Baby Chat 30
Send your questions to:
babylove@integral-advisory.co.ke
Answers are provided jointly by our team of doctors
Our Team Of Experts
Dr. Blasio Omuga
Lecturer, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi
Consultant Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Based at Doctors’ Plaza, Clinic No. 18, Kenyatta National Hospital
Dr. David Kiragu
Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
Based at KAM Health Services
IPS Building, 1st Floor, Kimathi Street, Nairobi
Dr. Njoki Fernandes
Resident Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
Based at Kenyatta National Hospital
I have noticed that my two month-old baby scratches his face with his fast growing nails. I fear nipping his fingers while cutting the nails. Any suggestions on how I can go about this to avoid accidents?
A good time to cut your baby’s sharp nails is when he is asleep to avoid many movements. The most preferable time is right after a bath, when his nails are soft from wetness. Ensure you have adequate light to see as you use a baby’s scissors or a clipper to shorten the baby’s nails.
Press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid nicking the skin, and keep a firm hold on your baby’s hand as you clip. Cut the fingernails along the curve of the finger and cut the toenails straight across. At times, some people bite their baby’s nails into shape, but this has a risk of introducing germs from your mouth into any little cut your baby may have on his finger. So use the reliable tools.
I have been breastfeeding my one month old baby daily. However, I am concerned about whether I am feeding him right. Sometimes he sleeps through his set meal times. Is it right to wake him up to eat? Would I be interfering with his sleep? How should I schedule his feeding?
Babies set their own schedule, which you should work with. He will demand to be fed when he is hungry, mostly by crying. It is important to note that they don’t have stores of energy like older children. Therefore, they should not be made to wait when they are hungry. Have him well fed before he sleeps so that you don’t have to wake him up to eat. Waking him up does interfere with his quality sleep.
My sister and I gave birth the same month. She is a stay-at-home mother and lives close to where I work. Since I am back at work, I leave my two month old baby at her house. I recently learnt that she breastfeeds her when she is fussy. Is it okay for her to do that?
Before formula was introduced, an infant whose mother was not able to breastfeed, stayed alive by being breastfed by another woman. This term is referred to as wet nursing. Nowadays, mothers are apprehensive about wet nursing due to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the fact that it can be passed from a mother who has the virus to a newborn. As long as your sister does not have a communicable disease, it is all right for her to breastfeed you child. Alternatively, you could pump your breast milk and store it in a feeding bottle for your baby to take when you are away- if you are not sure about having your baby being breastfed by another person.
I am 23 years old, a first time mother and eight months pregnant. I have always been petite and even with my pregnancy, my weight has not increased. My breast size has only grown a size or two more. Is it true that people with smaller breasts produce less milk?
No. In breast feeding, bigger is not better. The size of a woman’s tissue is mostly determined by how much fatty tissue they contain, which has nothing to do with the quantity or quality of her breast milk. Milk production is stimulated by hormones at birth and the mammary glands in the breasts to produce milk when the baby suckles.
I am a middle-aged mother of three. My last born, who is two months old, has a cleft lip. I have difficulty breast-feeding her, as her mouth does not hold firmly to my breast. What is the best thing to do?
Most babies born with a cleft lip can breastfeed even before surgery. However, depending on the severity of the cleft lip, the baby could have difficulty breast-feeding. Experiment with different breast-feeding positions so that your breast is supported in the baby’s mouth creating a seal. If the difficulty in feeding remains, consult your caregiver.
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