Having a baby is a wonderful time. You have gone through nine months of pregnancy, and now you have your little one with you. Once you have brought them home from the hospital, it’s time to start getting to know your little one. A lot of new parents don’t realise what can happen in the first year of the baby’s life. Here are some things which your baby may suffer from in the first year and what you can do about them! It feel like such a long time since I had a teeny baby.
Oral Thrush
Thrush is a very common condition in newborn babies. It can often occur in their mouth, and you may first notice it if your baby is not feeding as easily. You may also spot white spots in the mouth which is surrounded by a lot of redness. A baby’s immune system is not very strong, so they are more prone to have an oral infection such as thrush. As discussed in this article, if you suspect they have oral thrush, take them to the doctor. They will give you a gel which will be spread around the baby’s mouth, and on your nipples if you are breastfeeding. It should hopefully disappear within two weeks of treatment.
Colic
One of the most common conditions which may occur in your baby is colic. It is where a baby can cry excessively for hours on end. If you notice they are crying for hours for no reason, it’s time to take them to the doctor. They will be able to confirm whether the baby has colic and suggest ways to deal with it. There is not a clear reason why it happens; some say it can be because their gut is still developing. The doctor may advise you try may some supplements which you add to formula or breast milk and are formulated as safe for babies. But sometimes there is no specific cure; colic often passes after the first few months. Here is some more information on colic.
Eye infections
Babies are more prone to eye infections in the first few months. It’s often down to the exposure to bacteria when they come through the birth canal. As their immune system is still developing, it often can lead to infection. You can take them to the doctor who will suggest eye ointments or drops to help the little one. In the first few months, they may also develop conjunctivitis, which is caused by viruses and can be helped with eye drops.
Reflux
Another thing new parents might not know babies often suffer from is reflux. It’s often common for babies to bring back up milk because their stomach is full and still developing. But if it’s happening a lot, you may need to talk to the doctor. They will check if your baby has gastro-oesophageal reflux. It can tend to happen in the first couple of months of their life and can last till they are a year.
Here are some other infant digestive problems that your baby may suffer from. Remember if you spot any of the above, talk to your health visitor or your doctor about your concerns.
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Great advice here lovely. We suffered with terrible colic with Harry during the first few months and it was a shock to the system, the constant crying can be so worrying and draining unless you fully understand the condition xx
My daughter had all of these and it’s so horrible seeing your little ones suffering but good to know you’re not alone.
We we’re very lucky, our little girl has never really been ill bit I remember the first week or so I was a nervous wreck that everything was wrong.
Victoria Marden recently posted…Abnormal cells • Smear test • My treatment
Thankfully my babies only ever got conjunctivitis. My cousins baby had colic and reflux the poor little thing. Little mite ended up in hospital and everything. I wish none of these things existed.
Kellie Kearney recently posted…Thrombocytopenia and Me
I think all of mine have suffered with one of these things at one time or another!
Oh my gosh, so many ailments! I hadn’t thought about any of these before – definitely something for me to keep in mind x
Oh yeah I can relate to that. Make that in the first 2 years. Once they hit 2 1/2 years their immune system is built up.
I can relate to this, and the first year is such a worry. Very informative for new mums
Mellissa Williams recently posted…My Pizza Story By Amy-May Hunt
Great blog you’ve got here. It’s packed full of lots of information about colic in babies