Becoming A New Mum

Becoming a mum is an exciting but scary experience for first time mums, you will want answers to lot’s of questions from your midwife and health visitor and lots of support during the first few weeks. One of the first decisions you will have to make will be naming your new baby.

When your reality check sets in and the delivery of baby will be a distant memory. you will have lot’s of new stuff to learn about  You will also be getting used to  feeding and changing baby whether that is breastfeeding or formula. Getting used to the differing cries from your baby, from an uncomfortable cry because a nappy/diaper needs changing, to a cry where you know baby is unwell and not their usual selves. Your confidence will increase in time as you and baby get to know the ins and outs of each other.

Newborn baby’s will sleep through out the majority of their first few weeks and will eventually establish a sleeping routine with your help. The best way to get baby into a routine is to make sure baby knows when it is bedtime such as lights down low at night, not to much stimulation, and a relaxing bath before being put down in their cot.

The most important part of parenting is that a your baby or child feels lots of love, and secure and confident, but we all know that there’s times when we need a help to deal with the some of the more challenging times. There will be a whole heap of different issues that you will face over the years to come, (yes I said years). Becoming a parent is a life long commitment to your child and along the way you as parents will have lots of questions to ask on all kinds of parenting issues and concerns. Safety is often top of the agenda so make sure you are clued up with child safety within the home and outdoors, and car seat safety guidelines.

No matter how worried or concerned you are about anything to do with your child, always ask for advice from a doctor, midwife or, health visitor, they are there to help in any way possible. Never be afraid to ask for help from family and friends either, if you feel down or are having difficulties coping with your new baby see a Gp and get the help offered to you if you think you may have postnatal depression or baby blues.

Meningitis & septicaemia

These infections can kill within hours.

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Septicaemia is blood poisoning.

The two forms of the disease have dissimilar symptoms. People who recover from meningitis and septicaemia can be left with a variety of after effects that can change their lives.

Meningitis is usually bacterial or viral and occasionally is due to a fungal infection.

Viral meningitis can be extremely unpleasant, but it is almost never a life threatening illness, and most people quickly make a full recovery.
Bacterial meningitis is more dangerous and can be caused by a range of different bacteria.

Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis, septicaemia or both. Most people who get the disease have some symptoms of both infections; together these two forms of the disease are known as meningococcal disease.
Septicaemia is the more life threatening of the two illnesses and is more dangerous when there are no meningitis symptoms.

Other major forms of bacterial meningitis are:

• Pneumococcal
• Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib)

Bacterial forms that mostly affect newborn babies are:

• Group B Strepococcal
• E.Coli
• Listeria

There are immunisations available against some types of meningitis and septicaemia.

However; many other deadly forms of the diseases are not preventable with a vaccine.

People who have meningitis and septicaemia symptoms have to act fast to save a life. The sooner you receive medical help the better.

Meningitis and septicaemia can be hard to recognise, the symptoms can appear in any order, but usually the first symptoms are fever, vomiting, headache, and a general feeling of illness

The symptoms of septicaemia often appear earlier than meningitis symptoms such as; neck stiffness and dislike of bright lighting.

Septicaemia Symptoms:

• Fever and vomiting
• Muscle and joint pain
• Coldness of hands and feet
• Shivering
• Mottled pale skin
• Fast breathing or breathlessness
• Rash
• Difficult to wake/Sleepy
• Delirious

Meningitis Symptoms:

• Vomiting/Fever
• Headache/migraine
• Stiff neck (Less common in young children)
• Dislike of bright lights (Less common in young children)
• Difficult to wake/ sleepy
• Confused
• Seizures/fits
• Rash (not present in all cases)

Not everyone gets all these symptoms and Septicaemia can occur with or without meningitis.

Never take a chance when it comes to your baby’s health, if in doubt get baby checked out.

Special Needs

Finding out your child has special needs, disability or illness can be a heartbreaking time for both parents and families concerned. First thing to do is to gather all the information possible about your child’s special needs, and find out about the problem and what it is likely to mean for your child and for you.

Ask as many questions as you need to, ask your GP, specialist, and health visitor, take any support given. Whatever stage in your child’s life you receive a diagnosis of special needs or disability, you’ll have difficulty coping with the diagnosis. You will have lots of hard decisions to make and it will take time to come to terms with your child’s illness.

There are lots of help at child development centres, which will help you and your child not just to cope, but it, will give you support also. There is specialist help for you and your child too, such as; physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, home learning schemes and special needs play groups which are adapted for all your child’s needs and you can then also get to meet other parents with children who have special needs.

If you are finding the news particularly difficult to deal with then seek help. There is always somebody who can help and guide you through the good and bad times. Always remember you are not alone and lots of parents have to deal with these problems also.

Disabled children and young people with special needs have the same needs as any other child.

If you and your partner have a child or (are having a child) who is seriously ill or disabled there are a whole range of additional pressures on your relationship. You and your partner may feel isolated, struggling to take on board the news of your child having an illness.

Things you should do:

• Make time together as a family
• Make time for each other as a couple
• Talk through any concerns you may have
• Stay strong
• Ask medical staff any questions you have

Single parents

• Accept all the help you can from family members and specialists
• Make time for yourself
• Ask medical staff any questions you have

Even though a child has special need disabilities does not mean they are any less intelligent than any other children, they may just take a little longer to learn certain subjects. Some special need children can go on to live great lives and be very successful in life,

Life may seem tough in the beginning with a special needs child, but with time and a stable routine, you and your child can get through the ups and the downs with strength and determination. Love and hope.

Cot Death

Cot death is also known as SIDS, which is short for sudden infant death syndrome. Cot death is a diagnosis when a normally healthy baby dies without warning. When a post mortem is conducted on a baby and all other facts have been taken into consideration and nothing is found wrong with the child, this is when a post mortem results in cot death.

A cot death may be shortened as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), or simply cot death.

Sadly, there are around 340 cot deaths in the UK  each year.

Cot death why does it happen?

No one knows why babies die like this. Doctors believe that there may be a mixture of reasons involved. Some suggested that certain babies have complications with the part of the brain that controls breathing and waking, so they don’t respond to a breathing problem like their blankets being over their faces and covering nose and mouth.

When does cot death happen?

Cot death happens often during sleep but this is not always the case. This could be whilst asleep in the cot at night or it could be during a nap in the daytime, in a pushchair or even in a person’s arms.

Babies most at risk

Cot death is uncommon in babies less than a month old. It is most common during the second month and nearly 90 per cent of cot deaths occur in babies under six months old. The risk reduces as the baby grows older and very few cot deaths occur once a child reaches one and over.

Cot death can happen to any family, Babies said to be more at risk are these:

• being a boy – cot death is slightly more common in boys: almost 60 per cent of cot deaths are in boys

• being born prematurely (before 37 weeks)

• being born with a low birth weight (less than 2.5kg/5lb 8oz)

Reduce your baby’s risk of cot death

Sadly there’s nothing anybody can do to prevent cot death. However, you can do a number of things to lower your baby’s risk. The Department of Health recommends the following steps:

Always ensure you put baby to sleep on his/her back and in your room, this will prevent a healthy baby from choking Putting your baby on their side is not as safe as placing them on their back.

At around five or six months, babies start to roll over and the risk of cot death reduces and it’s safe to let your baby find their own sleeping position But you should still put your baby down to sleep on their back to begin with. If throughout the night you see your baby has rolled onto their stomach or side, then gently roll them back. But you do not have to sit up all night and watch them to make sure don’t rollover.

Don’t smoke during pregnancy or allow anyone to smoke around you or your baby,

if you smoke cigarettes during or after pregnancy, your baby’s risk of cot death will be increased. One study predicted that up to 40 per cent of cot deaths could be prevented if pregnant mothers did not smoke.

Don’t smoke during pregnancy and don’t allow smoking around your baby. The risk to your baby is increased if anyone in the house smokes, even if it is in another room, with a window open or with a fan or ioniser. Ask visitors to smoke outside, and always keep the air around your baby smoke-free.

Overheating your baby is linked to an increased risk of cot death. Keep the room your baby sleeps in at a comfortable temperature (between 16 and 20 degrees C/61 and 68 degrees F, ideally 18 degrees C/64 degrees F).Don’t put babies cot next to a radiator or heater and don’t use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

Lay your baby with their feet at the foot of the cot so they can’t wriggle down under the bedding. Keep their head uncovered by tucking their bedding in no higher than her shoulders.

A Moses basket, carrycot or travel cot is a good way to keep her nearby while you get on with what you want to do.

Signs that your baby may be overheated include sweating, damp hair, a heat rash rapid shallow breathing, and a fever. If your baby does feel hot adjust the blankets. Don’t feel the hands or feet to see if baby is warm enough; it is normal for them to feel cold anyway.

Remove any extra layers of clothing as soon as you come indoors after being outside,

Never sleep with your baby in your bed or on a sofa or armchair, make sure after a cuddle or a feed put baby back in their cot.

For babies bedding you should use a sheet and cellular blankets rather than a duvet, or a well-fitted lightweight baby sleeping bag. Sleeping bags should not be big enough for your baby to slip down inside.

If your baby’s too hot, remove a blanket; if he’s cold, add one (remember, one blanket folded in half is two layers). Do not use duvets, quilts, bedding rolls or pillows.

Breastfeeding your baby reduces the risk of cot death in babies.

Always take baby for regular check up’s and immunisations which will keep baby well and help prevent any unwanted illnesses.
Some mums find breastfeeding easier if their baby shares their bed but the safest thing to do is to put the baby back in his cot to sleep.

Do not share a bed with your baby if anybody

• is a smoker (even if you never smoke near your baby)

• has been drinking alcohol

• is taking any medication or drugs what so ever

• is very tired

Always remember to put your baby and their health first before any other priorities. Your babies are the most precious beings and need to be handled with care to a degree, especially whilst at a very young and vulnerable age and protected against cot death.

Eye Infection

Eye infection is caused from bacteria; the eye drains a yellow mucus discharge. This condition is also called bacterial conjunctivitis or runny eyes. Your child may have symptoms such as:

Yellow discharge along the eyelids

Eyelids stuck together with pus, after sleeping

Redness and soreness of the eyes

Puffy eyelids

Try not to confuse the mucus discharge in the eye for general sleep in the eye, which we get in the mornings after we have slept.

Cause of eye infection

Eye infections with a discharge are caused by bacteria and can be a symptom of a cold. Pink eyes without a yellow discharge are common and are due to a virus.

With prescription treatment from a doctor should help and clear the problem within 3 days.

Eye infections may be spread through contact with the eye drainage, which contains the virus or

bacteria that caused the infection. Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can be spread. Here are some ways to prevent the spread of eye infections:

• Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes or face and before.
• Do not share eye makeup.
• Throw away your old makeup and buy new products.
• Do not share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.
• Do not wear contact lenses until the infection is cured.
• Do not share eye medicine.
• Do not share towels, linens, pillows, or handkerchiefs. Use clean linens, towels, and cloths daily.
• Wear eye protection when in the wind, heat, or cold to prevent eye irritation.

Treatment for eye infection

When a child has bacterial eye infection ensure you clean the eye with luke warm and a cotton wool ball before applying prescribed ointment.

Antibiotics are generally prescribed for eye infections, in the form of a cream, lotion or drops, depending on the age of a child they may prescribe eye drops for older children.

Things to remember before treating eye infection

Ensure always to wash hands before cleaning the eye and applying the antibiotics, in case the infection spreads due to bad bacteria on the hands and in nails. And wash hands afterwards so you do not rub anywhere and become infected yourself.

Always use a separate facecloth and towel than any person with an infection, and watch where your child is touching so they don’t create a worse infection and remember to wash their hands too.
Once the sore area has been cleaned and treated, if the eye looks worse or the redness does not improve in the 3 days treatment consult a doctor immediately.

Head Lice

Head lice are common in children who are at school age, and they are some times called nits, their about 2-3 mm in length and have pincer like legs which they will use to grip the hair tightly.

And they are also very hard to see, especially in children with darker hair. As the most common of all human parasites, head lice can affect anyone of any age, and it does not matter about how clean you and your hair are.

head lice can only walk from one head to another on pieces of hair. This is why they are so well known amongst school children. The close proximity of children in a classroom will make head lice infestations a lot more likely and annoyingly recurring problem for some parents and children.

Signs  of head lice

Itching and scratching of the scalp is the most obvious sign that your child has head lice/nits, but not everyone has symptoms so it is worth checking the hair regularly, especially if you know of anybody close who has a head lice infestation.

The best way to catch an infestation early is to check your child’s hair on a weekly basis. The hair should be checked with a head lice detection

comb while the hair is wet or damp, allowing a plenty of time to spare to do a thorough look through especially with thick hair. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water and then wet the hair with it, If you lean the child over a light coloured cloth and comb their hair in small sections from root to tip you’ll soon see any lice and eggs drop off.

If you find your child has an infestation, all members of the household should be checked for lice too.

To avoid head lice repeating check and treat all the family at the same time.

Treating head lice

There are plenty of lotions and shampoo’s and nit combs available at your pharmacy. I find all these products highly priced, especially if you and your children have repeated episodes of head lice infestation.

I use just normally hair conditioner, but lots and lots of it and leave on for 5 minutes and then get a fine toothed nit comb or general fine toothed comb and check the hair a section at a time. Always double check the hair after the first check. Don’t just give up if you can not see or find anymore, because eggs could be hiding also as well as more head lice.

The sooner you treat and get rid of a head lice infestation the easier it will be, because the longer you have head lice, the more they create and lay new eggs and then they hatch and then they create further eggs and they hatch, and so on and so fourth.

Vomiting

Vomiting – All infants will at some point vomit when they are ill. Breastfed and bottle fed children can both be very sickly as babies. Unwell children will vomit. It is unpleasant for any child who is vomiting, but it is rarely dangerous to them, but you should always get your child checked out by a GP, because it is better to be safe than sorry.

Causes of vomiting

Different things can make children vomit:

If your child vomits a small amount and is otherwise well, it could be the child has eaten too much.

Vomiting may occur in cases of an upset tummy, or a viral infection in the stomach which will cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

If a child gets an infection of the urinary system, the throat, or chest, and runs a high temperature, this often causes vomiting. Children who are under a lot pressure at school or at home may occasionally vomit. If vomiting occurs often you should consult your doctor.

Treating vomiting 

After a child has vomited, get them to rinse their mouth with water to get rid of the nasty sour taste in the mouth. Smaller children will need more assistance with this.        

• A child often feels sweaty, exhausted, and cold after they have vomited. Wipe their face with a damp cool cloth. And let them sleep always keep a check on them in case they are sick again.
• Make sure the child does not become dehydrated by giving them plenty of fluids to drink. Diluted juice or water is best.
• Water is easier for the stomach to handle if it’s not ice cold. If the child wants to drink too much, too fast, give them a clean facecloth soaked in cold water to suck, or an ice-cube or an ice-lolly.
• Breastfeeding can be continued, but if vomiting continues, call the doctor

Preventing dehydration 

• If vomiting occurs together with diarrhoea, it will result in dehydration, This may not be serious if it only lasts for a couple of days, but if it occurs repeatedly your doctor or health visitor should be consulted.
• They may advise you to buy carbohydrate and electrolyte solution or powder at the chemist. They are also available on prescription from your GP.
• If your child continues to vomit or have diarrhoea, call the doctor.

Symptoms of dehydration 

With children who are still in nappies/diapers and have been vomiting, you will need to remember how many damp changed nappies you have used, and with older children it will be how many times they go to the toilet for a wee.

If the child is crying badly, with no teardrops may be another sign of dehydration. Check the inside of the mouth and tongue is moist and producing saliva. If the child won’t drink, they will need too, so call the doctor.

If your ever in doubt about any problem to do with your child’s health. Don’t hesitate to call for help from a Gp or ambulance if serious.

Vaccinations

All vaccinations work by stimulating the immune system in a way the actual infection would, but without causing the full disease.

Why should we give our children vaccinations – All of the infections that there is an immunisation for can develop into serious illnesses, with potential to cause disability or death.

If the majority of children are immunised, the spread of any infection in the community is significantly reduced and unvaccinated children are at less risk of catching the illness due to the large majority of children being vaccinated .

Some people disagree and think that there is no longer any need to immunise our children. Polio is now almost never seen in the UK . However, these diseases haven’t yet disappeared. And if more people choose not to immunise their children, then the number of children at risk of catching a disease will be higher and outbreaks of the will occur with maybe some disastrous consequences to some children.

Vaccines are given to children as part of the routine to protect them against:

• diphtheria
• tetanus
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• poliomyelitis (polio)
• Haemophilus in fluenzae  type B
• meningitis C
• pneumococcal infection ( eg pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis)
• measles
• mumps
• rubella (german measles)

The following vaccines are given if opted for:

• tuberculosis (TB)
• hepatiti s B

Some vaccinations need a course of vaccines to allow your child’s immune system to progressively build its defence. A booster is needed for some vaccines to top up immunity for pre-school children and teenagers.

Most vaccines will be given by injection, usually into the fat of your child’s outer thigh. A nurse or GP at a health centre or GP surgery will probably give your child the vaccines.

Your child should receive all the standard immunisations unless he or she has a fever at the time the injection is due. The vaccines could increase the fever and make it difficult to see any side-effects.

If your child has had previous reactions, talk to your GP, practice nurse or health visitor.

Live vaccines, such as MMR and BCG, shouldn’t be given if your child:

• is being treated for cancer or has been treated for cancer in the last six months
• has a weak immune system
• is on immunosuppressant medicines
• has had a bone marrow transplant in the last six months

You should also check with your GP if your child has any other condition where their immune system is not working fully, or if your child is on a course of steroids, for asthma.

You don’t have to delay in getting your child immunised for any of the reasons below.

• has a minor illness, without a fever, such as a cough or cold,
• has a family history of side-effects to a vaccine, inflammatory bowel
• has a history of allergy, inflammatory bowel disease or autism
• is being treated with antibiotics, or topical steroids
• was premature or very small baby,
• is being breastfed or if you are pregnant
• has a stable neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy
• has asthma, hay fever or eczema

The side-effects your child may get depend on which vaccine they have been given. If they do occur, the side-effects are usually only minor.

• A fever
• a slightly raised temperature
• some sickness and/or diarrhoea
• swollen glands
• a small lump at the site of the injection, which may last for a few  weeks
• irritability
• Redness and swelling of the injected area

To lower your child’s temperature and relieve any discomfort, you can give your child liquid paracetamol.

A severe reaction from a vaccine is very rare. Symptoms of a severe reaction include:

• a very high temperature
• a fit, called a febrile convulsion
• a rash
• difficulty with breathing
• floppiness or lethargy
• inconsolable crying with a high-pitched cry

You should let your GP know if you notice any of these symptoms.

Cold

All colds are horrible for our children, especially when the child/children are too young to blow their nose properly themselves, and then they become all stuffy and bunged up and then their chest begins to cause them a problem with chest infections or coughs.

It is most common during winter months to become struck down with colds and flu’s and affects children and adults of all   ages.

Anybody with a cold or influenza is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out, and until three days after they feel better. The infection is spread via droplets from coughing and sneezing.

Colds are also spread by people coughing or sneezing into their hands, due to not having a tissue and touching anything, and then lots of people will pick up the cold which has been transferred from hand. if someone has the virus on their hands and then puts them close to their eyes or nose. This is possibly the most common way of catching a cold.

Cold Symptoms

• A sore throat
• pain on swallowing
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Hard to breathe through the nose
• Headache
• Coughing
• Feeling unwell.
• A high temperature (Be careful with temperature/fever in children)

Having a cold causes no serious trouble and will clear up in one or two weeks.

If you have a cold or feel you may be getting one then be sure to rest, and drink plenty of fluids (water preferably and warm drinks for soothing a sore throat). Also if it is an adult with cold/flu try not to smoke, because this will just irritate your mucous membranes in the nose more. Use a bowl of hot water and a towel over your head, and breathe in deeply to loosen the mucous. For children try a vapour rub to ease their breathing and let them rest.

For sore throats and coughs try over the counter medicines, always ask the advice of your chemist for any medicines and especially for children or babies. Liquid paracetamol/Ibruprofen for children usually helps as most medicines are not recommended for children of certain age groups. Always read the labels for age and dose and child’s nose. never give any more than stated on the bottle.

For babies with a stuffy nose and finding it hard to breathe, you can use saline nasal drops to help ease the nose and breathing. Also vapour inhalants sprinkled on a tissue away from babies reach will fill the air and make it easier for baby. Never apply to a babies nose.

Always ask your pharmacist for advice and assistants and remember to throw away any used tissues/handkerchiefs to stop the spread of infections.

Always remember to ask advice from a gp or pharmacist if you are not sure about anything and need advice.

Crying Babies

Do you ever sit at night and think why has my baby been crying all day? Or what is he/she crying for? Have you not found any answers yet as to why you and baby are having problems, there could be lots of reasons for the crying as this is the only way your baby can express to you how they feel and what they need.

Lots of parents feel they are failing their crying babies because they don’t know why baby’s crying and the different cries to the differing needs of their child. But all is not lost eventually when you and baby get to know each other better, both of you will realise which cry is for which need and also baby will know how you are feeling too, so if you feel stressed or anxious your child feels it too this is a learning process for both you and baby.

By the time baby reaches four to six months old you will be able to notice the difference between the painful cry, hunger cry, boredom moaning and groaning and the uncomfortable cry when baby needs bum changing. Lots of babies have crying episodes, whether it is because of colic pain or just having a bad day.

Excessive crying from a baby may sound much like the normal cry you hear but there might be a strange tone to it, especially if your child is ill and has not been diagnosed with the cause of the illness. This illness could be down to a cold or colic or an unknown underlying health problem, if ever you are not sure or fear your child is not there usual self, always consult a doctor.

If baby is crying constantly for long periods of time and you know they are clean, dry, warm and well fed and it is not teething pain always be on the safe side and get baby checked out by a doctor. Be aware if any rash shows up or a temperature and you know there’s definitely something not right get child checked out straight away.

When you know for sure this problem is not related to any serious health problems or illness’s then try to rule out other things all the crying could be for such as,

• Soiled nappy/diaper
• Hungry
• Thirsty
• Over tired
• Cold or too warm
• Wind
• Teething pains
• Tiredness
• Constipation
• Bored
• Wants attention
• Needs comforting

If you try all of these and still your baby is crying a lot then you may need to get a second opinion from a different doctor, if you have already seen a GP to rule out there are no underlying health issues and still don’t get an answer to the problem your baby could just be an attentive baby and constantly wants fussing, playing with toys and attention seeking from anybody who will give it. But will soon get out of this habit given time.

The best thing to do is try not to pick baby up at every whim and spend certain amount of time at different periods throughout the day with your crying baby and eventually he/she will settle and realise they are not getting all your attention when they want it.