Pregnancy & Childbirth

Crying is a normal event in the lives of all babies.When a baby comes out of the woomb the first thing to do is crying.By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first time in their life.After delivery if the baby doesnot cry then it should be initiated by slightly pinching or gently strocking the feet.From this it is clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event ,still some times it can upset the mother or family members.

We all know that a baby can’t tell his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him to communicate with others is by crying.Babies show some other signs like feet kicking,hand waving and head turning ect.But the best way to take the attention of others is by crying.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth.If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive.Many a times baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking.Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention.The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life threatening conditions.Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.

Most of the time it is difficult to find the cause of the cry .Common causes are discussed here for awareness.

Common reasons for crying:

1,Hunger:–

A hungry baby will cry till he gets the milk. Here the old saying comes true’crying baby gets the milk’.

2,Wetting:–

Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry .

3,Company:–

Majority of the kids need somebody near. If they feel lonely they cry.When their favourite doll slips away from the grip they cry for help.

4,Tired:–

When the baby is tired after a journey and unable to sleep just cry simply.They feel tired in uncomfortable sourroundings and due to unhealthy climate.

5,Heat & cold:–

If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry. Child is comfortable in a room with good ventilation.

6,Tight cloathing:–

Tight cloaths especially during warm climate is intolerable for kids.Tight elastic of the the dress can also produce soreness in the hip region.

7,Dark room:–

When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light.If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying.Ofcourse he will be irritated by strong light resulting in cry.

8,Mosquito:–

Yes,these creatures disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby to cry.

9,Nasal blocking:–

Child may not be able to sleep when there is a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.

10, Phlegm in throat:–

This also causes difficult breathing resulting in cry.Often a typical sound can be heard with each breath.

11,General aching:–

Generalised body ache with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.

12,Habitual cry:—Some babies cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony.Many a times doctor is called for help.

13,Nappy rash:– If a tight and wet nappy is kept for a long time results in this conditon.
Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material of the nappy. When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become sleepless and cry. All other skin lesions like eczema,ecthyma ,candidiasis ect also causes same problems.

14,Earache:–

Ear infection is common in wet climate.The infection may spread from the throat.Ear infection can result in rupture of ear drum causing discharge of pus.Eareache usually becomes worse at night when lying down.Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to touch the ear.Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.

15,Colic:–

When the baby cry continuously most of us diagnose it as colic.This roblem is still a topic for debate because exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm.Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of abdomen.Child often feels better when lying on abdomen.Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen.If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.

16,Infections:–

All infections causes some kind of pain or irritation resulting in cry.Infection may be anywhere in the body.Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.

17,Reactions to certain food:–

It is said that one man’s food is another man’s poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions.Allergy is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness,gastric symptons and continuous cry.

18,Hard stools:–

Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge for stool.Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain .

19,Gastro esophagial reflex:–

Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding.If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex.This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food causing regurgitation from the stomach.It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by giving antireflex medicines.

20, Dentition:–

During dentition child becomes restless with crying.Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhoea.

Some rare reasons
—————–

1,Bowel obstruction:–

Bowel obstruction is associated with severe pain and vomiting.Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound.Baby is constipated with absence of flatus.

2,Septicemia:–

Invasion of pathogenic micro organisms in to the blood is called septicemia.Fever is associated with this condition.

3,Torsion of testes in male kids:–

When a male baby cries continuously his scrotum should be examined.Torsion of the testes produce severe pain which will be worse by touching the affected testes.When the testes is pressed upwards pain is releived.If this is not treated properly it can damage the affected testes due to lack of blood supply.

4,Meningitis:–

Initially there may not be fever,hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored.Fontanel is bulging. Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.

5,Retention of urine:–

Children with retention of urine will have agonising pain making them restless.

7,Major injuries:–

Major injury to any parts of the body causes pain.Occasionally children will fall while arrying and results in head injury.Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.

Throwing baby showers is a time-honored way to celebrate the impending addition of a new member to a loved one’s family. Traditionally, a baby shower is a “girls only” event, often hosted by the baby’s godmother, but today baby showers can be hosted by any friend or relative of the mother-to-be, and can be attended by whomever the host wishes to invite. The general purpose of a baby shower is to give useful gifts to the expectant mother, such as layette items, baby toys and clothes, and often gift certificates for useful things. It is not untoward for the expectant parents to draw up a “wish list” of items they especially need but may be having difficulty affording.

Baby showers are a relatively recent tradition, generally credited as having their start in the US. A baby shower is usually a relatively casual event, held in the afternoon or early evening, often with refreshments provided and sometimes party games held as well. It is not uncommon to have a potluck shower, where guests each bring a food item along with a gift, although fully catered showers are also quite common. Party games, if the host chooses to have them, generally center around the general theme of the baby and pregnancy, ranging from themed versions traditional games like charades to activities such as guessing the circumference of the pregnant guest-of-honor.

While many parents-to-be look forward to having a baby shower, some social groups feel such celebrations are best left as family affairs, or believe that it is bad luck to celebrate a birth before it happens. If you offer to host a shower for an expectant friend, don’t be hurt if she politely declines. In other cases, the mother-to-be may have multiple showers! Perhaps one for co-workers and casual friends, and one for close friends and family. Some women have a baby shower only for their first child, while others may choose to have one for every pregnancy.

Baby showers are not bound by rigid traditions to the same extent as weddings and other life events, so don’t be surprised if a new friend’s baby shower is nothing like the last one you attended. There is really no “wrong” way to throw a baby shower, so if you have been charged with hosting a shower for a friend or relative, it’s an “anything goes” affair (so long as you have the guest of honor’s stamp of approval for your plans!).

Simone writes for a parenting advice site where you can read information on many aspects of pregnancy, birth, and caring for your baby and toddler.

Going through pregnancy there is normally less than 9 months to prepare yourself and your home for the new addition to your family. There are a number of things that you should buy in advance which are either necessary or could just make your life easier when you return home after birth.

Items To Buy

1. Somewhere for the baby to sleep.

This could be a cot, carrycot or crib. A lightweight and portable bed is often seen as best during the first few weeks as your baby will be sleeping a lot and it will help if you can move the sleeping place from room to room. You will normally need to buy a cot by around 6 months depending on how quickly your baby grows.

2. A Pram.

A pram or pushchair is one of the most expensive purchases in the first year. Full size traditional prams are very hard wearing and warm and comfortable. They are usually at the more expensive end of the range but seem to keep their value well when sold on. Many parents opt for a pram in 2 parts; a fold down frame and a top which can be used as a carrycot with handles. Things to bear in mind with this are that escalators can be difficult as well as travel on buses. You need to decide how you will be travelling, where your destinations will be and then choose the systems that suit you best.

3. Car Seat

If travelling by car you should always use a car seat and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fitting. The car seat should be the correct type of seat for the stage of your baby. This is one item that you should definitely buy new as you won’t know if a second-hand seat has been damaged. Learn how to fit and use your car seat properly.

4. Clothing

Most first time parents go a little overboard when buying for their first child. Buy what you need as a minimum and spend the money on clothing for a slightly older age when your baby is born. Here’s what you need:

2 shawls or wraps
4 vests
4 stretch suits
2 cardigans
1 snowsuit or similar
3 pairs of socks (unless all clothing has feet)
1 pair of mittens
1 hat

5. Changing Equipment

There’s a lot of debate at the moment as to the choice of disposable or terry nappies/diapers. The choice is yours but most people opt for disposable nappies/diapers. New babies will get through at least 6 nappies/diapers a day so stock up!

Nappies/Diapers
Baby lotion/cotton wool balls or baby wipes
- Normal advice is to use water and cotton wool initially and then use olive oil as a moisturiser on a newborn baby
Barrier cream

6. Feeding Equipment

If you are going to breastfeed then make sure that you know what you need to know - see the bottom of this article for a free breastfeeding guide.

For bottle feeding you will need:

Bottles (I would recommend 6)
A sterilizing kit
Formula milk
Burping towels
Bibs

7. Baby chair/Bouncer

Choose one that supports the baby’s head if you plan to use this from birth. Your baby will love to see what’s going on but you shouldn’t put the chair or bouncer on a raised surface. The arrival of your first child is a magical time and preparation for this special time can lead you to ’spoil’ your child before it is born by buying loads of clothing and equipment. Your baby will grow out of its’ clothing after 3-4 months and it won’t really ever get the clothes that dirty.

You can save a lot of money by using second hand clothing and equipment and if you are on a budget or are just conscious watching what you spend you can certainly go down this route with confidence. If buying equipment stay away from really old equipment and check for any signs of damage. Operate any moving parts and ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose. As stated, always buy a new car seat.

Good luck with the birth and your new arrival.
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