15 Common Infant And Newborn Baby Problems You Should Be Aware Of

I m a g e : S h u t t e r s t o c k

T h e first f e w days a n d months o f motherhood a r e fraught w i t h anxiety. B a b i e s are s o tiny a n d helpless t h a t it i s normal t o worry a b o u t their w e l l being. A n d you d o have a cause f o r worry. N e w b o r n baby p r o b l e m s cannot b e ignored a s babies a r e so d e l i c a t e .

I n f a n t s and b a b i e s have i m m u n e systems t h a t are s t i l l developing. S o , even m i n o r illnesses c a n lead t o serious c o m p l i c a t i o n s . That i s why i t is i m p o r t a n t to u n d e r s t a n d all t h a t can g o wrong w i t h your l i t t l e one i n her e a r l y days.

W h e n it c o m e s to h e a l t h problems, t h e newborn s t a g e is t h e most c r i t i c a l . Here a r e a f e w health c o n d i t i o n s that a r e fairly c o m m o n in n e w b o r n s :

1 . Abdominal D i s t e n s i o n :

M o s t newborns h a v e protruding b e l l i e s . But i f your b a b y ’ s belly f e e l s hard a n d swollen i n between f e e d s , do s o m e sleuthing. N i n e times o u t of 1 0 , it w i l l be j u s t gas o r constipation, b u t sometimes a swollen b e l l y can i n d i c a t e a s e r i o u s underlying c o n d i t i o n (1).

2 . Birth I n j u r i e s :

A difficult l a b o r can l e a v e your n e w b o r n with s o m e birth i n j u r i e s . Most n e w b o r n recover p r e t t y quickly f r o m these i n j u r i e s , so d o n ’ t stress a b o u t it. S o m e of t h e common b i r t h injuries, y o u r infant m a y suffer f r o m include a broken c o l l a r b o n e , muscle w e a k n e s s , forceps m a r k s , etc. ( 2 ) .

3 . Bluish S k i n :

B a b y skin p r o b l e m s include b l u i s h skin.It i s pretty n o r m a l for b a b i e s to h a v e blue hands a n d feet, b u t this m a y not b e a c a u s e of c o n c e r n . In s o m e cases, n e w b o r n s can a l s o develop bluen e s s around t h e i r mouth a n d tongue w h i l e crying. B u t the bluen e s s goes a w a y with t i m e . But i f your b a b y does n o t get h e r pink s k i n back, y o u need t o consult y o u r doctor i m m e d i a t e l y .

4 . Coughing:

I t is n o r m a l for a baby t o cough w h e n she i s feeding a s sometimes t h e milk c a n come i n too f a s t . But i f your b a b y has a cough t h a t refuses t o go a w a y or i f she o f t e n gags d u r i n g feeding s e e a d o c t o r . It m a y indicate a problem w i t h the l u n g s or t h e digestive s y s t e m . If y o u r little o n e is c o u g h i n g incessantly, e s p e c i a l l y at n i g h t , you’ll a l s o need t o rule o u t whooping c o u g h (3).

5 . Jaundice:

J a u n d i c e is a common p r o b l e m among n e w b o r n s . Many i n f a n t s have h i g h bilirubin l e v e l s at b i r t h as t h e i r livers a r e still i m m a t u r e . Most c a s e s of j a u n d i c e in n e w b o r n resolve w i t h time. B u t it c a n also c a u s e serious p r o b l e m s . So, l e t your d o c t o r prescribe a treatment t o cure j a u n d i c e . An e a r l i e r theory t h a t neonatal j a u n d i c e causes b r a i n damage p r o v e d to b e a f a l s e alarm ( 4 ) .

6 . Respiratory D i s t r e s s :

I t takes a newborn a few h o u r s to b r e a t h normally. B u t once h e r body l e a r n s to b r e a t h , she s h o u l d have n o more d i f f i c u l t i e s . Breathing p r o b l e m s in b a b i e s happen d u e to m a n y issues.If y o u notice y o u r baby i s having d i f f i c u l t y in b r e a t h i n g , check h e r nasal p a s s a g e . In m o s t cases, d i f f i c u l t y in b r e a t h i n g occurs d u e to a blockage i n the n a s a l passages. Y o u can t r e a t this p r o b l e m with t h e use o f saline d r o p s .

B u t if y o u notice a n y of t h e following s y m p t o m s , go s e e your p e d i a t r i c i a n immediately:

R a p i d breathing
F l a r i n g of h e r nose
G r u n t i n g while b r e a t h i n g
B l u e skin c o l o r that r e f u s e s to f a d e

I f you h a d a p r e t e r m labor, y o u r baby i s at a higher r i s k of d e v e l o p i n g respiratory d i s t r e s s (5).

7 . Vomiting:

V o m i t i n g is a common h e a l t h problem a m o n g infants. I t is n o r m a l for i n f a n t s to s p i t up m i l k after f e e d s . But f r e q u e n t vomiting i s not n o r m a l . To p r e v e n t frequent v o m i t i n g and s p i t ups, m a k e sure y o u r baby i s not l a c t o s e intolerant o r allergic t o breast m i l k . You a l s o need t o burp y o u r baby f r e q u e n t l y to p r e v e n t her f r o m throwing u p her e n t i r e meal. I f your c h i l d is v o m i t i n g and n o t gaining a d e q u a t e weight, s h e might n e e d medical i n t e r v e n t i o n . Also, w a t c h out f o r the c o l o r . If y o u r baby’s v o m i t looks g r e e n , talk t o your d o c t o r about p o s s i b l e infections a n d treatment o p t i o n s (6).Digestive i s s u e s could a l s o lead t o vomiting.

8 . Fever:

A fever i s not t h e problem. A fever i s just a n indicator t h a t your b a b y ’ s body i s fighting o f f an i n f e c t i o n . Mild f e v e r s don’t e v e n need m e d i c a l intervention. B u t if y o u r little o n e is r u n n i n g a h i g h fever, l e t your d o c t o r have a look a t her. H i g h fever ( 1 0 2 F) c a n be a cause o f serious w o r r y and l e a d to s e i z u r e s (7).

9 . Colic:

I s your l i t t l e one c r y i n g without b r e a k , and y o u can’t f i g u r e out w h y ? You c a n blame i t on c o l i c ! Colicky b a b i e s are o t h e r w i s e healthy a n d show n o other s i g n s of d i s c o m f o r t . Do c h e c k if y o u r baby i s allergic t o the f o r m u l a you a r e using a s that t o o can c a u s e colic i n babies ( 8 ) . Thankfully, m o s t cases o f colic r e s o l v e by t h e time y o u r baby r e a c h e s three m o n t h s of a g e .

1 0 . Skin P r o b l e m s :

I n f a n t s and b a b i e s have s e n s i t i v e skins. S o it i s common f o r them t o experience s k i n problems. S o m e of t h e common s k i n problems y o u r baby m a y encounter i n c l u d e :

a . Diaper R a s h :

• O n e of t h e more c o m m o n skin p r o b l e m s in b a b i e s is d i a p e r rash ( 9 ) . To p r e v e n t this c o m m o n yet p a i n f u l condition, k e e p the f o l l o w i n g points i n mind:

B e regular w h e n it c o m e s to c h a n g i n g your b a b y ’ s diaper.
U s e a d i a p e r rash c r e a m in c a s e your b a b y does d e v e l o p a r a s h .
I f you a r e using a cloth d i a p e r , use f r a g r a n c e and d y e free d e t e r g e n t s .

b . Cradle C a p :

• Cradle c a p too i s a c o m m o n skin p r o b l e m among b a b i e s (10). I f your b a b y is s u f f e r i n g from c r a d l e cap, t r y :

T o wash h e r hair e v e r y day.
U s e a m i l d shampoo.

1 1 . Cold A n d Flu:

S o m e infections a r e common a m o n g infants a n d babies. V i r a l infections l i k e cold a n d flu a r e normally h a r m l e s s and g o away w i t h o u t playing m u c h havoc w i t h your b a b y ’ s health. B u t for i n f a n t s , a s i m p l e cold c a n turn i n t o pneumonia, a very s e r i o u s medical c o n d i t i o n (11). S o , it i s important t o see y o u r doctor, e v e n if y o u r baby h a s a h a r m l e s s cold.

1 2 . Ear I n f e c t i o n s :

E a r infections a r e also e x t r e m e l y common a m o n g little o n e s . If y o u r infant o r baby i s tugging a t her e a r and i s fussier t h a n usual, s h e may h a v e an e a r infection ( 1 2 ) . Viral i n f e c t i o n s go a w a y once t h e y run t h e i r course, b u t bacterial i n f e c t i o n s may n e e d a d o s e of a n t i b i o t i c s .

1 3 . Oral T h r u s h :

O r a l thrush i s another i n f e c t i o n that m a y attack y o u r tiny t o t . When y e a s t takes o v e r your b a b y ’ s mouth, s h e ’ l l be d i a g n o s e d with o r a l thrush. T a l k to y o u r pediatrician a n d see i f your l i t t l e one n e e d s a p r e s c r i p t i o n of a n t i f u n g a l medication ( 1 3 ) .

1 4 . Diarrhea:

D i a r r h e a is a l s o common a m o n g infants a n d babies. A s long a s you k e e p your b a b y hydrated ( 1 4 ) , you n e e d not w o r r y about d i a r r h e a .

1 5 . Constipation:

I s your b a b y straining w h i l e passing s t o o l ? She m a y be s u f f e r i n g from c o n s t i p a t i o n ! Common a m o n g babies ( 1 5 ) , constipation i s not a big h e a l t h issue u n l e s s it i s causing y o u r little o n e acute d i s c o m f o r t .

T h e list o f health i s s u e s that c a n affect a n infant c a n be e n d l e s s . T h e r e could b e kidney p r o b l e m s in b a b i e s and e y e problems i n infants.But t h i s list c o n t a i n s all t h e common p r o b l e m s you m a y encounter. D o n ’ t worry. Y o u r little o n e will o u t g r o w this v u l n e r a b l e phase b e f o r e you e v e n realize i t .

T a k e a d e e p breath a n d enjoy t h e miracle t h a t is y o u r baby. T i m e flies a w a y way t o o quickly. D o n ’ t waste i t worrying!

H o w do y o u deal w i t h common h e a l t h issues w i t h your b a b y ? Share y o u r tips w i t h us.

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