Baby Health Blog

Giving birth to a child is one of the most fantastic episodes of a woman’s life but there are many challenges in motherhood and caring for a baby is hard work. There are a million questions in a mother’s mind when she just has a baby such as how much to feed the child, how often to feed it, what to do when it begins to cry etc etc. These questions are overwhelming but you will get through them with a little help from family and friends and your partner. During pregnancy your body has experienced a lot of change and will continue to do so for the next few months so it is important that your body get some rest and recover from the past 9 months.

The first few days that you spend at home after the arrival of the baby are meant to give your body rest and allow it to recuperate, both mentally as well as physically. You need to take time out to focus and think about the new arrival in your family, the relationship that you will form with it and getting to know and understand your baby. Even though there will be a lot of excitement among family, friends and acquaintances, it is necessary that you do not allow that to get to you and instead try your best to rest your body. At such a time forget about all your other household tasks as eating, sleeping and caring after your baby is more than you will be capable of at this stage.

This is perfectly acceptable behavior from a young mother and you can use this time to try to pace out your schedule.  Take a nap while the baby naps so that you are rested. Babies tend to have unpredictable waking hours so you should get yourself accustomed to your baby. Allow others to help you around the house so you can spend maximum time with your baby.

Having a baby is one of the greatest joys in the world but it is also a full time job. So you have to be thoroughly prepared for the birth of your child. Plan in advance, choose a doctor, do all the things that you shouldn’t wait until after the baby’s birth to do. Consult a local pediatrician and fix up interviews. There are a hundred things that you will need to have done after the baby’s birth such as immunizations, frequent check ups to monitor health, growth, weight etc and you certainly can’t weight until the baby is born.

When your baby is on the way you must check whether everything at home is in order. This doesn’t just mean that you should have furniture and clothing for your baby, but also its general well being. Make sure the house is safe for a baby to live in. Make sure there are no sharp edges on furniture or if there are then pad the edges so that your baby doesn’t get hurt. Make sure that there are no small, harmful particles and the like and that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in place so that you can rush your baby to safety in case of an emergency.

Check your baby shopping list to see if you have everything you need. You will need the usual things like clothes, diapers, napkins and wash cloths and other such things for regular use. Try to keep a few stocked because babies require changing several times a day. Ask relatives and friends about what brands to buy etc or you could also consult governmental agencies on the necessary items.

Even if you can’t afford all the brands and goods out there the thing to be remembered is that the most important thing for your baby is love and support.

Babies are the most special things in the parents’ lives and bring new joy and light into the world. Make sure that your little bundle of joy is healthy and well looked after. In the first year of the baby’s life it is very important that you make regular visits to the doctor to continuously keep a check on your baby’s health.

Things that need to be done during the first year of the baby’s life:

Regular visits to the doctor: It is essential the visit the baby’s doctor regularly in order to monitor the baby’s health and progress. A baby’s height, weight, head circumference etc are measured so that it can be assessed how to baby has been doing since its birth. The newborn’s hearing, vision, reflexes and general awareness is checked as a routine to see the baby’s progress. After that a total physical examination is done to check for abnormalities, whether the organs are functioning properly etc. The baby’s feeding and nutrition habits are discussed and the doctor may make suggestions. Further the home environment is discussed and if the environment is not conducive to the baby’s growth, then changes are suggested. Also the doctor will inform parents about what changes and growth will come about in the baby in the immediate future.

Moreover it is necessary that babies receive all the vaccines and immunizations that will protect it from diseases and affect its health and growth. Various vaccines like Hepatitis B, Polio etc are given to keep the child safe. Periodic vaccinations may also be required as the child goes on.

It is also important to breast feed the baby for a reasonable amount of time because a baby gets important anti bodies which protects it from diseases.

Keep a check on your child’s progress, monitor its health and nutrition and make sure your baby remains healthy and happy.