During The First Few Days Of Life Watch For A Tar
The stool that babies pass during their first few days of life is unique. Its black, thick, gooey and mucus-y. Doctors often describe this poop, called meconium, as tar-like others describe it as looking like motor oil. Since the baby hasnt been eating foods yet, it doesnt look like a normal stool that we think of, said Dr. Lockwood. But its the digestive tract cleaning out.
What exactly, then, is it cleaning out? Cells, amniotic fluid and other material the baby has swallowed in the womb as well as mucus that the babys bowels are producing. It also contains bile produced by her liver, which is largely where the black hue comes from.
Newborns typically start excreting meconium within the first 24 hours of life your infant may even pass it during delivery. Dr. Lockwood said that while some babies may just have one bowel movement per day, others will have small amounts throughout the day at this stage. Meconium can last for a few days and will become more of a black-ish green as it transitions to a more typical baby poop.
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How Do I Know If My Baby Is Growing And Developing On Schedule
Your babys doctor or nurse can help you understand how your baby is developing and learning to do new things like smile or turn their head to hear your voice. These are sometimes called developmental milestones.
At each visit, the doctor or nurse will ask you how youre doing as a parent and what new things your baby is learning to do.
How To Prevent Baby Constipation
As for preventing infant constipation, unfortunately theres a lot you can proactively do. Prevention really comes down to recognizing the warning signs, and trying to stay on top of them, Santo Domingo says. Of course, monitoring babys diet for foods that cause constipation, giving them a diverse assortment of fibrous fruits and veggies and keeping them hydrated may help.
About the experts:
Trina Blythe, MD, is a BJC Medical Group pediatrician at Progress West Hospital in OFallon, Missouri. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical Center in New York.
Lisa Santo Domingo, DNP, MSN, is a pediatric nurse practitioner and medical director of Johns Hopkins Hospitals Pediatric Chronic Constipation Clinic. She received her doctor of nursing degree at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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When Should I Take My Baby For A First Doctors Visit
Babies are usually checked by a health care provider within the first week of going home from the hospital. At this first visit your health care provider will:
- Weigh your baby and measure their length and head circumference.
- Check on how feeding is going for you and your baby.
- Do a general physical exam.
- Ask how the family is adjusting.
- Complete any screening tests that were not done at the hospital.
This first visit doesnt have to be with your regular paediatrician or family doctor. Sometimes it is done by a doctor at the hospital where you gave birth, your midwife or a public health nurse. It can be done at home, in the office or in a hospital clinic. If your baby doesnt see their regular doctor at this visit, it will happen soon after.
Questions To Ask A Pediatrician
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Dress Baby For Success
Since your baby will be getting undressed for his checkup, think easy-off, easy-back-on when it comes to his outfit. That onesie with lots of snaps may be adorable, but it wont be so cute when youre in a rush and your infant is getting restless or squirmy. The same goes for snug clothes that are tricky to pull over babys head or off those constantly moving legs. And dont forget that backup outfit!
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
First Year Doctor Visits: A Guide
Babies need a lot of doctor visits. Seven of them, to be exact, all within the first year of life. As long as theyre healthy, theyll see more of their doctor that first year than they will at any other point during their childhood.
So many things happen in that first year, says Dan Nicklas, MD, a pediatrician at Childrens Colorados primary care-focused Child Health Clinic. Their needs change a lot, and we want to be able to monitor that closely, so we can help get them set up for a healthy childhood.
Here, Dr. Nicklas breaks down your babys first year, visit by visit.
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When In Doubt Call
Trust your instincts and call your doctor when your child is sick, especially if you think that your child appears visibly ill. You should also call your doctor if your child’s symptoms are worsening, even if they were recently seen by the doctor.
Most doctors have someone answering the phone 24/7, and that person can often help you decide over the phone whether the child is fine, or needs to come in for a sick visit, or needs to go to urgent care, or needs to go directly to an emergency room. It is always better to call if you have questions or concerns and let the medical professionals help you decide what is best for your child to get them feeling better.
Why Might A Patient Continue To See A Pediatrician Beyond Childhood
While it might seem like some adult patients continue on with their pediatrician out of sheer convenience or indolence, there are a couple of major reasons patients might postpone seeking an adult care provider:
- College – When adolescents go away to pursue higher education, they might not have a chance or not want to deal with the stress of having to find a new doctor. They’re content to go to the student health clinic on campus and and continue to see their pediatrician when they go home. This is a practice that Daniel Ganjian, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California approves of, explaining, “I encourage patients to continue seeing their pediatrician throughout college for check-ups during vacations and see the college doctor for any urgent or sick visits. The college years have so many changes associated with it. We do not have to add more onto our children’s shoulders by making them look for a new practitioner.”
- Certainchronicconditionsordisabilities – As a recent report from PBS points out, people who have developmental or intellectual disabilities might remain with their pediatricians into adulthood, because switching doctors might be traumatic, and people with conditions like congenital heart defects, sickle cell disease, or cystic fibrosis might find it especially challenging to transition.
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Parents Need A Trusted Source Of Information
LeBlanc worries that some chiropractors might prey on the fear and anxiety of a new parent in order to make money.
Some of the chiropractic treatments are relatively short they may just be a few sessions but others can just go on and on and thats very costly, he said. People have to think about a trusted source of information.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for members of the general public to determine which sources can be trusted. Its also an issue of turf doctors dont like chiropractors and vice versa, LeBlanc said. If you go to a medical professional, theyre just going to pooh-pooh it.
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The solution, said LeBlanc, is to read as much as you can.
Read widely, both on the medical side and the chiropractic side, he said. Ask yourself: Does the person whos putting this information out have a vested interest?
In LeBlancs view, chiropractors do have a stake in promoting treatment for children because it will produce more revenue. Its the same as if you go to a car dealership or any other place thats offering a service, you simply have to take it with a grain of salt what they are saying.
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The association says that there are no age-related chiropractic specializations in Canada.
Emotions In The Parents
The experience of enhanced, powerful emotions of a wide variety is likely universal to most parents during and after delivery. Even if no serious difficulties with emotions emerge, it is helpful for expectant parents to be aware of the special power of both positive and negative emotions that surround a new person being born and entering their life.
It is also important for all expectant parents to be aware that it is common for many mothers, as many as 10% to 20%, and some fathers to experience depression before, during, and/or after delivery. Postpartum depression is largely unappreciated, because stigma prevents a majority of parents from being identified and accessing services. Several states have recommended universal postpartum depression screening by pediatricians, and insurers are increasingly paying for these screens. The prenatal visit offers mothers a valuable opportunity to become aware of the facts about depression so they know to call for help from their primary care physician or their obstetrician if they experience significant persistent sadness, which can be compounded by fatigue from lack of sleep.,
At the prenatal visit, pediatricians can listen for and make note of fathers or partners feelings about lack of parenting skills and decreased marital intimacy. This is an opportunity to lay the groundwork for pediatric providers to be available to fathers as well as mothers after the birth of the infant.
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Establishing A Positive Pediatrician
The prenatal period is an ideal time to start building the health care alliance that may last for many years, commonly until the patient reaches adulthood. The prenatal visit often is an opportunity for the family to determine whether their relationship and their mutual philosophies will form the basis of a positive relationship.
The prenatal visit is also an opportunity for parents to invite other supportive adults, including grandparents,, to establish a relationship with the pediatrician and to encourage them to come to future visits and support the new parent. A prenatal visit can be used to introduce parents to the concept of a medical home for the childs health and development needs. Parental familiarity with the pediatric health care provider prenatally may be helpful if a referral or transfer of care occurs because of perinatal complications or the newborn infants medical condition. Adolescent parents and older first-time parents may benefit from the opportunity to share their specific concerns with a knowledgeable professional.
Baby Or Newborn Diarrhea
Alternately, if baby is suddenly passing especially loose stools, you may be looking at diarrhea. This may be caused by a viral infection like RSV. Call your pediatrician, who can run tests to rule out bacterial infection.
If baby is already eating solids, put him on a BRAB diet :
- Bananas
- Apples/apple sauce
- Breastmilk
Bananas, rice, and apples have qualities like tannins that can help firm up stool breastmilk is great at balancing your babys diet and healing the gut.
You can also look into baby probiotics, which can normalize babys stool.
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Want To Learn A Little Bit More About Some Of Those Hot Button Newborn Care Questions Listed Above
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How Often Should Children Go To The Pediatrician
Visits to the pediatrician are scheduled according to childrens age and health status, as follows:
- For newborn children who dont present any pathology, their first appointment is scheduled for the fifth or tenth day of life.
- Up to the age of six months, the baby should go to a check-up appointment once a month to monitor all the changes related to this periods accelerated growth.
- Between six and 12 months, routine visits should take place every two months. Of course, this is only if there is no disease present.
- Throughout the first year of life, visits occur every three months.
- Between the second and fifth year of life, visits to the pediatrician should be scheduled for every six months.
- From the age of 6 up to the age of at least 12 to 14, general check-ups should take place once a year.
Pediatrians should be the one to examine children any time there is an illness. Theyll be the most informed, given the deep knowledge theyll have of the childs personal and family history, and their knowledge of prescribing the necessary doses of the medication the child should take based on the pathology. They can also refer the child to other specialists, when necessary.
In several countries, including Spain, 17-year-old adolescents are attended by pediatric specialists, but they treat them more for political and social reasons than for reasons linked to medicine.
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