Physical care for neonates involves monitoring developmental milestones, managing digestive health, and addressing maternal postpartum mental health concerns.
Breastfeeding mothers usually require additional calories above pre-pregnancy needs to maintain their own health and their milk production. Choosing nuts as a healthy protein source can provide needed protein and calories for nursing mothers, without the hassle of cooking or preparation that other foods require.
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Breastfeeding an infant is a round-the-clock job. Sometimes the hardest part is remembering to take care of yourself. You may already be aware that what you eat and drink will be passed on to your baby when you’re nursing. Still, do you know how much water you should drink to stay well hydrated?
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If you're looking to shed pounds after giving birth, a healthy diet and daily exercise is safe even if you are breastfeeding. The National Institutes of Health recommends losing weight slowly -- no more than a pound and a half a week if you're breastfeeding.
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Breast milk can be an optimal source of nutrition for infants, provided that new mothers make healthful food and beverage choices. Dietary preferences can affect breast milk in a number of ways: Certain foods may flavor breast milk, make infants fussy or negatively impact their development.
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A baby cannot actually be allergic to his mother's breast milk, but may develop an allergy or intolerance that appears to be a breast milk allergy. In most cases, these problems can simply be solved through a change in the mother's diet.
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The risks of taking medication varies once a mother gives birth and the child is breast-feeding. The doctor must determine if the benefits of the medication outweigh not breast-feeding the child or exposing the infant to the effects of the medication.
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Discover the common foods and factors that contribute to gassiness in breastfed babies. Learn how to identify potential allergens, reduce gas-causing carbohydrates, and find relief for nursing mothers with gassy infants.
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Nursing mothers devote extra time and energy to providing their babies the best nutrition possible. Breast milk is full of antibodies that formula does not contain. Mothers who choose to breast-feed need to pay extra attention to their diet, while formula-feeding moms do not.
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Although the cause of baby acne is unknown, there are some things that can irritate your baby’s skin and make existing acne more noticeable. It is important to understand what can trigger baby acne and how you can help manage it.
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Caring for a reflux baby can be emotionally and physically exhausting because of frequent night wakings, excessive crying, spitting up, vomiting, severe pain, slow weight gain, respiratory problems and feeding difficulties.
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If you and your baby have decided it's time to stop breastfeeding, or if you have to wean due to a medical condition or new medication, there are a few things to consider to make the transition as easy and painless as possible.
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Brewer's yeast comes from a one-celled fungus and is a byproduct of beer making, though it can also be grown as a nutritional supplement. A good source of iron, chromium and selenium, brewer's yeast also contains several B vitamins, though not B-12.
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Nursing mothers who experience low milk production may look to natural remedies as a first-line option to promote and support a healthy supply of breast milk. Ginger is a power food with many health benefits and may be well suited as a dietary addition to increase milk supply.
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During pregnancy women gain weight, which they can later use for breast milk production after giving birth, according to La Leche League International. Breast-feeding, or pumping in a way to simulate breast-feeding, can help you lose weight faster due to the extra calories your body uses to produce breast milk.
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The average weight of a 2-month-old baby girl is 11 pounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is based on statistics about thousands of children born every year. Research shows that half of all baby girls weigh less than 11 pounds, and the other half weigh more than 11 pounds.
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Some babies are born with a full head of hair, while others are born completely bald. Both are completely normal, as is a baby born with a full head of hair who goes bald within the first few months. None of this is a cause for concern, as a baby grows hair of several different types in several different stages.
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Tracking an infant’s weight can assure parents and health care professionals that a baby is getting the nutrition and stimulation he needs to grow at a steady pace. Doctors use growth charts to make sure that an infant’s height, weight and head circumference are within normal ranges.
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You may have seen videos of very young babies moving under water or heard that newborns have an innate swimming ability due to floating in the womb. These stories and videos are deceptive because a newborn cannot float or hold his head above water.
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According to MayoClinic.com, babies can have as many as 10 upper respiratory infections--better known as the common cold--before age 2. It's also common for newborn babies to have some nasal congestion in the first two months of life.
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The summer months often mean outdoor time during family gatherings, barbecues and other social events. Dressing your newborn requires more than a keen sense of baby fashion.
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