Baby Smooth, Not-So-Smooth, Newborn Skin

Your holding your newborn close 8 inches from your face, staring into all his perfection, taking in the miracle you created, and then you start noticing that the "Baby Smooth" perfect skin you expected him to be born with, isn't so smooth after all.  It's dry, it's peeling, it flaky - what is this?!

No worries, that baby smooth skin will come around, but first he has to shed some skin.  Don't pick at the peeling skin, let it fall away naturally to reveal the healthy skin below.  In utero, your baby's skin is covered in a white, cheese like substance called Vernix Caseosa.  You may continue to see this in the folds of his skin, leave it there, it will moisturize his skin.

Mother's often bring their babies to me questioning there skin - is it heat? allergies?

Often their is no reason to worry.  
Your newborn’s skin is being exposed to a brand new atmosphere.  During this time you may notice rashes, bumps, discoloration – most of this is normal.  If you see your infant has any of the following skin conditions, there is no need to apply ointments, creams, etc; will resolve if left alone.  Please review some of the common skin conditions in newborns:

• Milia

Tiny white bumps/yellow spots caused by secretions

from your infants skin glands.  The bumps are on the chin,

 cheeks, nose and will clear up within the first 3 weeks

• Erythema Toxicum

--Reddened areas with white bumps in the middle.  This common rash appears within the first few days of your newborn’s life and will clear up.    

• Heat Rash

Tiny sweat blisters/red bumps due to exposure to humid climates.  Often shows up in skin folds.  Will away within a few days.

• Mongolian Spots

Flat, pigmented area of skin (varied in size) that appears gray, brown, or blue (looks like bruise).  Most often located on the back and more common in dark-skinned infants.  Generally disappear by school age

~Cradle and All, *Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy

cradlemybaby.com

OK for Professor to Breastfeed in Class?

Breast feeding – the choice encouraged from the time you become pregnant.  While health professionals encourage breast feeding for the first 12 months of life, society makes it a little harder than it needs to be.  Recently, breastfeeding in public has been the topic of debate in all forums.  From soldiers in uniform breastfeeding in public, to professors in a class room, everywhere is considered inappropriate. 

Recently, I was eating at an Italian restaurant, and on the door they had a sticker indicating their support of breast feeding.  I thought the sticker was unnecessary, who wouldn’t support or allow a mother to feed their infant in their facility?  As I come across more mothers who share stories of being asked not to breastfeed, I realize the sticker was actually hugely necessary and show of major support to all moms!

As the story of an American University professor breastfeeding during class becomes news, there seems to be some mix up as to whether the University is deciding that breastfeeding is the issue or that bringing a sick infant to the school was the issue or if the students simply felt they didn’t have their Professors full attention. 

It seems the true problem is the students’ discomfort with witnessing breastfeeding –though the story suggests the Professor was never exposed, and remained covered while feeding her infant.

Because our society has sexualized breasts, instead of considering them as a form of nurturing, feeding, and passing immunity to infants, the majority of these college students could not comfortably witness their professor breast feed.  Women are asked to feed their infants in privacy as if they are performing a lewd act. I know of moms who have breastfed during a dental appointment, while grocery shopping, in just any environment because as a mom when your infant is hungry, you aren’t going to make them wait simply for the convenience of those around you. 

It is an active effort to continue to breast feed.  Harder to make that commitment when woman are currently expected to be the best as mom and do the best as a working individual.  Had she bottle fed her infant, the story would not be on the news.  Unfortunately, more people find it appalling to feed an infant in the natural form, then to see a plastic bottle in their mouth. 

This professor, while she is a professor, is first a mom, and she was making the best choice for her baby, in that moment. 

We cannot continue to encourage mothers to breast feed in the hospital, then discourage them once they step out with their newborn. 

To read the full article go to:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/american-university-professor-breast-feeds-sick-baby-in-class-sparking-debate/2012/09/11/54a06856-fc12-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html

  

~Cradle and All, LLC *Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy*
cradlemybaby.com

Second Sunday in May...

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated the second Sunday of May in the United States.  What does it mean?  Mom’s receive personalized crafts from their school aged children, cards from their friends, gifts from their husbands, and breakfast in bed from their kids!

Seriously though, what is all about?  The bond between mother and child has been the subject of study for as long as people have witnessed the nurturing relationship and the effects it has on individuals from infancy, all the way through their adult lives.  The people we become as adults will be credited to the work and efforts of our mothers! 

For all the love she has poured out for you day after day, hour after hour, once a year Mother’s are recognized for the super heroes they really are. 

It is only by love that mother’s are able to conjure up the strength it takes to develop a fetus and carry him/her around for months, allowing that developing baby to grow from her strength and nourishment.  That love will get a mother through the most complicated delivery, and still be able to hold and smile at her newborn.  For all the years of her child’s life, a mother will devote her first and her all through that unconditional love; a love beyond the understanding and logic of any human. 

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made an official national holiday celebrating mothers after the enthusiastic promotion at the local level by Anna Jarvis of West Virginia, who enlisted wealthy Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker to generate more support for the celebration of all mothers.

There is no measure we can take to give back accordingly to our Mommy-Heroes, none the less, we should never forget to thank them specifically on Mother’s Day.

~Cradle and All, LLC *Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy*

cradlemybaby.com

Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor to every family we serve!

Once again, Cradle and All takes the next step in providing the Safest Baby Nurse services to the DC area.

SIDS can happen to any infant.  Even when every precaution is taken, and your infant is not considered “high risk,” it is always a scary possibility.  Despite working with so many newborns and infants, it still gets me up, to reach over and put my hand over their little bellies to insure your angel is still breathing even though I can’t hear him. 

Cradle and All, LLC has officially implemented a new, “Continuous Baby Monitoring” item to our Overnight Baby Nurse Policies!  Mommies and Daddies, you will be very happy to know that, along with everything else, your Baby Nurse will now come to your home with the SNUZA Hero baby movement monitor!  Furthermore, the Baby Monitor, only belongs to your family; you will keep it! 

Primary Care is about prevention!  Good thing, your baby is in the hands of a nurse :)

Below is a description of how the Snuza Hero monitors your baby’s breathing:

Snuza Hero is a mobile and easy-to-use movement monitor which clips onto baby’s diaper to ensure that normal movement is maintained. Hero detects even the slightest movement and will alert you if your baby’s movements are very weak or fall to less than 8 movements per minute. If no movement at all is detected for a period of 15 seconds, Hero will vibrate gently. Often this vibration is enough to rouse the baby, and Hero will revert to monitoring mode. After three vibration/rouse incidents, the Rouse Warning will alert you to the fact that your baby’s movements have stopped for 15 seconds on three occasions. If no further movement is detected for another 5 seconds, an alarm will sound to alert you.

Talk about bringing the Hospital Nursery home with you!

~Cradle and All, LLC *Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy*

cradlemybaby.com

"LET'S TALK ABOUT SLEEP, BABY!"

You’re newborn requires  a lot of sleep!  I’m talking 16-17 hours a day.  Unfortunately for you, those 16 hours are broken down in the most inconvenient schedule for an adult to keep up with.  Your baby will fall back to sleep within 1 – 2 hours, after each wakeful period.  So let’s discuss making the transition back to sleep a little easier for your baby.

Becoming overtired is a major issue we want to avoid.  Signs of your infant being overtired include being extra fussy, irritable, and crying.  When your baby is tired, he doesn’t know that what he needs to feel better is to fall asleep.  It is our job to help him to sleep before he reaches that overtired state.

Become familiar with your infants cycle.  Some infants cannot stay awake more than an hour.  As you recognize his pattern of wake/sleep, you can prepare for when he will be ready to sleep again.  Be there to soothe him, before he ever grows fussy!  This will make you and baby so much happier J

At 6 weeks, most infants develop a night time pattern of sleeping longer periods.  Even, if your infant has not developed this pattern, start to help him fall asleep earlier.  Allowing your infant to go to sleep late at night –which they will naturally do- will provoke them into that overtired state that we want to avoid.  Start getting him ready for bed, early.  Help him really relax with a long bath, soothing massage, prolonged singing.  Ultimately, this will develop a night time routine for your little one that will help the whole family get ready for that oh-so-needed-sleep.

Your baby nurse will help you develop a night time routine that will promote better, longer sleep for your infant. 

Testimonial: “We followed the night time guide you left us –and it worked, they’re sleeping! You need to patent that!” ;)

-First time dad to twins, DC

~Cradle and All, LLC   "Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy"
www.cradlemybaby.com

Breastfeeding... the easy choice. So why is it so hard?!

American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends breastfeeding for 6months.  Your friends (who all of a sudden think you want their unsolicited advice about parenting) told you “breast is best,” your doctor told you, and now your baby’s pediatrician tells you too, and they are all correct, breast milk is the best choice –but it is also a harder commitment to keep then they may lead on. 
First, it seems the most natural option.  But when you’re exhausted and sleep deprived, your natural instinct is not to serve up breast to your screaming newborn.  Pop the lid on that ready-to-go bottle of formula and screw on a nipple, baby is magically silent –now that you have learned to do that switch with 1 hand in less than 4seconds!  Why does mommy give baby a bottle, over a breast?  Because the feeding is faster, and when baby gets fed faster, mommy gets back to sleep faster.  Breastfeeding takes a lot more effort from your little angel then you may know.  They end up falling asleep at your breast before getting their fill and then they are up again –hungry- earlier than they otherwise would have been. 
Second, it’s the easy option.  Is it actually easy to breast feed?  Giving from your breast may sound easier than pouring formula into a bottle.  However, breastfeeding comes with its very own list of complications.  Baby may have trouble latching –but that can easily be resolved with the help of a lactation consultant while you’re still in the hospital.  On the otherhand, your baby might get the hang of it immediately and you’ll learn just how much toothless gums can actually hurt.  To compliment the initial discomfort, keep in mind that breast feeding releases oxytocin which stimulates uterine contraction.  We want uterine contraction after delivery, this is a good thing, just be prepared again for the discomfort –I know what you’re thinking, “discomfort” is just about everywhere in the prenatal/post partum period.  Along with the above is dry, cracked nipples (prone to infection), mastitis and ductal blocks. 
Ok, now it sounds like I’m just bad-mouthing breastfeeding.  I’m not!  I’m an advocate for it, it’s the best for your baby.  I just think moms should honestly be better prepared for what they are going to face.  One woman I know, complained about breastfeeding, but the thing that kept her committed was that someone else said she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Ha!  I think this is so funny, but she was aware of how difficult the commitment would ultimately be and she took that challenge on, fully informed and breastfed both her babies for 13months!
Let’s not sugar coat things.  Mommies are the strongest super heroes!  They will endure and survive it all for their babies, so I think they can handle the truth about breast feeding. ;)

~Cradle and All, LLC *Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy*

www.cradlemybaby.com

Tragedy at Daycare: Importance of choosing the Best overnight care, in YOUR home

CBS DC ran this story about, two women working at an unlicensed daycare center in Prince William County.  Both were charged with child endangerment after a 3-month-old girl died while in their custody. 

These charges are not directly related to the death.  It appears the 3-month-old baby girl died of SIDS.  Based on the story, it doesn’t appear to me that they did anything wrong in the care for this infant.  The “Sudden” in SIDS is there because it is a spontaneous and unexplained death in infants.  Yes, there are risk factors to help reduce the chance of SIDS, but even with all precautions in place, every infant (especially 2 – 4 months old) is susceptible.  It is the top fear of every parent, and the drive behind my own paranoia , even  after providing professional infant care to over 20 newborns. 

The charges are based on findings by police officers at the day care site, upon their arrival for investigation.  What they found was 23 children ranging in age from newborn to four years old!

The Daycare has since been shut down.

There are so many options to parents when it comes to choosing infant care.  In fact, the myriad of choices can create an overwhelming and stressful experience -especially for first time parents. 

As the demand for care into the extended hours of the night increases, several overnight care centers are opening, or daytime care centers are extending hours to fill this ongoing need.  If you do have the choice however, take into account the advantages of employing the services of a baby nurse:

1.        Care is provided in YOUR home, while you are there.  You can check in on your baby anytime

2.       She is coming to you as a medical professional, with healthcare/clinical background, but still a NURSE –she’s a nurturer by nature, and an advocate for your all your baby’s needs

3.       She has been referenced, background checked, drug tested, healthcare updated, and licensed by the state

My heart breaks for this baby girl, and prays for her family.  I repeat, it was not the result of the care that caused her death, it was this tragedy that prompted an investigation which brought to light other child care issues within this care center.

For more info on this story:  http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/03/09/infant-dies-at-unlicensed-daycare-two-charged-with-child-endangerment/

For more info on SIDS:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002533/

~Cradle and All, "Cribside Care for Baby, Peace of Mind for Mommy"
www.cradlemybaby.com