Common Problems and Worries

Eyes—When you get home from the hospital, the baby's eyes may have some white or yellow discharge caused by irritation from the medicine that was put in at birth. This should clear up within 5 or 6 days and should not get much worse at any time. If it does get worse or lasts more than a week, get medical advice promptly.

Head Shape—In passing through the birth canal, the head may become molded into a peculiar shape. It will become more normal in the first several weeks of life.

Body fluid may accumulate under part of the scalp, causing a firm, spongy lump or "caput." This will disappear in a few weeks. Blood may accumulate on the surface of one of the bones of the skull, causing a soft squashy lump "cephalohematoma." This kind of lump may take several months to disappear completely. A child who always lies on one side may show flattening and loss of hair on that part of the head. This, too, will disappear as your infant grows older. None of these conditions will cause any problems later in your child's life.

The Umbilical Cord and the Navel or Belly Button—The stump of the umbilical cord, which is cut at birth, usually falls off within 5 to 9 days. The navel then often shows a slight oozing or bleeding for a few days. If it does, clean it once or twice a day with soap and water or with alcohol. Bleeding or oozing that lasts more than 2 or 3 days after the cord falls off should be brought to the attention of a doctor.

Older Brothers and Sisters—Older brothers and sisters are often jealous of the time that you spend with your new baby. Try to find some time to give each of them special attention. Don't be surprised if a child between ages 2 and 5 starts thumb sucking, wetting pants, or asking for bottles or diapers in imitation of a new baby. This child is simply seeking attention. Give as much as you can of the attention needed but don't encourage such a child to return to baby-like habits. A child older than 3 1/2 or 4 years can usually understand the arrival of a baby and help you take care of the newborn.

Children between ages 1 and 3 1/2 years should never be left alone with the baby. They are too young to understand the baby. They may pick up and drop, squeeze too hard, sit on, or put dangerous things in the infant's mouth or crib. They may hurt the infant with tools, utensils or furniture! This is not because they are "bad," but because they may be jealous of the new arrival. Give them the individual attention they need, let them help you and the baby in whatever way they can when you are with the baby, and NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE WITH THE BABY.

Ask Questions

Especially with your first baby, you will have more questions in the first few weeks than at any later time. If your question isn't answered in this article, get an answer from another source. There are many excellent baby books. You may not want to read any of them from cover to cover, but they can answer many of your specific questions. Ask experienced mothers and grandmothers. But don't necessarily accept all the advice you get! If what you hear or read is simple and makes sense, give it a try. If not, get other advice.

Use the telephone to call a doctor, a well-baby clinic, or the hospital where your child was born. Write down all your questions before you make the phone call so you will be sure they are all answered. If you don't understand the advice you are given, keep on asking until you do understand. Many doctors and nurses use medical terms which few mothers can understand. If that happens, tell them so. Ask them to say it in plain language. Don't give up until you understand what they mean. Just because advice is given by a doctor or nurse doesn't mean that it is right. If it doesn't make sense to you, or if it sounds extremely complicated or difficult, even after you have had a full explanation, don't hesitate to ask someone else.

The more you can tell your doctor about what is bothering you or your child, the better he or she will be able to help you. For example, if your child is crying more than usual, your doctor will want to know at what time of day your child cries, how long it lasts, whether there seems to be pain, whether there is anything you do that makes it better or worse, for how many days the crying has lasted and whether your infant seems sick or uncomfortable in any other way. The more you can tell about your baby, the better advice you will get.

Jeff Beaumont

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