baby face

As a new parent you face many problems and issues that you need to understand and deal with immediately. Newborns do not come with an instruction book so here is some information on some things that you need to know about. 

Bathing your baby: Your baby’s umbilical cord will fall off in about one to two weeks after they are born. Until it falls out, you should only give your baby sponge baths. You could dampen a cotton ball or cotton swab with alcohol to help dry the umbilical stump or simply follow your pediatrician’s directions. You can give him a bath in a sink or shallow tub after the stump falls off. 

Caesarian delivery:  A caesarian is usually performed to make delivery safer for you or your baby.  C-sections can be done for many different reasons including stalled labor, complicated labor, problems with the baby that may make delivery difficult, or other problems. 
It does not matter if you deliver vaginally or by a caesarian section, you are still a mother with a beautiful new blessing.   

Circumcision:  A lot of doctors feel that there are many benefits to having your baby circumcised, but it may not be absolutely necessary.  It may help to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and eliminates just about any chance of penile cancer.  Circumcision will not cause any long-term emotional problems for your child. 

Crib death (SIDS):  Many studies have been done regarding SIDS.  Although the cause of SIDS has not been definitely defined, there are some correlations that have been made between SIDS and the following things: 
Female babies are less likely to die from SIDS than Male Babies
The risk is greater with premature birth
Minority children are more likely to be affected by SIDS than non-minority children are.
More children of young, single mothers die of SIDS
Smoking in the home greatly increases the risk of SIDS

Some people think that sleeping with your baby is okay and continue to let their babies sleep with them. The American Academy of Pediatrics disagrees with this and says that there is a greater risk of SIDS in babies who sleep with another person. Babies should sleep alone in a cradle or crib either next to or near an adult. You should never put pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or anything that might put your baby at risk in their bed. 

Most pediatricians recommend that babies sleep on their back to decrease the risk of SIDS. The reason for this is widely debated between health experts. If you have concerns please talk to your pediatrician. There are no dumb questions when it comes to the health and safety of your child, so please don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

baby arrives early

Baby scales are used to measure breast milk and the weight of babiesWhen baby arrives early or has medical problems, health care providers turn to the Medela Baby Weigh Scale for measuring breast milk intake. The baby is weighed before and after breastfeeding, and with a touch of a button, the Baby Weight Scale calculates the baby's intake. For small babies, the Baby Weight Scale can measure the difference of one-half teaspoon of breast milk.

Lack of weight gain in an infant should always be taken seriously. Be sure to check that your baby is being weighed properly. Weighing should always be done on the same scale because of the slight differences between scales.  It is best to use a baby scale to weigh an infant.. You also should weigh your baby once a week, because of the daily weight variation due to feedings, urination, bowel movements, etc. If the weight remains accurate and you know that your baby is either gaining no weight or losing weight, baby should be seen and evaluated by a doctor immediately.

baby feeding

If baby's weight increases but does not seem adequate, consider if your baby's feeding is appropriate. Are you offering food five or six times a day? Are you feeding breast milk or infant formula to the baby? If you're using breast milk, does your baby seem full after a feeding is complete? If you're using formula, are you mixing it properly? At 6 months old, infants need supplementary calories from solid foods. Are you offering solid foods several times a day? Is your baby keeping all the food down? If everything appears normal, you still might want to get your baby examined, just to be sure that baby's weight is okay. All doctors will use special baby scales to monitor the baby’s weight.

If a baby has a "congenital heart defect", it means the heart or blood vessels near the heart didn't develop normally before birth. Often the term "congenital heart disease" is used to mean the same thing.

Healthy babies usually double their birth weight between four and five months of age. A baby with a congenital heart defect may grow more slowly during infancy and childhood, although the growth often varies according to the type and severity of the condition. An eight-ounce to one-pound gain in a month may be an acceptable weight gain for a baby with a heart defect. You will need to weigh your baby, and  the pediatrician can do so for this or any other condition. The baby is usually weighed every month, and the measurements will show how well your baby is growing.