MOTHER LOVE

DON'T PANIC

MYou're first-time mother and haven't a clue what you are doing! But that's all right – most new parents feel like that. There are some simple, but invaluable, wisdom.

   picture; African journal 

When a child is born, so is a mother. Here you are: you've given birth, you are over the moon and you can't wait to take your infant home. But when you leave the hospital, you are suddenly overwhelmed. You think: “I have no experience at all! How do I take care of my baby? Can we please go back to the hospital and stay there for a year or so?” to help you get over those first-time parenting hurdles, pediatric cardiologist DR David Githanga has seven tips on how to hurdle your newborn baby and yourself.

PARENTING HURDLE #1

Is that my baby? He looks like an alien!

Newborn babies can look rather weird. The journey through the birth canal, maybe coupled with a vacuum extraction, has baby’s head looking all out of shape, and she’s covered in a pasty white substance from head to toe. That layer, called vernix caseosa, protected him while in the womb, and it takes a while to come off the birth.

Solution

Don’t worry, baby will get into shape within a few days or weeks and he'll be the cutest thing you've ever seen!

PARENTING HUEDLE #2

My baby is only a few days old and already has symptoms of a cold, like a stuffy nose. It seems as if she's having difficulty breathing. What do I do?

“Babies are nasal breathers by nature,” says DR Githanga. “They simply don’t know how to breathe through their mouths. So if their nose is blocked, they really struggle for breath. A baby’s nose is very sensitive to the environment; dust and irritants in the air affect it immediately.”

Solution

Use a saline solution to clear baby’s nose.  Buy one at a chemist instead of experimenting with your own measurements of water and salt, as you might cause more harm than good. You can also put hot water in a basin and hold baby over it for a short period, so that the steam clears her nose. Don’t expose her for too long to the hot water, though- it might burn her! Generally this problem disappears when a baby reaches six months and has learned to breathe through her mouth as well.

PARENTING HURDLE #3

My baby’s eyes discharge a yellowish substance. Are they infected?

This is related to the nasal stuffiness, says DR Githanga. “Stuffiness of the nose causes poor drainage from the tear glands, leading to build-up in the corner of the eye. It's nothing to worry about, and it will disappear with time.

Solution

Wipe your baby’s eyes with a cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water. Start from the outside and work inwards until you reach the inner corner of the eye, and gently remove any build-up there.

PARENTING HURDLE #4

My baby has a rush all over!

“Some children are born with an allergy, and it can take a parent some time to find out exactly what it is,” says DR Githanga.

Solution

Allergic reactions can be caused by many different things. DR Githanga says. “Don’t use strong perfumes or soaps on yourself or baby. Baby likes your scent best, and he recognizes it instantly. Check before you buy a bed or cot where and how it is glued together; strong glues and adhesives can cause a reaction. The cot should be airy and not stuffy.” Most rashes that occur in the first weeks are actually caused by hormonal changes, as baby gets accustomed to the outside world as opposed to mummy’s womb.