After you go home from the hospital, it can be very beneficial to work with a lactation support consultant either in a group setting or one-on-one. Many insurance companies offer this service. You can call your insurance company and ask if they offer this and who specifically is covered.
Additionally, The Lactation Foundation is a superb local clinic funded through a grant by The University of Texas. They take appointments and offer expert advice one-on-one. Texas Children’s Hospital and The Woman’s Hospital of Texas offer breastfeeding support groups that many new moms find helpful.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no cow’s milk until after the first birthday. Babies under the age of 1-year-old need the nutrition provided by infant formula or breast milk. Cow’s milk and goat’s milk are poor substitutes for breast milk and formula, and early intake makes babies more prone to anemia (low blood count), vomiting and diarrhea. Stick to formula or breast milk until your baby’s first birthday!
For the first couple of weeks after your baby is born, it is important to wake your baby every 2-3 hours to feed. Breastfed babies tend to nurse fairly frequently, while formula-fed babies may feed less often. A good rule of thumb is to aim for between 8 to 12 feedings during a 24-hour period. Once your baby is back to his birth weight, you no longer have to wake him at night to feed. Always wake him at regular intervals during the day, so that he isn’t sleeping all day and awake all night. You should aim for at least 8 feeds per day.
Baby-led weaning has been around for a while and is entirely a personal choice. In certain cultures around the world, this is the primary way babies start eating solid foods. If you choose to do baby-led weaning, it is important to wait until your baby can sit in a highchair unassisted and is able to move his jaws in an up-and-down position. Start with softer finger foods such as cooked egg yolks, ripe fruits, cooked pasta and puffed cereals.
If your child is experiencing frequent constipation, diet is the first thing to attempt to change. Foods such as starches, milk products and bananas can make constipation worse and should be limited. Increase the intake of prunes, pears and plums in your child’s diet. Make sure she is drinking plenty of water, too. A daily probiotic can sometimes help to keep your child more regular as well. If this still doesn’t work, your child may need to take MiraLAX daily for a few weeks.
It is best to make sure you use fragrance-free and dye-free products, including detergents, to treat your child’s eczema. Try Tide-Free or All-Free as good alternatives. Using non-fragranced soaps is also helpful, such as Dove unscented, CeraVe, Cetaphil and AVEENO. Be sure to moisturize frequently, three to four times per day. Bath time should also be limited to less than 10 minutes.
No, these products are mostly for when the skin gets irritated or inflammed. The purpose of diaper rash medicine is to protect the skin from further irritation and allow it to heal.
Your baby will always be seen within the first 24 hours, but most often, much sooner. It often depends on when you deliver. Babies who are born overnight will be seen first thing in the morning. Those born during the day are usually seen after we finish at the office. Don’t worry—all of the Medical Center hospitals where we see newborns have neonatologists (hospital-based newborn specialists) on standby in case there is an urgent issue. We work cooperatively with these doctors if your infant continues to require specialized care. Many times, your obstetrician will ask them to attend the delivery. Most often, this is a “better safer than sorry” consult, but they are available in case of any urgent medical situation with your baby.
Almost all babies get somewhat jaundiced; it is normal and expected. However, some babies get more <
