Newborn Problems. Newborn Solutions.

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I had forgotten about all of these "new to the earth" problems....skin adjusting, eyes adjusting, digestive system adjusting. Thankfully, for most newborn issues there are simple, natural solutions....

Blocked Tear Ducts

This is fairly common occurring in up to 20% of new babies, typically resolving by age 1. Symptoms include an eye that tears up and "spills over" frequently, even when the child is not crying and mucus on the edge of the eye. Again, this typically clears up on it's own, but surgery can be helpful and, according to some surgeons and "mummies who know", if you decide to go the surgery route, the earlier the better.

Other things you can do:

• warm compresses and/or clean warm damp cloths to wipe away tears or crusties
• massage the blocked duct, just below the nasal end of the eye. Using a clean finger, massage in a semi-circle from the corner of the eye towards the nose. Do this several times a day.
• Squirt breast milk into the eye. Remember the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where they sprayed Windex on ailments of every shape and size? Well, replace the Windex with breast milk, and that is my approach to new born health issues. If there's a problem, squirt breast milk on it. All will be cured:) Seriously though, breast milk cleared up Pippa's eye over and over again.
• Sometimes, when tears are sitting, unable to drain, they get really infected. If you're worried things are getting out of control, see your doctor. Most of the time, however, a few yellow crusties can be managed with the techniques above.

Thrush/Candida

Thrush is yeast...a fungus....on the tongue. It looks like a thick white coat on the tongue, may bleed easily and be difficult to wipe away. You can also get candida/yeast infections on your nipples (burning or stabbing pain breastfeeding and bleeding with feeds) and on the babies bum (a red, peeled looking rash).

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Treatments:

• Gentian Violet...is messy. But it works! Using a Q-tip, swab mother's nipples, inside of babies mouth and bum. Be careful because it stains. What is gentian violet...hmmm. Well it's a histological stain (used in biology for staining samples). It's a "poorly defined mixture of violet rosanilins" with great antiseptic properties. Sorry, not very specific, but it does work like a charm!
• Grapefruit Seed Extract: Mix one ounce of water with 10 drops of liquid Grapefruit Seed Extract. Rub on nipples, inside baby's mouth and on bum several times a day.
• Antifungal creams will also, obviously, work.

Nappy Rash

A bum rash. Lots of causes, mostly caused by the friction of a diaper (or nappy) on the skin, exacerbated by wetness. Rule out the possibility of yeast, a common secondary infection!

Treatment:

• The Goal? Keep the skin dry and reduce friction. Frequent diaper changes and bathing 1-2 times a day will help keep the area clean.
• Barrier treatment: Calendula creams seem to be the most effective, though a combination of Chamomile and Calendula can be beneficial. If you suspect a secondary infection, such as Candida, a few drops of Tea tree oil will help to clear the area.
• If bum rash persists, despite "doing everything right" you may want to consider eliminating dairy from the infants diet (or mum's diet for breastfed infants).

Cradle Cap (Seborrhoeic Dermatitis)

Thick, greasy scales on the vertex of the scalp. The highest incidence is in the first 3 months though, as a mum of a toddler with cradle cap, I can attest that this issue may continue through early childhood. There are lots of theories about why this happens, one of which suggests it is due to "a deficiency in the production of the products of linoleic acid, specifically GLA".

Treatments:

• Brush the cradle cap gently before a bath, wash head with a gently Calendula based soap (I like the Weleda Calendula Baby Wash, then apply olive oil mixed with a few drops of evening primrose oil and some lavender essential oil. It works like a charm!
• Supplementing with GLA (Evening Primrose oil, Borage oil, black currant seed oil) can also be helpful.

Stuffy Nose

Lots of reasons why a baby may be congested, especially if they have an older sibling. It can be painful to watch them trying to feed and sleep.

There is one simple way to help them clear their nasal passages: a saline solution. You can buy it aerosolized or just in a squirt bottle. Shoot a bit of it up their nose and then just wait for the sneeze. Just wait. It's disgusting and awesome at the same time.

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux

Vomiting and regurgitation are the most common symptoms of GERD. Most parents however, don't feel that regurgitation is an issue unless it seems to be causing pain (lots of crying and difficulty sleeping). GERD seems to be associated with a transient immaturity of the digestive system.

• Cut out dairy! From the babies diet and/or mama's diet, if the baby is exclusively breastfed. This often makes a HUGE difference immediately
• The herb meadowsweet, diluted with breast milk or formula has been clinically shown to be very effective Chamomile may also be helpful.

Well, that's all for now. I'll follow-up with Part Deux: Eczema, Colic, Diarrhea and Cough very soon!

Have a great Monday!