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Kids' Health

Life Begins Make the most of those first few days. By Dr. Clyde WespPublished: May, 2003

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What could be more exciting than those first days of your new baby's life? All you need to do is hold and feed and change and cuddle and make sure that everything is perfect for your new infant. Oh, and by the way, you need to find time to eat and sleep and shower and take care of yourself. You are a new parent. And what could be more exciting? On the other side, what could be more frightening? Not much! Having a new baby is one of the best things that can happen to parents and a few tips, both medical and psychological, may help you through those first few weeks. You will need to find a new balance in life. Do not expect this to occur immediately but over time. Most people take a little time to adapt to new situations and relationships. This is no different. The confusion that you may be feeling will not last forever. Don't try to be a "super-parent." Give yourself a break, take a breath, relax and enjoy. Now, this does not mean that there are not some tips that can make this just a little easier. Most of these tips are for full-term healthy infants. If your baby is born three weeks or more premature, not all will apply; discuss this with your doctor. Newborn feeding All babies need to eat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk as the best source for your child. Most healthy women can make enough milk for an infant to grow and thrive. All babies lose weight in the first few days of life and usually regain their birth weight by 2 weeks of age. Milk in a first-time mother usually does not come in until about 4-5 days of age. If you are a healthy woman and your infant is healthy, there is usually no need to supplement with any other feed. Some mothers choose not to breastfeed. Most newborns will start off by taking 1/2 to 1 ounce every 2-3 hours and work up to 2-4 ounces every 2-4 hours. In the beginning, it is best to wake your baby (unless they do it on their own) every four hours until feeding is established. If you are having trouble at about a week of life with breast or formula feeding, consult your doctor or a lactation consultant. It is better to intervene early rather than wait until the baby's weight has decreased more than expected. Checking on baby Is my baby sick? That seems like a very simple question. However, newborns do not speak and therefore cannot tell you when they are sick or hungry or want a new diaper. It is a learning process for the child to communicate and for you to understand. That being said, there are a few things that you can look for that may indicate that your new baby is ill. A temperature of 100.4 rectally in a newborn infant is considered a fever and requires attention. If this occurs, you should call your doctor's office and get advice on what to do. Most of the time the child will need to be evaluated. And be aware of over-dressing. A rule of thumb for dressing infants is to place one more layer of clothing or covering than you would wear. If a child is having trouble breathing either at rest or with feeding, (which is about the most exertion your newborn will have), attention is required. All infants spit up to some degree, some more than others. Immediate attention is required if the spit is dark green or contains bile (something you may have had in early pregnancy). This may signify a blockage in the intestines that requires medical attention. Most newborns (about 70 percent) will become jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow pigmentation of the skin that occurs as the baby's liver is trying to break down red blood cells that are no longer needed. Sometimes there is an incompatibility between the mother's and baby's blood that can cause destruction of cells, putting a higher demand on the infant's body and increasing the jaundice. If your baby becomes more than slightly jaundice, call your physician's office. Remember, this is just the beginning of a long life with your child. Use common sense and enjoy your new baby while keeping your eyes open for the above signs. Never hesitate to call your doctor or call the hospital where your infant was born. Dr. Clyde Wesp is a pediatrician with Southern Orange County Pediatric Associates with offices in Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita and is affiliated with Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Mission Hospital and Children's Hospital of Orange County. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Memorial Care Physician Society. E-mail questions or comments for Dr. Wesp to www.askdrwesp@netscape.net.

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