Common Health Problems with Newborn Babies
Newborn babies seem like little miracles. They are tiny, perfect, innocent and beautiful. Naturally, newborn health problems are a source of immense concern for parents who are immediately confronted with the fragility and helplessness of their child as well as his or her absolute dependence on them — for everything. Because a parent is required to meet their baby’s every need — and often have to predict what these needs are — knowing what is wrong and how to respond can be quite difficult and stressful.
Hopefully, knowing about some of the common health problems affecting newborn babies, as well as some of the ways the effects of these problems can be lessened, can provide reassurance for parents. In fact, some of the most natural and nurturing techniques, including infant massage, can deliver some wonderful health benefits for newborns and older babies.
What are some of the most common health problems affecting newborn babies?
Jaundice: When a baby’s liver is too immature to initially get rid of excess bilirubin in the blood (bilirubin is a yellow pigment that results from the normal breakdown of red blood cells), jaundice quite often occurs. Jaundice is particularly common for infants born prematurely, but it can also be experienced by babies born at full term. When a baby is jaundiced, his or her skin and the whites of their eyes can appear yellow in colour.
If a baby is jaundiced, its bilirubin levels are likely to be checked through a blood test that will indicate whether treatment is required. Jaundice is very often (and very successfully) treated by the baby having light therapy, which involves exposure to special lights that break down excess amounts of bilirubin, thereby allowing the baby’s body to process the pigment.
Even when a baby is required to have light therapy, regular and plentiful feeding needs to occur. Physical contact with parents remains important at this time and infant massage, even with a safe and non-reactive baby massage oil, can deliver important benefits.
Immature lungs: Another common health problem affecting newborn babies is that of immature lungs. This problem occurs when a baby’s lungs do not have adequate surfactant, the chemical necessary for preventing the air sacs of the lungs from collapsing as the baby breathes. Most often, surfactant is not fully present in the lungs of a developing baby until it has reached a gestational age of 34 weeks. Because of this, many babies born prematurely require assistance to breathe and ventilators are commonly connected to a small plastic tube that is inserted into the baby’s windpipe to help them breathe.
Babies born very prematurely now often receive synthetic surfactant via a breathing tube, as this assists the baby to breathe independently much sooner and often causes less lung damage because longer-term dependence on a ventilator is reduced.
There are many problems that parents fear are a concern but are actually very normal. These include:
Abundant mucus: Newborn babies can have a lot of mucus, often because they swallow mucus secretions throughout labour. This is generally nothing to be too concerned about as the baby’s body will eventually get rid of the mucus (it can even be seen in the baby’s poo or vomit).
Frequent bowel movements: Parents are often concerned that their baby has too many or too frequent bowel movements or, conversely, not enough. Some babies poo after every feed, while others may only poo approximately once a week from the age of about six weeks. The frequency of his or her bowel movements will depend on what is normal for the baby and how he or she is being fed.
Frequent vomiting: Many babies vomit a lot, and a common concern for parents is that their baby will dehydrate as a result. Newborn babies that vomit frequently (particularly following feeds) are not usually a major concern, and frequent vomiting does not necessarily lead to dehydration. However, it is always wise to have the baby seen by a health professional if you are concerned.
Crying: Quite often, parents of newborn babies see crying as a sign that their child is unwell. Crying, or fussy behaviour, typically increases from the age of approximately three weeks, and because this coincides with the time at which a number of babies get colic, a baby’s crying can be quite intense. However, such behaviour does not always indicate illness or a serious problem with the baby.
There are many health issues that cause concern for parents of newborn babies. While some of these do require medical attention and treatment, others are perfectly normal behaviours that are commonly seen in newborns.