Your baby is extremely fragile when they’re born. From how their skin color changes to the strength in their muscles, you need to monitor every behavioral and physical aspect of your child. No matter how insignificant it may seem, negligence may result in your child needing immediate medical care. However, don’t allow these facts to scare you. Instead, focus your energy on learning about typical ailments that can affect your child and make sure you recognize the warning signs immediately. As a result, you’ll know what to do, and this will ensure your child stays safe and happy in your arms. So, here are some common ailments you need to know about:
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1. Birth Injuries
Your child can get injured during birth. This happens for various reasons, including hard labor, troubled breathing, or if your baby is too large to pass through the birth canal. Some of these injuries heal right away, while others take longer and may express themselves later in your child’s life. For instance, cerebral palsy starts exhibiting itself when your child turns two, but if your baby has mild swelling, it will go down in a day or two.
Numerous birth injuries can occur, which is why resources like www.childbirthinjuries.com are worth visiting. You’ll learn about different birth injuries, how to help your child overcome them, and the legal entities you can turn to for support. Other injuries include fractures, broken capillaries, and muscle weakness. Your baby may have trouble latching on, and you notice turbulence in their breathing. In all these cases, you’ll need to talk to a doctor, get your baby examined, and prevent these symptoms from settling in.
2. Persistent Coughing
When your baby drinks too fast, it can choke on the milk. This causes them to cough, which sounds like a sputter. You may need to monitor feeding sessions when you hear your baby coughing. If your milk comes in too fast or thick, it may make it hard for your child to swallow. Your doctor can help you control the milk flow, but if this situation continues, your child may be dealing with an issue in their lungs or digestive tract.
3. Abdominal Distension
It is natural for a baby’s stomach to stick out during infancy. After you feed your child, you may notice a slight swell on their belly; as long as it feels soft and they continue having regular bowel movements. But, if your baby’s stomach turns hard, swells heavily after a feeding session, and has difficulty relieving themselves, you will need to visit the doctor. At the same time, if your child throws up and cries frequently, they may be constipated, lactose intolerant, or have a severe intestinal problem.
4. Troubled Breathing
Finding a regular breathing pattern may take your baby a few hours. But, if you notice your child breathing unusually, speak to a doctor. Your child may struggle to inspire consistently because of their blocked nasal passages. This can happen if the mucus is trapped in their nostrils, obstructing their breathing. A doctor can help by using saline nasal drops or a bulb syringe to suction it out. This is a relatively easy case to resolve, but problems like fast breathing, retractions, nostril-flaring, grunting, and persistent blue coloration require deeper examination.
5. Improper Bowel Movements
Before your baby starts having consistent bowel movements, they must pass the meconium first. This is the first bowel movement following your child’s birth. While some babies pass the meconium immediately, others may take at least twenty-four hours to pass stool. This has a mucus-like consistency and may be dark green. Delay in this process is bad for your child’s health; they may be dealing with an intestinal blockage that must be resolved immediately. At the same time, certain babies also have minute blood in their bowel movements. You may notice these droplets during the first few days after your child develops regular bowel movements. Mainly, this occurs because of a tear near the anal cavity, and while it can heal on its own, you should see a doctor to prevent the condition from worsening.
6. Lethargy and Excessive Sleeping
Babies sleep about eight hours during the day and eight hours at night. However, they don’t sleep continuously and may take several naps before they get used to a routine. It is perfectly normal for a baby to sleep throughout the day as long as they are alert and active when they are awake. But, if your child continues sleeping without waking up, shows disengagement while feeding, and is lethargic, you need to be alarmed. Your baby may be dealing with an underlying health condition that needs further examination.
7. Jaundice
Babies can have a yellowish skin tone the moment they are born. This is because there is a buildup of bilirubin in their blood, which leads to a yellowish tinge. Minute levels of jaundice are harmless and go away on their own. But if your child continues to have a yellowish skin tone, they may have severe jaundice. Bilirubin is harmful if it stays in the blood for a long, as it can cause brain injury. Breastfeeding can help tone down the bilirubin levels in your child’s blood.
You must nurse your baby at least eight times daily, introducing enough milk to reduce bilirubin in their blood. Jaundice most commonly appears on your baby’s face, chest, and abdomen. The symptoms then trickle down to the arms and legs. Your baby may also have a yellowish tinge in its eyes and fingerprints. Most hospitals now routinely screen babies for jaundice within twenty-four hours following their birth. If your pediatrician thinks your child may have jaundice, they may need a blood test.
Final Thoughts
Babies are vulnerable during the first few moments of their birth. This is why, as a parent, you need to pay attention to your child’s well-being the minute they are in your arms. While it takes children time to settle into a new routine, failure to adjust and adhere to their new life requires immediate medical attention. Common health issues that impact children include birth injuries, troubled breathing, and frequent coughing.
Likewise, unusual swelling in their abdomen, difficulty in having regular bowel movements, and lethargy also concern health issues. So, the moment you notice that your baby is not responding the way it should, and is showing no progress in its development, consult a doctor.
