Many parents struggle to balance the joy of raising their infants with the temptation of placing their pediatrician on speed dial. Does an infant’s sniffle mean a cold or H1N1? Many common infant problems are not serious, but it’s important to distinguish them from health problems, which require immediate attention. Of course, parents must trust their instincts. It’s better to be slightly embarrassed when nothing’s wrong than wait and have something medically devastating happen.
Common Medical Conditions for Infants
- Feeding problems, especially milk protein allergies, affects some infants because their systems react to milk ingested by nursing mothers or the formula used.
- When infants are allergic to milk protein, their skin may appear dry or sensitive to the touch. Blood in the stool may also be present.
- Infant acid reflux is also common with 50 percent of infants experiencing the problem in the first three months, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of infant acid reflux include spitting up and irritability after or during feedings. However, it is not painful.
“This condition (infant acid reflux) is a normal physiological response to feeding in children less than six months,” says Dr. Shelly David Senders of Senders Pediatrics in South Euclid, Ohio. “The valve that separates the esophagus (food tube) and the stomach does not function as a one way valve as it does in older infants and adults, but rather, remains a two way valve.”
Typically, infant acid reflux disappears after 12 to 18 months. However, parents don’t have to wait to reduce infant acid reflux. Frequent, smaller meals or holding infants after feedings can help. Parents can also alternate between burping and feedings their infants.
Colic
Colic is common and occurs during the first two to three months. The cause is unknown. Parents with colicky infants notice that the condition occurs in threes, meaning that their infants cry for longer than three hours, three times a week, and for more than three weeks. While crying uncontrollably, infants may curl up their legs, clench their fists, and turn bright red.
Colic occurs for a variety of reasons such as inexperienced parenting, a mismatch between infants and parents’ personalities, or excitement happening in the house. However, colicky infants may give parents a sneak peak into the future. Dr Senders says colic may represent “an extreme personality type of an active child who goes from 0-60 very rapidly … many of these children continue to be active and intense children. They do everything with gusto. They cry with gusto in the first few months, but they laugh with gusto in the next few months.”
Some parents respond to their colicky infants in two days, which can make the situation worse because as they feed the infant to calm him or her down, can result in overfeeding or becoming stressed. Infants respond to stress by crying more. To help with colic, parents can use probiotics, which balances the bacteria in the digestive tract, gently rock them, or use pacifiers instead of constant feedings.
When to Call a Physician
Parents should always be aware of several symptoms and notify a pediatrician immediately if any of the following occurs. Parents need to notify a pediatrician immediately if an infant doesn’t produce urine in the first 24 hours or a bowel movement in the first two days at home. Parents should call a pediatrician if they notice any type of breathing problems. Typically, these problems include rapid breathing, continuous coughing, wheezing, or whistling noises when infants breathe.
Dr. Senders also explains, “Poor feeding can be the sign of a cardiac problem, an infectious disease, a respiratory problem and a metabolic problem, and should always prompt a call to the doctor.” Poor feeding occurs when infants aren’t interested in eating or eats but doesn’t receive proper nutrition.
Advice to Parents
Dr. Senders offers this advice for parents with infants trying to balance the intense experience of raising infants with keeping them healthy, “try to keep a diary and take lots of pictures and videos. Only when things slow down will you truly be able to appreciate the miracle of those first few months. And celebrate little successes. Keep your goals high and your expectations low. The higher the expectations, the less happy you will be, and your goal should be to maximize your happiness.”
Parents should also keep their own health in mind. According to Dr Senders, who has practiced for 23 years, “understand yourself and your response to stress … Try to get as much sleep as possible.” Sleep is like a cleaning service for your brain and helps reduce disorganization. Get help and support. If your spouse is not available, reach out to friends and family to help give you a break.”