Keeping the Newborn Warm
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The baby must be kept warm by appropriate clothing and covering. The tummy of the baby must be as warm as the tummy of the mother. The palms and soles of the baby also must be as warm as the baby's tummy. The room temperature must be maintained between 26 to 28 deg Celsius for term babies and between 28 deg to 31 deg for preterm infants. Swaddling is a good method to keep the baby warm. Remember, keeping the baby more warm than needed can lead to fever and discomfort to the baby.
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Bathing the Newborn and Massage
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It is not required to frequently bathe the baby. One quick bath can be given once the baby is discharged home. Regular bathing can be started when the baby's cord has fallen and the umbilical area becomes completely dry. This takes about 10 days. Twice a week bathing is more than enough in the first 6 weeks. Small babies must not be bathed until they have reached 2.5 kg for fear of excessive weight loss. Do not use any shampoo or soap for the first one month. Thereafter, mild soaps and shampoos can be used. Do not use any bathing powders like besan, rice flour or turmeric for bathing. Do not rub with any milk, curd, ghee, butter or bread. These can trigger skin allergies.
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Massaging is optional and can be done with pure vegetable oil like coconut oil and olive oil. For hair, only coconut oil is recommended. Massaging is be started after 3 weeks of age and must be gentle.
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Newborn Stools and Urine
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The stools of the baby can vary from baby to baby. In the first few days, the stools are dark green and irregular. These stools are called meconium. After 3 to 4 days, the stools turn deep yellow or greenish yellow. Stools of babies who are exclusively breast fed are deep yellow or mustard yellow color, semisolid, mushy with fruity smell or curd smell with freckles of while particles appearing like broken curd. After the first one week, most babies have transitional diarrhea, the babies pass deep yellow watery loose stools with force. Some freckles of white matter can be seen. This type of diarrhea resolves on its own. Stools of formula fed babies are hard, grey or greenish colored. The frequency of stooling may vary. Some babies can pass 5 to 12 times a say and still be normal. Some others may stool once in 4 to 5 days. As long as the baby is comfortable and gaining weight normally, there is no need to pay much attention to stools. What needs attention is change in pattern. Let's say, a baby has been passing stools only one or twice a day, more than 4 stools in the baby may be considered as diarrhea. Also, irrespective of frequency, any pellet-like stools is considered as constipation. Normal babies usually urinate atleast 6 times in a day. It can go upto 25 times a day. In boys, it is important to check the stream of urine and report to your pediatrician if the stream is not continuous or urination jet is low. Diapers can be used for the baby. Though there is rampant debating as to which is the best diaper, organic vrs regular, cloth diaper vrs disposable, I usually suggest to use what is comfortable to the baby and the parent or caregiver. Give some diaper free hours in a day to prevent rashes.
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