Misshapen Heads in Infants

February 20th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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Most parents also worry about problems concerning misshapen heads in infants. At first they may not see this happening to their babies not until a few months when it starts showing. Parents have to understand that at birth, the skulls of their babies are still soft and pressure that is exerted on the same area for quite some time will cause it to be flattened or to be misshapen. The most common problem of misshapen heads in infants is called positional plagiocephaly. Parents may expect their babies to develop this condition if they let their babies spend a lot of time on their backs especially when their heads are pressed against a very firm mattress.

Although parents were advised that it is safer to put babies to sleep on their backs rather than on their bellies, more misshapen heads in infants have resulted. Parents will have to take note that they need to prevent infant death with supine position for sleeping, they also have to see to it that their babies do not develop positional plagiocephaly. Parents may also be told not to worry about misshapen head in infants as they normally round back on their own when the babies reach about six months.

However, parents may need to consult their doctors about it so that corrective measures on misshapen heads in infants may be done earlier. Parents may also seek solution from pediatric plastic surgeons in severe cases. Doctors may also recommend baby helmets to correct the problem. They may also advice some therapy to reposition the babies’ heads in mild cases. Parents will be advised to change their babies’ position from time to time especially when they are sleeping. This will also help parents to prevent pressure on one area as it causes the misshapen heads in infants as babies have the tendency to sleep in the same position that they are comfortable with.

Aside from changing positions of the babies when they are asleep to prevent misshapen heads in infants, parents can also alternate positions when they are bottle feeding their babies. They may also try to prevent this problem by not leaving their babies too long in car or infant seats and also in baby swings or baby carriers. Likewise, they may also put their babies on their bellies when the infants are awake. This may also serve as exercise time for the babies where they can strengthen their neck muscles and avoid the development of misshapen heads in infants. Doctors may also recommend to parents to follow other forms of therapy for the babies to improve the strength of their necks and avoid this type of condition.

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Babies and Congenital Heart Defects

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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Babies may have some congenital heart defects as they are born. These defects may refer to some problems with the structure of the heart which may include the interior walls, the valves as well as the arteries and the veins which bring blood to and from the heart. Congenital heart defects may affect the blood circulation and these may be simple heart defects that may not show any symptoms to these may also be severe with some life-threatening symptoms. There are may be some babies that would need immediate medical attention right after birth especially if they are suffering from complex and severe congenital heart defects.

However, with the advancement of medication and treatment methods, even babies with complex and severe congenital defects may still develop and grow into adulthood. They may also have the chance to live productive lives if their congenital heart defects are treated properly though they need some special care and attention. They may also have to know certain limitations later when it comes to insurance, to work, pregnancy and some other concerns. However, with the help of family and friends, they will be able to live lives as normally as possible.

There are several factors that can contribute to congenital heart defects. Various genetic as well as environmental factors may affect the development of the heart of the fetus at the early stages of pregnancy. Mothers who are also exposed to certain medication during their first trimester may have babies with congenital heart defects. Certain drugs and medications alter the normal development of the heart of the fetus. Mothers who are suffering from illnesses such as diabetes during pregnancy may also be a contributing factor in the abnormal development of the heart. Other environmental factors include alcohol and drug abuse and exposure to dangerous chemicals may also affect the normal development of the heart.

There are times when there is an extra or a missing chromosome during the development of the heart and this may cause babies to have congenital heart defects. However, most of the time, the real causes may not exactly be known. There are some modern equipment such as the fetal echocardiography that can be used to detect heart malformations or abnormalities as early as 12 weeks. Parents may consult with their doctors about the possible early detection of any heart problem that may occur. Pre-natal care and checkups are necessary routines in order to ensure proper development of the fetus and all body systems that are needed. Likewise, early detection of congenital heart defects may help the parents to cope with the problem as early as possible.

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Jaundice in Healthy Newborns

February 16th, 2012 Posted in Babies
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Mothers may often observe that jaundice in healthy newborns may also be expected. This may be referred to as physiological jaundice which may go away after a week or two. However, if mothers observe that the yellowish skin color persists longer, they may bring their babies to their doctors for proper diagnosis as there might be some serious liver disease. Babies who also develop jaundice within the first 24 hours of life would require medical attention.

Jaundice in healthy newborns may be caused by the building up of a yellow substance in the blood which is called bilirubin.  This substance should be processed by the liver so that it may be excreted from the baby’s body though the stools. However, the building up of bilirubin in the bodies of some babies may be too fast and their livers are not able to process it. This condition may happen because there are more red blood cells found in newborn babies and these cells have shorter lifespan. The breaking down and the removal of this yellowish substance take a little longer time to happen.

Jaundice in healthy newborns may occur at about 60% of them. There may be more cases of such condition especially with pre-term babies. Some healthy newborns who are breastfed may also have jaundice until they are about a month old. However, mothers have to seek medical assistance if they observe the condition for more than two weeks or their babies only start having jaundice after seven days of life. Mothers should also bring their babies to their doctors if they observe that the stools of their babies are chalky white.

In most cases, jaundice in healthy newborns may be corrected through light treatment or phototherapy. This may facilitate the removal of the bilirubin substance in their blood. In severe jaundice conditions, blood transfusion may be recommended. This process will replace the baby’s blood with one that does not have any bilirubin. If babies do not receive immediate medical attention when severe jaundice has been detected, they may develop some complication known as kernicterus. This may happen when the bilirubin substance enters the brain and this can cause damage or death in the brain.

Physiological jaundice in healthy newborns may be expected because their body systems are still developing. Once the bilirubin disposal body system matures, the extra red blood cells decrease and the jaundice go away. This type of jaundice in healthy newborns generally causes no harm. However, premature babies are more prone to this because their bodies have lesser ability to deal with the extra bilirubin.

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