The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
|
If you know any birth attendants who are still practicing premature clamping and cutting of the cord, encourage them to watch this video of a grand rounds with Dr. Nicholas Fogelson at USC. It's got lots of research and an open-minded perspective. |
We feel very strongly that infants' hands and arms should never be swaddled downward. This is a very unnatural position. The preterm infant in the womb is in flexion much of the time and uses hands and arms to reach across midline, bring the hand and fingers to the mouth, suck on them, grasp and clasp hand to hand, and to the umbilical cord, grasp and holds onto the head, the shoulders, etc. etc. This all sets up neurosensory feedback loops that the immature nervous system counts on in order to mature the flexor-extensor balance and mutual inhibition and activation. Hands should always be free to reach the face and mouth and to mutually grasp one another. Hands and mouth are innervated from closely adjacent regions in somato-sensory cortex; and they function in complement and concert with one another. The palmar grasp response elicits mouth opening (palmar mental grasp reflex) which activates and facilitates sucking. Primate newborns hold on effectively with hands feet and mouth to nipple to their mothers.
Flexion and rounded shoulders with midline mutual inhibition of over-activation and upset, supports breathing, sleep etc.
It is a prerequisite for successful feeding. When the hands become flaccid, sucking no longer should be initiated until tone has returned into the hands (and feet for that matter).
I trust this is helpful and validates your clinical sense and intuition.
Let me know if I may be of further assistance. Heidi
Heidelise Als, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology)
Harvard Medical School
Director, Neurobehavioral Infant and Child Studies
Children's Hospital Boston
Enders Pediatric Research Laboratories
320 Longwood Avenue, EN-107
Boston, MA 02115
Ph: 617-355-8249
Fax: 617-730-0224
HIDDEN
CARCINOGENS IN BABY CARE PRODUCTS - The Organic Consumers Asosciation
and Cancer Prevention Coalition joined together last week to inform consumers
of these dangers while providing information about safe alternatives.
drgreene.com - caring for the next
generation - Lots of answers to lots of questions.
Neonates in the Emergency Department -
a comprehensive guide
I have used Physical Assessment of The Newborn by Ellen Tappero
and Mary Ellen Honeyfield for years and been very satisfied.
I like that book too, but another book I have found very helpful is
a little paperback, Primary Care of the Newborn by Henry M. Seidel,
Beryl J. Rosenstein and Ambadas Pathak. I like this book because
it goes beyond examining the newborn and noting abnormalities. It
also discussed labs and treatments for certain conditions. I have
found this very helpful when discussing unusual problem with the parents.
Not that I make the diagnosis, but it gives us some basis for understanding
and anticipating recommended treatments.
Evidence-based
practices for the fetal to newborn transition.
Mercer JS, Erickson-Owens DA, Graves B, Haley MM.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2007 May-Jun;52(3):262-72.
Many common care practices during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period impact the fetal to neonatal transition, including medication used during labor, suctioning protocols, strategies to prevent heat loss, umbilical cord clamping, and use of 100% oxygen for resuscitation. Many of the care practices used to assess and manage a newborn immediately after birth have not proven efficacious. No definitive outcomes have been obtained from studies on maternal analgesia effects on the newborn. Although immediate cord clamping is common practice, recent evidence from large randomized, controlled trials suggests that delayed cord clamping may protect the infant against anemia. Skin-to-skin care of the newborn after birth is recommended as the mainstay of newborn thermoregulation and care. Routine suctioning of infants at birth was not been found to be beneficial. Neither amnioinfusion, suctioning of meconium-stained babies after the birth of the head, nor intubation and suctioning of vigorous infants prevents meconium aspiration syndrome. The use of 100% oxygen at birth to resuscitate a newborn causes increased oxidative stress and does not appear to offer benefits over room air. This review of evidence on newborn care practices reveals that more often than not, less intervention is better. The recommendations support a gentle, physiologic birth and family-centered care of the newborn.
Introduction - The transition from fetus to newborn is a normal physiologic
and developmental process -- one that has occurred since the beginning
of the human race. Many hospital routines that are used to assess and manage
newborns immediately after birth developed because of convenience, expediency,
or habit, and have never been validated. Some practices are so ingrained
that older traditional practices, such as providing skin-to-skin care or
delaying cord clamping, must be considered "experimental" in current studies.[1]
However, recent research is beginning to identify some older practices
that should not have been abandoned and some current practices that should
be stopped. In order to achieve a gentle, physiologic birth and family-centered
care of the newborn, practices that might interfere with maternal and newborn
bonding need to be closely scrutinized. This article examines the evidence
about practices related to the newborn transition, including the effects
of various drugs used labor, umbilical cord clamping, thermoregulation,
suctioning, and resuscitation of the newborn.
Vitamin A Reduces Newborn Deaths
It is known that vitamin A deficiency can lead to increased deaths in infants under 6 months of age. Researchers found that giving infants two doses of vitamin A (24,000 IU each dose) within 48 hours of birth significantly reduced early infant mortality. Newborn infants who received vitamin A had a 22 percent to 23 percent reduction in mortality during the first six months of life.
Researchers are uncertain why infants benefit from receiving a large
dose of vitamin A shortly after birth, but suggest vitamin A may provide
a stimulus to rapid maturation of both gut and lung lining. This matured
lining may be more resistant to invasion by pathogens or may be able to
clear such organisms more efficiently. [British
Medical Journal August 2, 2003;327:254]
Well, stop and think about this. Colostrum is *heavy* in vitamin A, 89 retinol equivalents per 100 ml. It also has 364 mg of IgA in every 100 ml.
Breeders of animals know that if the baby animal doesn't get colostrum in the first hour, they "may as well knock it in the head" because it so much more likely to die and not do as well. Animal researchers have found that this is because the animal's lining to the intestines have larger holes for the first few hours. This allows the nutrients and large immunoglobins to get directly into the system. Of course, no one is going to do that kind of research on babies (please God, make that so). But it stands to reason if the other mammals are like that, we are, too.
They said they gave the vitamin A in the first 48 hours. I suspect
it may have been even earlier. They don't say whether or not the
babes got colostrum and, if so, at what timing and for how long.
I think of colostrum (now called early breastmilk) as a sealant for
the intestinal lining. It makes sense that if the intestinal lining
isn't sealed properly afer birth, it will be easier for germs to get into
the bloodstream through the digestive tract. This is especially dangerous
to babies born in the germ-heavy institutional environments such as hospitals
or hospital-based "birth centers".
Kelly Mom has some good information about this.
However,
she doesn't mention the critical issue of whether the baby's umbilical
cord was cut prematurely. When the cord is cut immediately after
birth, the baby is deprived of up to 28% of the blood volume that nature
intended. Most of this blood volume is meant to supply the iron that is
stored in the baby's liver as a source of iron to support the baby's
growth for the first six months.
This is just one reason why it is so very important to leave the
umbilical cord intact for at least two minutes after birth; five minutes
is better.
It's a pretty cool system, actually. Iron in the gut increases
intestinal infections, so nature intended that babies get an important
stash of iron at birth so that breastmilk doesn't need to supply all of a
baby's iron. Thus there are lower levels of iron in the gut and lower
infection rates.
I have some relevant studies referenced in my section on Umbilical Cord Issues/Delayed Cord Clamping. The information about anemia is interspersed with other information.
See: Medical Necessity of In-Home
Newborn Followup
See also: For Parents -
How to Get the Best Care/How to Find Chiropractors
International Chiropractic Pediatric
Association and referral
directory.
Upper Cervical
Trauma and the Birth Process by Peter N. Fysh.
Chiropractic
for Children from the The
World Chiropractic Alliance.
Chiropractic
care for children from Family
Forum Online
See also: Skin Flora
See also: Care of the Intact
Penis
Neonatal Skin: Back to Nature? - Leaving vernix on the newborn's skin is better for baby.
"Dr. Hoath and his colleagues at the Skin Sciences Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, have been studying the composition and properties of vernix and its role in adaptation of the neonate to the extrauterine, or dry, environment. Their research suggests that rather than being a soil, vernix is a natural skin cleanser. It may also be an anti-infective, an anti-oxidant, a moisturizer, and a wound-healing agent. Perhaps instead of rubbing vernix off of the newborn infant's skin, we should be rubbing it in![2]"
"World Health Organization guidelines for newborn care specify that
vernix should not be removed from the skin of newborn infants and bathing
should be delayed for at least 6 hours after birth."
After the baby's skin is colonized with the parents' skin flora, and breastfeeding is well established, you'll find it much easier to bathe baby using the beautifully designed Tummy Tub.
It's not always easy to find, but in 2007, it's available from Countless
Kisses in Canada.
The
effect of bather and location of first bath on maintaining thermal stability
in newborns.
Medves JM, O'Brien B.
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2004 Mar-Apr;33(2):175-82.
"Heat loss experienced by newborns during bathing is significant and
is not associated with who bathes the newborn or where the bath takes place."
"Bathing of the newborn baby soon after birth causes a drop in temperature and is not necessary.from THERMAL PROTECTION OF THE NEWBORN: A SUMMARY GUIDE from the WHO.If cultural tradition demands bathing, this should not be carried out before 6 hours after birth and preferably the second or third day of life. The newborn should be healthy and its temperature normal.
See: Language Skills
In a Swedish study of eighty hypothermic newborns, 40 were placed in incubators and 40 were held skin-to-skin by their mothers. After four hours, 90 percent of the infants who had skin-to-skin contact had reached a normal body temperature while only 60 percent of the infants placed in incubators had done so. After 24 hours, temperatures of the incubated infants were slightly higher than those of the held infants, suggesting that incubated infants run a risk of becoming too warm and developing heat stress. Skin-to-skin contact also stabilizes heart and respiratory functions, according to the researchers. -The Lancet 1998, 352:1115
Randomised
study of skin-to-skin versus incubator care for rewarming low-risk hypothermic
neonates.
Christensson K, Bhat GJ, Amadi BC, Eriksson B, Hojer B.
Lancet. 1998 Oct 3;352(9134):1115.
Thermal
protection of the newborn: a practical guide (from the World Health
Organization - WHO)
Care in Normal Birth: A Practical Guide Report (from the World Health Organization - WHO) says:
Immediately after the birth the baby has to be dried with warm towels or cloths, while being placed on the mother's abdomen or in her arms. The baby's condition is assessed and the existence of a clear airway is ensured (if necessary) simultaneously. Maintaining the body temperature of the baby is important; newborn babies exposed to cold delivery rooms may experience marked drops in body temperature, and concurrent metabolic problems. A fall in infant temperature can be reduced by skin-to-skin contact between baby and mother.
Early skin-to skin contact between mother and baby is important for
several other reasons. Psychologically it stimulates mother and baby to
get acquainted with each other. After birth babies are colonized by bacteria;
it is advantageous that they come into contact with their mothers' skin
bacteria, and that they are not colonized by bacteria from caregivers or
from a hospital. All these advantages are difficult to prove, but nevertheless
they seem plausible. Early suckling/breast-feeding should be encouraged,
within the first hour after birth (WHO/UNICEF 1989).
This section has been moved to Kangaroo Mother
Care / Immediate Newborn Care
Tune in to Newborn Hearing Screening discusses the impact of undetected hearing loss in infants and children and presents recommendations for achieving the national Healthy People 2010 goal of hearing screening of 100% of newborns by age 1 month.
Screening for
Newborn Hearing Loss from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)
Early Hearing
Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Program from the CDC
Early Hearing Detection
& Intervention Information & Resource Center from
National
Center for Hearing Assessment & Management (NCHAM)
Newborn Hearing
Screening Technologies
Infants
Tested for Hearing Loss --- United States, 1999--2001 - CDC report
- "Benchmarks for the key components of the EHDI process include hearing
screening before age 1 month, diagnostic audiologic evaluation before age
3 months for infants who do not pass the screening, and enrollment of infants
identified with HL in early intervention services before age 6 months."
I agree that if a hearing screening done early in life has significant
potential benefits and no risks, then it's a great idea. However,
I am concerned that there are risks involved in any procedure which separates
a newborn from the mother. The baby's mother serves as the baby's
immune system and food source, and separating them naturally involves infection
risks and potential harm to the breastfeeding relationship. Like
the class newborn screen for metabolic disorders, it is done while the
newborn is in the hospital for convenience factors, not because that is
the best time to do the screen. I'd prefer to see the initial screen
done around 3 weeks, when it is more reliable and less disruptive to a
newborn's health.
Test advised for newborns to detect heart problem
[7/12/06] LONDON (Reuters) - Babies should be given a simple, non-invasive test when they are about a month old to check for a life-threatening heart problem, Italian researchers said on Thursday. . . .
The electrocardiogram (ECG) test could prevent deaths from an hereditary illness known as long QT syndrome (LQTS) -- a heart problem than can cause sudden, unexplained death. It can be treated with medication.
"In a study of 45,000 children, the test found signs of the disorder in almost one in 1,000 children."
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE USE ELDON CARDS? Do you like them? How do they
work? Do they type blood group AND Rh factor? Are they expensive? Do you
use them on every birth or just with Rh- mom births? Can they be exposed
to cold or heat and still work OK (Trunk of car through winter/summer)?
What is their shelf life? Can they be trusted?
I had a client who ordered the Eldon Cards for their own personal use.
She wanted to test the types of her kids. She is neg and her husband pos.
She knew blood types for herself, husband, and one of the kids. The cards
showed their types accurately and she was very happy with them. They did
seem pretty expensive but nothing like what the lab costs.
I use them and love them. For the first few, we double tested, sending one sample to the lab and doing the other sample on the card. The results were the same, so now we just use the Eldon cards. We collect cord blood in a purple top tubes and test it when things settle down. It shows both the type and Rh, and is very easily to perform. I usually only test babies who's moms are neg or if I am concerned about an ABO incompatibility. My equipment stays in the car year round. I have had no problems with temperature affecting the cards (although they are room temperature when I do the test).
They have about a 1 year shelf life and cost about $16 for a pack of
five, or $4 each. I will warn you that the expiration date is written British
style i.e., 23/1/97. I was concerned when I got the cards (in January,
96) because the exp. date was 4/12/96. What I now know is Dec. 4, 1996.
I collect cord blood in a 10cc syringe and then place a drop on each
test probe. Never had a wrong result yet. The needle from the syringe makes
a perfect drop.
sounds OK.... But I would encourage everyone to follow the directions
explicitly with no variations! There might be a simple process, than the
one recommended. but I wouldn't advise fiddling with it.
I've had some European clients tell me their blood type is "A2" or "B3".
Apparently, there are subgroups of the A and B proteins.
PEDIATRICS POLICY STATEMENT [Oct. 17, 2011
A fan in the room with baby protects against SIDS! - Place a fan in baby's room at night and during nap!
In October 2008, the National Institutes of Health released a study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine that indicated placing a simple fan in the room with baby at night and during naps showed up to a 72% reduction in the occurrence of SIDS.
The researchers involved in the study felt fans offered two protective
benefits:
Prevents overheating - Overheating increases the risk of SIDS.
Decreases Carbon Dioxide accumulation - Rebreathing carbon dioxide
also increases the risk of SIDS.
Use of a fan during
sleep and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Coleman-Phox K, Odouli R, Li DK.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Oct;162(10):963-8.
CONCLUSION: Fan use may be an effective intervention for further decreasing
SIDS risk in infants in adverse sleep environments.
Baby
Bedding & SIDS - Do crib mattresses cause infant deaths?
Its origin is a mystery. How the Wisconsin babies got it is another. It's the first time the virus has been found in the United States and raises the question of the role of germs in crib death. Whether it killed the babies isn't clear, but both were sick before they died.
Crib death, sudden infant death syndrome and SIDS are terms for unexplained deaths in children less than a year old. About 2,200 occur in the United States each year.
After the virus was detected in the dead babies, it was identified at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors now hope for research into whether it's a factor in SIDS.
From Primates to Late Nights: One Researcher’s Path to Sleep Studies - Interview with James McKenna, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame.
This is an excellent article about the way in which co-sleeping helps
to regulate the baby's physiological functions and reduces the SIDS risk.
Sleeping
Position in SIDS Identified
Risk Factors which
lead to suddent infant death - from a family medicine site in the UK
Here's the PVC industry's rebuttal
to the allegations that PVC fumes cause SIDS.
I have no evidence that this is based on any real scientific research, but it might be worth checking into:
Cot Life 2000 - How to prevent cot death (crib death, SIDS)
"The danger of cot death can be eliminated by ensuring that babies sleep
on mattresses and underbedding known to be free from the elements phosphorus,
arsenic and antimony. The BabeSafe range of mattresses complies with this
requirement."
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of postneonatal
mortality in the United States. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommended that all healthy babies be put to sleep either on their
back or side to reduce the risk for SIDS. In 1994, a national "Back to
Sleep" education campaign was initiated to encourage the public and health-care
providers to put babies to sleep on their back or side. In November 1996,
the AAP modified its policy to preferentially recommend putting infants
on their back because of the lower risk for SIDS associated with this position
relative to the side position. To assess adherence to recommendations for
infant sleeping position, CDC analyzed population-based data on the usual
infant sleeping position for 1996 births by race from 10 states participating
in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). This report
summarizes the results of that analysis and indicates that infant sleeping
position varied by state and race.
I just did a humongo lit search on SIDS for a class presentation (lost a grandson to it almost 4 years ago), and here's a very brief summary of what I would recommend from what I read. There is no simple way to prevent it, because it looks like a whole complex of processes may be responsible. Most of these are things you already know to do:
Family Bedroom Reduces SIDS Rates
Family Bed Doesn't Reduce SIDS Incidence
Sharing a bed
with your baby from UNICEF
Baby safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission
I have searched everywhere for some evidence regarding management of
dry skin. I can't find any. I know that many women use oils - almond etc.
But, is this evidence based? What impact do the oils have on the defense
mechanisms a neonate's skin has against infection?
Skincare
for the newborn: exploring the potential harm of manufactured products.
[full-text
article]
Trotter S.
RCM Midwives. 2002 Nov;5(11):376-8.
Many midwives routinely bath newborns using baby bath products believing these products are mild and suitable for delicate skins. This paper asks midwives to reconsider their role in the promotion of manufactured skincare products.
What
can be done to keep babies' skin healthy?
Atherton D, Mills K.
RCM Midwives. 2004 Jul;7(7):288-90.
Jojoba oil is the best to use on a new baby's skin as it has the closest
ph level to the skin's natural ph level. I would never use anything
petroleum based!!! While it does lubricate the skin it does not nourish
the skin. The most important thing is to use cold pressed oil - not just
vegetable oil like from the supermarket because this is chemically processed
whereas cold pressed oils are pure.
In view of DOH advice about avoiding nut products until your early twenties,
I now avoid advising nut based oil. I suggest a patch test of any
product to be used on babies' skin - as I would do for any product I use
on my own
Try some extra virgin coconut oil that comes in a jar semi solid, it
is an antifungal and a good skin healer, I've used it on any little rashes
that pop up with my munchkin and it cleared up.
I've only recently started studying holistic therapy but as far as I'm
aware sunflower oil is a safe base oil for children as well as almond,
peach kernel oil and light olive oil (extra virgin should be eaten by us
mummies). Sunflower oil provides a light protective barrier and doesn't
smell. The best time to apply oils is after a bath and massaging
a baby will help with sleep, colic, help bonding and is great for postpartum
depression.
In our trust, we recommend avoiding the nut oils because of the potential
for causing allergies, especially peanut oil, but even almond oil.
For preterm infants with compromised skin barriers, sunflower see oil provides effective protection against nosocomial infection. However, this is irrelevant to the term baby who is at home.
Note that this study mentions AquaPhor is a petroleum-based ointment, and I wouldn't use it on my baby's skin!
Effect
of topical treatment with skin barrier-enhancing emollients on nosocomial
infections in preterm infants in Bangladesh: a randomised controlled trial.
Darmstadt GL, Saha SK, Ahmed AS, Chowdhury MA, Law PA, Ahmed S, Alam
MA, Black RE, Santosham M.
Lancet. 2005 Mar 19;365(9464):1039-45.
Eczema is commonly caused by food allergies, either what the child is
eating or drinking, or the mother if baby is breastfed. It's usually
the thing that we love the most, eat frequently and have cravings for (wouldn't
ya know it!). Start with eliminating one thing, give it a week or
two to see if there are any changes or improvement in the skin, and then
eliminate another (this is known as an elimination diet). Doing it
one item at a time will help you clearly determine what the offending factor
is so that it can be eliminated. The eczema should then clear up
on its own.
There can be environmental allergies/sensitivities too, but for a 4 month old, detergents is the most likely, as others have mentioned. Here's a good source to look at this further - www.solveeczema.org . We had to change everything to soap to fully eliminate our kids issues. We even supply the school classroom with soap so they don't use the typical detergents.
Good luck - it can be healed!
It describes why this can help and the best products to switch to. Hope you find something that helps.
I tried every cream that I could get my hands on from samples from the pediatrician to everything I could find at the store... nothing helped. Natural everything didn't help. Cutting food from my diet (she was 100% breastfeed) didn't help.
What did help was to stop using soap on 95% of her body. We still gave her baths often, but only cleaned the dirty parts with soap. That meant that her legs, stomach, back, arms, got no soap, just water. When she was at the worst I was even careful about how I applied and washed off the soap from the parts that needed it so that it didn't run over some of the really dry parts by accident (for Veronica it was her stomach and back). Showering to make sure she wasn't sitting in water with soap in it (showering with a baby meant for me sitting on the floor of the shower with her in my lap). Then I was carefully about how I dried the skin. Just pat no rubbing, well as much as you can (you are trying to dry a little baby that doesn't hold still very well). Then after the bath, and a couple of other times during the day I put Lanolin (yes the thick goo that is used for breastfeeding) on the dry parts. This treatment got her to where she was comfortable (no more itching), but there were always reddish dry spots that mostly went away with age. She was never super bad at the worst it was defiantly itchy, but I have heard of much worse cases. As I said she still gets red dry spots to this day. I wash them with only water pat them dry and apply lanolin several times a day, and it goes away after a couple of days. Then comes back in about a month. They don't seem to hurt her or get the itchy point though If I treat them right away.
I guess in my case I don't feel like my DD was ever "cured", but we did get to a place where she was comfortable, and it only look a minimal amount of effort to keep it under control.
Hope that helps...
Are you breastfeeding? If so something you are eating may be the cause. You need to eliminate the most common allergens, and I would suggest that you start first with gluten - go off of it for at least 2 weeks and see what happens. If it's not that then do dairy next, soy after that. If formula feeding it is something in the formula. external irritants are most commonly your detergent, baby wipes, chemicals in diapers, and sometimes even the detergent used in your dishwasher. However, I'd look at what goes into your baby first (even though it seems the harder thing to deal with..)
Our daughter had eczema and we did allergy testing which was positive for
gluten and dairy. We eliminated both and it resolved immediately (& through
food rotation testing realized it was primarily the gluten). She doesn't
have Celiac, but you don't have to have it to still react negatively to
gluten. Gluten is also known to be associated with skin disorders and often
that is one of the first noticeable symptoms.
Most all skin things are related to allergies of some sort (food, chemical,
environmental, etc.)
If you're intimidated by the idea of gluten free there are many great
options out there - the hard part is finding those that taste good and have
a good texture. Here is a quick list of my favorites:
tinkinyada noodles - cook like you do regular noodles to al dente. most
folks can't tell the difference.
Canyon Bakehouse gluten free bread & buns - the closest to regular bread
you will find. Many GF breads have a gritty texture, this one is good.
The almond flour cookbook recipes using the honeyville almond flour (HUGE
difference using this almond flour over bob's red mill or others - texture
just like regular baking and excellent flavor..)
When eating out, ethnic is the best bet for gluten free (thai, mexican,
etc.) also there are some pizza places with GF options depending on where
you live.
I found that this 100% natural creme called DermaMed
Healing Cream cleared up my kids eczema wonderfully. They used
to call it children's healing cream and it is from Canada although I found
a similar product out of Texas which was identical ingredients but was
more expensive. Bottom line is this is an overly fragrant but wonderful
natural product which actually did cure up some severe eczema in me and
my 2 sons.
Baby
Dophilus can help establish a healthier probiotics environment.
Eczema is part of the annoying triad: eczema-allergies-asthma, so it is a possibility that your 3 months old is allergic to something. The question is . What? Using lotion will not solve the problem but it will increase the time between outbreaks.
When you pick a lotion, find something heavier rather than lighter. The more "liquid' it is, the less moisturizing it is. I know it sounds counter intuitive... But there it is. Sometimes I do a 1-2 with the lotions. I use something more liquid at first when I am very irritated, then I put a second coat with a more moisturizing lotion which is usually harder to rub in.
If you use a lotion, it will get into the skin easier when the skin is still humid from the bath, than if it is dry.
If I were in your shoes, here is what I would do.
I would go and see an homeopath and tackle the underlying problem.
I'd get rid of every product you use that is scented or colored. I'd get a soapless soap (like eucerin's soap) and see if that makes a difference.
If you can, use natural fibers on the area which are affected. I have noticed on my own skin that the synthetic fibers almost rub my skin the wrong way and will create patches of eczema.
I would do double rinse on all laundry that will touch the baby skin. BTW, laundry detergents can be big culprits. I had a boyfriend who switched from Tide to 7th generation which is supposed to be better. Well, he was covered with eczema until he figured it out and switched back..;)
I would use a lotion after every bath on the entire body of the baby.
I have tried the following lotions:
- vaseline: good moisturizer but well, very greasy. It is a hit and
miss for me.
- eucerin: the lotion is not very moisturizing, the cream is. Warning:
contains nut oils, which are allergens. - Egyptian miracle cream (I think
that it is what it is called), you can get it at whole foods. It is olive
oil based. I had good results with that, so did a friend of mine. Both
of our children have/had eczema. - shea butter. Very moisturizing, but
hard to rub on irritated skin. - bag balm. Works wonders on the butt area.
Lanolin based. If the baby is not allergic to wool, that could be a winner.
It is very moisturizing, and will stay on the skin. It is extremely greasy.
For area which are covered, t is fantastic. Does not work that well on
hands.
As I said earlier, keeping the baby's skin hydrated will reduce the
chance of outbreaks. I am trying to make it part of the night routine.
Bath. Then massage. My daughter loves it. Now if only I could think of
it for myself..;)
Our dermatologist prescribed a steroid cream for my DD, now five years old. I was too afraid to put such a strong steroidal all over such a small child. we instead used boericke & tafel florasone cream (it is homeopathic cardiospermum tincture in cream base) with great success, applying liberally two to three times per day and after one week her skin was clear.
i have always noticed that she has a sensitivity to pasteurized milk,
whether warm or cold, served with spices, etc.... she would have respiratory
congestion, constipation, and eventually ugly breakouts of eczema on the
back of her legs and buttocks. however, when she takes in the same
volume of raw milk (with all the required enzymes still intact), there
are none of these problems. from what i can gather from research
on this subject, much of eczema is an inflammatory response to undigested
(or indigestible!) proteins, whereupon the body tries to get rid of the
indigestible matter through the skin. there is also an element of
general systemic inflammation which can cause hyper sensitivity of the
skin to things such as pool chemicals, laundry detergent, etc. improve
the digestion and the inflammation subsides. so far so good, her
skin now remains clear :)
A good friend of mine had the same issues with her son, and he did indeed
have food allergies (wheat, dairy, peanuts -- all of which he has now outgrown,
thanks to very diligent avoidance of those things for a couple of years)
and she found frequent baths with Aveeno wash actually helped (even though
frequent baths felt counter-intuitive), in addition to, I think, the Aveeno
cream. Helped much more than the steroid cream for her son, at least.
Cod Liver oil, Fish Oil, Omega 3 vitamins, or Sardines
Pediatric Eczema by Randall Neustaedter OMD
Natural Health Newsletter
Eczema Treatment for Children
Randall Neustaedter OMD
Excerpt from the forthcoming book The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative
Care for Common Health Problems (New Harbinger Publications, 2010).
The treatment of eczema usually requires a holistic perspective that
includes nutritional supplements and other specific therapies to reduce
inflammation and support the immune system. Since a majority of the immune
system function occurs in the intestines it is essential that the integrity
of the digestive tract be nourished and maintained in these babies. A healthy
balance of intestinal bacteria and a healthy gut lining are important.
And supplementing with a probiotic is always a good idea. Your baby needs
the right kinds of fatty acids, and a baby with eczema may have a disorder
that needs additional fat supplementation. Taking a holistic approach to
treatment provides relief of inflammation and itching while building a
stable immune system that is less reactive. This will make your baby less
sensitive to the irritants in the environment or diet that trigger reactions.
The goal of internal treatment of eczema is cure, the complete healing
of the immune system disorder that lies at the root of this symptom complex.
Beneficial Fatty Acids
The omega-3 fat EPA in fish oil will help prevent inflammatory reactions.
Any child with eczema should be taking a fish oil supplement. In addition,
the omega-6 fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) has been proven beneficial
for children with eczema. Some studies have shown that the metabolism of
essential fatty acids is abnormal in people with eczema, resulting in low
levels of GLA. These children are thought to have a deficiency of the enzyme
that converts linoleic acid to GLA resulting in a deficiency of GLA (Horrobin,
2000). Supplementation with GLA has proven effective in the treatment of
eczema in adults (Andreassi, 1997) and in infants (Fiocchi, 1994). Supplementing
infants with GLA who were at high risk of eczema because of a family history
also reduced the severity of later eczema in these children (Van Gool,
2003). GLA is available as a supplement derived from borage seed oil or
evening primrose oil. The dosage of GLA in clinical studies ranged from
100 mg. to 3 grams GLA per day.
Healing the Gut
Doing stool tests by a thorough lab such as Genova, Metametrix, or
Diagnos-Techs through your baby's health care provider can yield important
information about the health of the digestive tract in babies. These tests
can detect yeast growth, levels of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria,
problems with absorption, and the presence of inflammation, all of which
can be treated with holistic methods.
The two strains of beneficial lactobacillus bacteria that seem to have
the greatest effect in ameliorating eczema in clinical studies are L reuteri
and L rhamnosus GG). Several studies have shown the beneficial effects
of these probiotics when given to mothers during pregnancy and to children
with eczema. Children treated with Lactobacillus reuteri had a significant
reduction of eczema at two years of age (Abrahamsson, 2007). And in another
study the combination of L reuteri and L rhamnosus showed significant improvement
in children's eczema compared to a comparable control group (Rosenfeldt,
2003). A follow-up study determined that the improvement of eczema symptoms
in those children who used this combination of probiotics was associated
with an improvement in the integrity of the intestinal barrier. These children
had a decrease in measured permeability of the intestinal lining, which
has been associated with leaky gut and the production of antibodies to
ingested proteins (Rosenfeldt, 2004). The product Primadophilus Reuteri
by Nature's Way provides both probiotics, L reuteri and L rhamnosus.
Eczema is often complicated by digestive problems, and addressing the
digestive component may be an important step in the healing process for
these babies. As you will see later in this book, creating a strong immune
system means also maintaining a healthy digestive tract.
Immune System Supplements
Maintaining a healthy immune system depends upon adequate amounts of
vitamin D, either from sun exposure or supplementation. Babies should receive
1,000 IU of vitamin D in a supplement during the winter months when exposure
to the sun is limited. Toddlers and older children should take 2,000 IU
per day.
Another important supplement, especially for babies that are not breastfed,
is colostrum, or the beneficial active constituents of colostrum (especially
the anti-inflammatory glycoprotein lactoferrin), alpha lactalbumin, and
important immunoglobulins. These are available through fresh cow's colostrum,
powdered colostrum, or various supplement preparations. If babies have
any sensitivity to cow's milk, then colostrum is contraindicated.
Chinese herbs and acupuncture
Babies are hot. They are prone to conditions of excess heat and inflammation,
especially if these are triggered by specific stresses that push their
systems in this direction. Eczema is an inflammatory reaction, and categorized
as a damp heat condition in Chinese medicine. In different children there
may be more or less heat (redness, dryness, itching) or dampness (secretions,
moist skin). And the treatment may vary accordingly. Of course, the picture
may be complicated by other factors as well, including digestive system
weakness and respiratory problems, all of which will need to be treated
with an inclusive perspective.
Several Chinese herbal formulas have been manufactured specifically
for babies to ameliorate these conditions. The preeminent formulas are
produced by Chinese Modular Solutions (available through Kan Herb, www.kanherb.com).
Fire Fighter is a Chinese formula in the Gentle Warrior pediatric series.
It is specifically designed to treat the heat and dampness of childhood
eczema, and perfectly safe to use for babies. The dosage may vary depending
on the weight of your baby and the severity of symptoms. Fire Fighter is
a liquid extract and can also be combined with other formulas depending
on your baby's individual needs. For example, when leaky gut and digestive
disturbances accompany or precede the skin problems, then the formula Grow
and Thrive may be indicated to strengthen the digestive and immune system
component of your baby's symptom picture. If other related respiratory
problems are also involved, then specific formulas may be needed to treat
the dampness and phlegm as well. Other manufacturers also have complementary
formulas that can be utilized to treat specific symptom complexes and imbalances
in your individual baby. An acupuncturist with training in pediatrics will
be able to prescribe the correct herbal formula that will act curatively
for your baby.
Acupuncture similarly has the ability to relieve heat and dampness.
Typical points used in acupuncture treatment include the combination of
SP 10, LI 11 and UB 17 to disperse heat, ST 40 to treat dampness, and ST
36 and SP6 to strengthen digestive function. These points, and others,
can be stimulated with needles or other noninvasive methods (laser, magnets).
Many acupuncturists will also use a nonspecific form of tonification treatment
known as Sho-Ni Shin, which involves rubbing the acupuncture channels with
short rhythmic strokes in the direction of the channel flow. These acupuncture
techniques when combined with herbal treatment will have a palliative effect
on symptoms of itching and inflammation, as well as building the strength
of the system and healing imbalance.
Homeopathy
A constitutional homeopathic medicine prescribed by a qualified homeopath
can act miraculously in babies. This may be the one factor that provides
an intense boost to healing in your baby. Acute medicines will do little
for eczema, since this is an internal problem that requires a deep acting
medicine. This is not a condition for home prescribing. The constitutional
medicine is chosen on the basis of the total symptom picture, taking into
account genetic predispositions and your baby's temperament, unique characteristics,
and physical symptoms.
Parents, however, should be cautious about using a homeopathic medicine
as the initial treatment step in eczema. Since eczema is such a volatile
external condition, it is possible for a homeopathic constitutional medicine
to cause a significant aggravation of the skin symptoms. Your baby's body
is already expressing symptoms through an inflammation on the surface.
Homeopathy works by providing a strong stimulus to healing. This may result
in an even stronger effort by the body to expel toxins or move an energetic
imbalance out of the body through the skin. I start treatment with immune
system support and treatment of the inflammation first, then use a homeopathic
medicine to boost the healing process.
Nutritional Supplements for Eczema
Fish oil
Gamma linolenic Acid (GLA)
Probiotics (including L reuteri and L rhamnosus)
Vitamin D (1,000 IU)
Colostrum
See also: Laundry Issues
since delicate newborn skin may react to dry cleaning fluid or even ordinary
household laundry products.
Dermatology Atlas - section on Neonatal Dermatology
Common rashes:
They have a complete section on Neonatal Dermatology.
Erythema toxicum must be distinguished from more serious vesiculopustular eruptions of the newborn including staphylococcal pustulosis, (another staph photo), herpes simplex, varicella, (another varicella photo), candidiasis, and listeriosis.
Transient neonatal pustular melanosis looks a lot like herpes.
The
Normal Flora of Humans is a helpful adjunctive site.
There's a really easy way to remove chlorine and chloramine from your
baby's bath water - add vitamin C to
the bath water.
Baby Acne from The Holistic Baby Guide, Randall Neustaedter OMD
Just when you thought everything was going well with your beautiful new baby and all the relatives are coming into town for a visit, she starts breaking out in pimples. Around two to three weeks of age about 20 percent of babies start to break out with red bumps or whiteheads on the face and neck. There are several theories regarding the cause of acne in babies. These pimples may occur because of changes in maternal hormones during late pregnancy or the withdrawal of estrogen after your baby's birth. This temporary imbalance of male and female hormones may stimulate the oil glands in the skin. One study showed a correlation between the mother's level of sebaceous gland activity and her baby's secretion of sebum in these same glands, suggesting a correlation between baby acne and maternal hormones (Henderson, 2000).
Some studies have shown that a majority of infants with acne have a type of yeast growth on their skin, either Malassezia furfur (Rapelanoro, 1997) or Malassezia saprodialis (Bernier, 2002). But others have found no association with this form of yeast and the degree of severity of acne in infants (Ayhan, 2007).
Regardless of the causes, baby acne is a harmless condition that will fade away by the time your baby is 3 to 4 months old, though it can come and go over this period of time. No specific treatment is needed for these pimples.
Giving your baby a bifidobacteria probiotic supplement may be helpful
for its anti-inflammatory effect, and mothers who take an omega-3 fish
oil supplement will transfer these fats to their babies through breast
milk with the same effect. Babies who are fed formula should always be
supplemented with fish oil.
If a baby has inflammation centered around the anus, consider that this
is probably a "gut reaction" to something the baby is "eating", which really
means to something the breastfeeding mother is eating. This is often
citrus or vitamin C supplements. Some babies will react to any fruit
juices or just non-organic fruit juices. So, it may be best for the
breastfeeding mother to back off all fruit juices for a few days to see
if the baby's rash gets better; if it does, try gradually adding organic
apple juice and gradually expand to other juices until the rash returns
- thus you've identified the culprit.
Medline plus has good images of Erythema
toxicum neonatorum.
Differential
Diagnosis of Rash Illness.
Diaper Rash
Care and Management [Medscape registration is free]
Childhood Skin
Rashes from © American Institute for Preventive Medicine
You might try the Better
Butter Cream from Northern Essence (on this page, scroll down).
The only medication is the grapefruit seed extract, which seems to kill
off the yeasties. I apply it liberally and at every diaper change, and
a yeasty rash is usually gone in a few days.
A
review of the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of irritant diaper
dermatitis.
Atherton DJ.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2004 May;20(5):645-9.
Irritant diaper dermatitis (IDD) is a form of contact dermatitis
occurring in the diaper area as a consequence of disruption of the barrier
function of the skin through prolonged contact with faeces and urine. Despite
advances in diaper technology, it is a condition that still occurs regularly
in young children. To combat this, barrier preparations can be used to
protect the skin by coating the surface of the skin and/or by supplying
lipids that can penetrate the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum.
In this review, the pathophysiology of IDD is outlined and its prevention
and treatment are discussed, with particular reference to the role of emollients.
Great article on Skin
Lesions in Newborns
Find the latest Neonatal
Dermatology sites from Alta Vista
Natren produces a probiotic product designed specifically for infants.
Life
Start is made with Bifidobacterium infantis - the beneficial bacteria
which is most necessary during infancy. This can be beneficial for
newborn thrush, newborn diarhea or diaper rash.
Newborn Fever May Be Urinary Tract Infection
Antibiotics not best for ear infections - journal
The pain in the ear infec. with the acidophilus will stop right when
you put it in. I guess I didn't make myself very clear on that. It will
do the same for the sore throat. I do like your recipe though, it is similar
to my garlic oil recipe sounds like.
The baby is about 6 weeks old and has an umbilical hernia that has become
increasingly noticeable in the last couple of weeks. It's now a good 1.5
cm in diameter and sticks out quite impressively when the baby is crying.
Last I heard...leave them alone for 5 years....if not resolved, then
surgery.
I had an umbilical hernia. My elder son has one too. Mine went by the
time I was two, he is 6.5 and it shows no signs of going away. When he's
big (i.e., 16) he can decide what he wants to do about it.
One of my daughters had a baby with a giant umbilical hernia -- it actually
looked like a penis coming out of her stomach. Rather awful to look at...
and her pediatrician told her to just leave it alone. Now at 7 months,
my granddaughter's belly button looks quite normal.
Hi, my son who is now 17 had one about that size. It got worse before
it got better. We did nothing. The peds said we could put a belt on it
if it made us feel better, but that it probably wouldn't make a difference,
so I didn't bother. I think that they wait until age 5 or 6 to do surgery,
unless there are symptoms of incarceration (extremely rare!). Now an inguinal
hernia is a different cup of tea entirely
New parents have a 5-week newborn who grunts loudly while sleeping and
when she needs a bm, nothing else going on, just keeping these new parents
awake at night. Any ideas?
I had a full term baby who grunted like that. The pediatrician
said that the cartilage in the trachea was not fully developed, and every
time baby inhaled and nursed, the trachea would partially collapse.
He grew out of it, several months later. Maybe this is a later stage
of the same problem. It was an uncommon but normal variant of baby physiology
One of our newborns made was grunting; it sounded like he was trying
to sing or something. The pediatrician said it sounds like a 'soft'
airway - the cartilage in the trachea can remain quite soft for a while,
and sometimes that causes that sound - there's nothing to be done but wait
for him to grow. He says if it gets worse, or starts distressing him, we'll
take another look, but he should be fine.
I wonder if there is a form of Tracheal Laryngeal Malacia which would
be heard only during sleep or with BMs. Last year one of mine was
diagnosed with it, but he was breathing noisily (stridor) all the time.
He has outgrown it now (the usual outcome). It is simply unusually
soft cartilage supporting the windpipe that tends to partially collapse,
though ordinarily baby is still able to maintain adequate oxygenation.
It is not seen immediately at the birth, but starts several days or weeks
later.
I also had a baby with tracheal malacia who had a apneic episode at
about 4 weeks old that required hospitalization but after that was observed
at home with an apneic monitor. Similar sx -- episodic grunting with
one episode that was a doozy!
Many babies make wheezing noises in dry weather, when their little nasal
passages are so easily clogged by dried mucous. My clients have raved
about the AIR-O-SWISS Humidifiers.
I recently had a mum whom I referred to a pediatrician for a check-up for two vessel cord. (otherwise healthy) While there, he noted that the baby had "conjuctivitis" and prescribed antibiotic drops. Well, this is a welfare mum, who didn't have a drug card for baby yet, so she asked me if I could give her more erythromycin ointment. I looked at the eye, I thought, sticky eye, no real conjuctivitis, (eye was not red, or inflamed, no fever of baby etc.) I suggested tear duct massage and breastmilk in the eye.
We have always been told in LLL that drops of breastmilk help clear up the sticky eye thing that happens with babies. Sorry - not getting real Technical. Basically it is the secretory IgA antibodies that are in breastmilk that help clear the gunk from the babies eye. Maybe reminding him these antibodies are there, in abundance in the early weeks especially, will remind him of how helpful it can be
Paraphrased from the Womanly Art of breastfeeding Pg.348-356:
Breastmilk IS living tissue - with live antibodies, live white
blood cells and active macrophages, all of which have significant roles
in fighting foreign protein (bacteria and viruses). This is why fresh BM
makes such great nose drops and eye drops incidentally.
"The sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus to term colostrum was 50 per
cent and to mature milk 0. Coliform organisms had a sensitivity of 57 per
cent to colostrum and 28 per cent to mature milk."
In Ontario the midwife is the primary caregiver for mom and baby until 6 wks.
Baby, wt, measurements, listen to heart, exam abd for masses, check
hips (important as birth exam can be false dt maternal hormones) Also assess
for developmental changes, i.e. smiling, head control etc.
The subsection on Vaccinations has been moved to
its own page.
I cut up a couple of old receiving blankets into little squares with
pinking shears (or hem) and put them into one of those little square Tupperware
sandwich containers with a little water and mild soap. Instant, portable
baby wipes, than I would just throw the little squares in with my cloth
diapers to wash.
One of my babes had famously delicate skin -- sensitive to everything: and I didn't dare use packaged diaper wipes on him. In an old health care book I discovered how to make oil soap. I put it in a carrying bottle with a strong flip top, and simply used it like diaper wipes, pouring a little on a rag or tissue when needed. Cleans well, no rinsing, always available, and leaves the skin soft.
The recipe is simple, I don't think the portions are crucial, (at least I played around with them quite a bit). Mix about a cup of oil (almond, or other good stable oil) into a container, with several tablespoons of anhydrous lanolin, (an egg whip works well to mix), then pour into a good pop top or squeeze bottle.
You can also use vegetable shortening, or even zinc oxide cream as the thickener...Use more or less till you get the right consistency -- like a thick lotion. This may sound odd, but all soap is simply oil or fat with an alkalizing agent added... this is just primitive, back to basics, soap.
PS You can add calendula (either oil or tincture) to the mix... or other
"healing'" herbs.
I have just learned about the importance of B vitamins in preventing
seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis; cradle cap is a form of seborrhea
One of my clients was inspired to try using breastmilk for cradle cap,
and she said it worked beautifully and was a lot less messy than the oils.
SEBORRHEA
and SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS - (Dandruff & Cradle Cap) - This is a
comprehensive discussion of remedies. I personally don't recommend
the standard baby oils or mineral oils as these are petroleum products.
from Linda Page's book, Healthy Healing (This is the most valuable holistic health reference book I've seen for non-professionals.)
"If you're nursing, avoid refined sugar which supports bacteria and yeast. Use Nature's Path FLORA-LYTE, or BABYLIFE by Solaray for infants to foster healthy flora. Massage scalp with vitamin E, olive oil or jojoba oil or Earth Mama Angel Baby BOTTOM BALM for 5 minutes. Leave on 30 minutes, then brush scalp with soft baby brush and shampoo with tea tree or aloe vera shampoo. Repeat twice weekly. Apply comfrey root tea to infant's scalp or dry skin area, and let air dry. Symptoms usually disappear within 10 days. Cradle cap may be a biotin deficiency. Take biotin 1000mcg while nursing; the baby will receive the necessary amount through breast milk."
[Ed: If you have any herbal Sitz Bath herbs, you could try that instead
of the plain comfrey root to make the tea.]
We used warmed olive oil on DD both for dry skin and cradle cap (left
on overnight for cradle cap). Her cradle cap had been really bad
but cleared within 2 days and made her skin lovely.
Use burt's bees apricot baby oil, and scrub it into the scalp with a
scrub brush, then use some shampoo and scrub, then rub the oil on again
and leave it. I have NEVER seen cradle cap go away so fast as when
I used this method! I spent days picking off flakes (okay, I would
even use tweezers, that's how obsessive I was, LOL) and after doing the
oil scrub twice, no more cradle cap.
Make sure you are using a soap that isn't animal based (like ivory and
such) because it doesn't wash off well. Dr Bronners baby soap is great
stuff to wash with and a bargain for how much you use.
There are various types of Cradle
Cap Oil available online.
Weleda baby soap with calendula got rid of mine.
Cradle Cap from The Holistic Baby Guide, Randall Neustaedter OMD
If your baby has dry flakes on her scalp, or unsightly yellow and oily scales, it's cradle cap. This is a harmless condition otherwise known as infantile seborrheic dermatitis. Regardless of its name, cradle cap can be annoying and it can be persistent, even into the toddler years and beyond. Can you get rid of it? Usually not by rubbing it off. And because it is already oily, the common practice of coating it with oil and trying to rub it off may make it worse.
Like other skin conditions in children a problem with conversion of essential fatty acids may have a role in cradle cap. One of these essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, may not be converted to gamma linoleic acid (GLA), because of an enzyme deficiency. GLA is important for healthy skin function. There is some evidence that suggests a temporary deficiency of this enzyme is associated with cradle cap in infants (Tollesson, 1993a). Supplementing babies with GLA is an important part of their treatment. GLA is available in the supplemental forms of borage oil or evening primrose oil. Applying borage oil directly to the scalp can also be beneficial (Tollesson 1993b).
Other external applications may help. In a study of patients with seborrheic dermatitis an extract of aloe vera applied to the scalp proved effective in relief of symptoms in 62 percent of the treatment group compared to improvement in only 25 percent of the control group using a placebo cream (Vardy, 1999).
For breastfed babies you can try also try eliminating foods from your
diet that may have a role in allergic reactions as well. One study found
an improvement in infants' cradle cap when their mothers eliminated allergenic
foods (especially milk, wheat, and eggs) from their diets (Eppig, 1971).
Cradle cap is associated with a biotin deficiency. The breastfeeding
mom can increase biotin supplementation.
What do people think about the Karp book/video - "Happiest Baby on the
Block"?
If this is the one about "shh-ing" the baby by swaddling and rapid movements,
Roberta Scaer (A Good Birth, A Safe Birth) has seen the video and thinks
the babies aren't calming. They are shutting down in response to trauma
the way they do after, say, circumcision. There is also a group for "shaken
baby syndrome" that has extreme concern about his technique. Karp openly
acknowledges their opposition and says that his technique poses no threat
if the parents are gentle in their movements.
I find the "shushing" too loud and too harsh, especially for just-born
babies who may still have a little bit of headache from the birth!
I'll admit I have mixed feelings about Karp's recommendations, mostly because I sometimes see them implemented in an overly enthusiastic, almost aggressive manner. And because some parents try these techniques on a just-born baby, whose discomfort may be a "birth hangover" and who will be caused further pain by very active movement.
AND . . . the API just came out with a positive review.
AND . . . I just had a seven-month visit with parents who have been doing this from the start, and their baby sure seems like the happiest baby on the block, not like one who's been continually shut down.
I don't know much about Roberta Scaer's qualifications, other than her
excellent book. Is she a specialist in perinatal psychology?
Does anyone know what APPPAH thinks about all this? I just searched
their web pages and didn't find anything about Karp; I'll check with a
specialist friend and see what she knows about this.
This book is frequently discussed in my mom/baby groups. As with
ALL parenting options, a little common sense goes a long way. My
biggest gripe with the techniques is the frequent use of a pacifier - often
before parents are SURE b/f is going well 1st. Other than that, I
have never seen a "jiggle" hard enough to put me in fear of "shaken baby
syndrome" for the baby of anyone using this technique. I also like
that the parents are a part of the solution, as opposed to the "cry it
out" methods of Ezzo, etc etc etc, in which parents remove themselves from
the picture and hope to goodness they all live through the "cure."
See also: Gut Flora and
Colic
Treating
Reflux (GERD) in Infants from Randall Neustaedter OMD
From a local chiropractor / naturopath:
In a word: Probiotics!
Particularly, at 2 months old, they need some types of the
Bifidobacterium strain. The simplest solution would likely be for
them to be started on Jarrow Formula Baby Jarro-Dophilus
+FOS. Dose: ¼ tsp in each of their formula once a
day.
The Zantac is not a good idea at all! This H2 histamine
blocker decreases production of the stomach$Bs (Bhydrochloric acid
(HCL). HCL is particularly necessary for digestion of B-vitamins
(including folate) and proteins, as well as other nutrients, and for
proper preliminary digestion and absorption processes throughout the GI
tract. In a developing child, it is a very bad idea to interfere
with the body$Bs (Bproduction of HCL. In particular, HCL
impairment is associated with higher levels of the pathogen Clostridium
histolyticum , an associated factor in Autism. Some recent
research articles point to significant long-term damage done by these
drugs on the functioning of the GI tract in adults, and in children.
Some of my scientific-referenced articles can be accessed on this topic
in my blog. Also in the $(Car(Bticles$(D (B section, see
the $(Cne(Bwsletter archives for additional peer-reviewed
referenced articles. These can be found through my website
homepage if you$Bd (Blike to look through the many articles and
information from my homepage (www.HolisticHealthBayArea.com).
Those particularly related to the topic at hand can be accessed at the links below:
holistichealthbayarea.com/blog/autism-asd-and-gi-problems-part-1/
archive.constantcontact.com/fs095/1101475329247/archive/1101895259294.html
holistichealthbayarea.com/blog/low-stomach-acid-the-underlying-cause-of-common-digestive-problems/
holistichealthbayarea.com/blog/treatment-for-gi-problems-chronic-fatigue-frequent-colds-and-infections-probiotics-and-other-microbes/
holistichealthbayarea.com/blog/cause-and-treatment-for-gerd-acid-stomach-food-allergies-infections/
GER: WHAT IT
IS; WHAT TO DO; FAQ's from Dr. Sears
Infant
acid reflux from the Mayo Clinic
Ask if she is using a "nursing pillow". Often the baby ends up
feeding in a horizontal position, and as the article notes, baby's head
should be above the feet. In my classes I suggest mothers try and
keep baby in about a 45 degree angle - and with biological positioning,
the baby is automatically in a good position. Frequent feedings and skin
to skin was also suggested and is also part of biological nurturing practices.
The Amby Baby! Motion Bed may
help.
The PEP
Reflux Reducer (from Physician
Engineered Products) holds baby in the recommended 30 degree
head-up/face down position after meals. As I like to say . . . no
shortage of creativity!
GERD
from the Archive of Newsletter Articles by Randall Neustaedter OMD
One of my very astute moms noticed that when she was around 4-6 months
postpartum, dairy would cause her babies to spit up more.
Much of the information on my Colic article (from HerbLore) is also applicable to reflux. Many of my clients have gotten really great results with the recommendations listed within the article, as well as our Tummy Tea or Tincture.
Keep in mind that the medications used to lower stomach acid are just a band-aid. We need stomach acid to help with proper digestion and absorption of the vitamins and minerals present in food. Without it (or when taking medications to reduce this acid), we're not getting the nutrients from our food like we should. This is why it's commonly suggested for people on these medications to take a multi-vitamin supplement every day.
Mint (all kinds of mint) are known to relax the sphincter that closes
off the stomach from the esophagus, allowing the stomach acid to escape
upwards causing reflux. So I would suggest to this mom to eliminate
all mint from her diet along with the suggestions to keep her babe propped
up as much as she can. And then sometimes, they just have to outgrow
it. Hopefully some of the suggestions will help though.
I had a baby with a good deal of reflux, sometimes projectile. It didn't bother her at all, except that she would then be hungry again real soon after losing her milk w/in minutes of drinking it! I became VERY CAREFUL about burping her after feedings:
first, burp the baby more often than usual--even before s/he is finished on one side.
second, burp the baby VERY GENTLY: for my daughter, all I would do is sit her up, with one hand on back and one in front, trying to keep her back straight without putting too much pressure on her gut (weight more on chest and chin). I never patted her back to make the bubble rise, would just wait patiently for a minute or two, keeping her still and me relaxed. She always burped gently but thoroughly in this position.
Once we got the hang of this, she pretty much stopped vomiting...and
by the time she was a few months old, she stopped being so sensitive to
bubbles in her tummy. It did make night nursing a bit more hassle; couldn't
just nurse and roll over back to sleep. Had to wake up enough to
sit up to nurse, and then do the burping right, tho this was preferable
to sleeping in the milk all over me and the sheets (as if my perpetual
leaking wasn't wet enough). And like I said, it worked itself out
soon, and this girl is now 26 with never a digestive problem since. I think
of this issue as part of some baby's development--not exactly a real valve
issue, just stomach mechanics that are still learning how to do what they
do.
We had a mom who went to a kinesiologist/chiropractor for something
similar and the mom was diagnosed with food allergies. The baby wasn't
allergic, but the mom mal-processed the (in this case) wheat which
made her breastmilk irritating to her baby. Once she eliminated the allergen
from her diet, her baby calmed down, ate well, and eliminated all other
signs of reflux like the arching back and dislike of sitting up.
I have DGST by Chirozyme (available from Chiropractors) or Therazyme
from health food stores. Same product. Vegi based enzymes one
capsule 2-3 times a day mixed with water. Use an eye dropper or medicine
baby spoon. Usually will not need after 6 weeks. I have great results
with this product.
One of my clients had a Russian mother-in-law who showed us this trick
to resolve baby vomiting: she did this little trick that amounted to a
gentle downward dip several times after each feeding - it stopped the vomiting
flat. Might be worth a try.
We were always taught as long as the baby is gaining weight and does
not seem uncomfortable then leave it alone, just keep baby upright after
meals for an hour or so and make sure to burp well. It is simply an immature
sphincter and should improve as the baby gets older.
One of my clients reported that her children held their upper ear when
stressed or sleeping. This may be a self-calming acupressure technique
that you can teach your baby.
This subsection has been moved to its own page: Colic
Elimination communication revives how humans evolved caring for their newborns without diapers. - By TINA KELLEY, 10/9/05, NYTimes
Most important, they say, is an increased emotional bond with the baby, forged by the need for the parent to pick up on subtle signs and act on them quickly. Proponents of the practice use the phrase "elimination communication."T. Berry Brazelton: "I'm all for it, except I don't think many people can do it," he said of elimination communication. "The thing that bothers me about it is today, probably 80 percent of women don't have that kind of availability." [Ed.: Yes, this is the crux of the matter. Parents do not have the time to take proper care of their children; instead, they leave them sitting in their own excrement, the very thing many people most fear about growing old and living untended in a nursing home.]"It is enhancing that interaction and closeness, the intimacy between baby and mother," said Thomas Ball, a psychologist in California who is helping develop a documentary about the technique.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its current "Toilet Training" pamphlet, says children have no control over bladder or bowel movements when they are younger than a year and little control for six months afterwards. [Ed.: I've had a number of parents tell me that their babies would cry until they were taken to the diaper changing table, which was the closest they could come to "the correct place" to eliminate. This shows a significant control over bladder and bowel function. This statement about lack of control may be true of babies who were drugged at birth and so still under narcotic influence for the first few weeks of their lives as their immature livers process out the toxins.]
Dr. Mark Wolraich, author of the academy''s Guide to Toilet Training:
"The risk is, if it's not working and the parents are frustrated, they're
creating more negative interactions with their child." [Ed.: This is true
of ALL parent-child interactions, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding,
diapering and even playing.]
DiaperFreeBaby is a network
of free support groups promoting a natural approach of responding to babies'
elimination needs.
My Journey
to Elimination Communication - Hannah tells the story of her "late
start" with ds and EC'ing her second since birth.
Mothering,
Mindfulness and a Baby’s Bottom by Sarah J Buckley, MD. May 2001
Joining Elimination Communication: Babies Without Diapers at SmartGroups.com
The following group may be defunct?
Elimination
Communication E-Mail List - http:
Infant Potty Training Web Ring!
- Infant potty training is about a method of toilet training that involves
close communication with your baby. The best time to start is in early
infancy. The three big winners are baby, parent(s) and the environment.
DIAPER FREE! The Gentle Wisdom
of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer - website and book.
Elimination
Communication Station
Trickle Treatby Laurie Boucke - this is a surprisingly comprehensive book on the subject, providing lots of information and some really helpful personal narratives.
More
On Potty Training Babies by Laurie Boucke - "As hard as it is
for Westerners to believe, the process of infant potty training is a very
simple and cozy one, used in many countries around the world."
Going Diaperless!
- An Introduction to an Effective and Enjoyable Toilet-learning Method
From Infancy
I am completely overcome with awe and admiration and hope at what I've read about Elimination Communication. I was first introduced to the concept while reading The Magical Child by Joseph Chilton Pearce, but I assumed this was something that could happen only in another place or another time. Now I've had the good fortune of being introduced to the reality of EC here and now.
I am just blown away. I am agog. I feel like a blithering idiot.
When I first read about EC in The Magical Child, I interpreted the communication as a sort of psychic phenomenon, as I do believe that mothers and babies share a richer communication channel than most human beings. Then, after hearing about EC earlier in the evening, I spent some time poking around the web and came across the Go Organic, Baby! site and the Elimination Communication Station:
Whoa! Reality Check! Is a mother's ability to know when her baby is hungry a psychic phenomenon? I feel like such an idiot for having been so blind all these years. I am so overwhelmed with the beauty and sensitivity of the above web page in particular (I haven't had a chance to read the rest, yet). I feel so blessed to have had my eyes opened today.
P.S. I'm copying this to Mothering Magazine - I would love to see them do a short piece on the subject. Maybe other folks on this list would want to drop them a line, too?
Many of us have gone through the same experience of having felt blind for not seeing baby's signals all these years. I only discovered this method in time to use with my third child.
About Mothering Magazine - For 10-15 years, Mothering has rejected
this method, each time with a different excuse. Let's hope they have a
change of heart. As far as I know, the hostess of this site (who also set
up the other one you visited) may be the only one yet to have managed to
get this topic mentioned in Mothering -- via a Letter to the editor.
I believe this whole diaperless thing is just one small step to making
a Whole person.
I can't say how much I agree with this - the experience of a totally naked baby is VERY different for the baby and the parents. A diaper basically anesthetizes the child's genitals and butt - they're not touched, they feel uncomfortable in a wet diaper, they're cut off. And parents treat the diapered baby as if the genitals are not sensitive areas (holding baby straddled over arm etc.) without the baby getting any normal casual touch on butt or belly either.
Another issue is little boys with intact foreskins. My son could
retract his foreskin by 25 mos or so - really early for an american boy.
He won't have problems with adhesions or retraction - and this is because
he could GET TO his penis when ever he wanted (which of course is often
LOL). I have read so many stories of mothers with intact boys whose
foreskins are partially adhered and causing urine to spray embarrassingly,
or erections to be uncomfortable....and since western dr's know zip about
the intact penis, of course they recommend CUTTING THE FORESKIN OFF.
Friends for life....new babies and pets DO mix !
Introducing Your Pet and New Baby from the Humane Society
Some of my clients introduced me to the use of a fingernail smoothing block, available at beauty supply stores. They said sometimes they used it along the ridge of the nails and sometimes they used it across the nail, depending on which seemed to work better in the moment.
I have seen it. Breasts got pretty dang big, peaked out at about three
weeks or so and were pretty much gone by 6 weeks.
Neonatology Teaching Files, Outlines, and Guidelines from neonatology.org
| About the Midwife Archives / Midwife Archives Disclaimer |