Looking after your baby

Your new born baby’s appearance

If you are a first-time mother, you will probably find that you can’t keep your eyes off your new baby.

Your baby will have a large head relative to his or her body, a bulging tummy, and short arms and legs. You may have noticed that your baby is covered in fine body hair, has peeling skin, or dark skin patches. Do not worry. Most of these will disappear gradually.

Your baby’s umbilical cord usually looks bluish-white in colour after it is cut. The cord will shrivel and fall off by itself between the first and third week, but it is important to keep the cord clean and dry during this time to minimise the risk of infection. You should also try not to cover the cord with the nappy or plastic pants. 

Your new born baby’s senses

Until recently, we believed that new born babies only have a limited range of responses. It is now known that newborn babies have amazing abilities. Babies:

• like to look at:

o human faces
o complex patterns
o slow moving objects
o shiny objects with contrasting colours

• have a good sense of smell (being able to distinguish their mother’s milk from other milk)
• respond to human (especially female) voices?
• enjoy being:

o stroked
o caressed and comfort
o gently rocked

Common concerns about your baby

1. Newborn jaundice

If your baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes look yellowish, he or she may have jaundice. This can occur from a build up in bilirubin, caused from the breakdown of old red blood cells. The majority of cases of newborn jaundice is caused by the immaturity of a baby’s liver, which would normally handle bilirubin. As the liver matures, the jaundice will disappear. This usually happens by the end of the second week.

Occasionally, newborn jaundice can be caused by some blood incompatibilities, infections, or breastfeeding. If it appears that the condition is getting worse or is not improving, consult a healthcare practitioner for advice. 

2. Spitting up and vomiting

Many babies spit up milk during or after feeding. You can reduce this by burping your baby during and after feeds. Also try to avoid overfeeding. The tendency to spit up normally disappears within the first 9 months.

If you notice serious and/or continuous spitting up, consult a healthcare provider. Severe cases of spitting up can lead to dehydration.

Reflux can also be a common problem for babies, particularly as they are often lying down. Reflux is when stomach acid comes into the esophagus (the ‘tube’ connecting your mouth to your stomach). In severe cases, acid can go up into the baby’s mouth. This condition is painful for the baby and can occur regularly after feeding. If your baby often cries after feeding or is reluctant to feed, you should consult a healthcare professional. 

3. Nappy rash

Your baby’s skin is very sensitive, and many substances, including urine, stool, and some laundry products, can cause irritation. To prevent nappy rash, make sure you change your baby’s nappy frequently, and gently clean and wipe your baby’s bottom whilst changing. There are creams that are suitable for babies which can help, as well as powders (such as talcum powder). If you have nothing else, corn flour is a good substitute. The creams act as a barrier, while the powders help to keep your baby dry, reducing the risk of skin irritation.

If you are using cloth nappies, you may need to change to a milder laundry powder, or run the nappies through an extra rinse cycle to completely remove any laundry detergent.