Preventing Infant Abduction In Hospital and Out

Preventing infant abduction has become paramount in most hospital Mother/Baby Units. However parents know they cannot rely on hospital staff alone for their baby's safety. What can a parent do once home to keep baby safe? Please keep in mind these safety tips from The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children:

At the Facility:

1. At some point before the birth of your baby, investigate security procedures at the facility where you plan to give birth to your baby and request a copy of the facility’s written guidelines on procedures for “special care” and security procedures in the maternity ward. Know all of the facility’s procedures in place to safeguard your infant while staying in that facility.
   
   
2. While it is normal for new parents to be anxious, being deliberately watchful over the newborn infant is of paramount importance.
   
   
3. Never leave your infant out of your direct line-of-sight even when you go to the restroom or take a nap. If you leave the room or plan to go to sleep, alert the nurses to take the infant back to the nursery or have a family member watch the baby. When possible, keep the infant’s bassinet on the side of your bed away from the door(s) leading out of the room.
   
   
4. After admission to the facility, ask about the facility’s protocols concerning the routine nursery procedures, feeding and visitation hours, and security measures. Do not hesitate to politely ask direct questions and settle for nothing less than an acceptable explanation.
   
   
5. Do not give your infant to anyone without properly verified identification as issued by that facility. Find out what additional or special identification is being worn to further identify facility personnel who have authority to transport the infant. Speak to a person in authority, such as a unit director or charge nurse, if you have any questions or concerns.
   
   
6. Become familiar with the staff who work in the maternity unit. During short stays in the facility, ask to be introduced to the nurse assigned to you and your infant.
   
   
7. Question unfamiliar persons entering your room or inquiring about your infant—even if they are in the facility’s attire or seem to have a reason for being there. Immediately alert the nurses’ station.
   
   
8. Determine where your infant will be when taken for tests, and how long the tests will take. Find out who has authorized the tests. If you are uncomfortable with anyone who requests to take your infant or unable to clarify what testing is being done or why your infant is being taken from your room, it is appropriate to go with your infant to observe the procedure. Or if you are unable to accompany your infant, have a family member go along.
   
   
9. For your records to take home, have at least one color photograph of your infant (full, front-face view) taken along with footprints and compile a complete written description of your infant including hair and eye color, length, weight, date of birth, and specific physical characteristics.

At the Facility and at the Home:

1. At some point after the birth of your baby, but before discharge from the facility, request a set of written guidelines on the procedures for any followup care extended by the facility that will be scheduled to take place in your home. Do not allow anyone into your home who says that he or she is affiliated with the facility without properly verified identification as issued by that facility. Find out what additional or special identification is being worn to further identify those staff members who have authority to enter your home.
   
   
2. Consider the risk you may be taking when permitting your infant’s birth announcement to be published in the newspaper or online. Birth announcements should never include the family’s home address and be limited to the parents’ surname(s). In general, birth announcements in newspapers are not endorsed by most experts.

At the Home:

1. The use of outdoor announcements such as signs, balloons, large floral wreaths, and other lawn ornaments are not recommended to announce a birth because they call attention to the presence of a new infant in the home.
   
   
2. Only allow persons into your home who are well-known by the mother. It is ill advised to allow anyone into your home who is just a mere or recent acquaintance, especially if met briefly since you became pregnant or gave birth to your infant. There have been several cases where an abductor has made initial contact with a mother and infant in the healthcare-facility setting and then subsequently abducted the infant from the family home. If anyone should arrive at the home claiming to be affiliated with the healthcare facility where the infant was born or other healthcare provider, remember to follow the procedures outlined in number 10 above. A high degree of diligence should be exercised by family members when home with the infant. The bottom line is, the infant’s family is the domestic security team, and all family members should be sensitive to any suspicious visitors.

In addition there have been cases in which initial contact with a mother and infant was made in other settings such as shopping malls or bus stations. If you must take your infant out, whenever possible, take a trusted friend or family member with you as an extra set of hands and eyes to protect and constantly observe the infant. Never leave a child alone in a motor vehicle. Always take the child with you. Never let someone you don’t know pick up or hold your child.

These tips are excerpted from For Healthcare Professionals: Guidelines on Prevention of and Response to Infant Abductions.

Copyright © 2005 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.

Seat Belt Safety While Pregnant

Protecting yourself in the car means protecting your baby as well. Did you know the biggest danger to an unborn baby in a car crash is injury to the mother? However if you are in a wreck, even a fender bender, be check out at your nearest emergency room. It is possible for baby to become injured while you are ok.

A lap shoulder belt is necessary to provide the maxium protection. Both lap and shoulder belts should be snug.

1. Wear the diagonal strap between your breasts, moving the strap around the side of your bump.



2. Make sure the lap strap sits comfortably under your bump. If it is over your belly button then it is too high. It should go from hip bone to hip bone, as low as possible. Check frequently while driving to be sure both belts remain in place.
   

Sit back as far from the steering wheel as possible, and tilt the wheel toward your chest. A crash or even sudden stop could cause you to hit the wheel and cause injury to your baby.

Let others do the driving as much as possible during the third trimester!

Reducing the Risk of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under the age of 1. It is a blanket term for "We don't know why this healthy baby went to sleep, and didn't wake up" After more than 40 years, researchers still don't have the answer. However, we do know more about ways SIDS might be prevented:

1. It is believed that babies are less likely to die of SIDS if they sleep on their back.

• There has been a DECREASE IN SIDS since the recommendations of placing baby on her back to sleep have come out!

• If your child has a health condition which prevents him from sleeping on his back, talk to your health care provider.
• Millions of babies around the world now sleep on their backs, health care workers have NOT seen an increase in choking or other related problems.
• Although back sleeping is best, you MAY place baby on her side to sleep. Do make sure her lower arm is forward to prevent her from rolling onto her tummy.

• DO give baby "tummy time" while he is awake, this is good for baby!

2. Bedding ~ Baby needs a firm mattress or other firm surface to sleep on

• Don't let baby sleep on a water bed, sheepskin, pillow, or other soft materials.
• When baby is very young, do not place stuffed animals, fluffy blankets, comforters, or pillows in the crib. Babies have been known to smother with items like these.

3. Temperature

• Babies should be warm, but not too warm. Keep the temperature in baby's room at a level which is comfortable to you. The rule for clothing is-the same amount of layers or thickness of clothing you have on ~ plus one (usually a onesie is sufficient as your added layer). Blankets Count!

4. Smoke-free

• NO ONE should smoke around your baby. This means in the same house. If you or anyone in your home smokes, take it outside. It is also a good plan to cover yourself with a jacket, or extra shirt while you smoke, to remove when you come in. This might help in reducing the amount of smoke which stays in your clothing.
• Babies exposed to smoke have an increased risk for SIDS.

5. Regular doctor/clinic visits

• If your baby seems sick, call your health care provider right away. Make sure baby gets her immunizations on schedule

6. Prenatal Care

• Early and regular prenatal visits with a health care provider reduces the risk of SIDS.
• SIDS risk is higher for babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy.

7. Consider a pacifier

• New studies are suggesting that babies who sleep with pacifiers may have a reduced risk for SIDS

8. Get certified in CPR ~ a good suggestion for ANY parent.

9. Talk to your health care provider if you feel your baby could be high risk.

• Today there are many types of monitors that will alert you if baby stops breathing.
  

Sadly, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to SIDS. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls, no one knows why. Family history of SIDS may increase baby's risk, again, no one knows why.
So while we may not know what causes it, you have been prepared with the tools to possibly prevent it. Like any other diseases or injuries which concern you, worrying will not help. Being prepared will. Do not let the fear of SIDS interfere with the joys of parenting your baby!

Stretch Marks ~ That Badge of Motherhood We Can Do Without

Google "prevent stretch marks", and you will find lotions, oils, ointments, massage gloves, and just about everything under the sun claiming to do the trick. But do they work?

Sadly, probably not. So far the only thing medically proven to prevent stretch marks are good genes. Pregnant bellies are going to expand, and stretch marks occur at a deep level of skin, where lotions etc. will be of no consequence. Does this mean throw out the cocoa butter? Nah, a stretching belly will appreciate a little moisturizing, it just won't work miracles. That's what you're doing inside that ever expanding waistline.

The good news about stretch marks (which can appear not only on the tummy, but sometimes on breasts, thighs, hips & bootie) is that they fade. Firstly, they appeared on skin that has been stretched to max capacity. So just like that belly tattoo, they will shrink considerably within the days and weeks after delivery. Within months after pregnancy, the marks will lighten from the dark purple or red color to almost match normal skin tone (usually lighter).

Umbilical Cord Care

One of the many strange and fascinating things about your baby is the umbilical cord. On a newly born baby, it's a hard, white, rubbery tube right at baby's diaper line. For a day or so after birth, it still has a clamp in place. What are you supposed to do with this thing??!!
Yeah, it looks a little "gross", but consider that the umbilical cord has been providing your baby with all of the nutrition and oxygen she needed all this time! Plus within weeks it will produce a very cute little belly button.

There are varying schools of thought on cleaning the newborn's cord. For a long time, hospitals used a blue dye to help speed drying and prevent infection. Several years ago, most changed to rubbing alcohol for cleaning. Currently, many physicians feel that cleaning the umbilical cord with water will produce the same desired effect. As the days pass, the cord will become darker in color, and hard. No matter what you use to clean baby's cord with, there are a few simple things to keep in mind:

~It's most important to clean the cord at the base, where it attaches to the skin of the abdomen. ~It's not unusual for a drying cord to ooze a small amount of yellow drainage, or even a little bit of blood.
~If there is a foul odor, or an increase in drainage, notify your pediatrician.
~If there is active bleeding, call your pediatrician. (remember, it will ooze a small amount of blood)
~Don't submerge baby in water until after the cord has fallen off AND healed, usually about 3 weeks.
~You will need to keep the baby's diaper folded down away from the area to prevent irritation. ~Take care when changing clothing, make sure the hardned cord doesn't get caught while removing clothes.

There is a practice referred to as "Lotus Birth", in which the cord is NOT cut, leaving baby attached to the placenta, until it separates naturally. You can learn more about that here.

Breast Feeding Tips

You have chosen to breastfeed! Good for you and good for your baby. Breastfeeding has been purported to be The "Natural" Way to feed your infant. The Natural Way . . . that just sounds as though baby is going to pop right out and latch on doesn't it? As many seasoned nursing mothers can tell you, if only it was that easy!

The first few weeks of breastfeeding are more of a learning period for mom and baby both. Most babies are not born knowing how to breastfeed, it's up to mom to teach them. The word to remember during this time is Patience. Learning to nurse is a lot of repetition and perseverance on both parts.

Initially, when preparing a newborn to breastfeed, you want baby awake and hungry. You need to be "tummy to tummy", meaning your infant should be in straight alignment facing you, he/she shouldn't be turning the head to reach the breast. There are several different positions to choose from while breastfeeding. The traditional "cradle" hold, the "football" hold (tuck baby under your arm like a football), or lying "side to side" (mom and baby on their sides facing one another). It's best to try each of these positions to find whats best for you and baby.

Always bring baby to the breast, rather than pulling your breast to the baby, or leaning forward to the infant. You want baby to open his/her mouth as wide as possible, this is wider than you'd think. The reason for this is baby needs as much of the breast in the mouth as possible. Milk flow results from compression of the areola (brown skin around the nipple) as well as sucking. The infant's lips should be flared out around the breast to allow for the best possible suckling. If baby's mouth is not positioned properly, insert your finger between your breast and baby's mouth to break the suction. This will prevent sore nipples, and allow you to reposition and try again. During the first few days, don't be surprised if you have to remove baby and try again several times during a feeding. Don't allow your infant to nurse if they are not latched on to the breast properly. Not only can this cause sore nipples for mom, but decreased amount of milk for baby.

However if baby won't latch on there are several things to try. Is baby awake? Try removing some blankets or clothing, and stroking baby's feet or back (never stroke the cheek, this will cause the infant to root in the wrong direction). The nursing mother's nipples do need to be erect to stimulate the infants suck reflex. Rubbing a cool washcloth on the nipple may help.

Many mother's are concerned that "baby isn't getting anything". Rest assured, he is! The first milk from mom is called colostrum, and is full of nutrients for baby. There isn't much of this colostrum, but there doesn't need to be. They are built this way, remember, baby hasn't had anything in her stomach but amniotic fluid yet anyway. If you are consistent with breastfeeding your baby regular milk should come in within a week. The condition of mom not being able to produce enough breast milk is extremely rare, and not likely in most cases. Milk production operates on a "supply and demand" system. Your body will produce the milk as dictated by your nursing habits.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to bond with your baby. Especially in the beginning, be sure that nursing time won't be interrupted by anything. Get comfortable and relaxed. Be sure to have anything you'll need close at hand such as a drink, snack, music, etc. Even a newly born infant can see about a foot away, the perfect distance between mommy's face and her nursing bundle of joy. So make a lot of eye contact with your baby. In just a few months, you will laugh with delight as your baby looks into your eyes, and is too busy smiling at you to nurse!

Simple things to keep on hand:

*Breast pads to take care of embarrassing leaks, some of these come as gel pads you can refrigerate to soothe sore nipples.

*Nipple cream for sore nipples. Be sure it is specifically for breastfeeding moms, therefore safe for baby to have in his/her mouth.

*Water. Breastfeeding is thirsty work!

*Extra pillows to support you and/or baby while nursing. Many mom's have found the horseshoe shaped breastfeeding pillows are fantastic.

Optional items:

*Breast pump. Even if you plan on breastfeeding only, consider having a breast pump. Pumps can increase your convenience, allow other family members to share in feeding baby, and allow you to store breast milk in case you will be away from baby for a period of time.

*Pacifier. If you child is a firmly established breast feeder, chances are negligible that a pacifier will interfere with nursing. However it could prevent baby from using mommy as a pacifier! Sucking is not only a hunger reflex, but a natural way for infants to soothe themselves. You don't want baby breastfeeding out of boredom.

No matter what, enjoy your baby. Take heart that you have chosen the least expensive, best food, and most comforting choice for your baby.

That Oh So Soft Baby Skin!

You have done it. You spent 9 months creating a beautiful, perfect human being. You toiled through labor, or maybe even the rigors of a C-section and brought to the world another life. You are presented with your little miracle, and wonder what's with the little bumps? Are these splotches birthmarks? This is your guide to baby's skin.
Many of us imagine a newborns skin to be perfectly flawless. However you will find that most newborns come with with tiny white bumps called "milia". These bumps are comprised of dead skin cells trapped in the pockets of the skin, most commonly on the nose, cheeks and chin. Milia are not painful or harmful to your baby, and they will disappear usually in a few weeks. Never squeeze or try to scrub away these little white spots. This could lead to scarring or infection.
On occasion, an infant may develop baby acne. These outbreaks will manifest as whiteheads and blackheads. This is often a result of hormonal changes during baby's development, and will go away on it's own within a few weeks. Again, do not try to "pop" or scrub away the acne spots. This will only irritate baby's skin further and possibly cause infection.
Your infant may have a birthmark called a "stork bite" or "salmon patch". This is a red discoloration generally found on the forehead, eyelids, or the nape of the neck. This spot may grow darker when baby cries or becomes tired. Stork bite birthmarks are created by distended blood vessels, and will most likely fade by the age of 18 months. The only exception are those marks on the nape of the neck. While they may remain present through adulthood, these patches are normally covered by the hair.
If you are a woman of color, you may be surprised that your baby is so light. Melanin in the skin won't develop completely for a day or two. The best indicator for your babies skin tone is along the pinnae of the ear.
Another skin consideration for ethnic newborns is what is referred to as a Mongolian Spot. This is a flat, irregular birthmark commonly found at the base of the spine which may be gray, black, or even blue in color. These spots are simply a concentration of melanin which require no treatment, and normally disappear by age 7-13.
Diaper rash is a common skin problem in newborns. Be sure to clean your infant thoroughly with each change. There are lots of nooks and crannies to check, and always clean your baby girl from front to back to avoid infection. If baby does get a diaper rash, the important factor in healing is to keep the area dry. You should allow baby to spend some diaper free time, and use a diaper cream when the diaper is on. Don't scrub at reddened areas, this will only irritate and possibly open the skin. Rinse with warm water to clean using a bulb syringe, or if baby is old enough, sitting in a tub of warm water will soften the soiled area enough to gently clean and blot dry.
So now that you have the scoop on common marks and changes with baby's skin, How to take care of it? Babies need bathing only about once or twice a week. As tempting as it is to bathe your cutie everyday, frequent bathings can dry out baby's skin. You know that newborns skin is very delicate and sensitive, so be sure to use products specifically for baby. However the market is flooded with products for baby that are loaded with extra fragrance and artificial coloring. There are fragrances to help baby sleep, wake baby up, clear his nose, or just smell in general. Keep in mind that these products will not only exacerbate sensitive skin issues, but it's doubtful they will live up to their claims. Besides, there is no better fragrance than that "new person" smell!