Archive for May 2011
Your baby’s first bowel movements should occur while you are in the hospital during the firs or second day after baby’s birth. This first bowl movement is usually a thick, dark-green, or black substance called merconium. Merconium usually fills the intestines before birth and must be eliminated before normal digestion can occur. Your baby will have normal, yellow-green, stools as soon as all of the merconium is expelled from the intestines. We asked a midwife FAQ to give us the down low on your baby and the first stages of bowel movements.
If your baby is breastfed, he will usually have light mustard colored stools with seed-like particles. This is very normal and will continue until he starts to eat solid foods. Breastfed babies usually have soft runny stools. If your baby is formula-fed, his stools will probably be yellow or tan in color and will be not as soft as a breastfed baby’s stool.
Hard stools are a sign of constipation and usually indicate that your baby is not getting enough fluid, or that he is loosing too much fluid because of illness, heat or fever. Hard stools can also occur when your baby starts eating solid foods. If this happens, your baby may be eating to many constipating foods before he is able to digest them completely. Cereal and cow’s milk are foods that commonly cause constipation in infants. Whole cow’s milk is not recommended for babies younger than twelve months.
Your baby’s stools can vary depending in color and consistency depending on the types of food that were consumed that day. If your baby ate a lot of cereal, his digestion may become slower and may become green. If you give your baby iron supplements, his stools will look dark brown. Light tinges of blood may appear on the outside of your baby’s stools if his anus become irritated. This can occur when your baby is constipated. If larger amounts of blood, mucus or water are present in your baby’s stools, you should contact your pediatrician or midwife immediately. Your baby may have an intestinal abnormality that should be addressed right away.
You probably have sweet smelling infant shampoos and body washes that you are anxious to use on your new born infant. You will have many opportunities to use these cleansers as your baby grows but during the first year, you will only need to give your baby two to three baths per week. During the first one to two weeks, while your baby’s umbilical cord is still attached you will only be able to give your baby sponge baths.
Your baby’s sponge bath should be done in a warm room. It is best to lay your baby on a flat comfortable surface, such as a changing table, bed, or counter next to the sink. Hard surfaces can be padded with a towel. If you bathe your baby on a surface above the floor be sure to keep at least one hand on your baby at all times to ensure that she does not fall.
You will need a basin of water, wash cloth, and mild baby soap. It is best to keep your baby wrapped in a towel. Only expose the parts you are actively washing. The face should be washed with a damp cloth that does not have any soap on it so that you do not get soap in your baby’s eyes or mouth. After your baby’s face is washed, the cloth should be dipped in a basin of soapy water and the rest of your baby’s body can be washed. The creases under the arms, behind the neck, ears and genital areas should be washed well. The diaper area should be the last area that is cleaned.
When the umbilical area is finally healed, you can give your baby a regular bath. Babies are amazingly slippery and it is often helpful to use a small baby bath tub, sink or tub lined with a clean towel to keep your baby from slipping and sliding around in the tub. You only need to fill the basin with two inches of warm water. Be sure that the water is not too hot by testing the temperature on the inside of your wrist or elbows.
A baby’s umbilical cord will usually fall off within one to two weeks after birth if the area is kept dry. Here are several umbilical concerns that could cause you to call your pediatrician.
Umbilical Cord: The stump of your baby’s umbilical cord should be kept clean and dry. After a few weeks the umbilical should fall off. Health-care providers suggest that a cotton swab soaked in alcohol should be used to clean away any wet, sticky material that may be at the base of the umbilical stump next to the skin, at each diaper change. This will help to dry out the cord. The diaper should also be folded below the umbilical cord to keep urine from making it wet. If you notice a few drops of blood on the diaper, do not worry. This is normal when the stump falls off. You should contact your pediatrician if you notice any pus at the base of the cord, red skin around the base of the cord or if your baby cries when you touch the cord or the skin around the cord.
Umbilical Granuloma: An umbilical granuloma occurs when the umbilical cord falls off the area continue to be moist and possibly swollen. A drying medication called silver nitrate can be used to dry out the area. If the granuloma does not disappear, it may need to be surgically removed. This is a simple procedure that does not require the use of anestheic or hospitalization.
Umbilical Hernia: An umbilical hernia occurs when your baby’s umbilical cord pushes outward when he cries. This is caused by a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall. The tissue in the area bulges when pressure is placed on the abdomen. This condition will usually heal itself within the first twelve to eighteen months. If the whole does not repair itself it may need to be surgically closed.
