Common Ailments Some Newborns Have
First, ask your friends and family for advice. Those who are all ready mothers have been where you are. They remember the anxiety and they remember all the little ailments they had to face with their newborn baby. Having a baby is definitely an on the job training in itself. But by listening to others, by reading the books, by asking the questions that frighten you, you will have a limited base of knowledge. This can help keep you calm and will help you know what to do if any of the common ailments falls upon your baby.
The following is a list of some of the common ailments newborns sometimes have. First, as you read, stay calm. Common doesn’t mean that all babies do suffer from them. It means it could happen. If it does, relax and know babies lives through these ailments everyday.
Jaundice:
This is a yellow tint to the skin usually appearing on the face, chest, abdomen and legs. Test the skin by gently pressing on baby’s nose, forehead or thigh to see if the skin beneath your finger appears yellow.
What does Jaundice means? It is an indicator that baby’s blood has too much bilirubin, a chemical that breaks down old red blood cells.
Treatment:
Jaundice usually corrects itself in a few days. Although, be warned sometimes the appearance seems to worsen before it gets better. If it doesn’t go away in a few days, see your pediatrician. A blood test will probably be taken. If the amount of bilirubin is too high, the doctor may want to place baby under a special type of fluorescent type light for a day or two.
Thrush:
Thrush is a common yeast infection.
Signs:
White patches in baby’s mouth.
Treatment:
An oral anti-fungal medication prescribed by doctor.
Heart Murmur:
A heart murmur is just a noise between heart beats.
Signs:
There are no signs for this that you will see. Your doctor will hear the noise when he/she is listening to the baby’s heart beats.
Treatment:
Usually the murmurs are considered normal or innocent and no treatment is needed. Your pediatrician will know if further testing is needed.
Cradle Cap:
Cradle cap is a buildup of oils and scaling on the baby’s scalp.
Signs:
This is easy to see. It appears as a redness, greasy scales and heavy flaking on the baby’s scalp.
Treatment:
Washing your baby’s scalp in baby shampoo, more frequently and then brushing baby’s scalp with a soft brush to help remove the scales. If this doesn’t help, your pediatrician can prescribe a stronger medicated shampoo.
Baby acne:
Baby acne can occur during the 4th and 5th week of baby’s life. Doctors believe it is caused by pregnancy hormones that stimulate the oil glands.
Signs:
Just like teen and adult acne, pimples on the face.
Treatment:
Wash baby’s face in a mild soap once a day and never use harsh detergents when washing crib sheets.
Umbilical Granuloma:
This sounds and looks worse that what it is. The stump of the baby’s umbilical cord should dry off and fall off, naturally within a few weeks. Sometimes this doesn’t happen and a growth called Granuloma forms at the cords base.
Signs:
Area around the umbilical cord becomes moist and may swell. Oozing and bleeding may occur, too.
Treatment:
The pediatrician will usually treat with silver nitrate. This will help dry it out. If this doesn’t work sometimes the pediatrician will have to perform a minor procedure.
Umbilical Hernia:
Umbilical Hernias are caused by a small hole in the abdominal wall that allows tissue to bulge out when there’s pressure inside the abdomen (example when baby cries)
Signs:
The umbilical cord seems to be pushed outward when baby cries.
Treatment:
Usually the hernia will heal itself in 12 to 18 months. Sometimes, if the baby seems to be in a lot of pain, the pediatrician may want to do minor surgery to remove it. The pediatrician will especially want to do the surgery if it hasn’t healed by school age.
Blocked tear ducts:
This is a harmless condition. This happens when one or both of the baby’s tear ducts is partially or fully blocked. Usually baby’s tear ducts will open at age 2 weeks.
Signs:
Water tearing and sticky mucus in corner of eye.
Treatment:
Usually this involves no medical treatment. Your pediatrician will probably instruct you to gently massage the corner areas of the eyes and this stimulation can help them to open.
Being a mother is a scary experience. But it can also be rewarding beyond your belief. Just take it a day at a time. Try to be prepared the best you can. Find a support group of friends and family members who have raised children or are currently raising them. Then go with your own instincts. Try not too worry to much and remember to make time to enjoy
