Welcoming a new baby brings an overwhelming amount of love, joy and, oh yeah, stress, worry and questions. Even the most prepared parents don’t have all of the answers all of the time. Here are some common new parent questions and their answers.
- Baby acne- Dina (RN from Lee’s Summit Physician Group) says baby acne is very normal in the first few weeks after birth, and no treatment is needed. Keep baby cool and use no soap or lotions. Sometimes this acne begins in the hospital and other times not until after arriving home. Oftentimes it can look worse before it gets better.
- Hiccups/sneezing/coughing- Dr. Casey Tramp, Olathe, says that coughing, hiccupping and sneezing for the first two to three weeks after birth is normal and no cause for concern. These are the lungs’ ways of opening up and not signs of illness. No treatment is necessary.
- Vaginal bleeding/breast formation in baby girls- Dr. Tramp says that because mother and baby share hormones in utero, vaginal bleeding and breast formation in baby girls is very common for the first couple of months. No treatment is necessary, and after approximately three months, it will resolve on its own.
- Umbilical cord- It can take up to 14 days for the umbilical cord stump to fall off. Before the cord falls off, do not submerge Baby in a bathtub. Instead, give a sponge bath. Try to keep the cord dry and fold your baby’s diaper down to keep urine from soaking it (WebMD). There should be no pain associated with the cord, and if you see red streaks, drainage or if Baby cries out when you touch the cord, make sure to call the doctor. Some physicians will recommend cleansing the umbilical cord with alcohol once or twice a day to assist with drying the cord out. Once the stump falls off, no further special care is needed.
- Loose bowel movements- Infant stools come in different color, consistency and frequency. Before consuming solid foods, the baby is going to have soft/loose stools. This is not diarrhea. The most important thing is to keep in mind what is normal for your baby and realize when something is different.
- Blocked tear ducts- Dina (RN from Lee’s Summit Physician Group) explains that blocked tear ducts are also a common concern that their patients have. Most of the time this is nothing for concern. Eyes will become crusted in the corner and drainage will be noted. Wash the area off often with a warm, wet washcloth. You may also massage the inner portion of the eye where it meets up with the bridge of the nose.
- Pulsing in the fontanelles- Babies are born with two soft spots, which not only allow the head to be squeezed during a vaginal birth but also allow room for the brain to grow during the first months to year of life. If you notice pulsing in these soft spots/fontanelles, that is normal. This mimics the heartbeat and is the blood being pumped through the arteries/veins.
- Fever- With infants, any temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit is reason to call your doctor, according to Dr. Tramp and Dina, RN, as this could be a sign of infection. It is important to monitor Baby’s activity of daily living, including whether he is harder to wake up, not feeding well or acting differently than usual. Any of these are reasons to consult your doctor.
Jessica Heine, RN, lives with her husband and two young children in Olathe.