Becoming a parent is one of the most wonderful experiences in the world. But it is also a big responsibility. As you take your newborn from hospital to home, you feel very concerned about their health, among other things.
While you are trying to figure out how to take care of the baby, take time out for yourself and also manage other duties. Your newborn is also adapting to the surrounding environment. As newborns are very fragile, and their immune systems are just starting to develop, it becomes quite a challenge to look after their health.
It is important to have a proper guide on how you can ensure their health. Here are five things to know.
Proper Check-Ups and Consulting the Doctor
An infant’s weak immune system cannot fight off illnesses very well in the beginning days. Even a minor symptom can lead to developing serious illnesses. It is best to get your newborn properly checked and get all necessary tests done after 72 hours of being born.
Talk to the doctor in advance about the potential health issues and how to tackle them. Be quick to contact the doctor when something seems wrong. Don’t ignore even a minor issue. Sometimes a child might suffer from a birth injury due to medical negligence or other complications. In case your child has a birth injury, it is critical to consult a doctor to properly guide you before you take your child home. Be in contact with the doctor to handle any emergency. If your child has suffered a birth injury, you can file a lawsuit with the Birth Injury Justice Center to get financial compensation.
Necessary Sanitary Measures
Maintaining a high level of sanitary when it comes to a newborn is significant. Not only should you keep the baby clean, but also the environment around them. Everyone in that environment must also follow proper hygiene.
Always wash your hands with soap before picking up the baby. Ask all the visitors, like friends and family, to wash their hands too before they touch the baby. Although newborns cannot get all the vaccinations, make sure they get the necessary ones. And most of all, ensure that you, or any caregiver, children, and other people in the house are all properly vaccinated. If a person who is not vaccinated comes to visit, they must not lift the baby. Be strict with all the sanitation measures.
Umbilical Cord Care
It is essential to take care of the umbilical cord in newborns. Doctors suggest swabbing the area with rubbing alcohol so that the cord stump will become dry and fall off. It gets dry within ten days to three weeks. Some doctors propose leaving the area alone. Ask your child’s doctor what they recommend.
Don’t submerge your infant’s navel area in the water while the cord stump is still there. You can do that after the cord has dried and fallen off and wait for the navel area to heal. Also, keep in mind the cord stump keeps changing color till it does not fall. It goes from yellow to black or brown, which is normal. But keep an eye on the cord and the navel area. If the navel area is red or there is a discharge or a foul smell, contact your doctor immediately.
Checking their Temperature
It’s common for babies to catch a fever as they have weak immune systems. Infants rely on the antibodies passed by their mothers to them for up to six months of age. After six months old, their bodies start producing antibodies to fight off infections and illnesses. But till then, they can get sick often.
Always keep a thermometer with you to check your baby’s temperature. You can also feel with your hand’s touch if your baby is unusually warm or too hot. If you detect a fever, immediately contact the doctor. As you never know, fever can be harmless, but it could also be an underlying symptom of any other disease.
Traveling with Care
Going home from the hospital after your child’s birth is the first outdoor activity you will do with your child. Make sure to know all the basics of traveling with an infant to prevent any health-related issues. First, install a baby car seat; and do it properly. It must be secure so that your baby is not only relaxed but protected.
Second, if you want to fly with a newborn, doctors recommend waiting for the baby to be at least two weeks old. Airports and airplanes are full of contaminated viruses as they are always overcrowded, and it is easy for your baby to catch a disease from someone sick. Third, if you are traveling without the baby, follow all hygiene and sanitation rules so that you don’t catch any illnesses, as you will come back to the baby.
As soon as your bundle of joy comes into this world, you start worrying about their health. While infants are very prone to diseases, there are some basic measures you can take to look out for the health of your newborn.
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