- If you are bottle feeding and you are using an Anti-Reflux formula, we recommend using a variable flow teat. This allows you to manage the feed more effectively. At the start of the feed when baby is hungry, use the medium flow side of the teat. As the feed progresses, baby can get tired as it is a thickened feed. You can change to the faster flow side of the teat if needed at
this point but be careful that it is not too fast for baby. - The manufacturers of all anti reflux formulas recommend that the bottle is shaken to mix the formula. In general, the instructions will be to roll the bottle upright between the palms of hands for 5 seconds as soon as the scoops of powder have been added. Then shake bottle for 20 seconds and leave it to stand for 7 minutes to allow it to thicken.
Sounds straightforward doesn’t it. But the skill you want is making up the formula with as few air bubbles as possible.
Many of the mums who come to see us have said that they prefer to stir the powder into the water. Why? Well, they feel that shaking the bottle can add air bubbles to it and as we know, that’s exactly what you don’t want. In a survey where we asked mums if they shake or stir, 63% of mums said they shake the bottle to mix it and 37% said they stirred it. - In our opinion, all bottle feeding should be done in a paced way, allowing baby to control the feed, and preventing them from becoming overwhelmed by the flow of milk. This is particularly true for reflux babies. Lying a baby back in your arms and holding the bottle almost vertical over them can mean that they can become overwhelmed by the force of the milk coming into their mouth as gravity increases the flow. As a baby must breathe and swallow at the same time, having a fast milk flow will interfere with this process and baby will gag. They also take in too much air as the feed quickly to manage the increased flow.
The best position for paced or controlled feeding is to hold baby in a semi-upright position, as opposed to lying down. This helps baby to control the flow of milk better. He only needs to be slightly reclined so that the bottle isn’t pouring down into baby’s mouth.
Lay the bottle teat across baby’s lips (pointed up) when baby starts rooting and opening his mouth. Let baby pull the teat into his mouth and close his lips on the base of the teat.
Once latched on, keep the bottle just above horizontal. This allows baby to control the flow of milk better without taking in air. This also helps the bottle to last the entire length of a normal feeding, usually 10–20 minutes, rather than baby gulping a bottle down in 5 minutes. - When changing your baby, prop him up on a wedge or pillow so that his head is higher than his bum. To clean the bum, turn baby to the side rather than lifting his legs up. Change baby before a feed rather than after. You may need to change again after the feed but keeping baby in the propped-up position will help.
- Car seats can be troublesome for some reflux babies due to the position they find themselves in. You must buy the car seat before baby arrives so you can’t try it on, so to speak. Even though your baby will be in an elevated position in his car seat, being slumped will put pressure on his tummy and aggravate reflux. Some seats keep baby more upright than others and some babies are very slumped in their car seat.
It depends on the depth of the seat and the age of the baby. New-born babies are often too small for their car seats. They’ll be in it until they are 18 months old after all! Most car seats come with little inserts for new-born babies to help them stay upright. If your baby still looks slumped in their car seat, placing a soft towel or blanket folded under their bum will reduce the depth of the cup and keep them more upright. If you are doing this, do ensure that the safety of the car seat isn’t compromised, and that baby is secure. - Tummy time is very important but can pose a problem for reflux babies. Rather than lying baby on the floor for tummy time, consider lying them on a wedge or an exercise ball to keep them in an elevated position while on their tummy. Timing of tummy time is key too. Aim for when baby is happy and content and not within 90 minutes of the last feed.
- Soothers have positives and negatives when it comes to reflux babies. Some love the soother, other never take to it. Sucking a soother can help baby swallow back down any stomach contents that may reflux up. Sucking also stimulates the wave like movement of the gut, helping to move any wind along the digestive tract. Saliva produced in the mouth has a slight antacid effect and can help in a small way as it’s swallowed. And of course, the sucking action is instinctive in a baby and therefore has the added benefit of calming an upset baby.
Worth noting though, if you are breastfeeding, it is often recommended that you do not offer your baby a soother for the first six weeks while feeding is becoming established. Talk to your Lactation Consultant about this if you have any concerns. - Keep baby in an upright and straight position if possible, during feeds and for at least 30 minutes afterwards. This helps to keep food in the tummy by gravity. Reflux babies tend to like to over the shoulder position for this very reason, they are upright and straight. You can also lie baby on their tummy on your lap. Keep one knee higher than the other so that baby’s head is higher than the bottom.
- We often hear from parents that their baby loves being upright with their head on the parent’s shoulder. In this position the parent will be moving around, and baby is content. But try to sit down and you will be told very firmly that’s not allowed!
A tip for this is to use a gym ball. Sit on the gym ball with baby held upright. You can gently bounce on the ball or move back and forth.
This is also a very handy tip for when you are putting baby in their car seat. Reflux babies don’t like the car seat and can become quite distressed. Once baby is secured in the car seat, gently bounce the seat on the gym ball. It’s a game changer, I promise! - Find the cause (or causes) of your baby’s reflux symptoms and treat that first. Just treating the reflux symptoms will have a very limited and short-lived effect.
How to recognise tension in a newborn baby.
You wouldn’t expect a newborn baby to have muscular tension, would you?
But newborn babies can experience tension too and very often this can be because of labour or delivery. Musculoskeletal tension can also contribute to feeding difficulties when there is an associated cranial nerve dysfunction.
Let us explain. Three nerves travel through a small hole in the skull (the jugular foramen) at either side of the head. If a baby’s head is fixed in an asynclitic position, that is, where the head of the baby is presenting first and is tilted to the shoulder, then this results in the head no longer being in line with the birth canal. The can result in the compression of the 3 cranial nerves. These nerves are vital for the baby to feed effectively and when compromised, baby can have a poor suck-swallow-breathe mechanism. They can take in too much air as the feed, their latch can be poor and they can be quite unsettled.
So what can cause or contribute towards muscle tension in your baby?
*If you had a very fast delivery, or a very prolonged labour.
*If baby was in a slightly different position for delivery, for example, face to the stars.
*If you had twins and space was at a premium towards the end of pregnancy.
*If baby needed some assistance at delivery, a vacuum delivery for example.
These are all reasons why a baby may have muscular tension.
The good news is paediatric osteopathy can help release this muscular tension and return baby to the midline. This is where they are meant to be.
So, what does tension look like in a baby?
They can have a one-sided head preference, often as a result of a torticollis (tight neck muscles).
They can have a furrowed brow, or look cross.
Their fists can be clenched.
They can have a flat head. This too is often connected to a torticollis as baby tends to lie on the same part of their head.
They can be unsettled digestively.
They often don’t like to lie flat, preferring to be upright in your arms.
And the tend to not like their car seat.
If you would like to book an appointment to have your newborn baby assessed, call us on 021 4348918 or book online.
Did you know we also have online courses for new parents? As a new parent it can sometimes feel overwhelming and we believe the more information you have, the sooner you can solve any issues your baby may have.
Your Newborn Baby is a course about the common issues we see in babies at our clinic. We look at delivery, flat head, torticollis, colic, reflux, allergy and so much more.
Baby Reflux – A New Approach is specifically for parents of reflux babies. It will help you identify and treat the cause of your baby’s reflux and explain how best to treat the reflux symptoms your baby may have.
For more information about our courses click the button below.
Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy in Babies
Cow’s milk contains 2 types of protein – whey and casein. When a child has a Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA) it is one or both of these proteins that is the allergen. Casein is found in the solid part (curd) of milk that curdles. Whey is found in the liquid part of milk that remains after milk curdles. Your child may be allergic to only one milk protein or to both. These proteins may be hard to avoid because they’re also in some processed foods. And most people who react to cow’s milk may also react to sheep’s, goat’s and buffalo’s milk. More commonly, people allergic to cow’s milk may also allergic to soya milk.
Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) can be a very complex condition and when we see babies and children who we suspect have a CMPA in our clinic, we always refer them to a Paediatric Dietitian. Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy seen in infants and children. Between 2 and 7.5% of children are estimated to have CMA. However, the actual numbers could be much higher as there’s a high rate of failure to diagnose the Delayed Onset type of CMA. This is backed up by a 2009 study in the UK where it was demonstrated that, of 1000 children with a diagnosis of CMA, there was considerable under diagnosis, delayed diagnosis and incorrect diagnosis. CMA can present with a spectrum of acute or delayed symptoms that can be mild, moderate or severe in nature – easy to see how it can be misdiagnosed or missed isn’t it!
There are 2 different types of Cows Milk Allergy to look at.
1. IgE mediated CMA – Acute Onset; This type typically occurs within a few minutes of taking cow’s milk protein and symptoms can range from mild urticaria (rash) to serious anaphylaxis. This is certainly the more serious of the 2 types and is likely to last longer. It’s easier to diagnose as the symptoms relate to the intake of dairy and are obvious. It presents as a very typical allergy that most people will recognise and seek medical attention for.
2. Non IgE-mediated CMA- Delayed Onset; This type of CMA occurs several hours or days after taking cow’s milk protein and tends to affect the gastro-intestinal tract, the skin and the respiratory system. This is the type of CMA we see most frequently at the clinic. Because of the delayed signs and symptoms, it can be difficult to pinpoint the food causing the allergy in older children and therefore difficult to get a diagnosis. With babies under 6 months old it’s slightly more straight forward as they only drink milk.
There are several circumstances that can help point to a diagnosis of Cows Milk Allergy. Many medical practitioners rely on these associated circumstances to make their diagnosis and therefore it’s important to tell your Doctor if your baby has any of the following.
1. A family history of allergy, most significant in parents and siblings.
2. Symptoms that are persistent and affect different systems – gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory.
3. Babies who have moderate to severe atopic eczema or dermatitis.
4. Babies who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or any other gastrointestinal symptoms such as “colic”, loose stools, constipation.
General Symptoms of Cows Milk Allergy.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
1. Vomiting
2. Reflux
3. Colic
4. Diarrhoea
5. Constipation
6. Flatulence
7. Stomach pain
8. Mucousy Stools
9. Distended Stomach
Dermatological Symptoms
1. Eczema
2. Rashes (skin and nappy)
3. Hives (nettle sting type rash)
4. Wheals
5. Contact Dermatitis
6. Swelling of the eyes and lips or the whole face or localised
swellings (angioedema)
Respiratory Symptoms
1. Wheezing
2. Sore Throat
3. Nasal Congestion
4. Persistent Runny Nose &/or Eyes
5. Ear Ache
6. Persistent Cough
7. Oral Irritation (itchy mouth, excessive dribble)
This list highlights the varying symptoms that may be seen in babies and children with a CMA and demonstrates the difficulty often experienced in getting a diagnosis.
How Paediatric Osteopathy helps a baby with a Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy.
When a baby has CMPA their nervous system, in our view, is in “fight or flight” mode. They are in digestive pain, can have reflux, gas, slow bowel clearance and irritation of the skin (eczema). Their body is in distress.
Treatment must focus on calming the nervous system response to distress. Gentle techniques are applied to the cranium to ease muscular tension in the neck. We then work on the respiratory system to ease tension of the ribcage and the breathing diaphragm. This allows decreased traction on the oesophagus as it passes through the breathing diaphragm. This is important for feeding.
We continue with gentle visceral techniques to the abdominal fascia to improve digestive transition in the intestinal tract. Finally, we rebalance the baby’s breathing with their cranial motion to establish nervous system calibration.
Paul’s Story
Mum brought Paul to see us when he was 12-weeks old. He was born at 39 weeks following an 8-hour labour which was uneventful. Mum described Paul as irritable in general with a very poor sleeping pattern. Paul had difficulties feeding and taking all his feeds, burping was tough, and his bowels were very variable as he may not have a poo for 4-5 days.
Mum had changed formula 4 times from the standard formula to a comfort formula to lactose free formula and finally returned to a standard formula again. She said there was very little difference in him when formulas were changed.
Paul had recently developed nasal congestion and was now wheezing. Mum had taken Paul to the doctor to check his chest which was clear. He had also developed a rash on his face, eyebrows and scalp which would ease when a cream was applied but would return after stopping the application of the cream. His skin had a dry appearance and was starting to look redder in recent weeks.
We were particularly interested in Paul’s family history of food allergies, asthma, hay fever and eczema. Mum stated that dad had eczema as a young baby, cried for 9 months and was put on goat’s milk formula. Paul’s brother, who was now 3- years old, had chronic reflux as a baby and developed asthma as a toddler. Mum said they changed formulas for his reflux numerous times but that he just “grew out of it” at 10 months. “He still doesn’t like milk and prefers drinking water” she added.
Our view was that Paul could have a Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy. I treated Paul’s digestive system to give him ease and referred him to a Paediatric Dietician to access if he had CMPA. The dietician switched Paul to a specific formula for CMPA and would review him in a month. We saw Paul at the clinic 5-weeks later. His skin condition had cleared up. He didn’t have a wheeze, he was pooing most days and his Mum reported that he was less irritable and was sleeping much better. Paul was assisted with weaning by the Paediatric Dietitian and was later guided back onto diary using the Milk Ladder under the supervision of the Dietitian.
Cork Children’s Clinic
For more information about the services we provide at the clinic, see our website http://www.corkchildrensclinic.com
What to expect in the 3rd Trimester
The beginning of week 28 marks the start of the 3rd trimester. And while you are now getting excited to see your new baby, there are still quite a few changes happening to your body.
Braxton Hicks Contractions
These are essentially practice contractions. They can feel like mild contractions and tightness around your tummy. There’s no real explanation as to what makes them happen or when they do. But unlike real contractions, they happen irregularly and vary in length. You also tend to feel them at the front of your bump.
Constipation
This is not uncommon in the lead up to your due date. Pregnancy hormones can slow down your digestive system and this can result in constipation. It can feel very uncomfortable and if increasing the fibre in your diet and increasing your water intake does not resolve it, you should see your midwife or doctor.
Haemorrhoids
These do go hand in hand with constipation as you can imagine! They can develop due to the growing size of your uterus but can be worsened by constipation. Again, if you are experiencing pain, discomfort or bleeding while opening your bowels, see your midwife or doctor.
Breathlessness
Finding yourself short of breath after climbing the stairs or making a dash for a bus is not unusual during the 3rd trimester. Your growing uterus is taking up space in your abdomen and reducing the movement of your breathing diaphragm. You are also carrying the extra load of baby with you. If however you find yourself very short of breath, or you have dizziness, you should tell your doctor.
Varicose Veins
Many pregnant women experience a feeling of restlessness in their legs towards the end of pregnancy. And many get varicose veins. The reason for this is that the ever expanding uterus makes it more difficult for blood to travel upwards back towards the heart. The veins then dilate to accommodate this. You also have more blood circulating during pregnancy, which compounds the problem. Good news is that for most women varicose veins will clear up naturally after delivery.
Round Ligament Pain
To help make space for your growing uterus, you produce a hormone called Relaxin. This allows the ligaments on either side of your uterus to relax and loosen as the uterus grows. This can however cause aches around the bump.
Remember, if you have any concerns you should seek advice from your midwife or doctor. Most pregnant women feel really well and full of energy during the 3rd trimester. You may still be working and you may even have a nursery to decorate. Do what you can but remember to rest when you need it. Approaching the birth in a fit and healthy state will give you a head start as a new mum.
We have created an online course for new parents to help them prepare for their little ones arrival. We cover the effects of delivery, the crying baby, sleep, flat head and tongue tie. We also look at the common issues we see in newborn babies here at our clinic, like colic, reflux and milk allergy for example. Packed with helpful tips and practical information, it will be course you can come back to again and again.
Our online course is perfect for busy parents who want to get the most out of their parenting experience. With our step-by-step guidance and support, you can trust that you will have the knowledge and confidence to provide the best care for your baby. With our help, you can give your baby the best start in life.
The Importance of a Post Natal Plan
As a new mum you have responsibility for the welfare of your new baby but who looks after you? I’m sure you have made plans and talked about your pregnancy and the birth, but what about when you get home with baby? Making a few preparations before baby is born will mean you have arrangements in place when you will need a little help or assistance.
Of course, looking after your health and wellbeing during pregnancy will mean you are better placed to cope with labour and delivery and the immediate postnatal period. Remember self-care is not “me first”, it’s “me too”. By looking after your own physical and mental wellbeing, you are ensuring you can give your best to your baby. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
If you intend to make a postnatal care plan for your over-all post birth wellness, here are a few tips that may help.
- What products will you need after baby is born? Have a good stock of everything you may need for you (and baby) ready at home. Make some postnatal care kits and put them in the bathrooms you use. Ask for recommendations from other mums for the products they felt worked best for them.
- Make a list of all the professionals you may need help from after baby is born. Have your research done and get your recommendations early.
- Have your support set up. Know who your go-to people are. Most people will offer advice if asked but who do you trust most? Who will you listen to? Talk to family and friends about what type of help you may need and what they are happy to do for you. You do not need to do this by yourself. Asking for help is a sign of strength.
- What about practical help? Talk about who will do the everyday things – the cooking, washing, cleaning, and shopping. Who can you ask to help you in the early weeks? How will the workload be divided up? You may have a new baby but all the normal household jobs will be there too. Again, this is where your family and friends can help you too.
- Have you considered a Post Partum Doula? This is a a trained professional who offers emotional, physical, and informational support to a woman and her partner after baby is born. This would really benefit parents who do not have a large support network around them. Or perhaps a Maternity Nurse to help overnight for a week or two? There are plenty of options available for parents.
You should go back and review your plan regularly after baby is born as you see what is required. It’s hard to imagine exactly how tired you will be or how busy you will be before baby is born. You might find that you want to do more as you are feeling great, or that you need much more support than you expected as you had a caesarean section. Whatever the situation, you can both adjust the plan as needed. As with your Birth Plan, the key with your Postnatal Plan is flexibility, as babies are unpredictable.
We have created an online course for new parents to help them prepare for their little ones arrival. We cover the effects of delivery, the crying baby, sleep, flat head and tongue tie. We also look at the common issues we see in newborn babies here at our clinic, like colic, reflux and milk allergy for example. Packed with helpful tips and practical information, it will be course you can come back to again and again.
Our online course is perfect for busy parents who want to get the most out of their parenting experience. With our step-by-step guidance and support, you can trust that you will have the knowledge and confidence to provide the best care for your baby. With our help, you can give your baby the best start in life.
Post Natal Back Pain, Shoulder Pain or Pelvic Pain.
Pregnancy and labour can really take its toll on your body. Your posture has had to gradually adapt for several months to your growing uterus, and then suddenly, it must be readapt when your baby is born. It’s little wonder that new mums often complain of back, neck, shoulder or pelvic pain!
Pregnancy hormones also continue to affect your muscles and ligaments for around 6 months after birth, making them more lax, which places pressure and increased risks of injury on the joints, ligaments and discs of the lower back and other parts of your body.
And of course, now that you are a new mum, new activities such as feeding and carrying your baby will put additional strain on your body.
So how can Osteopathy help?
Osteopathic treatment is extremely gentle and works by relieving postural strains resulting from long hours spent carrying and feeding your baby as well as repetitive movements such as lifting your baby. Osteopathy will also make the day-to-day demands of motherhood much easier for you.
When should you see your Osteopath?
If you had a difficult delivery, we would suggest you see an osteopath as soon as is comfortable for you as treatment will speed recovery and prevent future problems.
For example, the use of instruments, such as ventouse and forceps, can leave strains in pelvic tissues and alter the position of the uterus and bladder.
The sooner you are treated, the fewer tensions can set in, and the less pain will appear.
Even if you had an uncomplicated delivery, a post-natal check-up four to six weeks is highly recommended to assess your alignment and make sure everything is back in the normal position and moving well.
It is important to take care of yourself. Because if you are well, this can only be beneficial for your baby.
We now offer mum and baby checks here at Cork Children’s Clinic with Osteopath Sacha Bucchieri. You can book an appointment by calling us on 021 4348918 or perhaps book online below.
Did you know we also have online courses for new parents? As a new parent it can sometimes feel overwhelming and we believe the more information you have, the sooner you can solve any issues your baby may have.
Your Newborn Baby is a course about the common issues we see in babies at our clinic. We look at delivery, flat head, torticollis, colic, reflux, allergy and so much more.
Baby Reflux – A New Approach is specifically for parents of reflux babies. It will help you identify and treat the cause of your baby’s reflux and explain how best to treat the reflux symptoms your baby may have.
For more information about our courses click the button below.
Slings and Carriers and why they may help a reflux baby!
Using a sling or a baby-carrier can take a lot of pressure off a parent of a reflux baby. Now, not every reflux baby will like a sling or carrier, but because of the upright position, some can find it very comfortable.
If you feel you are sitting under baby all day, or perhaps you have other children at home who are demanding your attention, maybe a sling could help. Babywearing is a great way to hold and comfort your baby while keeping your hands free to get stuff done. There are many different types available, some are nice and simple, others look a lot more complicated. We’ll run through a few of the types below for you. We would also suggest that you ask family and friends for a loan of a sling/carrier they may have used with their little one. Trying a few different styles will give you a better guide as to what’s most comfortable for you and baby. You can then purchase that one (unless the borrowed one is not needed back of course).
Carriers
A soft and structured baby carrier is probably the most popular. It has straps and buckles that attach around the parent’s waist and back to secure the baby in the carrier. They are very easy to wear and to put baby into. A few adjustments will secure your little one and you are off! The only con really is that some carriers do not have sufficient support for a new-born. So, if you are buying one, be sure to check the age of suitability.
Wraps
Wraps are exactly as you’d expect – a long piece of fabric you wrap around you and baby to hold baby. Stretchy fabric wraps are great for new parents. You can tie the wrap around you and then put baby in. Because they are stretchy, they may feel more secure when you are new to wraps. It can be a two-person job to start with, but you’d won’t be long getting proficient. As your baby gets older, a woven wrap may be better suited. You can carry baby on your chest or on your back, though you’ll probably need to look at a few YouTube tutorials to master the different techniques.
Ring Sling
If the idea of a wrap scares you, but you do want something that offers a bit more variety than a soft and structured carrier, then a ring sling may be worth considering. This is a long piece of fabric with rings sewn at one end. The other end is fed through the ring to secure it. There is still a little bit of technique with these, but they are easier than the wrap. They can be used from new-born to toddler.
Support for Babywearing
In Ireland: Babywearing Ireland
In UK: https://www.babywearing.co.uk
IMPORTANT
If you do choose to use a sling or a carrier it is very important to follow the manufacturers guidelines and TICKS Rule for Safe Babywearing devised by the UK Sling Manufacturers & Retailers Consortium.
Did you know we also have online courses for new parents? As a new parent it can sometimes feel overwhelming and we believe the more information you have, the sooner you can solve any issues your baby may have.
Your Newborn Baby is a course about the common issues we see in babies at our clinic. We look at delivery, flat head, torticollis, colic, reflux, allergy and so much more.
Baby Reflux – A New Approach is specifically for parents of reflux babies. It will help you identify and treat the cause of your baby’s reflux and explain how best to treat the reflux symptoms your baby may have.
For more information about our courses click the button below.
How important is a Postnatal Care Plan?
As a new mum you have responsibility for the welfare of your new baby but who looks after you? You have made plans and talked about your pregnancy and the birth, but what about when you get home with baby?
Making a few preparations and having a few conversations before baby is born will mean you have arrangements in place when you will need a little help or assistance.
Looking after your health and wellbeing during pregnancy will mean you are better placed to cope with labour and delivery and the immediate postnatal period. Remember self-care is not “me first”, it’s “me too”. By looking after your own physical and mental wellbeing, you are ensuring you can give your best to your baby. As the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup.
If you intend to make a postnatal care plan for your over-all post birth wellness, here are a few tips that may help.
- What products will you need after baby is born? Have a good stock of everything you may need for you (and baby). Put your postnatal care kits in the bathrooms you use. Ask for recommendations from other mums for the products they felt worked best for them.
- Make a list of all the professionals you may need help from after baby is born. Have your research done and get your recommendations early.
- Have your support set up. Know who your go-to people are. Most people will offer advice if asked but who do you trust most? Who will you listen to?
- What about practical help? Talk about who will do the everyday things – the cooking, washing, cleaning, and shopping. Who can you ask to help you in the early weeks?
Conversations to have before baby is born.
You have probably discussed everything from breastfeeding pumps to car seats to how to announce baby’s arrival, but there are other conversations that are probably best to have before baby arrives. These can be difficult conversations to have when you are tired or stressed, so having them when you both are calm will allow you make decisions with calm logical heads.
- Visitors in the first few days – who is allowed visit and for how long? How to manage this? What will be the role of grandparents?
- How do you deal with tiredness and sleep deprivation? How can your partner support you?
- How will the workload be divided? This should cover everything from baby to housework to free time. You are a team and setting the ground rules early is best for everyone.
- Night-time feedings and waking – who does what?
- Self-care – what will you need and how to recognise when you need time for yourself?
You should go back and review these conversations regularly after baby is born as you see what is required. It’s hard to imagine exactly how tired you will be or how busy you will be before baby is born. You might find that you want to do more as you are feeling great, or that you need much more support than you expected as you had a caesarean section. Whatever the situation, you can both adjust the plan as needed. As with your Birth Plan, the key with your Postnatal Plan is flexibility, as babies are unpredictable.
If you would like to know more about the postnatal period, our online course may be helpful. While it’s primarily about Baby Reflux, it is packed with very useful information for any new parent. From the effects of delivery, gut health, allergy, why babies cry, how to sooth them and so much more. You can get the full list of what is covered here – http://thehappybabyacademy.teachable.com/p/baby-reflux-a-new-approach
The Premature Baby
Having a baby a little earlier than expected can be stressful, particularly if they need a care in an Neonatal Unit. We recently spoke to Mary Cullinane, a NNU Nurse in Cork University Maternity Hospital about what parents can expect when their baby is admitted to NNU. You can listen to that episode of our podcast later in this article.
We also see babies at our clinic who were born prematurely.
One the main issues we see in premature babies is that their nervous system is often in a state of fight or flight. The earlier a baby is born and longer they spend in NICU, the more likely this is. Premature babies can cry more often, a sign of their immature nervous system. Other signs that they are under stress are:
- they can be very alert
- they are often in constant motion
- and they like to be held a lot.
Parents often bring their baby to see us for a digestive issue they may be having and again, this is not unusual as their digestive systems are a little immature and in need of support.
Premature babies are often windy and their bowels can be sluggish. One of the reasons for this is that research has shown that premature babies have has fewer good bacteria compared to bad bacteria in their bowel. Breast feeding will help promote good bacteria in the gut, as will skin to skin. A breastfeeding mum can supplement the good bacteria by taking a probiotic herself too. If a premature baby is bottle fed, it is worth giving baby a good infant probiotic for at least 6 weeks. I have seen the beneficial effects of doing this in the babies attending my clinic.
Here are our Top 9 things to bring with you to the NNU if your baby is born preterm.
- Notebook and pen – you will be given new information about your baby almost every day and the best way to remember it is to write it down. You may also want to make some notes about what happened that day, what time baby was fed at or questions you may have for the staff.
- Diary or a journal – it can help to keep a diary of each day as it can give you a sense of control. The days can melt together, and it can be difficult to remember what happened even yesterday. Keeping a record will help.
- A muslin cloth that has been worn by you – Having your scent near baby will help to keep them calm. Even though you cannot be with them all the time, they know their Mum. It also helps to leave them there when you know they have a little bit of you next to them.
- A blanket – Use a soft cotton blanket when baby is in your arms to keep them warm and cosy. Preterm babies can lose heat easily, particularly when removed from their warm incubator.
- Wear loose clothing – If you are doing skin to skin with baby, or if you are breastfeeding your baby, loose clothing will help.
- A mirror – a small mirror will help you see baby’s face when you are doing skin to skin. Never miss a moment or an expression or a little yawn.
- Photographs – if you have other children at home, it’s important to include them in baby’s care. While they cannot come in to see baby, a photograph of them attached to the incubator or crib will show them that they are a very important part of this new baby’s care.
- Cooler bag – If you are breast feeding, having a cooler bag for expressed breast milk will save time.
- Food and drinks – Having some nutritious snacks and drinks for yourself is very important too. You may get time to leave the NNU to get lunch, but you may not. And as a new Mum, recovering from birth and possibly breastfeeding, your nutrition is vital.
We spoke to Mary Cullinane, a NNU Nurse in Cork University Maternity Hospital about the babies she cares for every day. Mary has been working in NNU for many years and is a wonderfully caring and dedicated nurse and midwife. Listen to this episode of our podcast below.
Baby Colic
Colic is a diagnosis that very often comes with the assumption that nothing can be done to help baby. But this is incorrect. We believe that there is always something that you can do for an upset baby.
First of all, is it really colic? Babies with other digestive issues can have very similar symptoms to the typical colic symptoms. When we see a baby at the clinic presenting with colic type symptoms Frank will always rule out other digestive issues. Very often it’s not colic, it’s something else.
When there’s no other digestive condition identified we then look at why a baby may have colic symptoms. The first thing we look at is gut immaturity or imbalance.
Many of the bacteria in a newborn baby’s gut comes from Mum. The type of delivery is important. As it when they were born. Having a well populated gut is essential to good digestive health. How a baby is fed also affects gut health.
Our latest podcast episode is all about colic. We chat about what colic is and some of the other issues it can be confused with. We discuss the causes of colic symptoms and we look at the treatment options available to help ease baby’s digestive upset.
If your baby is very distressed one of our Online Courses may help.
In these courses, will give you the benefit of all our years of experience treating babies with digestive issues and many of the associated conditions. We want to find a solution for every baby we see at our clinic and over the years we have studied digestive issues in detail, looking for causes, optimum treatment options, new research, and practical solutions. We have combined all this information in our courses so that we can help as many babies (and parents!) as possible.
If you want answers, if you want a happy baby who is not continually crying and distressed, then maybe one of our courses can help.
Let us help you become the best possible advocate for your baby.
Below you will find our information sheet about The Crying Baby. It contains some of the most common reasons a baby will cry and some tips to soothe your little one when they are distressed.