This period of time can be very helpful for the new parents to get themselves settled into the routine of looking after their new baby. A babymoon isn’t only for a first child, a babymoon can be taken for a second, third, even seventh child, as it can be a time for older siblings to bond with the new baby as well.

In general terms the family unit stays in the home as much as possible so there are a few tips for what you can to do to make your babymoon a lovely time of bonding without having to worry about other day to day things.

• Stock up on freezer meals whilst you are still pregnant so you don’t have to worry about cooking.
• If you can afford one, hire a cleaner for a little while.
• Stock up on items that you know will be used, washing powder, toilet paper, soap etc
• Make a sign for the front door stating “Mother and baby asleep, please don’t knock” and use it.
• Have some special toys prepared for older children to play with while you are feeding the new baby.
• Book in a relaxation massage after about a week for when the sleep deprivation hits you.

The best things you can do to prepare for your babymoon are things that are going to mean that you can relax at home without worrying about making dinner or cleaning up after the visitors have left. Prepare whatever you think is going to make your first few weeks with your new baby as blissful as can be.

The more recent definition of a babymoon actually refers to a holiday that the expectant parents take prior to the baby arriving, it’s likened to having a honeymoon after getting married. Generally a babymoon of this sort will only be done with a first pregnancy, unless of course the older siblings can be looked after for a few days.

There are a lot of different options for your babymoon, ranging from going to a resort with a specific babymoon package (including prenatal massage, health classes etc) or you can do it all yourself with a focus on relaxing with your partner.

There are some tips that you might like to consider if you plan a babymoon prior to your baby arriving:

• The second trimester is the best time to travel as morning sickness should have subsided and the tiredness of third trimester has yet to kick in.
• Limit you travel time to 5-6 hours as any longer can become uncomfortable for the mum to be.
• Remember to stay hydrated while travelling.
• Ensure that where you are staying (or the airline if you are flying) has pregnancy friendly foods readily available.
• Consult your doctor before any travel during pregnancy.

At the end of the day whether you choose a holiday babymoon prior to baby’s arrival or a stay at home babymoon after baby arrives, or even if you’re lucky enough to have both, a babymoon is a great way to prepare for your life as a parent.

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Having a new baby is one of the most stressful things that will happen in our life. There are so many things to worry about and you might start to feel as though you aren’t coping as well as you think you should. You may have the “baby blues” for a few days or you may have more severe feelings of depression.

It is said that there are roughly 10-20 percent of mother in Australia that suffer from postnatal depression. It is also estimated that 10 percent of first time fathers suffer from postnatal depression. Although they don't have the hormonal changes normally associated with postnatal depression, you must remember that father's lives are turned upside down when a baby arrives as well.

Postnatal depression is a serious mental illness that a lot of mothers (and fathers) suffer from, many silently, as they don’t want to admit that there is a problem.

After giving birth at your six week checkup, your doctor or early childhood nurse may give you a “test” to see how you’re going, this questionnaire is called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It was developed for the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1987 and is still used today as a guide to whether a mother may need some help for postnatal depression.

Below is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for you to use on your own. Please remember that scores provide only a rough guide as to whether a woman has postnatal depression. For a full diagnosis, it is important to see your doctor.

To complete the questionnaire, circle the response that answers most accurately how you have been feeling in the past seven days.

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
• 0 As much as I always could
• 1 Not quite so much now
• 2 Definitely not so much now
• 3 Not at all

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
• 0 As much as I ever did
• 1 Rather less than I used to
• 2 Definitely less than I used to
• 3 Hardly at all

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, some of the time
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, never

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
• 0 No, not at all
• 1 Hardly ever
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 3 Yes, very often

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
• 3 Yes, quite a lot
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 No, not much
• 0 No, not at all

6. Things have been getting on top of me.
• 3 Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
• 2 Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
• 1 No, most of the time I have coped quite well
• 0 No, I have been coping as well as ever

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

8. I have felt sad or miserable.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Only occasionally
• 0 No, never

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
• 3 Yes, quite often
• 2 Sometimes
• 1 Hardly ever
• 0 Never

Add up the numbers or your circled answers. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you are distressed and may be suffering from postnatal depression. If you score is high, or even if it is low but you feel depressed, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

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One essential of parenthood is the nappy, or baby bag. The great big bag that you see parents lugging around with them, slung over tired shoulders or strapped over the handles of the pram.

The problem is, that while you see all of these parents out & about with their bags, as a new parent you have to wonder what on earth goes in there and how do you find out without taking a little peek.

So here is a little rundown on the sorts of things that you might like to pack in your nappy bag, remembering that the needs change as your baby grows into a toddler and then a preschooler (when you are less likely to need as many things).

The Bag.

It’s really overwhelming to look at all of the different options for nappy bags as there are so many available. The best advise I can offer is to get one with lots of compartments so nothing gets lost down the bottom of the bag. However if you would prefer to use a large handbag that is fine as well, whatever works best for you and your baby.

If you do choose to use a large handbag or a bag that doesn’t have a lot of compartments, that’s ok, you can still be well organized. All you need to do is buy smaller pouches to put your nappies & clothes in or plastic containers to keep your creams & accessories in.

How ever you choose to set up your nappy bag is fine, as long as it works for you because it’s something you will be using for at least two years from when your baby is born.

Clothes.

Babies make a mess, it’s a well known fact, so one of the main things in your nappy baby should be a complete change of outfit. This of course will be determined by the season. For example though, you should have a singlet, top, pants and socks at the very least. As well as a change of outfit it is useful to carry a hat (or beanie in winter), you never know when you might have an impromptu visit to a park.

It’s also recommended that you have a change of top for yourself in the early months (both mums & dads) because the one time you don’t, there will be the inevitable vomit or nappy explosion & you will need to get changed. You don’t necessarily need to keep it in the bag, but in the car is handy.

Nappies.

You will need to determine how many nappies you will need by the amount of time you will be out. If you think you will go through three nappies in the day take four, this way if something out of the ordinary happens you have a spare. This goes for both disposable and cloth nappies. Otherwise you will need plastic bags (scented if you prefer) to hold the soiled nappies until you can dispose of them.

If you are using cloth nappies with your baby, you will need to take all of your accessories with you (and generally you will need a bigger bag than parents using disposable nappies). Make sure you take enough nappy covers in relation to nappies and any other fasteners you might use. You will need a wet bag of some description to contain soiled nappies as well.

Most nappy bags come with a changing mat, but you can also purchase disposable ones from the supermarket and they are an essential so baby isn’t laid down on a dirty or cold surface for their nappy change. You will also need wipes for cleaning not only dirty bottoms, but faces and hands too as your baby grows. It’s also a good idea to have a bottle of antibacterial gel for after nappy changes.

Food.

As a newborn there aren’t many food requirements so it’s fairly easy. As your baby gets older your requirements will change significantly.

If you are breastfeeding there isn’t much needed for a newborn other than perhaps a few bibs. Mum on the other hand will need breast pads and if she uses them, nipple creams, nipple shields & a coverup of some kind. It’s also a good idea for mum to have a small snack & bottle of water for while she is feeding.

For a bottle fed baby you will need your bottles with the appropriate amount of cooled boiled water and portions of formula for mixing. You can buy formula dividers from most baby stores that separates your formula into the correct portions so you don’t need to worry about calculating it while you’re out & about.

As your baby gets older it’s handy to keep snacks in your bag as well, rusks, small packets of sultanas and biscuits are all handy.

For Mum and Dad.

If you decide not to use a handbag while you have a baby bag you will need to make sure there is space to put your wallet, keys and mobile phone. It’s helpful to have a separate pouch in your bag for things like maternity pads (in the early days) and any other personal items you might need.

Other.

Other items that are handy to have in your nappy bag are spare dummies (if you use them), a mini first aid kit, sunscreen, a small blanket and small toys or books as your child gets older.

On a final note, no matter what you keep in your bag, the best thing you can do is repack your bag as soon as you get home from your outing. If you used one nappy, one bib and two rusks, replace those items straight away. That way you are ready to go as soon as you want to rather than running about the house trying to find a spare bib or that rogue dummy that’s gone missing when you’re already 10 minutes late!

Ninemonths has partnered with Baby Buds to bring you specials on Nappy Bags: Click here to browse and purchase.

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How will your baby catch whooping cough?

The main source of infection of whooping cough for you baby will come from you and your family members.

You may have it and not know it; in adults it is hard to tell if what you think is just a chest infection is actually whooping cough.

What can you do about it?

The government immunisation program has three vaccinations against whooping cough for your baby, providing full protection by the time baby is six months old.

But until then baby is open to the risk of catching whooping cough. It is important that you, your partner, and any other adults, like grandparents, who will be in contact with your baby are vaccinated against whooping cough.

You can have the vaccination straight after you give birth. It is safe to have while you are breastfeeding.

Your partner should be vaccinated before baby arrives.

Grandparents might think they are protected since they were vaccinated against whooping cough when they were kids. This protection may have faded so a booster is necessary.

How do you get vaccinated?

Your family members should head to their local GP or community health immunisation centres. You can ask your maternity hospital for a vaccination.

NSW and NT have been the most progressive in understanding the importance of the whole family around a newborn baby being immunised against whooping cough. Since 2009 the vaccine has been, and continues to be, free to parents and close family members in these states.

QLD has now also recognised the importance of this; grandparents as well as any other adults living in a household with a baby under six months old are also eligible for a free vaccination. However, it is only for a limited time.

In VIC and WA until 30 June 2011 the vaccine is free only to parents, adoptive parents and foster parents of newborn babies.

Unfortunately, there are no free vaccines in 2011 in SA, ACT, and TAS.

So, don’t be shy to hassle all adults who will be a part of your baby’s early months to make sure they are vaccinated before the joyous arrival; even if they have to pay for it.

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The amount of information available on safety for your baby can make your head spin.

To help you get ready for baby, here are ten tips on what to organise now during pregnancy so you know the hectic first few months with your baby will be spent in a safe environment. We have provided some recommended resources to help you understand the safest products to buy and helpful organisations to contact.

1. Keep simple SIDS info close by

There is a lot to remember about keeping your baby safe from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Other members of your family that will occasionally help out may not be as informed as you are. For the benefit of all, print this handy simple guide from SIDS and Kids Australia and keep it near and their door hanger to hang near baby's cot.

2. Attend a first aid course

Ask your local maternal health centre for any first aid courses for infants that they might be running in the near future.

3. Keep important numbers close

Store these important numbers in your mobile as well as written on a piece of paper near your home phone:

• 000 emergency services
• Poisons Information Centre
• Nearest Children’s Hospital
• Family Doctor
• Chemist

4. Buy a brand new car seat

When buying your car seat for your baby make sure it meets the current Australian safety standards. Also, it is recommended to buy a new seat so you know it has not been in any accidents. Check out www.carseatsafety.com.au for help choosing the right seat.

5. Buy a cot that meets Australian Safety Standards

Choose a cot that meets the Australian Safety Standard AS/NZS 2172-2003. Also, do you best to ensure it is coated in non-toxic paint. If you cannot find out this information on the cot you are looking at don’t buy it.

6. Buy the correct mattress for your cot

It is important that your cot mattress fits correctly so baby can’t get trapped between the mattress and the cot rails.

7. Research safe toys

Unfortunately, safety is not always paramount to toy manufacturers and toys may contain toxic chemicals and pose safety risks. To help familiarise yourself with toy safety and how to avoid toxic toys check out www.healthystuff.org for their toy section. Although it is an American site it is still relevant as Australian toy stores stock a lot of products from American manufacturers.

8. Choose a recommended pram

There is an overwhelming range of prams and strollers. To help you choose a safe model look to Choice’s quite recent review, published in December 2010, of 20 products on the Australian market. . You will need to become a member to read it or you can check with your local library if they have a Choice account available for you to use.

9. Buy a recommended bassinet

If you plan on using a bassinet be aware there is no Australian Standard specifically for them. Look to Choice again for their recent report, published in January 2011, which shockingly found only one model to recommend.

10. Be picking with your change table

Look for a change table that is the correct height for you, stable, strong, has no sharp edges, no potential finger and limb traps and is curved to prevent baby rolling or sliding off it.

Ninemonths Offer:
Are you looking for a fantastic selection of toys that are of the highest quality, are educational, fun of course and are designed to last? Start shop now for wide high quality toys for kids!

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3. Safety for Infants

Deciding on the right time to have a baby is not always easy, some may feel that it’s never the right time, some people have this planned years beforehand and sometimes it just happens! Other things that get in the way is finding “Mr Right”, your career, travel and money. It’s not surprising that now the average age for a first time mum has risen to 31.

However, medically speaking your 20s are actually the best years to have children because fertility and medical risks are at their lowest. Professor Robert Norman, director of the Robinson Institute at the University of Adelaide supports this, he says that the ideal time to have children is in your 20s, but teenage pregnancies are riskier; “there are more problems such as going into labour early, being undernourished and having a smaller baby. But if there’s good family support you would expect the baby to do well.” Although, research has shown women in their 20s are more susceptible to psychological difficulties after the baby is born. Often they feel they’ve missed out on career or travel opportunities. On the flipside, a recent survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found younger mothers tend to be more relaxed and willing to “go with flow” than older mums.

However, you maybe more financially secure and mentally ready for a child as you get older. For older women, the birth rate has more than doubled in the past 25 years. Women aged between 35 and 44 are now responsible for more than 20% of all births. At the other end of the scale, teenage pregnancies are also on the rise.

Experts say regardless of age, leading a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy will maximise your chances of having a healthy baby. Once you hit your 30s there is more likelihood of having multiple births – all those twins born to older mums are not necessarily due to IVF. You’re also looking at a higher risk of pregnancy-related diabetes, pre-eclampsia, chromosomal abnormalities and caesareans. But Dr Norman says older women who are fit and healthy are more likely to have healthy babies. Couples should aim to be in the best possible health before they conceive.

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Bathing

Topping and tailing is an option. Newborn babies don’t need to be
bathed every day and it’s a good idea not to over bath as it can
dehydrate the skin. You could just do a daily top-and-tail, cleaning
his face, neck, hands, plus the nappy area, with damp cotton wool, and
save baths for when your baby really needs them. For the face, using
cotton wool dipped into cooled boiled water reduces the risk of eye
infections.

• When cleaning your baby’s eyes, wipe from inner to outer.
  (Use a new piece of cotton wool for each wipe.) Then clean your baby’s
  face, behind their ears and under his chin
• Unfurl their fists to clean inside.
• You’ll also need to get into the creases: the top of the legs, under the armpits, behind the ears and under the chin
• Clean the nappy area, wiping girls from front to back.
• Pat gently dry.

 
You can bath your baby anywhere – in a baby bath, the sink, your bath
(either with you or not). But never leave your baby alone, even for a
second

• Gather together towels, cotton wool, cooled boiled water, clean nappy and sleepsuit. Keep the room warm.
• Wash
  your baby’s face, as for topping and tailing, then fill the bath a
  little, checking the temperature with your elbow (your hand may be hot
  or cold so will not give you an accurate guide to the temperature). It
  should feel neutral – neither hot like your own bath, nor cold.
• Undress
  your baby and then lower them into the bath, supporting them with one
  hand. Swish water around him and dampen his hair – you don’t need
  bubble bath or shampoo in the early days. Some babies like to have
  their heads wet first and then be lowered into the bath. For a big bath
  there are a variety of items available that support your baby while you
  wash them.
• Wrap them in a towel and pat dry, getting into all the creases.

Cord care

To help healing, keep your baby’s cord stump clean and dry – it
should fall off anytime from five days onwards. When it needs cleaning,
use cotton wool and water, patting dry with cotton wool balls (wash
your hands before and after). A bad smell, stickiness or bleeding may
indicate an infection so check with your midwife or doctor. 

Nappy knowledge

What to expect poo-wise. For a couple of days your baby will pass
meconium, which is greenish-black and very sticky. Then their poo will
turn greenish brown. By around day 5-6, breastfed babies’ poo will be
runny, curdy, mustard-coloured and won’t really smell. Bottle-fed
babies will have darker, more solid, smellier poo.

Nappy-changing may feel fiddly at first, but you’ll get lots of
practice! After the first few days, dirty nappies are fairly frequent
and you should get at least six wet nappies a day.

• Lay your baby on a changing mat or towel and undo the dirty
  nappy, then use damp cotton wool to clean the area. (You don’t need to
  buy special wipes; cotton wool and water are gentler on the skin.)
  Clean girls from front to back and don’t pull back a baby boy’s
  foreskin.
• Little boys tend to wee once they feel the air, so
  have something like a tissue ready to cover his penis You could put
  your baby on a terry or small towel, so that if he or she wees it will
  soak it up.
• A mobile or picture book can be useful to distract your baby’s attention while they are having their nappy changed.
• Put on the new nappy – try to point a boy’s penis downwards as this will help prevent the nappy from leaking.
• If
  possible, tip a dirty nappy’s contents down the loo. Put reusables to
  soak; fold disposables and bag dirty ones before putting them in the
  bin.

Keeping the fluids up

Bottle-fed babies may get constipated or dehydrated. Give cooled boiled
water if their poo is hard or dry, if there are fewer than six wet
nappies a day or their wee looks dark. If you breastfeed when your baby
wants feeding, your baby shouldn’t get dehydrated. But however you
feed, see your GP if your baby’s nappies are very smelly or watery, or
contain blood or mucus.

Dressing a newborn

Many newborns object to dressing or undressing, yelling when they feel
air on their skin or clothes going over their head. With dribbled milk
and leaky nappies, you may get through several outfits a day in the
first few weeks, so keep clothes simple. Sleepsuits – with poppers down
the front – make nappy changing easier and are great for day and night.

Clothes that you wrap around your baby may be better than ones that you
have to pull over their head, cardigans are simpler than jumpers, for
instance. Watch out for any wrinkles or bumps that might annoy your
newborn baby, such as hoods. When dressing your baby, be guided by how
many layers you need; they probably needs one more layer than you. A
vest and sleepsuit, plus cardigan if it’s cold, should be enough when
you’re indoors. When going out, add a jacket or pramsuit (depending on
the season) and a hat. But beware of overheated shops and pull back
blankets and undo jackets. To check your baby’s not too hot or cold,
slip your hand down his front or feel the back of their neck – they
should feel warm, not sweaty or chilly.

Clothing care

• Wash clothes, bedding and towels in non-bio powder or liquid - biological can irritate newborn skin.
• Wash new clothes before using to remove shop treatments and fabric finishes.
• Unstitch
  rough labels so they don’t scratch your baby. Look out for any vests
  that have ‘hard’ logos or pictures stitched on the front; the reverse
  side might irritate your baby.
• Tumble drying makes metal poppers and zips hot – check these before you dress your baby.
• Make sure sticky nappy tapes aren’t touching your baby’s skin. 

Getting help

If possible, get your partner or a relative or friend to stay at home
to help for the first few days. Going up and downstairs may be hard, so
if possible keep a supply of nappies/sleepsuits/cotton wool in the room
that you spend most time in. And good luck! It’s a special time so try
and make the most of it.

Related posts:

1. Surviving the First Weeks with a Newborn
2. Newborn Necessities

Many mums are concerned about the food they put into their baby’s mouth but it is also important to consider what goes onto their baby’s skin. Remember these points when using lotions and products on your baby’s body:

• A baby’s skin can be five times thinner than an adult’s.
• Babies are sensitive to artificial chemicals and fragrances often used in toiletries. These can lead to headaches, eczema and skin sensitivity.
• Always try to limit your use of these products for the sake of your baby and the environment.
• Instead of using baby wipes, use a flannel with water to avoid unnecessary chemicals and packaging.
• To help avoid nappy rash, let baby have as much “nappy off” time as you can.

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Colic affects many babies within the first three months of life. If you are able to identify it, help is available. A baby with colic cries for hours a day, usually in the late afternoon or evening. Often the baby pulls its legs up, clenches its fists, screams and turns red as though in pain. None of the usual methods to pacify a newborn will seem to comfort a colic baby.

No one really knows for certain what causes infant colic though it is thought that one quarter of all babies suffer from colic at some time. Theories include:

• Pain due to spasms of the intestine
• Baby’s intestines haven’t yet fully matured
• Wind in the digestive tract
• An anxious baby
• A baby sensing parental anxiety
• Allergy or sensitivity to certain foods
• Parents who smoke.

What You Can Do

Relieving Wind

Burping your baby after feeding can reduce wind. Air can be swallowed when your baby is crying or if the flow of milk is too fast. If you are breastfeeding, try expressing some milk before feeding to reduce the flow. If you are bottlefeeding, try using a teat with a smaller hole.

 Relax Your Baby

Gently massaging your baby’s tummy, back and shoulders can help. Stroking its forehead and head is also calming. Babies love rocking. Walking with your baby in a sling, driving in a car or riding in a pram can help. Music can soothe a screaming baby. Clicking noises made with your tongue can sometimes stop a baby crying. Simple and effective, a warm bath works wonders.
In an oil burner, burn 2 drops of lavender essential oil. If your baby is congested, add a drop of eucalyptus essential oil.

For some obscure reason, babies love the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Parents have been known to record the sound of a vacuum cleaner and play it back as a lullaby. It works!

Herbal Colic Mixture

Australian herbalist and pharmacist Des Lardner is famous for his herbal colic formula that is used for treating tummy troubles, especially colic, in babies.
This formula, prepared at his herbal pharmacy in Horsham, Victoria, is made from a 1934 recipe that Lardner has carefully refined. It is a combination of traditional Chinese and modern medicine and includes belladonna, dill seed (a calmative for wind and flatulence pains in infants) and sodium nitrate.

Lardner, a qualified pharmacist, has three additional degrees including an Associate Diploma of Theology; a Graduate Diploma of Nutrition and a Graduate Diploma of Herbal Medicine. He was the 1997 recipient of the Pharmaceutical Society award for his knowledge of modern medicine. Lardner has great faith in melding traditional and modern medicines and believes in taking a wholistic approach to health.

Telephone consultation is essential. If you are interested please phone Des Lardner on toll free 1800 066 998 (in Australia only) or internationally (+61) 35382 6006

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2. How to Use Herbs

First Bowel Movements

Your baby's first bowel movements are generally green and sticky as they are composed of mostly merconium and full of digested mucus. Breastfed babies usually produce soft, yellowish stools, sometimes tinged light green with little odour. A bottlefed baby often produces stools that are firmer, brown and smellier.

Weight Loss

Often babies lose weight the first few days out of the womb. Prior to birth babies retain fluid and nutrients and these are shed in the days following. Weight is regained and usually surpassed within the first week or so. If your baby is continuing to lose weight, seek medical advice.

Snuffles

Young babies tend to hiccup and snuffle a lot. This is due to the respiratory system developing. Many babies born by Caesarean have more mucus in their system. This is because babies born vaginally are squeezed through the birth canal, an action that often forces a lot of mucus out of the baby’s system.

Twitching, Blisters and Regurgitation

Young babies also tend to twitch and jerk in their sleep as their nervous system continues to develop.
Young babies often develop suckling blisters in the first few weeks. These will disappear without treatment.
Regurgitated milk and even more violent vomiting are common. More distressing for the person in the firing line than the baby, this is not uncommon.

Coping With Common Baby Complaints

The following techniques are not meant to substitute for professional diagnosis and care. If your baby is ill always seek professional advice.

Cradle Cap    

Cradle cap is a build-up of natural hair oil and dead cells, which forms a crust on the baby’s head. It is a natural occurrence, and only becomes a problem if it gets infected. Wash your baby’s hair once every two days and rinse thoroughly. If your baby has a ‘crust’ massage it daily with a natural based oil, this will loosen the dead skin. Dry and peeling skin on the hands and feet is common although this tends to disappear without treatment. It is not usually excema.    

Sticky Eyes    

Babies often are affected by thick, mucusy goomp around the eyes. This is usually a result of a blockage in the tear duct called the lacrimal duct. In babies the duct is very narrow and is easily blocked by debris from the eye. A sticky eye needs to be cleaned frequently with cottonbuds or a muslin facecloth and warm water.    

Digestion    

Most babies experience some degree of digestive upset due to their still-developing system. Wind and colic are common. Air can be swallowed while suckling, when your baby is crying, or if the flow of milk is too fast. Correct positioning of your baby before and after feeding can help prevent excessive wind and provide relief. If your baby is slouched while feeding, air can accumulate in its stomach until it becomes distended. The release of air may bring up regurgitated milk. Keeping your baby’s back reasonably straight with its lower back supported upright will help your baby expel excessive air more easily. If you are breastfeeding, try expressing some milk before feeding to reduce the flow. If you are bottlefeeding, try using a teat with a smaller hole. Burping your baby after feeding can reduce wind.    

Releasing Wind    

After a feed you can help your baby to release wind. Sit your child on your knees, leaning forward and supported by one of your hands across the upper chest. With your other hand, stroke your baby’s back from the base of the spine upwards. Then pat gently between your baby’s shoulder blades. Baby massage on the back and stomach will help disperse trapped wind.    

Vomiting    

When a baby vomits, it is usually a sign that your baby is full or needs to get rid of mucus in the stomach. The best thing to do is change your baby’s nappy and put it to bed. Even if your baby has just regurgitated most of the feed, there is no immediate need for more food. A sleep will do wonders though your baby may wake a little earlier than usual for the next feed. If your baby is repeatedly vomiting, is not gaining weight, has blood or green-tinged bile in the vomit or has a constantly high fever, call your doctor. Repeated vomiting is dehydrating for a little one.    

Constipation/Diarrhoea    

Mild constipation can be alleviated through regular massage, particularly of the tummy, back and buttocks. Using a drop of chammomile in the oil blend will help relax your baby’s digestive tract and nervous system, and will induce sleep. Adding one drop of mandarin essential oil to a massage blend can help mild diarrhoea. It is gently astringent and binding. Abnormal bowel movements can be distressing. If your baby has sudden vomiting or diarrhoea, severe or long-lasting swelling of the belly or blood in the bowel motions, call your doctor immediately. Repetitive diarrhoea is dehydrating for a baby’s system.    

Hiccups    

Babies start hiccuping in the womb when developing and strengthening their respiratory system so it seems quite normal for them. Hiccups occur more frequently in newborn babies as their digestive and nervous system develops. Baby massage can help soothe and expel excess wind pockets and relax the diaphragm.    

Mucus Congestion    

Babies breathe through their nostrils. As their immune systems develop, respiratory disorders are common, blocking their breathing passages and disrupting their natural rhythm of respiration. To relieve the congestion, a massage before bedtime will help clear the mucus. Start with a back and shoulder massage to release blockages in the chest. To clear your baby’s nostrils, lay your baby on your knees facing you, and with your index fingers, press down along both sides of the nose, then trace the natural curve under the cheeks outwards towards your baby’s ears. These are the lymphatic drainage pressure points on the face. Try it on yourself first so you can feel the sensation. Alternatively, lay your baby over your thighs facing you, with its head and upper chest curving over your knees, so it is almost upside down. Pat the centre and side of your baby’s chest with gently cupped hands, to make a popping noise. Then turn your baby on to its belly and do the same on the upper back. This action helps to loosen the mucus in the chest by compressing the lungs and bronchial tubes. Your baby may bring up unwanted mucus or vomit. If your baby suddenly develops breathing difficulties, call your doctor immediately.    

Insomnia    

During the first few weeks of a life, a newborn finds itself in a strange environment, after only ever knowing the comfort of the darkened womb. If your baby is having difficulty sleeping, check that the environment is suitable. listen to the crying to assess whether or not there is an underlying problem. As early as possible, try to create a routine. A warm bath followed by a baby massage is the ultimate preparation for bedtime. Add a drop of either lavender or mandarin essential oil to the bath or to the massage base oil. Both of these oils are calming and have sedative properties to help your baby sleep.

Feeding    

Your baby may start fussing about during feeds. Usually there is something they are not happy about. It could be a burp ready to come up, it might be that the milk flow is too fast, your baby may be full, or if you are breastfeeding, your breast may be empty. These moments of fussiness usually occur around six weeks and again at eight to twelve weeks. When your baby fusses, stop the feed to release wind. Then resume the feed on the second breast. When your baby fusses again, stop the feed and return it for the last time to the first breast. If your baby is bottle fed, follow the same process. Burp your baby, check to see that the teat is not blocked, and also check that the teat hole is the correct size for your baby’s age. You can tell if your baby is getting enough by the number of soiled and wet nappies you are changing and by your baby’s weight gain.    

Umbilical Stump    

The stump should take between five and ten days to dry up completely and fall off. Keep the stump of the wound warm and dry and fasten nappies so that they do not irritate or rub against the wound.
To keep it clean, use some soft cotton material such as a muslin facecloth dipped in witch hazel. If there is an infection, you may wish to apply an antiseptic preparation of saline solution, or an infusion of rosemary or calendula (marigold) flowers. A drop of lavender essential oil in your baby’s bath will also help. Breast milk is another alternative as it is full of antibodies that fight infection. If you are breastfeeding, take echinacea, golden seal and myrrh as these have healing properties and will pass to your newborn through your breast milk.    

Circumcision    

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
The foreskin helps protect the “glans” or tip of the penis. It is an unnecessary operation although some cultures practice circumcision as a religious ritual. Attitudes towards circumcision have changed over the years. In many western societies it was adopted as routine, based on hygiene grounds. In the early 1980s, about 70 percent of baby boys were being circumcised but this has since dropped to 30 per cent. Few doctors today defend the practice as medically necessary although many doctors are unlikely to challenge a parent’s request to circumcise an infant for fear of being regarded anti-Semitic.

Circumcision is usually performed under local or general anaesthetic and is carried out more commonly when the baby is a year old, rather than soon after birth. Today many people believe the operation to be a traumatic procedure, often resulting in excessive pain, bleeding and infection. Some people regard circumcision as genital mutilation resulting sometimes in irreparable damage. In some cases, parents claim to notice behavioural changes following circumcision. This has been linked to a betrayal of trust as well as a reaction to pain. 

For:   

• Hygiene is the most commonly given reason for boys to be circumcised as newborns. Even groups that are against the practice recognise that uncircumcised children need to maintain long-term and fastidious genital hygiene.
• Phimosis, the inability to retract the foreskin, causes adhesions and increases the risk of complications with secondary infection in uncircumcised males. Most foreskins can be fully retracted by about age six. However, 19 per cent of boys experience problems if the foreskin is not fully retractable by this age.
• Paraphimosis occurs when the foreskin can be retracted but cannot be pulled back. The condition results in constriction and swelling and requires urgent incision and circumcision.
• Balantis is a term used when uncleanliness results in the head of the penis becoming red, inflamed and discharging pus. Newborn circumcision consists of the removal of the foreskin and this procedure prevents phimosis, paraphimosis and balanitis.
• Frenulum chordee occurs when the foreskin is very tight and causes tearing during masturbation or sexual intercourse. In later life, the condition causes further bleeding and trauma, and can result in poor sexual function.
• Where there’s moisture, there’s an environment for infection to occur. Urine inevitably collects under the foreskin, creating a warm, damp area – the perfect environment for infection to arise. Because the head of the circumcised penis is exposed, it is dry and, therefore, less susceptible to infection.
• Research has shown that the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is reduced in circumcised men, because the circumcised penis is easier to keep clean and because the skin is drier and less permeable and, therefore, less likely to harbour infection.
• There is virtually no cancer of the penis is males circumcised at birth. Although it is a rare condition, penile cancer occurs almost exclusively in uncircumcised men. Having said that, the American Cancer Society has pointed out that fatalities caused by circumcision accidents may approximate the mortality rate from penile cancer.
• Research has shown that prostate cancer is twice as common in uncircumcised men as in their circumcised counterparts.    

Against:    

• Described as one of the key erogenous zones of the body, the foreskin is 50 per cent of all penile skin and is a complex two-layer organ, filled with as many sensitive nerve endings as the fingertips and lips, more than a metre of veins, arteries and capillaries, 80 metres of nerve fibres and more than 1000 complex nerve endings. Its function is similar to the eyelid; keeping the glans (penis head) moist and protection from abrasion or infection by secreting antibacterial and antiviral lubricants (called smegma). Once this gliding erogenous tissue is severed, the glands develop an additional 12 to 15 layers of skin; as a consequence men who are circumcised as adults report a 70 – 90 per cent loss of sensitivity, and may require lubricants or jellies.
• A common reason given is ‘it’s more hygienic’. Research shows that circumcision prevents build-up of bacteria from behind the foreskin. This is true but you simply need to teach your boys how to keep the foreskin clean.
• Most medical reasons cited for circumcision – reduced risk of urinary tract infections (UTI), reduced risk of penile cancer and of cervical cancer in the man’s partner – are not significant enough to warrant the procedure. There is contradictory evidence as to whether circumcision reduces UTI. And as the likelihood of the uncircumcised infant contracting an infection is no more than one per cent (a figure that goes down with babies who are breast fed), while the chances of infection or complications arising from circumcision are two to three per cent, parents must think carefully about what they’re risking.
• As for penile cancer, the American Cancer Society has pointed out that “fatalities caused by circumcision accidents may approximate the mortality rate from penile cancer.” Some have gone as far as comparing the removal of the foreskin as a preventative measure with cutting off your daughter’s breast at puberty to avoid breast cancer. It may sound outlandish, but so does circumcision to some.
  One other reason given for circumcision is when a foreskin is to tight, in which medical intervention is definitely required. However, this will become apparent only when the child has his first erections, and full circumcision is rarely the solution.
• Many men (and woman) find the circumcised penis more attractive, but before you make the circumcision decision, think about the long-term consequences. It’s hard to think of your newborn as a sexual creature, but one day the shape and size of penis is going to be of supreme importance to him. He may thank you for giving him the defined shape of the circumcised penis, for the relative ease of keeping it clean, for the increased staying-power his desensitised glans provide. On the other hand, he may wonder what it would be like to have 75 per cent more feeling. 

Making the decision

Before making the decision, speak to friends and family with personal experience. If you decide to have your child circumcised for whatever reason, discuss the circumcision with the person who will perform the procedure. Ask that your son retain some inner foreskin, especially the frenelum, to preserve as much sensitivity as possible. Ask for anaesthetic to be used (this is standard as a medical procedure). Breast or bottle-feed the baby just before the circumcision. To familiarise yourself with how the circumcision is performed, take a look at www.infocirc.org and click on ‘methods’. Your baby's first bowel movements are generally green and sticky as they are composed of mostly merconium and full of digested mucus. Breastfed babies usually produce soft, yellowish stools, sometimes tinged light green with little odour. A bottlefed baby often produces stools that are firmer, brown and smellier.    

Cranial Sacral Therapy

During childbirth the pressure your baby experiences in the birth canal can cause the bones of the skull to become misaligned. A baby may seem jumpy, irritable, cry excessively, have difficulties feeding and suffer from colic or insomnia. A traumatic or difficult birth may exacerbate the problem. Osteopaths who specialise in cranial-sacral adjustments can work to correct the misalignment. Practitioners of cranial sacral therapy, work extremely gently to adjust the subtle fluctuations of cerebro-spinal fluid and cranial bone alignment. Results can be spectacular and in most cases can improve the other symptoms. Ideally, this should be carried out within the first 18 months before the bones of the skull harden and become set in place.

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2. Common Complaints during Pregnancy
3. Common Fears