10 Most Common Health Concerns in Newborns – Learning Joan

Having a Newborns child is one of a parent’s most beautiful experiences. Everything from witnessing their birth to hearing them say “mama” or “dada” for the first time; is nothing less than a blessing.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or expanding your family, one of the most important aspects of parenting is taking good Care For Your Newborn Baby. After all, every parent wants to see their child grow healthy and happy.

While catering to children’s needs is much easier when they are grown, it’s not the case with newborns; infants cannot communicate when injured or sick. So the only way parents can determine if their baby is unwell is to know the symptoms and causes of discomfort.

Watching your child struggle with health issues or diseases can be difficult. Hence, the purpose of this article is to assist you in understanding some common health problems in newborns and how to comfort them at the right time.

1.) Childbirth Injuries

Infants are vulnerable to injuries and diseases before, during, and after birth. For example, they may be born with certain congenital health conditions or fall victim to childbirth injuries—birth injuries resulting from medical malpractices by the hospital staff during or immediately after delivery.

The improper use of forceps or vacuum, breech birth, labor complications, prolonged labors, and some serious conditions missed by doctors can cause severe brain, spinal, bone, and nerve injuries. These injuries may result in the child developing lifelong health conditions like cerebral palsy, erb’s palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and perinatal asphyxia.

An infant develops Erb’s palsy when the birth injury damages the brachial plexus nerves in the neck. This nerve damage can cause lifelong partial or total paralysis or limpness of the arm, shoulder, and elbow. Some early symptoms of Erb’s palsy include weakness in the neck, limited arm motion, numbness in one arm, and little or no grip.

To avoid unfortunate birth trauma, it is essential for expecting parents to choose the best healthcare providers and provide a detailed medical history. When your doctor knows your complete medical history and underlying health conditions, it helps them analyze potential complications during birth and take proactive measures to minimize the risk of injuries during labor.

2.) Neonatal Jaundice

Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common health issues in newborns. Within 24 hours of birth, the newborn develops a yellowish color in the skin and the white part of the eye. This happens when the newborn’s immature liver can’t eliminate excess bilirubin from the blood. As a result, infants with neonatal jaundice don’t wet their diapers regularly.

Neonatal jaundice goes away within 2-3 weeks of birth. Breastfeeding and sunlight exposure also helps speed up recovery. However, jaundice lasting longer than three weeks may indicate serious liver problems, requiring immediate medical attention.

3.) Abdominal Discomfort

Abdominal discomfort is another common health problem in both newborns and healthy infants. It mainly occurs when infants swallow excessive amounts of air during nursing. If your infant is uncomfortable, crying, and bending their knees, it may be a sign of abdominal discomfort or distension.

An infant with gas or constipation often has a stiff and swollen belly compared to soft bellies in healthy children. To avoid abdominal discomfort, try to feed your baby as soon as they feel hungry. Elevate their head at least 45 degrees above their belly. If your child feels uncomfortable during nursing, stop feeding them and burp them after each feeding. When the baby’s body becomes accustomed to feeding, the problem should resolve itself.

4.) Colic

Colic is common among newborns and infants. Nearly 5-40% of infants worldwide develop this condition after 2-3 weeks of birth, and by six weeks, a newborn feels the maximum intensity of colic pain.

It is associated with continuous loud crying at a particular time of the day, mainly in the evening. While there is no definite cause of colic, many doctors believe that gas, digestive problems, and hormones related to stomach pain may have a role to play in it.

Colic usually subsides within a few weeks, but colic drops can help ease symptoms. However, if the problem persists for over three months, you need to consult a pediatrician to diagnose any underlying condition.

5.) Spitting and Vomiting

Nearly all infants spit out milk, and some even throw up. While spitting and vomiting are standard, simple burping can prevent infants from vomiting. Try to hold your baby upright for a few minutes after burping, and don’t put them directly to bed right after nursing. Lactose intolerance or allergy to specific milk formulas can cause frequent vomiting and spitting up. Throwing up frequently or greenish-colored vomiting may be a sign of an underlying problem with the digestive system. Your baby may have diarrhea if they vomit more than once after each feed. Since vomiting causes excessive dehydration, it’s essential to consult a pediatrician immediately.

6.) Oral Candidiasis

Oral candidiasis or oral thrush is an infection in the mouth of babies. It typically causes white deposits on the tongue and the inner side of the cheeks, particularly during the first few months of an infant’s life. Maintaining good oral hygiene can help prevent oral candidiasis. If your infant has prolonged oral thrush, ask your doctor if it’s severe enough to take anti-fungal medication.

7.) Cold and Flu

Cold and flu are the most common health concerns in newborns and infants. Up to 27,000 children younger than five who haven’t received a flu shot get hospitalized for flu-related issues every year in the United States. There are over 400 different flu viruses in the world, and it’s hard to get immunized against all of them.

Flu and common colds clear up on their own with home remedies like steam, humidifiers, nasal saline drops, and rubber-bulb syringes to clear a baby’s nasal passage.

A common cold is a viral infection in the nose and throat, and infants often catch it from others in the family. Although a child’s immune system develops the antibodies naturally, the common cold and flu may develop into pneumonia if not taken seriously. Visit your healthcare provider if your child has a thick green discharge, trouble breathing, and a fever above 101°F that doesn’t go away.

8.) Fever

It’s pretty common for infants and newborns to develop fever and body aches after receiving immunizations. A fever other than that is an indication of an infection. nHowever, a agitation above 101°F for a more extended period can seriously damage the brain. This is why parents need to check their newborn’s body temperature and take them to the doctor if the fever persists and get appropriate medications.

9.) Skin Allergies

Newborns have delicate skin, and as they adjust to their environment, it’s common to develop skin problems like cradle cap, diaper rash, eczema, newborn acne, and desquamation. A cradle cap is a common skin problem characterized by peeling or scaling skin on the baby’s scalp. It is caused by excessive oil deposits around the hair follicles as skin glands produce more oil. Wash your baby’s hair with mild baby shampoo daily to keep the scalp dry and clean. An infant also develops a cradle cap if allergic to synthetic fabric. Avoid using wool or synthetic fabric caps to prevent an allergic reaction.

Diaper rash can result from the baby wearing wet or soiled diapers for a long time or developing an allergic reaction to the diaper’s contents. Parents should change diapers frequently to prevent diaper rash and ensure the baby’s skin stays dry. Use a rash cream recommended by the doctor and apply it each time you change your baby’s diaper.

10.) Diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by frequent vomiting and loose stools. It can cause instant dehydration in infants, so try to keep your baby hydrated by giving oral saline and water.

Consult your doctor if you notice a change in their stools or if they are too weak to take feed.

Final Thoughts

When a child is born, it takes a few weeks or months to adjust to their surroundings. They may encounter various health issues and diseases as they gain strength and learn to cope. To keep a baby safe and healthy, parents must understand the most common health problems and how to treat them.

The above list will help you understand infants’ most common health problems and how to deal with them. For example, if you notice prolonged illness, weakness, and discomfort, you should take your baby to the pediatrician. To keep your baby healthy and safe from diseases, maintain their hygiene, get immunizations on time, and ensure regular visits to the pediatrician.