Most of the time mothers observe their babies carefully but they often worried by minor physical problems or symptoms which may not have any major consequences. However, the mother should be listened carefully and proper evaluation of the baby should be performed.
Vomiting :
- The vomiting or regurgitation soon after feeds is often due to faulty technique of feeding and aerophagy (swallowing of air).
- Despite vomiting if baby is maintaining adequate weight gain then this is mainly due to faulty feeding technique.
- Proper advice regarding feeding and burping must be given to mother.
- But if there is persistent vomiting with projectile motion (with large force), bile stained vomiting (yellow – greenish vomiting), failure to pass stool in first 24 hour after birth or abdominal distension then the baby should be further evaluated and investigated.
- Symptoms need further evaluation :
- If vomiting characteristically occurs when the baby is returned to the cot after feed but does not occur if the baby is held upright.
- If vomiting characteristically occurs after two weeks of age with poor weight gain and constipation.
Constipation :
- Babies on cow milk or formula feeds are often constipated due to casein curds.
- Babies on breast milk pass 2 – 6 golden yellow, sticky, semi loose stool due to high content of lactose.
- Constipation can be best treated by giving additional glucose water, extra sugar in the milk, honey and orange or sweet lemon juice.
- The laxatives should be avoided.
Diarrhea :
- Many babies pass stool while being fed or soon after feed due to increased gastrocolic reflex which may persist for couple of weeks and then this condition subsided. These babies continue to gain satisfactory weight.
- Some breastfed babies can develop increased frequency of stool if the mother is taking certain medications such as ampicillin, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, laxatives and excessive consumption of some food items with high organic acids such as oranges, cherries, tomatoes and chillies.
- The infective diarrhea is more common in bottle-fed babies than breast-fed babies.
- Diarrhea may also occur due to overfeeding or serious underfeeding.
- Some diseases may also cause diarrhea such as congenital thyrotoxicosis, Hirschsprung’s disease and metabolic disorders.
Evening colic (Abdominal pain or discomfort):
- This is characterized by unexplained crying spells in the evening after few days of birth.
- It is also characterized by crying spells atleast 3 hours a day, atleast 3 days a week for atleast 3 consecutive weeks.
- This condition may persist for couple of minutes or hours.
- The crying episodes occurs due to intestinal colic (pain or discomfort).
- Excessive crying further leads to swallowing of air thus initiating a vicious cycle of colic-crying-colic.
- Nothing seems to provide relief to the baby and whole family is extremely upset and demoralized.
- Holding the baby against skin, taking him for a drive, cuddling, kissing and prone positioning (lies flat with the chest down and the back up) can provide temporary relief.
- Administration of antispasmodic drops 30 minutes before the anticipated time of colic and placing the baby in prone position for effective release of wind provides relief to the baby.
- Local application of Asafoetida (Heeng) over the umbilical area and administration of decoction of Ajwain and Saunf are useful home remedies.
- Unnecessary changes in the feeding regime of the baby should be avoided.
- This condition spontaneously resolves after 1 to 2 months.
Excessive Sleepiness :
- Some babies may keep their eyes closed most of the time during the first 48 hours. This should not be a cause of concern and anxiety.
- During first few days many infants go to sleep after taking only few sucks on the bottle or breast. They should be kept aroused during feed by tickling on the soles and behind th ears.
- Heavy sedation in mother during labor may be associated with excessive sleepiness in the baby for first 48 hours.
- Lethargy and lack of interest in feeds in a baby, who was previously alert and active, is an important sign of serious disease.
These conditions may be normally present in a healthy newborn baby so there is no need to worry about consequences but if the condition persist after the given duration or there are any dangerous signs present then the condition should evaluated and investigated further.
