Your New Born’s Questions
My baby is five days old. He was weighed today and has lost weight. Is this normal?
This is very normal, and you should not be too worried. In the womb; the baby was fed passively, and did not have to make an effort to feed. Now, as the baby struggles to adjust to a different life, the feeding is obviously reduced. Newborn babies lose up to 10 per cent of their birth weight in the first few days, but should have regained their birth weight by 10 to 14 days after birth with adequate feeding.
My baby is two days old she vomited bits of clotted blood after feeding. Is this normal?
That was probably mucus mixed with blood from the delivery, which your baby had swallowed but could not digest. The best alternative was for your baby to try and bring it up. Keep feeding your baby, and if the problem recurs, visit a doctor.
When I changed my baby’s nappy, it was stained pink. Is this blood?
Yes and no. Some female babies have a small ‘period’ a few days after birth. As the levels of maternal hormones drop, the baby’s uterus responds by shedding some blood. This is entirely harmless. Pink stains can simply be stains of uric acid crystals, which a newborn baby passes initially and this is quite normal. Blood in urine is very uncommon and should always be reported to a doctor.
Why are my baby’s bowel motions greenish?
Your baby sounds perfectly normal. The first few bowel movements are made up of meconium. This is a sticky dark substance that lined the baby’s gut in the uterus and is now excreted. This takes two to three days. Then the stool changes colour to yellow and becomes more solid.
How often should my baby pass pee and pooh?
This varies from child to child, and is usually an indicator of adequate nutrition. Because the baby’s bladder is small, and the child is feeding frequently, you should change 10 to 12 wet cloth nappies in 24 hours. The child will initially pass stool after every food, but this reduces as the child grows. By three months, the stools will be once or twice a day. However, there is no hard and fast rule, and each child should be observed differently.
I am afraid of overdressing my baby. It has been very cold of late though. How do I know if my baby is warm enough?
Your baby has a poor heat regulating mechanism. So you have to be vigilant. Having said that, most mothers tend to overdress their children. This can lead to heat rash and even dehydration due to sweating. Do not rely on the feel of your child’s hands or feet. They will be cooler than the rest of the body. If you want to be sure, feel the chest, abdomen or back of the neck. If the skin is cool, add a light layer of clothing. Avoid heaters for long time periods, as the baby can easily overheat.
How can I set a routine for my baby?
It is important to be consistent as this will help your baby recognise a pattern of behaviour. For example, a warm bath and feeding before bedtime is a good routine to start with.
I fear touching my baby’s cord. Do I have to clean it?
Yes, you need to clean it every day with surgical spirit, until it dries up and falls off, and until the umbilical area is completely healed. If the cord gets infected, the child can get very sick. Avoid applying anything on the cord, and keep it as dry as possible. If the area gets red, weepy or swollen, you need to inform your doctor immediately.
My baby’s bottom looks red and has some rash. What should I do?
Nappy rash is caused by irritation of the baby’s skin by the ammonia in urine. Contact with stool makes the irritation worse and can lead to infection by a fungus. The skin has a rash and can become weepy. Also, it is itchy and quite uncomfortable. Sometimes, this reaction can be caused by overuse of perfumed products like lotions or wipes. The treatment is usually simple. Clean the child’s bottom after every nappy change with a cloth dipped in warm water. This will clean off all the ammonia. Change soiled nappies as soon as possible. Avoid wipes, for they leave residues of their chemicals on the skin, and thus should be avoided.
If your baby’s skin is weepy and red, it can progress to form blisters and wounds. It is likely at this stage that infection has set in. Visit your doctor who will prescribe an antifungal cream. This you should use and keep because the problem tends to recur. Use a barrier cream like petroleum jelly or zinc and castor oil to prevent irritation. These products should not be used when the baby has a rash however. They only make it worse. Make sure your baby’s cloth nappies are rinsed thoroughly and sun dried if possible after every wash.
END:BL27/06-07