7 HEALTH CHALLENGES BABY FACES

By Elizza S. Senseng, M.D.

 

Prematurity.  When a baby is born before he is expected to, a lot of problems are anticipated.  The immaturity of the different parts of the body particularly the brain that controls body functions, the lungs for breathing  and even the organs responsible for taking food in can affect the baby's well being.  Babies born prematurely need a lot of support and may have to stay in the hospital longer.

• What you can do? Pregnant women who are particularly vulnerable to deliver early must constantly see their obstetrician.  A very good prenatal care anticipates potential problems like prematurity. Have your obstetrician set up a team of pediatriacian and neonatologist to take care of your baby upon delivery.

Congenital Anomalies. The occurrence of Congenital anomalies make a very small  percentage in the total number of babies born each day.  Congenital anomalies are conditions wherein a part of the body did not developed fully or is absent or a substance that should be present is not around or lacking causing problems in many ways.

• What you can do? Congenital scans and other imaging modalities can now provide parents opportunities to view their unborn child when there is a need to.  For certain anomalies that do not manifest right away, like metabolic conditions (these are conditions arising from the absence or lack  of certain substances in the body), a newborn metabolic screening can be done to newborns hours after birth to help detect them early. Screening for congenital deafness can also be done with a newborn hearing screen. Expectant parents are encouraged to avail of these tests for their babies.

Infections. Infants and children continue to face potential illnesses brought by infections. Over the years, babies and infants continue to battle with infections.

• What you can do? Parents can best protect their children from infection through good and proper nutrition and immunization.  Smallpox has been eradicated mainly through immunization. Some countries have been polio free. But many diseases still haunt our babies and children. Proper nutrition helps them build defenses to fight infection. Immunization  provides their bodies with soldiers who recognizes certain diseases and fight  to overcome them. Discuss immunization with your child's pediatrician. Make sure that the immunizations are complete and are given on time as recommended.

Feeding and nutrition. Breastfeeding remains to be the best nutrient supply for your baby. While technology allows addition of many nutrients to cow's milk, the benefits that parents and babies can derive from breast milk can never be equaled. Breastfeeding moms benefit from breastfeeding  in many ways. It hastens the return of the uterus to near normal size, bleeding after giving birth stops faster, and it also helps in strengthening  the bones.  It is advised that mothers breastfeed up to two years of age.  Babies benefit from breast milk because of the antibodies (substances that help fight infections) it contains. Colostrum, a concentration of antibodies is found in breast milk particularly in the first weeks after baby is born.  Breast milk is easy to absorb and digest making it available for baby's growth and development. There is also less risk of contamination attributed to handling. It is readily available and always at optimum temperature. Discuss breastfeeding with your obstetrician and pediatrician. Join support groups who encourages parents to breastfeed. You may consult lactation consultants who can guide you through the breastfeeding experience.  Breastfeeding apparel are now available to allow mothers to breastfeed in public discreetly.

 

Allergies. Allergies are adverse reactions to certain drugs, substance and even food.  For babies, this can be allergy to cow's milk. As they start to take solid foods, some may have allergies to certain foods like milk, soy, eggs, peanuts & shellfish etc.  Some children develop allergies to pollen, dust and chemicals contained in things we use every day. Allergies may manifest as a rash, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent sneezing, cough and colds.

• What you can do? It is helpful to tell your doctor about allergies you have in the family. Breast milk remains to be the best milk you can give your baby.  Maintain a clean environment for you and your family.

Fall  and Injuries. While babies hardly move until about four months when they can roll over, falls from the bed still happens.  Babies slowly inch their way until they get to the edge of the bed without getting noticed. Most falls happen because babies are left alone on a bed with pillows around them. As they learn to roll over, the risk of falling from bed becomes higher. As they learn to walk, the unsteady gait also predisposes to fall.

• What you can do?  Parents will have to anticipate this risk by making the environment baby safe.  Pillows can never replace the caregiver.  Babies will have to be in cribs when they are left alone even for short periods. Babies can roll over very quickly.  Parents will have to assume that babies can fall when left even for a second.  Rubber mats can be placed in areas where baby walks during the initial months he is learning to walk.  Furnitures or equipment with sharp corners will have to be out of the way when baby starts to walk.  

Developmental concerns. Babies are expected to develop  in certain ways and order. Physical growth and development, speech and language development, motor (movements) development   are examples of the developments being monitored by pediatricians. There is a range in the age when these developmental milestones should occur.

• What you can do? Parents should express concerns if baby seems to be not doing what is expected for the age.Your pediatrician would usually ask you what your baby can currently do during each clinic visit. These questions help screen for potential lag in the development. There are developmental pediatricians (pediatricians who specialize in assessing babies and children  who may lag behind in their development) who can help should you pediatrician screens a possible delay.

back to top

 

About Elizza S. Senseng, M.D.
Dr. Elizza S. Senseng is a pediatrician and a mother . She conceptualized and started Health Dynamics together with pediatrician friends. As a  child care advocate, she has written  articles on parenting for magazines and internet websites in the last four years.  She is a contributor to the Help, doctor  column for Smart Parenting Magazine (Summit Media) from March 2003- April 2006. She has been conducting seminars and workshops on parenting for the last 7 years.

 

back to top

6 Ways to Know if You are Prepared for Medical Emergencies

By Elizza S. Senseng, M.D. 

Are you prepared for a medical emergency? Every second counts in a such a situation.  Your preparedness can mean a lot to you and your family. Do you know what to prepare ? Answer  the  questions below with a "yes or no" and give yourself a point for every "yes" answer.

 

Do you have an emergency medical kit?
Get your family an emergency kit containing what you will need for common emergencies. This may include bandages, some medicines for fever or cleaning a wound, a thermometer, nasal aspirators etc. Have the kit's location known to every member of your household.  If you have vehicles, have emergency kits available in each of them too.

 

Do you have emergency numbers displayed prominently in your home?
It is difficult to remember important numbers during an emergency situation. To have them displayed near the telephone or  prominently in different areas of your house including your bedroom helps you call for help fast.  You may also have a list in you car or wallet.

Emergency numbers may include the number of the nearest hospital, your doctor, the local poison control or nearest relative.  You may also include directions to your house in case you need to tell someone how to get to you.

 

Do you know how to give life saving measures in case someone stops breathing or someone's heart stops beating?
Enroll in a lifesaving skills class offered in your area.  The brain gets deprived of oxygen when a person's heart stops beating and the lungs stops supplying air.  Permanent damage can ensue.  Learning how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( getting the heart to beat again and supplying the lungs  with oxygen) can help prevent this from happening.

 

Do you know how to administer first aid to common medical emergencies?
Attend a class that teaches how to apply first aid treatment to burns, bee stings, injuries and other  conditions. Applying first aid helps prevent complications when given promptly.

 

Do you have an emergency plan in place?
Outline a plan for emergency situations like fire, earthquake or any other situation requiring prompt attention.  Who will be called, where to go, how to get out  of the house and areas of responsibility are some of the things to include in the plan.  Discuss and review this plan with all the members of the household on a regular basis.

 

Do you perform drills regularly to test your plan?

Run a fire drill, an earthquake drill  or an emergency drill with the members of the household.  This gives you an opportunity to see if your plan works. Review and revise accordingly based on your drill experience.

 

If you got 6 points, that's great.  It pays to be prepared but do hope you will not have the occasion to use your plan.  If you got less than 6 points, its never too late to get prepared.

 

About Elizza S. Senseng, M.D.

Dr. Elay Senseng is a pediatrician and a mother . She conceptualized and started Health Dynamics together with pediatrician friends. As a  child care advocate, she has written  articles on parenting for magazines and internet websites in the last four years.  She is a contributor to the Help, doctor  column for Smart Parenting Magazine (Summit Media) from March 2003- April 2006. She has been conducting seminars and workshops on parenting for the last 7 years. As a pediatrician who is also involved in training future pediatricians, she believes that knowledge and skills coupled with genuine love for children equip parents, child care specialists and child caregivers to make empowered decisions for the children they care for.

 

back to top