The experience of becoming pregnant for the first time is like a roller coaster ride filled with amazing excitement and challenges in the process. When a new baby comes home, everyone in the house is very excited and their life changes completely. But every mom has different questions and anxiety in her mind and all these things are normal. So Tips for New Moms with Newborns are written below:
Table of Contents:
- Screening of newborn child.
- New moms taking care of basic infants health
- Immunization: An important safety step
- Infant oral health care tips for new moms
Screening of Newborn Child
Newborn screening is a process that is done in the hospital. Some basic tests are done a few hours or days after the birth of the child. These tests are done to find out the health condition of the child and to check whether the child has any serious health conditions that can cause health issues to the child in the future. Some screening tests are written below.
Hearing Test
The hearing screening test is a way to tell whether a child’s hearing ability is good or not. If a child is detected with a hearing problem, we can provide early treatment and take early intervention and help with their speech and language development. This test is simple and non-invasive and is usually done in the hospital under the supervision of doctors and audiologists.
Blood Tests
For a blood test, a small blood sample is taken from the child (usually a heel prick test) and analyzed to check for certain genetic, metabolic, and hormonal disorders. Some common conditions include phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism, and sickle cell anemia, which if diagnosed at an early age are easy to treat and manage.
Heart Screening (Pulse Oximetry Test)
Pulse oximetry is a simple test that checks the oxygen levels in the baby’s blood. With the help of this test, we can also identify some congenital heart defects that we do not detect at the time of birth of the child. If the oxygen level in the blood sample of the child is low, it indicates that the baby has lung issues and further testing is needed.
Jaundice Screening
Jaundice is a common disease in newborn babies and it mostly resolves on its own. But in some conditions or cases, it can be quite severe, due to which brain damage can occur. That is why regular checkup of ice on the skin of children is done sometime after their birth.
New Moms Taking Care of Basics Infant Health
Bringing a newborn home is a beautiful journey but it can also be challenging for moms especially when it comes to taking care of the baby and their nutrition. New moms should understand basic things related to babies which are very important for the health and development of their babies. We will discuss some basic tips that will be helpful for you in the early days of motherhood.
1. Feeding Essentials
The most important thing that matters for the health of your newborn is feeding. After the birth of the child, in the initial few months, breastfeeding is their main source of nutrition which is important. Generally, feeding can be done in two ways – breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Breastfeeding Tips:
Breastfeeding is highly supported for children because mother’s milk provides the best nutrition and immunity for the child in the beginning. Doctors suggest to mothers that if possible, children should be breastfed on the basis of mother’s milk till the age of 6 months. But, this is not possible for everyone, but you do not need to take any stress because of this. If you have to face challenges, this is normal. Taking advice from lactation consultants or doctors can be helpful.
Formula Feeding:
Sometimes there are some reasons why mothers are not able to breastfeed and this is absolutely normal, there is no need to take stress. Formula feeding is also a safe option, and essential nutrition can be provided to children through formula feeding. It is only important to prepare the formula in the right way and feed the baby timely. With the help of which children will get important nutrients.
Burping:
It is very important for babies to burp after feeding. It protects babies from any kind of gas and discomfort. To make them burp, gently place the baby on your shoulder and pat the bag repeatedly to make them burp.
2. Child Health Care
Child care is a structured plan which includes regular checkups of children. These checkups are important to record the health development and overall growth of the child and to identify any problems.
Vaccinations: It is very important to take vaccination timely for a newborn baby. In India, there is a vaccination schedule for children in private and government hospitals which should be followed for the proper development of children. Two vaccinations are given to children. This protects them from diseases, infections, and other such ailments.
Growth Monitoring: Whenever the child goes to the doctor for a regular checkup, the doctor monitors his weight, height, and head circumference. This helps in checking the healthy growth pattern of the baby and if there is any kind of delay in any development, the doctor can take action for that.
Sleep and Routine Check: Little babies need good sleep, so during regular check-ups, doctors check the sleep pattern of the babies and also give advice on it. Healthy routine and sleep have a great impact on the development of the baby.
These basic health tips can help you get a strong start as a new mom. Feeding and regular health check-ups help to strengthen the foundation of the baby and give you peace of mind. Every baby is unique and taking guidance from doctors when needed is always the best choice.
Immunization – An Important Safety Step
When you become a new parent, many responsibilities come with it. The most important of these responsibilities is to follow your newborn baby’s immunization schedule. Immunization means getting vaccinated. This is an important process because it protects your child from many diseases like polio, tetanus, measles, and pneumonia.
Why is immunization important?
The immune system of small children is not fully developed at such a young age, due to which they are more vulnerable to infections and diseases. With the help of immunization, the child gets a protective shield due to which he remains protected from infections and other diseases. This vaccine develops antibodies in their body which protect them from upcoming diseases for months.
Take care of the immunization schedule.
As soon as your baby is born, your doctor provides you with an immunization schedule. In this, some initial vaccines are given in the hospital itself like BCG, Hepatitis B, and OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine). After that, it is necessary to get some vaccines at different times in different months and years. It is important to strictly follow the scheduled course because each vaccine is given at its specific time to ensure maximum protection.
Common Immunizations for Newborns
Some of the main immunizations given to newborns include:
–BCG Vaccine – Provides immunity against Tuberculosis.
–Hepatitis B Vaccine – Protects against liver infection.
–OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) – Builds immunity against Polio.
–DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) – This is a combined vaccine for 3 different diseases.
–HiB Vaccine – Protects against infections like meningitis and pneumonia.
You people should not worry about the side effects of vaccination because these side effects like fever, redness, and pain at the injection site are all common and the pain subsides in a short time. If your baby still feels restless or has a high fever, you can consult a doctor but this is normal.
Keeping the immunization record updated
Every time your baby gets vaccinated, make sure to maintain a record of it. This record will also be useful in the future when the baby’s health check-ups have to be done. It is also important to maintain records so that no dose of vaccine is missed and the baby’s immunity is protected.
Infant Oral Health Care Tips for New Moms
For new moms, the oral health care of a newborn baby is an important and unique responsibility. The care of teeth and gums of children begins in their early years, and if you take care of them from now on, they will develop strong and healthy teeth in the future. Here are some easy and practical tips that you can adopt for the oral health of your little one.
1. Cleaning gums of newborns
You may think that there is no need to do anything until the teeth appear, but this is wrong. Cleaning the gums of the newborn is also important. Wipe their gums gently with a soft, clean damp cloth every morning and night. This reduces bacteria in their mouth and strengthens their oral health.
2. Cleaning after bottle feeding
Many times we just keep the bottles aside after feeding the baby and do not pay attention to their cleaning, but it is good to wipe the baby’s mouth once after bottle feeding or give it light water, so that the milk residue does not remain on his gums. This prevents bacteria build-up and gum infections. If you are feeding at night, make sure to inculcate this habit.
3. Watch out for pacifier and thumb sucking
Babies often suck pacifiers or thumbs. But this habit can cause problems in their alignment once their teeth start to appear. Try to limit the use of pacifiers and gradually discourage thumb sucking.
4. Start toothbrushing as soon as the first tooth appears
When the baby gets his first tooth, start brushing his teeth using a soft-bristled baby toothbrush and water. It is not necessary to use toothpaste at this stage; brushing with plain water is enough. Just brush gently to protect their delicate teeth and gums.
5. Schedule regular dental visits
As soon as your baby turns 6 months old or gets his first tooth, plan a routine check-up with a dentist. This is important so that any problems can be caught early and you can get specific guidance.
6. Pay attention to a healthy diet
Your baby’s diet directly impacts his oral health. Limit sugary foods and juices, and try to give him calcium-rich foods like milk and dairy products. These help strengthen his teeth and gums.
In small, by adopting these habits you can create a good foundation for your newborn’s oral health. With regular care and preventive steps you can give them a healthy smile that stays with them for a lifetime.