Top Rated Pediatric Services | Tucker, GA | Verras Pediatrics P.C.

Newborn instructions

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:43:00 GMT

Congratulations on the birth of your baby!

Having a baby is a special moment in our lives. Is there anything more precious or move more vulnerable than a newborn? This is also a time of worry, a time of parental insecurities. What if something goes wrong? But relax, love, and enjoy your baby. Before long you will know the difference between the cry of hunger and the cry for comfort and the best expert on your child. You will also find that common sense is often the best approach to solving many problems. Always remember that your child is a unique individual period the purpose of this book is to help you understand some of the more common problems unique to newborns and does not intend to prevent you from calling anyone if you have any questions.

General Instructions

All normal babies share many characteristics but have different habits and personalities. They all sneeze, yawn, and have hiccups, pass gas, cough and cry. Many grunt and strain with stools. At times, their eyes look crossed.

Hiccups

Hiccups are harmless contractions-spasms of the diaphragm muscle. They are very common, especially after feedings; they do not bother the baby and they do not need any treatment. They often be stopped by giving a few swallows of warm water.

Crying

Crying is one way to express their needs and send signals of distress saying: I’m hungry, I’m wet, I’m thirsty, and I want to turn over, I’m cold, I’m bored … with time, you will learn to know what the baby means.

There are three typical cries that can be distinguished by volume, pitch and rhythm.

A cry of pain begins with an inward gas followed by a long, rising shriek. There is a pause until the next painful scream. Soothe the baby by rocking or with music.
A basic cry rises and falls rhythmically broken up with a breath or a pause. The basic cry means demand for food or attention.
A grumble cry is the first attempt at communications. It has a low pitch and volume and sounds whimper. Move the child to a different environment and provide new stimulation.

Sleeping

The majority of babies do sleep most of the time between feedings 12 to 20 hours a day some infants are awake for several hours usually they have one to two fussy periods a day. Use this time to play with baby and entertain him. By three months your baby should be sleeping through the night. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that infants be allowed to sleep on their sides or on their back. While awake and playing, the baby will be happier if placed on the back. However, lying on the stomach provides exercise and a chance to work on head control period the mattress should be firm and flat. No need for a pillow. The bumpers may be used to keep arms and legs from getting caught between the crib bars.

Bonding

The close physical and emotional tie between you and baby is essential for child development. Simple activities like cuddling, rocking, touching, singing and talking to a baby stimulate bonding between you and the baby. Remember your baby will give you the most important information, how he or she likes to be treated, talk to, held and confronted. From the other side, your parental instincts will guide you to find the right response

Feedings

Babies, especially during the first few months of life, grow rapidly. Therefore, good nutrition is very important period feeding is one of your baby’s most pleasant experiences. At feeding time the baby receives nourishment from food and a feeling of security. The choice of whether to breast or bottle-feed is up to you. While not identical to breast milk most formulas have approximately as nutritious and digestible as human milk. Whole cow’s milk is not recommended for babies under one year old.

Both you and the baby should be comfortable at the feeding time period both the mother and father should try to participate in this activity. A feeding schedule usually is most satisfactory if it is flexible, allowing the baby to eat when hungry.

Breast Feeding

If your health allows, breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby. The breast milk improves the ability of your baby to fight infections, helps with bonding and development. We strongly encourage breastfeeding Ann will work with you and support you in this endeavor.

Successful breastfeeding is the combined result of practice, patience and proper positioning. Before feeding your baby, rinse the breast with plain water and then Pat them dry. Find a comfortable place to sit with a good back support so you can relax. You may need to help a newborn baby start nursing. While holding your baby gently stroked the cheek near nearest to the breast. The baby will respond by turning his or her head and seeking for the nipple. Pressure of the baby’s mouth on the areola the nipple and dark area around it releases the milk from the breast. You may need to place a finger or two on your breast to keep it away from the baby’s nose. Use both breasts for about 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to begin each feeding with the breast you finished with the previous time. Replace your baby on his tummy after feeding. This will help bring gas bubbles and help him to relax.

Nursing Schedule

An adequate milk supply may take a few days to get established. The frequency of nursing at two to three hour feeding schedule while the baby is awake as best until your milk comes in, and after 96 hours feed on demand. It is not unusual for a breast-fed baby to nurse every two to three hours during the daytime and usually two times during the night the first month period the majority of babies adjust by the first month and then sleep throughout the night. The best way to test if a baby is getting enough milk is adequate weight gain. Also, there are some signs to look for after the first three days from delivery: 6-8 wet diapers within 24 hours, 2-5 bowel movements, 8- 12 feedings within 24 hours, audible sucking and swallowing. Water is not necessary in general when you breastfed a baby. However during the summer months if the temperature is high, the baby may need some extra water and you can offer it between feedings. We recommend Vi-Daylin/F ADC 0.25 milligrams, a vitamin supplement for the breastfed babies after four weeks of age.

Care of the nipples is essential. Air drying after each feeding, the use of Lanolin and a well-fitting nursing bra are all beneficial. Your daily diet should be well balanced and you should also take plenty of liquid. A good reference for breastfeeding is the book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, published by the La Leche League International. We will be glad to help or refer you to a breastfeeding specialist if necessary.

Supplement with A Bottle

A nursing mother way want to be out without her infant at times period supplements, usually medically indicated, should be avoided for three to four weeks until your milk supply is well established and your baby is latching on to the breast without difficulty. You may wish to supplement the formula Similac with iron ore you may want to try and hand or with a breast pump express your milk into a bottle. Refrigerated fresh milk is should be used within 48 hours. If the milk is to be frozen it should be done immediately in a standard home freezer milk frozen at 18 degrees Fahrenheit may be kept for six months.

Bottle-Feeding

There are several formulas on the market to choose from. They are all very similar and quite adequate. Most are based on either cow’s milk protein such as Similac with iron ore soy protein such as Isomil. Vitamins have been added to the formula, so baby on formula does not need a vitamin supplement. We always recommend using an iron containing formula not iron low. Formulas come in many convenient forms: ready to use, liquid concentrate or powder. If your water does not contain fluoride ask us about a recommended supplement.

Properly prepared formula can be stored in the refrigerator for 48 hours. Sterilization of bottles and water is not necessary. Washing with soap and water and hot water rents or washing the bottles in a dishwasher is adequate. The nipple holes should be the right size, warm infant formula should not drip smoothly without forming a streak period to ensure holes that are too small use a white-hot needle.

It is important that your baby be held while feeding never prop a bottle or leave your baby alone to feed. Hold the bottle so that the neck of the bottle and nipple are always filled with formula. This helps your baby receive formula instead of air. The first few days your baby will probably drink only 1/2 to 1 ounce per feeding, gradually increasing until a month of age when three to five oz per feeding is likely. Remember, not all babies are the same and some need more and some need fewer amounts.

Place your baby on his/her tummy after feeding. This will help bring up gas bubbles and help him or her to relax.

Burping

It is important to burp your baby to get rid of any air he or she may have swallowed during the feeding period to burp your baby, hold him in her up right over your shoulder, sitting upright on your lap leaning slightly forward or lying prone face down across your lap and gently Pat or rub the back. Burp your baby several times during as well as after each feeding. Sometimes, a baby will not burp. Do not try to force the baby to burp. If 10 minutes after the feeding the baby does not burp, you can put him or her in the crib.

Bowel Movements

Bowel movements will vary according to whether the baby is breast or formula fed. Keep in mind that occasional variations in color and consistency of the stool are normal period even though your baby may strain, unless the stool is hard and infrequent it is not Constipation. Loose and frequent up to 8 bowel movements are common on breastfed babies. It is normal for some babies to go 5 days or more without a bowel movement. However if you are not certain that the bowel movements of your baby are normal, do not hesitate to call us to discuss the problem.

Introduction of Solid Foods

During the last 60 years recommendations as to when to introduce solid food vary from one month to 15 months. Currently it is recommended to introduce solid foods at ages four to six months. Remember to go slowly when introducing new foods. Allow two to three weeks before you introduce a new category of food like cereal, vegetables, fruits, juice strain, meat or solid table food.

Colic

Abdominal pain in infants is fairly common. It seems that nobody knows the cause of this discomfort, it usually happens the same time every day. Make sure the baby is clean, dry, well fed, and well burped. Walking a baby, rocking and giving him a pacifier may lessen the discomfort. At times we may even suggest a formula change. The use of prescription medications and anti-gas medicine may be justified in difficult cases if all else fails. The baby will outgrow this problem in a month or so, but until he or she does, it may be difficult for both parents and child. Do not give honey to a baby for colic for any reason.

Baby Care

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 23:21:00 GMT

Comfort

Babies are most comfortable if the room temperature is 70 to 74 degrees. Do not overdress your baby. Wash all new clothing and sheets before using. Clothing should be loose-fitting, lightweight, and soft textured. Babies born during this summer may be taken outside on a nice day after they are weak cold period babies born in winter should be kept indoors for three to four weeks. Avoid crowds. Avoid excessive exposure to the son. Sunscreen is not recommended under six months of age.

Care of the naval cord

The umbilical cord will dry up and drop off by itself leaving a moist spot at about 7 to 10 days of age. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the top of the cordon around the base of the cord where the cord and the skin meet. Use alcohol and hydrogen peroxide on cotton swabs twice a day until the navel is completely healed. Dress the baby in a short shirt and fold the deep diaper down so that the naval can be exposed to air. A sponge bath, not a tub bath, should be used until four to five days after the cord drops off.

It is common for brownish, dry blood to start coming off the navel after a week or two period this often continues to the end of the third week and does not cause serious problems unless the area is allowed to stay unclean. You should call immediately if bright red blood or yellow drainage is noted. Also, any increasing redness, swelling, red streaks, or foul odor older should be reported.

Care of the circumcision

At first, the circumcision will appear somewhat reddened and swollen. Cleanse it after every diaper change period and place Vaseline-coated gauze over the raw area until healing takes place in five to seven days.

Bathing and skin care

until the navel is healed, sponge babe the baby with mild soap and water. When the navel is completely healed, the baby is ready for a tub bath. Babies do not need to be bathed daily. If the baby’s skin is dry, add a cap full of Domel or Alpha Keri to the bath. The scalp may be cleansed with no tear shampoo. If you note patches of dry scaly areas on the scalp, try baby Johnson shampoo 1-2 times per week and brush the scalp with a soft brush.

Eyes

It is not uncommon for new babies to have some swelling and redness of the eyelids. Sometimes, copious amounts of matter accumulate in the first days of life. At home, you should use a clean cotton ball moistened with warm water and gently bathe the eye from the nose toward the outside corner. Usually, redness, swelling, and pus formation will disappear within a few days. If persistent, call us.

Nose and Ears

Cleanse the outer areas only with a moist cloth or cotton ball. Do not attempt to clean the inside with Q tips. A stuffy nose is common in infancy and is due to normal mucus. Saltwater nose drops and gentle use of a nasal aspirator may be helpful if the nose is very congested. To make saltwater, use 1/4 teaspoon of salt to 1/2 Cup of water.

Nails

Trim as needed with infant-safe nail clippers when baby is asleep.

Mouth

No cleaning is needed. The white patches noted inside the mouth that cannot be wiped off might represent a fungal infection, so call us.

Soft lumps on the head

These are usually collections of blood under the skin of the scout. We call them cephalohematomas. They usually go away in six weeks.

Soft spots fontanelles

One or two soft spots in the middle of the head. They are supposed to be there and they will close anytime from seven months to two years of age.

Breast lumps

This is a result of hormonal stimulation from the mother. It happens in boys and girls and will usually go away after a few months.

vaginal bleeding

All baby girls have a mucoid discharge from the vagina at birth. Some girls will have very mild bleeding from the vagina. This is a normal phenomenon due to hormone change and may continue for up to six weeks.

birthmarks

These are extremely common, blueish discoloration on the buttocks. They happen on 10% of babies. The faint red blotches on the islands, between the eyes, or on the neck are called nevus simplex and usually go away after a few months.

heat rash

Small red bumps usually develop over the neck, chest, and upper back. These are due to the baby’s sweating. Avoid heavy clothing. Do not cover with oil as this will clog skin pores.

Smoking

As you know, smoking is not good for your health, but if you cannot quit smoking, remember not to smoke in the same room as your baby. Studies have shown that babies who live in households where members of the family smoke, have higher incidences of colds bronchitis ear infections, and asthma.

feet

One or both feet may be turning in or out. This is usually due to positioning in the uterus and can persist for several months but can be self-corrected. If we feel that there is a problem we will let you know.

Spitting up

Babies do spit up normally, especially with burping. This is seldom a serious problem and will resolve with time.

metabolic screening

The State of Georgia requires that all babies be tested for PKU and other five genetic diseases. This is done in the hospital. It is very important to repeat the test before 48 hours of age. If the baby was given antibiotics the first report is not satisfactory therefore we recommend repeating this test within 10 days after discharge.

Safety

Never leave the baby alone on a table or any high place where he or she could roll off.
Keep small objects like buttons and pins away from the baby’s reach.
Always test the bathwater with your elbow or thermometer to make sure it’s not too hot.
Do not hold the baby while cooking.
Avoid small plastic sheeting that may cover the face and obstruct breathing.
Never shake your baby.
All medicine, plants, and cleaning agents should be put out of reach of the baby and if possible locked.
Give the correct dose of medicine. Double-check with us if there are any questions on the dosage
Always use an approved car seat for their age. The car seat should be used from birth until 40 pounds of weight.
Remember, during the first four months of age, place the baby on the back or side while sleeping.
Have a home smoke detector.
The use of walkers can be dangerous.
Constant supervision is required.

Illnesses

The following signs or symptoms may indicate the baby is sick:

Fever is very unusual to happen in the first few months of life. Actually, most of the babies less than two months of age with infections have hypothermia and subnormal temperatures. If the baby is not overdressed or covered with heavy blankets and has a fever, call immediately. (100.5 + degree temperature is a high temperature for a baby less than 3 months).
Vomiting, excessive spit-up (especially projectile), and association with poor feedings may indicate an illness.
Sleeping continuously for more than four hours in a daytime and refusing to eat strongly suggests that a baby may be sick.
Diarrhea. During the second week of life, most of the babies either on breast milk or formula have blue stools, mistaken many times to be diarrhea. If the baby is eating well and more importantly is urinating well, you don’t need to worry. However, if there is truly diarrhea, the first thing to do is to get some Pedialyte and offer the baby as much as he or she will take. At the same time, you should call us.

Recommended Feeding Schedule for Infants

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 22:34:00 GMT

Babies, especially during the first few months of life, grow rapidly. Therefore, good nutrition is very important period feeding is one of your baby’s most pleasant experiences. At feeding time, the baby receives nourishment from food and a feeling of security. The choice of whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed is up to you. While not identical to breast milk most formulas have approximately as nutritious and digestible as human milk. Whole cow’s milk is not recommended for babies under one year old.

Both you and the baby should be comfortable during the feeding time period both the mother and father should try to participate in this activity. A feeding schedule usually is most satisfactory if it is flexible, allowing the baby to eat when hungry.

Age

Reasons for Introduction

0-2 months

Meets the infant’s nutritional needs for the first 4-6 months.

Introduction of New Foods

Breast Milk or Formula

1. Iron-fortified cereal-rice, oats, and barley.
2. Fruit juices, but no orange juice.
3. Fruits and vegetables.

4-6 months

Provides a dietary source of iron at the age when body stores from birth are depleted.

6-8 months

Cottage cheese, plain yogurt, strained meats, and meat alternatives (such as purees of beans and lentils) & dried beans

Provides additional proteins, vitamins, and iron for rapid growth. Encourages chewing when teeth erupt.

8-10 months

Chewy finger foods, fish, poultry, and soft-cooked vegetables.

Add variety and additional protein, minerals, and vitamins.

9-12 months

Variety of regular table foods.

Infant could feed themselves. Encourages the development of hand-to-mouth coordination

Whole eggs, orange juice, and cow’s milk (up to 16 ounces a day).

Infant can drink from a cup. The infant should be weaned from the bottle.

12 months

Immunization Schedule

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 23:47:00 GMT

DP&T – Diptheria, Pertussis (Whooping cough), and Tetanus. Most infants and children will have little if any reaction after these inoculations. However, some infants and children experience pain or discomfort beginning one to two hours after inoculation and lasting for 12 to 24 hours. This is perfectly normal and you need not worry if this happens. Infants can appear irritable or fussy and at times will run a mild fever. Acetaminophen can be given to these infants.
Polio Series – these immunizations are quite successful in making your child immune to polio and generally do not cause any reactions.
PPD test – the PPD test is not an immunization but a skin test to see if the child has been exposed to tuberculosis or if he or she might have a mild under-diagnosed case of tuberculosis. It causes no fever but must be checked in her office 48 to 72 hours after it is applied.
Measles – Mumps – Rubella (MMR vaccine). This immunization protects against these three common endless is. There is no reaction immediately and many children never have a reaction to the shot. Occasionally however some children will develop a fever, joint pain, and a rash 5 to 12 days after immunization.
Smallpox vaccination – the smallpox vaccination is not recommended and is not being given at the present time.
HibCV (Haemophilus influenza, Type B conjugated vaccine) – recommended in infancy to prevent meningitis which is an infection to the brain.
Hepatitis B vaccine – recommended for all newborns, infants, and children in adolescence to prevent hepatitis which is an infection to the liver.
Varivax – designed to prevent or lessen the severity of Chickenpox. This vaccine is given after one year of age.
Hepatitis A vaccine – two doses after one year of age.
Rotavirus – recommended at 2, four, and six months of age.

Age

1 month

Immunization

Hep B

2 months

DPT, Polio, HibCV, Prevnar, Rotavirus

4 months

DPT, Polio, HibCV, Prevnar, Rotavirus

DPT, HibCV, Prevnar, Rotavirus, Hep B

6 months

12 months

Varivax, MMR, Prevnar, Hep A

15 months

HibCV

18 months

DPT, Polio, Hep A

DPT, Polio, Varivax, MMR

4-6 years

11 years

Tdap, MCV, HPV

16-18 years

MCV, Meningitis B (Bexsero), Tdap

Well visit check ups

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 21:06:00 GMT

Well-baby checkups in the office begin at one week of age the next scheduled visits are at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months. After the third-year examination, we recommend annual physical examinations. We believe that each day in a child’s life, especially during the formative ages from birth to three years old, deserves the special attention of mothers, fathers, and all who are entrusted with their care. So, during this important first year of life, your child should be regularly examined. During these well checkups, we will assess and can discuss growth and development provide preventative care give nutritional advice, and routine examinations.