Babies and Vaccines

February 28th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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Babies need to be given their shots or vaccines. These may also be referred to as their immunizations. These are important to babies because vaccines help their bodies to resist diseases especially those that are classified as contagious. Serious diseases may include tetanus, polio virus, measles, pertussis as well as mumps and hepatitis among others. Babies are given vaccines on schedules. Mothers may ask their doctors more information about it.

Babies need vaccines and this involves the administration of antigenic material into their bodies. These help protect their bodies from dreaded diseases all throughout their lives. Although there are some side effects such as fever, swelling as well as soreness, these vaccines will help them to become stronger in fighting infectious diseases. The following are important vaccines that babies should receive: DTaP, Hepatitis B and MMR. However, there are still other types of vaccines that should be given to them.

Although babies are born with natural antibodies that have been passed on from their mother to them while they are still inside the womb, these may decrease as they reach their first year of life. There is a need for babies to develop new antibodies that would help them fight diseases. There are contagious diseases that their bodies cannot fight with on their own. However, vaccines provide the new antibodies that they need in order for their bodies to be able to resist the deadly diseases.

Vaccines work on the baby’s immune system. It allows the immune system to recognize it and fight if there is an infection. The vaccines are actually made from the virus itself though in its inactive form.  However, there are instances where the vaccines are taken from the weakened form of a virus that is still alive. The vaccines do not really cause the babies to be sick but it serves as a stimulus for the body to be able to identify it.

Although some mothers fear for their babies’ health, they are reluctant to have these vaccines or immunization given. It is important for them to learn more about the vaccines and how they work inside their babies’ bodies. Their babies’ bodies have the capacity to take the antigens or the so-called immune triggers that are in the vaccines. These help the immune system to fight any form of foreign body that enters their systems. For new mothers, there is still a lot more to learn and to do in order to keep their babies healthy and strong while they are growing up.

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The Baby’s Soft Spot – The Fontanel

February 26th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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New mothers have to understand their baby’s soft spot which is called the fontanel.  This is the soft spot that is seen and felt on top of a baby’s head. This part allows the bony plates that comprise the skull to be flexible so that the baby’s head may be able to get through the limited dimension of the birth canal. However, the soft spot or the fontanel closes when the baby is about 18 to 24 months old.

A new mother may be scared or hesitant to touch her baby’s soft spot or the fontanel. This part is made up of materials that are fibrous and it covers the brain of the baby just beneath the top of the head. Though it is soft to touch, it is able to protect the baby’s brain. The structure of the fontanel also protects the baby when he or she falls head down first. This is often the case as babies’ heads are quite bigger and heavier than the other parts of their body.

Although the sizes of the baby’ soft spot or fontanels vary, extra large ones may indicate some medical conditions. Further tests and medical examinations may be needed for babies that are found out to have some medical conditions. At times the condition of the fontanel may tell something more about the health of the baby. As such, when a mother observes her baby’s soft spot or fontanel to appear sunken, it may indicate that the baby is dehydrated.

When the fontanel is bulging, this may indicate that there is pressure building in the brain of the baby. However, mothers have to make sure so they need to bring their babies to their pediatricians or to medical doctors to determine what may be causing it. Though the fontanel may be the baby’s soft spot, it is safe for the new mother to touch it and to wash the hair on it at bath time.

Though the fontanel is expected to close at a certain time, premature closing may also happen. In some instances it may not close even if the baby has reached 27 months already. In any of the cases, mothers will have to bring their babies to their doctors for proper diagnosis and treatment if necessary. New mothers do not have to worry about the baby’s soft spot or the fontanel. In time, it will close and as their babies grow and develop.

 

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Baby Gas Problems

February 24th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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Mothers may often experience dealing with baby gas problems with their infants. Though it is but natural for babies to have gas, some of them have more than others. However, this could be an uncomfortable condition for babies especially when they feel its most common symptoms such as abdominal bloating, hard belly or burping frequently.  Sometimes babies may also have hiccups or spit-ups that may cause the baby to feel irritable and restless. Babies may also experience flatulence or the passing of gas.

Baby gas problems may be caused by various factors. Babies take in air in different ways and this may find its way to the digestive system. Gas may also be produced right there in the digestive tract because of breast milk or infant formula. Babies may have gas as lactose and proteins are digested. At times baby gas problems may have been passed on from mothers who may have eaten legumes or cruciferous vegetables or even citrus fruits that contain too much acid.  Mothers who may have included dairy products may also contribute to the gas problems of their babies especially when they breastfeed them.

Some experts believe that gas may have been passed from the breastfeeding mothers to their babies. It is also possible that breastfeeding mothers may be producing too much foremilk which has a higher content of water and lactose. When babies take foremilk that is more than what they need, they may experience stomach cramps. Babies have to get more of the hind milk which is richer in nutrients than that of the foremilk. Babies may also develop hyper-lactation syndrome when they get more of the foremilk instead of the hind milk. This condition may be observed through fast weight gain and more baby gas problems to deal with.

However, babies who are bottle-fed are not spared from baby gas problems. They may also take in air bubbles while sucking milk from their feeding bottles. Mothers are advised to burp their babies every five minutes while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding them. Those who choose to feed their babies with infant formula have to see to it that they make use of the right size of nipples to lessen the possibility of their babies’ gulping some air. Mothers should also see to it that their babies are not exposed to stress from the environment as this can also cause disturbances in the functions of the digestive system especially during feeding time.

Although crying may just be normal for babies, mothers should check what the problem may be. Prolonged crying may also cause baby gas problems especially when babies take in a lot of air which may be trapped in their tummies. Mothers also need to introduce solid foods slowly so that the digestive system of their babies are able to adjust to it as some kinds of food can cause gas problems in babies. Baby gas problems may be expected by mothers but there are some things that they can do to lessen its occurrence and the discomfort that their babies may suffer from.

 

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