Anxious mommy – when stress takes over...
Your baby is the most important thing in the world to you and you’re well aware of your responsibility as a parent to see that she stays happy, healthy and cared for. But often the desire to be the best parent you can possibly be can lead you to panic over every little thing when it comes to your newborn. It’s totally understandable – but parenting can be hard enough as it is without creating needless concern for yourself. Here’s gurgle’s roundup of what worries moms the most – and how to work through that worry so you’ll be the calmest mom on the block!
I’m afraid to let my baby sleep without checking on her all the time…
This is very common among moms of newborns, who are quite understandably concerned to make sure their baby is okay. But you’ll likely be getting disturbed nights as it is without getting up every half hour to make sure your baby is still breathing.
Work through this worry by ensuring your baby is
sleeping safely. She’ll be perfectly okay in a separate room by herself, with a monitor so you’ll rouse if she wakes, but most parents have their baby share their room for the first few months. Lay her on her back in her crib to sleep (never place her on her side or front as there is a risk her face may become covered if she rolls over).
Put her in the ‘feet to foot’ position, with her feet at the foot of the crib so that she can’t wriggle down under the blankets (better yet, skip blankets altogether and use a baby sleeping bag).
It’s vital that she doesn’t overheat as this is a risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or crib death. Keep the temperature of the room where she sleeps at 65 to 68 degrees and don’t bundle too many blankets on her. If she feels clammy at the back of her neck, she is too hot.
Many parents have their baby
co-sleep but opinions are divided as to how safe this is – it does come with the risk that you may roll on top of your baby as you sleep. A good compromise is to have your baby’s crib positioned next to your bed so that she is close by, but has a separate sleeping environment. If you are going to have her in your bed, position her far away from you, don’t use a pillow, and consider putting her in a baby sleeping bag as she may overheat under your bedclothes.
My baby cries so much she must be ill…
Babies cry to communicate – in fact it’s their only way of communicating, and unfortunately this means they do it often! It is easy to get into a panic about
non-stop crying but usually it’s a signal that your baby is hungry or uncomfortable in some way (for example, too hot, or needs a diaper change). Try to stay calm in the face of your baby’s crying as she can sense if you are on edge and it may make her worse. If you’ve fed and changed her, trying
soothing her with a cuddle, use a baby swing, or distract her with a toy or a change of scenery. Many moms swear by showing their baby her reflection in a mirror. White noise (such as a fan or a radio tuned into static) also can help.
If your baby is ill she will likely have other symptoms, such as a
fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea and listlessness. Contact your pediatrician straightaway if you baby has any of these red flags or if your gut instinct tells you she just isn’t right. If at any point your baby’s cry changes note to become unusually high-pitched and wailing, take her to the ER as this can be a sigh of
meningitis.
My newborn’s poop looks strange!
Don’t fret! Your baby’s first few diapers after she’s born contain what’s called meconium. It’s her first bowel movement, and is a greenish black tar-like substance that accumulates in her bowel during your pregnancy, as she swallows amniotic fluid, shed skin cells and lanugo (the fine hair that covers your baby in the uterus), mucus and bile.
As your baby grows, the appearance of her poop will depend on whether she’s breastfed or formula fed. A breastfed baby’s poop is softer, the color of mustard and doesn’t smell unpleasant. A formula fed baby’s poop is more solid and smells unpleasant.
You can actually tell a lot about your baby’s health and wellbeing from her
diaper. Poop that’s unusually dark in color or has traces of red can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding or possible allergy to her formula milk or milk proteins that are present in your breast milk. Poop that is chalky in consistency and whitish in color can signal a liver problem.??If your baby is constipated you’ll see hard pellet-like poop in her diaper. Constipation is more likely in formula-fed babies, but giving your baby a little water to drink between milk feeds can help soften her stools.
How can I be sure my baby is getting enough milk?
This can be a big worry for breastfed moms, since it isn’t possible to monitor
how much milk your baby is taking in. As a rule, as long as your newborn is feeding every two to three hours she should be getting enough, since breast milk is produced on a supply and demand basis and frequent feeds boost your milk production. By the time she’s six to eight weeks, she’ll likely begin to go longer between feeds.
Your baby should also be wetting her diaper frequently during the day (six to eight wet diapers is typical) and pooping too (as many as three or more a day). She will also gain weight steadily as a sign she is adequately nourished, and seem happy and content after her feeds.
Signs your baby may not be getting enough milk include fewer wet diapers, weight loss, excessive sleepiness and fussing after feeds. If your baby suffers from reflux this also may affect her intake so speak to your pediatrician.
I’m worried I won’t know if my baby is sick…
Most moms worry about this – after all, our babies can’t tell us if they’re
poorly and in the first weeks and days especially you may not be tuned in enough to your baby’s cues to spot if she might be unwell.
Giveaway signs include an unusually high-pitched or frenzied cry, or crying at a time of day when she generally doesn’t cry. Refusing feeds and/or vomiting what she does take in also is a red flag, as is diarrhea, as it’s possible for a young baby to become dehydrated very quickly if she has diarrhea, especially if she also is vomiting. Check how she looks too: is she paler than normal or flushed? Are her lips bluish or is her skin tinged yellowish (jaundice). Does she have a rash? A purplish blotchy or pinprick rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass is a symptom of meningitis – this is a medical emergency so if your baby develops this type of rash take her to your local ER immediately.
Check your baby’s temperature too – if it’s over 100°F then she may be running a fever. Call your pediatrician for advice on giving fever-relieving medication such as infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as these are not usually recommended for newborns.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.?
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Last Modified: 04/10/2009