All new parents have questions. Everything is new and a newborn baby is so small. You want to give it the best care and protection you can! To help you along a little, we’ll discuss a few topics many new parents ask about. Of course you can also always contact your maternity nurse or midwife if you have any questions.
Crying
All babies cry. Some more than others. As you get to know your baby better, you will recognize different cries. You will then also have a better idea why your baby is crying.
Until that time, you can try to find out by ruling a few things out. Are they hungry? Do they have a dirty nappy? Are they suffering from stomach cramps? Are they too warm or too cold?
Based on these answers you know what you can do to soothe your baby.
Jaundice
Most babies turn slightly yellow after birth, regardless of their skin colour. This is due to an excess of bilirubin (a breakdown product) in the blood getting in the baby’s skin. It is usually harmless and will subside after a few days. When the amount of bilirubin becomes too high, there’s a risk of brain damage. That is why we actively monitor the baby during the first few days. If the baby is too yellow, we can test the amount of bilirubin using a skin or blood test. If the level is too high most babies will be treated with light therapy at the hospital.
Cramps
As babies switch from drinking amniotic fluid to (breast) milk, the intestines need to start working differently. This can cause stomach cramps. Almost all babies have this, usually during the fourth of fifth day after birth. Symptoms are excessive crying (almost screaming) and pulling up of the legs.
Stomach cramps aren’t harmful and will decrease within days. Until that time you can soothe your baby by letting him/her suckle on your finger or by putting your warm hand on their tummy. It can also help to position your baby stomach down on your forearm and gently rock him/her.
Temperature
Newborn babies are unable to regulate their own body temperature as well as adults. That is why it is important to monitor it during the first week. The baby’s temperature will be taken rectally at least twice daily. A normal temperature in babies ranges between 36.5 and 37.5°C (97.7 and 99.5°F). If the baby’s temperature is too low you can try to elevate it by using extra hot water bottles or extra clothes, especially a hat. If the baby’s temperature is too high, you can remove a hot water bottle or a layer of clothes. The temperature should improve within an hour.
Always contact your midwife when your baby’s temperature drops to 36.2°C (97.16°F) or lower, or rises to 37.8 (100°F) or higher.
Umbilical cord stump
Straight after birth your baby’s umbilical cord is cut. From that moment on, the baby will have to provide its own oxygen. The remaining clipped cord stump has no function anymore. It will dry out and drop off after some time. This can be after four days but usually it happens one week after birth. As the stump dries out, it can start to smell. This is normal. It often means it won’t stay attached much longer. Sometimes a drop of blood appears when the stump falls off. This is no cause for worry. You can wipe it away with a piece of gauze and let it dry until it forms a scab. You don’t have to dab it with alcohol anymore, although you can if you want to.