump?

Your baby’s umbilical cord stump will dry up and eventually fall off within 10 to 21 days. The color of the umbilical cord will change to black and will then fall off. There will be a fresh wound and it will take a few days to heal.

Umbilical cord care: Basics for a New Mom

How to take care of the Umbilical cord stump?

You need to take good care of the umbilical cord area. This area is delicate and will need a little extra attention until the cord stump naturally falls off . Follow the below steps:

• Keep the stump clean. Earlier parents were instructed to swab the stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change.  Doctors now advise to leave the stump dry without applying any antiseptic lotion, the stump might heal faster if left alone. If the stump becomes dirty or sticky, clean it with plain water — then dry it by holding a clean, absorbent cloth around the stump or fanning it with a piece of paper.
• Keep the stump dry. Expose the stump to air to help dry out the base of the umbilical cord. Avoid covering the stump with diaper or clothes. Keep the front of your baby’s diaper folded down . In warm weather, dress your baby in a diaper and short top shirt to improve air circulation. Avoid contact with urine especially for the boy babies, place diaper in the right position. Avoid usage of dry cotton wool as the fibers left in the area can cause irritation to your baby’s delicate skin and may lead to infection.
• Continue with sponge baths. Sponge baths might be most practical during the healing process. When the stump falls off, you can bathe your baby in a baby tub or sink.
• Let the stump fall off on its own. Do not pull off the umbilical cord stump even if it is hanging on by only a thread. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself.

How to identify if there is an infection?

When the umbilical cord is naturally healing, it’s natural to see a little dried blood near the stump. Contact your baby’s doctor if the child develops fever or if the umbilical cord area:

• Appears red and swollen at the base of the cord
• A foul odor coming from the cord
• Yellowish pus or discharge coming from the cord
• Continuous bleeding observed (although slight bleeding often occurs at the time of separation).

If you sense an infection or any of the above symptoms, prompt treatment should be administered to stop the infection and get your little baby back to normalcy.

How to Trim Baby’s nails

You are all enthusiastic about taking care of your new born baby. Yet you are not comfortable to trim your baby’s nails. Keeping baby’s nails short is very important mainly for baby’s safety. Babies lack muscle control, they can easily scratch and bruise their own soft skin while waving their hand and feet. As baby is growing up the other kids may get hurt by baby’s long nails especially in baby care environments.

You can make the task easier by taking the help of elders in the home or your partner. Prefer the timing when baby is fast asleep. It is ideal to be done after baby bath as the skin is soft and baby will have sound sleep. One person should hold the baby’s hand firmly while the other trims the nails.

Select a good location for having better access. Make your position comfortable to have hold over the baby as well as comfortable for the partner holding the baby’s hand. Ensure sufficient lighting while doing this activity. In case the baby is awake you need to distract the baby with songs and actions that will keep the baby engaged.

To trim nails use baby clippers with rounded tips , advised for safety. This is the safest tools. When clipping nails, hold your baby’s fingertip pad down and away from the nail. Gently snip, follow the natural curve of the finger nail, taking care that you do not go too low and cause pain.

Few doctors recommend to use emery paper for the first eight weeks as baby nails are very soft , to avoid any injury to the baby. Do not bite or peel the nails as advised by grandma. Peeling can take off excess nail and may cause bleeding. Do not bite the nails as the germs from your mouth will transfer to the baby’s skin and baby may put the fingers into mouth. Ensure there are no sharp edges after trimming the nails. Use emery paper to smoothen edges.

Baby nails tend to grow quickly from infancy to toddler hood. You need to trim baby’s finger nails at least twice a week. Finger nails grow quickly when compared to toe nails. The frequency for toe nails can be maintained at thrice a month, requiring less maintenance.

After you trim baby’s nails wipe the fingers and toe with a clean damp cloth to remove any remnants. This will keep away any germs transferred from the baby clipper.

If in case of injury while trimming the baby’s nails especially when the baby fidgets too much. Do not worry, use a sterile cotton and gently apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

Do not put a bandage or cotton gauze over the cut – babies may unknowingly put the finger into the mouth and the bandage may get displaced and cause choking. Doctors do not recommend using a liquid bandage product for babies or toddlers as they may suck it off. Few babies have thumb sucking habit. If you observe the wound doesn’t stop bleeding for the baby, it will be a good idea to see your pediatrician.

Top Tips on Child Care for Working Parents

Parenting is a very critical task that requires dedication and genuine time. You cannot depend on another person for all activities associated with the kid. By doing so there will be a huge gap in the relation. Child care is a big challenge for working parents. You need to focus on both office work and family life. There is an overlap of timings and tasks. When you take a leave the work is piling and you may get irritated if there is no one to guide you or share your concerns. Understanding your children is the most important aspect.

Plan for the next day in advance

You need to plan for the next day. Learn time management skills and schedule the tasks as per priority. You can keep colleagues and family informed of certain tasks like School meeting, or visiting a Doctor to avoid last minute stress. You can plan each day of the week for bigger chores and just do the bare minimum on working days. Prioritizing and pre-planning will help smooth running of both office and family life.

Spend time with the kids when you are at home

Never make the kids feel that they are unwanted and you are losing on bigger household chores. After you are back from work freshen up and spend 10 to 15 mins quality time with them to have a briefing of the day. By doing this they also get a platform to share and it builds stronger relationships. Never make the kids feel that office work and house hold chores are important than spending time with them. You can delegate tasks to them such that you will be able to spend time together.

Involve your growing up kids in decision making

Take their opinion during purchasing of gadgets and their clothes. This will make the kids feel important that you are valuing their opinion. Seeking opinion will make them feel responsible and also they will start thinking rather than being hasty decisions.  Include your kids in cleaning activities. Small chores that they can do by themselves requiring minimal supervision. By doing this they will also share responsibility of keeping the house clean free of trash.

Include kids during shopping activities

Take your kids for shopping , an outing for a change. They will learn table mannerisms and will also get a chance to interact with parents. These outings help improve interaction between kids and parent. You can make the child to speak freely and be able to understand their likes and dislikes, their references.

Never argue, do not use foul language

Parents have to be careful that they do not argue with each other. They should take all care to avoid filthy language in the presence of kids. It will set a bad example. They are going thru’ a stage where they absorb learnings from the surroundings. This will influence the kids negatively.

Take care of the health

A stitch in time saves nine. Take care of your health such that you can safeguard your family’s health too. You will work with a positive frame of mind. Eat good food and make sure you can balance work and family. Make your home a loving place.

Encourage children to mingle with grand parents. Make them also feel a part of the family. Share child care tasks with them also. They will feel valued and the children also will imbibe values in life in the supervision of grand parents. You can reapply the top tips on Child care and make your parenting a wonderful experience.

Can I Continue to Breastfeed my Baby when I’m Back from Work?

This is a common question in the mind of new moms who are planning to resume work after maternity leave or starting a job after a long break of pregnancy and childbirth.Can I breastfeed my baby when I’m back from work?

Benefits of breast feeding

Continuing to breastfeed after returning to work is a real labor of love, but it is well worth the effort too. It is a big challenge to the nursing mom and the caretaker of the baby when mom is out to work. The nursing mom has to be committed to make this happen. No, it isn’t easy, and requires a great deal of commitment and work on your part. Only you can provide the best possible nourishment for your baby. Baby also goes through a transition phase. There are plenty of benefits by breastfeeding.

• The physiological benefits are baby has higher immunity and lesser illnesses.
•  The financial benefits of breast feeding are less cost towards formula milk , fewer doctor visits .
• The psychological benefits are the closeness, bonding and skin- to- skin nurturing that only a mother can provide.

Managing change

If your work demands you to be away from the baby for long durations then you need to attempt weaning at least 10 days in advance. The change to formula milk has to be made and associated affects to be monitored.  Baby may have indigestion problem or have watery stools due to lactose allergy. Watch out for baby’s overall health. You can then confirm that baby has adjusted to feed, bottle and nipple etc.

How long can I feed the baby?

You can continue breast feed baby till 2 years if you have sufficient quantity and your health is maintained. Breast milk has anti-infective properties. Breast milk is made from nutrients in the mother’s bloodstream and bodily stores. Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.

Good hygiene practices to be followed

It is essential that breastfeeding mothers practice good hygiene. Nursing mothers should take a shower, change clothes and then feed the baby. The background of work, the exposure to pollution externally can affect the baby’s health.  At a minimum clean your breasts with a moisturizing soap and rinse well. This has two benefits the smell goes away and the nipples remain soft. There are natural oils secreted during lactation through the Montgomery Glands (little bumps visible on the areola), which prevent bacteria from breeding. To avoid disrupting the glands gently wash the breast. Take away little milk from both breasts and then feed the baby. This way the retained milk is removed and hind milk is fed.

Switch over the baby to the other breast to avoid differ in size and pain in the other breasts due to stagnation of milk. Your milk supply may vary daily. To maximize your milk flow, try to pump at the same time each day.

To avoid leakage of milk at work place nursing pads ( thick cotton pads inside bra). If you feel your milk letting down, cross your arms across your chest and apply pressure for about ten seconds or so. Wear darker clothes or prints to avoid leakage seen. Pump milk out in between breaks to avoid heaviness and pain in breasts.

If you have to carry the baby out and you are afraid then use the baby carrier kit.

Health caution

Stress and fatigue are major reasons to suppress milk production. Stay calm and relaxed.  And remember, you’re still a nursing mom, so eat well and drink plenty of water while at work.

Keep in mind that the hormonal changes can affect your moods. Expect to feel all manner of emotions. Weaning is a psychological experience as well as physical. Allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you are feeling.

Do not pump the breasts until they are empty when you are decreasing your feeding sessions. Doing so will trigger the body to replenish the milk. Instead, drain a little bit of milk from the breast to prevent the breast from becoming engorged. Do this as often as needed if the breasts become too full. A warm shower can assist with allowing the milk to leak out a bit.

Consult a doctor if pain persists . Discuss with your colleagues who are having kids. They will be able to guide you on how to care for the baby and manage with the change. You may get some wonderful tips. Visit information on Internet and verify in case you have a doubt.

You are going thru’ several changes at your workplace after a short leave duration. You may have a new assignment  to take care of. Do not hesitate. You can make this transition happen smoothly.

How to Treat Jaundice in New Born Baby

Jaundice is a common condition in infants, affecting over 50% of all newborns. Jaundice is common for premature babies- more often in boys than girls. It appears mostly in the first week of life.

Infant jaundice is also known as physiological jaundice , a condition in which the baby’s skin, and the sclera (white part of the eye) appears yellow.

Symptoms of jaundice in new born baby

Apart from yellowing skin and eyes, other symptoms of infant jaundice include:

• Drowsiness
• Poor sucking/feeding
• Itchy skin
• Pale stools – breastfed babies should have greenish-yellow stools, while those of bottle fed babies should be a greenish-mustard color.
• Dark urine – a newborn’s urine should be colorless

Causes for jaundice in new born baby

A baby in the womb is totally dependent on his/her mother for food and oxygen, which reach the umbilical cord that connects him/her to the mother. The distribution of oxygen through the baby’s body is aided by the additional red blood cells present in the baby’s blood. After birth, the baby begins to breathe through his/her lungs and hence, does not need the additional red blood cells. His/her body will start disposing off the extra cells, soon after birth. These red blood cells are destroyed in spleen. A major by-product, thus produced, is bilirubin. The liver removes the bilirubin from the bloodstream and passes it on to the intestines of the baby.

Since the infant’s liver is still in its developing stage, it is unable to manage the sudden increase in bilirubin, during the first few days post birth. As a result, large amounts of bilirubin mixes in the blood, thereby, making the baby’s skin appear yellowish, which is a symptom of jaundice. During pregnancy the fetus’ blood bilirubin is removed by the mother’s liver. Although it is natural to find newborns suffering from jaundice in the first few days post birth, a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood is considered a serious case. In such a situation, you should get the condition monitored by the doctor.

There are several underlying factors for jaundice in new born baby. Some reasons include:

• Liver disease.
• An abnormality of the baby’s red blood cells.
• Blocked bile duct or bowel.
• Sepsis – a blood infection.
• Rhesus incompatibility – when the mother and baby have different blood types, the mother’s antibodies attack the baby’s red blood cells.
• Enzyme deficiency.
• Bacterial or viral infections.
• Hypothyroidism – underactive thyroid gland.
• Hepatitis – an inflammation of the liver.

Treating jaundice in new born baby

• Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of bilirubin in the blood of the newborn, because mother’s milk contains some of the important nutrients required for the development of the baby’s functional organs. Initiate the breastfeeding relationship as soon as possible after birth. Breast-feed your baby every two hours post birth. Frequent feeding can help the baby pass the excess bilirubin through his poop and thus, reduce the jaundice symptoms.
• Sunbath is an effective remedy to treat jaundice in newborns. Remove the clothes of your baby and place him/her under direct sunlight or in a warm room for about 10 minutes. The best time to sunbathe the baby is early morning hours, between 7 am and 8 am. Lay your baby on a blanket, under the window, so that the sun’s rays bathe his/her entire body. Be sure to block your newborn’s to avoid direct sunlight.
• In case the levels of bilirubin in your infant’s blood are high, the doctor will administer phototherapy to treat the problem. During the treatment, your baby will be monitored under ‘special lights’ at the hospital, for 24 hours or 2 days. Usually the baby is naked, wearing only protective eye patches. The special lights will eliminate jaundice by reducing the bilirubin levels. The baby is put under a special light, covered by a plastic shield to filter out ultraviolet light, that influences the structure of bilirubin molecules so they can be excreted; sometimes it is useful to use a light-emitting mattress under the baby as well.
• Another way to treat jaundice in newborn is to substitute breastfeeding with formula. Depending upon the level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood, the doctor may suggest to feed the baby on a formula (similar to mother’s milk), for about 48 hours. After the bilirubin levels are back to normal, the physician would suggest to switch back to breastfeeding.

Parents take away the stress and worry. When you are free from worries half the problem is solved.  The mother will be active, happy with the baby’s arrival and generate more breast milk for the baby. Change diapers in time to avoid baby feeling cold.

Baby will be drowsy, wake up baby and feed the baby at regular intervals. Jaundice will make baby sleepy. Avoid water supplements. Breast milk is the best natural resource available to treat jaundice. Follow the Doctor’s advise at all times.

Tips to Help your Child Overcome Bed Wetting

Bed wetting or Enuresis is basically urination during sleep. Bed wetting in children above 7 years is a cause of concern. Children do not wet the bed on purpose. They may be lazy to go to the toilet, they are pre-occupied with watching TV or playing they miss to go to the toilet.

Children generally learn bladder control by 4 years and they will go to toilet as per the urgency to empty the bladder. If the child is unable to follow this practice and is bed wetting you need to consult the Doctor and take appropriate action. You can help your child overcome bed wetting by understanding the causes and assure the child that all is well.

The main causes of bed wetting are:

• Child has not gone to the toilet prior to sleep.
• Child has a small bladder that gets full quickly.
• Deep sleeping pattern. They do not realize the time to use the bathroom when the bladder is full.
• Children wet the bed when they are in stress. Emotional or social factors, environmental disturbances, quarrels at home , parents separation are few causes.
• Hereditary factors are also involved.
• Health conditions like urinary tract infection, frequent constipation, worm infestation, epilepsy, kidney problems, mental retardation, development disorders are contributing factors.
• The focus has shifted to the new sibling that has arrived home. Bed wetting to seek attention to oneself.
• External climatic conditions like too cold and chilly. Child is lazy to attend to nature call in the middle of night.

There are situations when the child starts withdrawing from social activities due to fear of bed wetting. They will not like to visit other homes on vacations or do not like guests stay at home. Parents have to be extremely careful while dealing with the child. It is not easy to handle this amongst all schedules in the day for working parents. But then the emotional condition of the child should be considered to help overcome bedwetting problem. Parents have to give positive support, understanding to the child only then the child will be encouraged to overcome bed wetting.

• Do not shout at the child.
• Do not punish or embarrass child for being wet at night especially if done in front of others.
• Explain the child that bed wetting is no one’s fault and there are lots of kids going thru’ this problem.
• Converse with them and let children know if anyone in the family wet the bed growing up.
• Praise children when they wake up at night to urinate and they have not passed urine in bed.
• Encourage children to go on sleepovers. Visit relatives place during vacation, occasions.
• Minimize consumption of fluids at least 2 hrs prior to bed time.
• Instruct the child to empty his bladder to the maximum before going to bed.
• If your kid is used to bed time stories etc, make sure you remind the kid to go to toilet.
• Train the kid to wake up at night and go to bathroom.

Parents can be prepared for quicker cleaning and transition. Arrange a rubber sheet under the bed sheet as used for babies such that the damage is minimized. Involve your child in the chores of making bed, folding the clothes, etc such that the child realizes the additional work and is careful to follow the guidelines.

There are medications and physical control measures eg: Moisture alarms are available. You can make a difference by handling the child and extending support and guidance. Consult the pediatrician to assess if the problem is related to health or emotional factor. Latest methodologies have developed in overcoming bed wetting problem. If bed wetting is not treated in time the problem will extend when they grow up as adults too.

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