Newborn Babies Nursing Moms: What You Need to Know

Congratulations!  You have a new baby!  Now what do you do?  It's the toughest new job you'll ever have.  And more importantly, no matter how many books you read, how many people you talk to, or how prepared you think you may be...caring for a newborn means having lots of questions, and the advice keeps changing and advancing.   How soon do I bring my baby to the doctor after leaving the hospital?  What do I need to learn about breast feeding?  How do I get my baby to start sleeping on a schedule?  What do I need to know about fevers?  Jaundice?  Colic?  About spitting up?  When can I take my newborn out of the house?  And so many more… Join host Dr. Winnie King as we meet with a panel of new mothers, hear their stories and have all of their questions answered by our experts.

GUESTS:

Steven Shelov, MD - Chairman, Dept. of Pediatrics, Maimonides Medical Center; Editor In Chief, American Academy of Pediatrics book, Caring for Your Baby and Child, Birth Through Age 5
Wendy Clarke Wilcox, MD, MPH - Specialist, Obstetrics and Gynecology Montefiore Medical Center
Beverly Solow, RNC - Nursing Consultant; Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Theresa M. Fay Conte, RNC - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Montefiore Medical Center
Geeta Gandbhir, Mother of newborn Rakesh
Denielle Bertarelli-Webb, Mother of newborn Cecilia
Makeda Mays Green, Mother of newborn Javan

TIPS:

Basic Baby Health Tips

• Baby's first visit to the pediatrician should be anywhere from 2 days to 10 days after leaving the hospital.
• JAUNDICE: signs are yellow skin & eyes. Contact Pediatrician
• FEVER: Call pediatrician if your baby is younger than 2 months and has fever of 100.4 fahrenheit or higher. Always take rectal temp and use digital thermometer.
• COLIC is frequent, sustained crying. Never shake a baby to quiet her down. NEVER!
• VOMITING is more forceful than spit up. Call pediatrician if baby is vomiting.

Tips for Mom

• Mom’s health should be monitored too.
• If mom feels down or depressed call a friend or OB.
• If mom is worried about hurting baby, call 911 for help.
• Experts recommend joining a new moms group for support, especially in the winter time. It is NOT a sign of weakness, and it can make a huge difference to mom’s outlook.

Baby Sleep Tips

• Sleep – For safety, babies should always be put on their backs to sleep.
• No pillows, stuffed animals or blankets should be in crib.
• These precautions will help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Newborns should sleep near parents.

Breastfeeding Tips

• Breastfeeding can be painful for new moms, but help is available!
• If there is pain, call a helpline or a lactation consultant to find out if baby's latch-on position can be adjusted.
• To know if baby is getting enough: monitor the number of wet and dirty diapers.
• Make sure baby is swallowing during feeding.
• Make sure baby is gaining weight.
• Does baby seem satisfied after feeding?
• Signs of dehydration include too few wet diapers, dry mouth, sunken fontanel (soft spot). Call pediatrician.

Bathing Tips

• Never leave baby alone.
• Hold her with one arm under head the whole time.
• Test water temperature with your elbow (more sensitive than hand)
• Use different side of washcloth for each eye.
• Wash the face first, then neck, underarms, tummy, feet, and then, finally, the bottom.

RESOURCES:

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
(Medical & developmental info)
http://www.aap.org/
847-434-4000

ZERO TO THREE
(Developmental information)
http://www.zerotothree.org/
202-638-1144

"The Upper Breast Side" Store
(Resource for all things breast-feeding related.)
http://www.upperbreastside.com/
212- 873-2653.

La Leche League International
(Free information about nursing)
http://www.lalecheleague.org/
1-800-la-leche

Winnie King, M.D.