Baby Chat 36
Send your questions to:
babylove@integral-media.co.ke
Answers are provided jointly by our team of doctors
Team Leader
Dr. Blasio Omuga
Lecturer, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
Based at Doctors’ Plaza, Clinic No. 18, Kenyatta National Hospital
She can’t suckle!
My daughter was born healthy. However, from day one, she has refused to breast-feed. That leaves me with bottle feeding. If you have any other ideas, that would be great. I am at the point of giving up on breastfeeding. However, I will continue to pump and bottle.
Sometimes babies who have been sucking on various body parts in the womb are born a bit confused about the breast. Difficult or long births, use of forceps and/ or deep suctioning and can also negatively affect the baby’s natural nursing. Studies have shown that lots of cuddling with the baby in only a diaper and the mother unclothed above her waist makes the baby to try nursing. Bathing together which also creates a lot of skin-to-skin comfort sometimes works.
Tongue-tied
My baby is tongue-tied. Can she get to breastfeed?
In some cases, breastfeeding is possible. In others, the tongue-tie may cause breastfeeding challenges. As the baby tries to draw the tit into the mouth and suckle with the tongue, she can become frustrated and even “bite” at the breast with her gums, as she may not be able to fully compress the milk sinuses to extract the milk. The baby’s tongue usually cushions the breast from the bony lower jaw while breastfeeding. This not being possible with a tongue-tie baby breastfeeding becomes a painful affair even causing sore nipples. It is important to consider the role of the tongue in breastfeeding. This may result in insufficient breastfeeding which can affect the baby’s ideal weight growth.
Helping him sleep
How can I get my baby to sleep through the night?
Create a steady routine and stick to it. Laying the baby down at a particular time each night and waking him at a particular time each morning can encourage night sleep. A good routine can consist of a chatty warm bath, feeding, and some pampering to help the baby relax.
School and crying
My 5 year old son started his nursery school three weeks ago. He was fine the first three days then had about five days of crying when I left him in school. That stopped for almost two weeks. Today, he cried again when I dropped him. I have tried to explain to him that he will just be in school for a few hours, gave him gifts on the days he did not cry, made him promise me he will not cry the next day I take him to school, but we seem to end up in the crying bit. He says he cries because he misses me. He cries for only a minute or two, but his teacher says it is an indicator that he’s not ready for school. I am getting anxious because I think he cannot start school at six years. Kindly assist me.
His crying doesn’t mean he is not ready. Your child is having separation anxiety and that is normal. This is likely the longest he has been around people he is unfamiliar with. I have seen some 5 year olds Cry, after they have been in kindergarten for almost a year then eventually get used to it. Try giving him something to look forward to at school. Work with his teachers to see to it that he gets to do some things that he really likes, so that he can focus on going to do than rather than on your leaving him behind.
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