Newborn Health
Q&A With Expert Series: Get Your Answers On The Common Doubts For Newborn Care!
5 min | Updated on 30-03-2023 by HappyPreggie
If you are a new parent, you might worry that you are not ready to take care of a newborn. You're not alone. Lots of new parents feel unprepared and might have several concerns about their baby’s wellbeing and health. While the concerns may be different among parents, there are a few common health issues a newborn goes through.
(Q&A With Expert Series with Dr. Ng Yi Ki)
Here, we have compiled a list of surprisingly common concerns that mums and dads usually have about newborn care answered by Dr. Ng Yi Ki, Pediatrician at Baby Beyond Child Specialist Clinic Publika, who joined us and answered all the worried parents about their concerns. Thank you, Dr. Yi Ki.
Let's jump into the questions:
P.S. G6PD is an enzyme that helps red blood cells to work correctly. When the body doesn't have enough of this enzyme, red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made and causing anemia.
(Image credits to Canva)
Children with G6PD deficiency have to avoid certain medicines, foods (such as fava beans) and chemicals (such as mothballs) as these things can trigger a rapid loss of red blood cells causing severe anemia. This avoidance is life-long. A list of these triggers is usually given before discharge from the hospital or can be easily found online.
If accidentally exposed to them, you need to monitor your child closely if he/she turns pale or becomes less active. Otherwise, the baby grows up normally and check-ups are at the usual intervals as other babies.
The most common type of newborn jaundice is called physiological jaundice, which means it’s normal due to the baby’s red blood cells naturally having a shorter lifespan than adult red blood cells, and therefore more bilirubin (which gives the yellow skin pigmentation) when the cells die. This is an unchangeable factor.
(Image credits to Canva)
Other common causes of jaundice are also not preventable, such as the mother’s blood group and rhesus factor.
However, one reliable way to help reduce jaundice is breastfeeding. Breastmilk helps hydrate the baby and reduces jaundice by binding to the bilirubin and excreting it from the body in the stools and urine more effectively.
Also, the baby should not be given any traditional or herbal drinks or medication. Mothers should also be careful of the traditional herbal drinks they consume.
(Image credits to Canva)
The first visit to the paediatric clinic is an important one. It includes monitoring baby’s growth (weight, length, head circumference), a physical examination from head to toe to look out for jaundice and to make sure that the other major organs are normal (and this includes looking at the back along the spine, the hips and the genitalia), enquiring about feeding and sleeping patterns as well as to discuss upcoming vaccinations. Equally important, it’s a time where parents can ask the doctor anything about their baby’s health. Nothing is too trivial to ask. It would be wise to come up with a prepared list of questions.
(Image credits to Unsplash)
This newborn vaginal bleeding is common and normal. It’s caused by a sudden drop in the mother’s estrogen hormone level after birth. The blood-tinge or pink discharge usually lasts for a few days. No additional or special care or treatment is needed.
(Image credits to Canva)
There are many causes of face redness in newborns due to exposure of the delicate newborn skin to environmental factors as well as the products we use on the skin. Most are temporary, self-limiting and do not require special treatment. Gentle bath cleansers and moisturisers are advisable as to not worsen the condition, use only soft cloth material on the face and keep the baby in a cool environment. If the redness persists or worsens, do not hesitate to see your child’s paediatrician.
We hope this helped answer some of the concerns you may have. What other questions do you have? Let us know, and we will help you find the answers. Your questions may even be featured in our future Q & A series blog.
In the meantime, if you want to know about some common breastfeeding concerns answered by a professional you can read- Q & A With Expert Series: Your Top Breastfeeding Concerns Answered! Or you can also read other amazing informative blogs on HappyPreggie’s website.
(Q&A With Expert Series with Dr. Ng Yi Ki)
Here, we have compiled a list of surprisingly common concerns that mums and dads usually have about newborn care answered by Dr. Ng Yi Ki, Pediatrician at Baby Beyond Child Specialist Clinic Publika, who joined us and answered all the worried parents about their concerns. Thank you, Dr. Yi Ki.
Let's jump into the questions:
Q1. How to care for a baby that inherited G6PD (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency? Does the baby in need of further check-ups after a few months?
P.S. G6PD is an enzyme that helps red blood cells to work correctly. When the body doesn't have enough of this enzyme, red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made and causing anemia.
(Image credits to Canva)
Children with G6PD deficiency have to avoid certain medicines, foods (such as fava beans) and chemicals (such as mothballs) as these things can trigger a rapid loss of red blood cells causing severe anemia. This avoidance is life-long. A list of these triggers is usually given before discharge from the hospital or can be easily found online.
If accidentally exposed to them, you need to monitor your child closely if he/she turns pale or becomes less active. Otherwise, the baby grows up normally and check-ups are at the usual intervals as other babies.
Q2. How to prevent or reduce the risk of jaundice in newborns?
The most common type of newborn jaundice is called physiological jaundice, which means it’s normal due to the baby’s red blood cells naturally having a shorter lifespan than adult red blood cells, and therefore more bilirubin (which gives the yellow skin pigmentation) when the cells die. This is an unchangeable factor.
(Image credits to Canva)
Other common causes of jaundice are also not preventable, such as the mother’s blood group and rhesus factor.
However, one reliable way to help reduce jaundice is breastfeeding. Breastmilk helps hydrate the baby and reduces jaundice by binding to the bilirubin and excreting it from the body in the stools and urine more effectively.
Also, the baby should not be given any traditional or herbal drinks or medication. Mothers should also be careful of the traditional herbal drinks they consume.
Q3. What health check-ups are included during the first paediatrician visit for a newborn?
(Image credits to Canva)
The first visit to the paediatric clinic is an important one. It includes monitoring baby’s growth (weight, length, head circumference), a physical examination from head to toe to look out for jaundice and to make sure that the other major organs are normal (and this includes looking at the back along the spine, the hips and the genitalia), enquiring about feeding and sleeping patterns as well as to discuss upcoming vaccinations. Equally important, it’s a time where parents can ask the doctor anything about their baby’s health. Nothing is too trivial to ask. It would be wise to come up with a prepared list of questions.
Q4. Why does my newborn girl's genital is bleeding and how should I care for her?
(Image credits to Unsplash)
This newborn vaginal bleeding is common and normal. It’s caused by a sudden drop in the mother’s estrogen hormone level after birth. The blood-tinge or pink discharge usually lasts for a few days. No additional or special care or treatment is needed.
Q5. What causes the redness on my baby's face and how to cure them?
(Image credits to Canva)
There are many causes of face redness in newborns due to exposure of the delicate newborn skin to environmental factors as well as the products we use on the skin. Most are temporary, self-limiting and do not require special treatment. Gentle bath cleansers and moisturisers are advisable as to not worsen the condition, use only soft cloth material on the face and keep the baby in a cool environment. If the redness persists or worsens, do not hesitate to see your child’s paediatrician.
We hope this helped answer some of the concerns you may have. What other questions do you have? Let us know, and we will help you find the answers. Your questions may even be featured in our future Q & A series blog.
In the meantime, if you want to know about some common breastfeeding concerns answered by a professional you can read- Q & A With Expert Series: Your Top Breastfeeding Concerns Answered! Or you can also read other amazing informative blogs on HappyPreggie’s website.
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