Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion: Complimentary and traditional care. Lilian Paramor
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soothing background music often for the enjoyment of both of you.
•Listening to talk radio or interesting interviews can also help you to feel part of the outside world again.
•Check your breasts in the mirror once or twice a day for any redness (usually vaguely triangular in shape) and palpate gently for any tender lumpy areas. Baby should drink from that side first or you can massage the area until soft.
•If you have a hair stylist friend, ask her to do your hair at home. This will be an instant pick-me-up. Ask a friend or relative to watch Baby.
Week Three to Week Six
Baby is now a beautifully communicative little being, with each week bringing new surprises, challenges, joys and concerns. Keep referring to this guide, and read more about any other concerns you might have or developments you are interested in, in the topic-specific sections.
WEEK THREE
Baby grasps your fingers tightly and can even be pulled into a sitting position. This reflex will gradually fade from about three months. Notice how Baby also has a fright reflex, throwing out his arms and scrunching up his face when startled. He can easily turn his head from side to side but still has difficulty holding it up without support.
Babies often have a growth spurt some time now. Just as you thought you knew Baby’s feeding routine, he might increase the number of feeds he needs for a few days. This is not because you have insufficient milk or because your milk is too weak. Simply take things more slowly again for the next few days and allow Baby to nurse more frequently to build up your milk supply. Feeding patterns will revert to normal in about three days. Formula babies also have growth spurts and should be offered more milk. It is probably better to give feeds more frequently rather than to increase the volume of existing feeds.
WEEK FOUR
Baby’s back is a little stronger and she is alert and curious. At the same time she really likes to be close to you. Use a supportive baby carrier pouch so that both hands are free to do your chores. Baby will hear and be comforted by your heartbeat, and your body warmth will ease any tummy aches. Do not carry Baby in this way all day but it can be a lifesaver for shopping trips, while doing chores and at fussy times. Notice how her hands become her first playthings, as she spends ages intertwining her fingers. Baby follows large objects to his midline and then loses interest in tracking them further.
If your baby has needed special care in a high-care unit, this might be your first week home as a complete family. These babies have often been exposed to constant light, sound and other stimuli, so will need time to adjust to a calmer, quieter environment at home. Tone things down gradually and embark on a regular, twice daily massage routine to help calm him. You might be physically recovered from the birth but you will feel quite new at caring for your baby without the presence of skilled staff to help when necessary. It would be good to have handled your baby extensively before she comes home, so talk to the staff about this. Read the sections applying to the first two weeks at home with a baby, as these tips will help you now too.
WEEK FIVE
Week Five won’t be very different from the previous week, except that everything might be a little more pronounced. Lopsided smiles will confirm that Baby is beginning to appreciate his environment. Soon she will begin gurgling when awake and not hungry.
Baby’s cries will be one of the things that concern you most. There are many reasons why babies cry. Most of them are not serious and require simple solutions to restore contentment. Crying is simply Baby’s first form of language: his way of communicating with you.
Do not rush to act preventatively at the first little sound a baby makes. A baby will often make a few sounds, moan a little, wriggle around and then settle of his own accord. Leave him for a while to see if he is really in need of something. This does not mean you should allow him to cry bitterly or for long periods, but simply that you should not automatically assume that something is wrong. When Baby cries, consider these possibilities before looking for more serious reasons:
•Is Baby’s nappy wet or dirty? Do check and change regularly.
•Is Baby thirsty or hungry? Feed when necessary, not according to a schedule.
•Is he too hot or cold? Remember that babies feel both cold and heat sooner than adults and you may need to remove or add a layer or two of clothing or blankets.
•Is she uncomfortable, maybe lying on one side only and experiencing pins and needles? Change her position from time to time if niggly.
•Is he tired and rubbing his ears or eyes? A walk, patting, rocking or singing will help him fall asleep.
•Is it late in the day when he is niggly, as almost all babies are? Go for a walk, bath him, or use a baby carrier as time-tested tips.
•Is she bored maybe? Play games appropriate for this age.
Some babies do cry for attention and this is a more serious issue. Most babies require lots of attention and if you give a fair amount you will have a happier baby. Do not label a baby ‘naughty’ – emotional attention is a valid need. Using a baby carrier will often solve the problem of crying for a bit of closeness to Mom or Dad. If Baby is constantly niggly despite your efforts, it might just be the sign of a high-need baby or she might need the homeopathic remedy Chamomilla Tablets. Babies’ personalities are as individual as those of adults and occasionally one might feel that they are not all that pleasant!
If a baby was born by Caesarean section or had a difficult normal birth, Arnica tablets can be useful to reduce the effects of stress. These unhappy babies also respond well to massage.
Other conditions that cause crying and need special attention are colic and teething. Read more elsewhere in this book.
Lastly, if all other reasons for crying have been checked, one thinks of fever and illness in an unhappy infant. Always be observant – ask yourself if Baby feels feverish, is off his milk or whether his wet nappies smell strongly, indicating a bladder infection, for instance.
WEEK SIX
Six weeks is another quite critical time in life with a baby. In South Africa it is presently the time when immunisation commences and when snuffles, blocked noses and colds first appear. Baby is due for another growth spurt, which you should approach as for the three-week spurt. You might be feeling quite tired after six weeks of the hardest work a woman will ever do, and at the same time might feel that time with Baby is running out as your maternity leave progresses.
Excess mucus underlies most of the minor and many of the more serious common childhood complaints, and babies and small children are more prone to this.
COMMON CONCERNS FROM THREE TO SIX WEEKS
Read more about these elsewhere:
•Colic
•Sticky eyes
•Milia (or baby pimples)
•Cradle cap
•Oral thrush
•Skin rashes.
Common causes of excess mucus at this age are:
•Sensitivity to dairy and soy-based formula milk;
•A lot of dairy and grain products in the diet of a breastfeeding mom;
•A cold, dry climate;
•Immunisation;
•Unduly early introduction of baby cereal in an attempt to get Baby to sleep longer and better at night.
Take note of the following tips:
•Restrict dairy in your