Showing posts with label Growth and Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Growth and Development. Show all posts
Newborn Stool Color Changes
Posted by Healthfitline
On
Sunday, February 3, 2013
At birth, newborns gastrointestinal tract is sterile but bacteria may enter into the baby system within the first five hours or at most 24 hours after delivery. Most of the bacteria enter through the baby mouth from airborne sources. Others may be due to hospital beddings, sorroundings or when the baby come into contact with the mother breast. However, not all bacterias are harmful and accumulation of bacteria in large intestine (the colon) is necessary to aid in digestion and synthesis of vitamin K which is importance for blood coagulation.
Newborn Stool - Changes in Stool Pattern in Newborn
A newborn should be able to pass stool within the first 24 - 48 after birth. This first stool is known as meconium, composed of mucus, amniotic fluid, hormones and carbohydrates. It is usually sticky, blackish-greenish or tarlike with no odor. If a newborn has not passed any stool within 48 hours after delivery, there is a possibility of an underlying medical condition, such as imperforated anus, meconium ileus or bowel obstruction and further investigation is required.
Transitional Stool
Transitional stool usually appears two to three days after initiation of feeding. It is loose, greenish brownish to yellowish brownish but slightly less sticky than meconium and may contain some milk curds. It also resembles a diarrhea.
Milk Stool
Milk stool usually appears on the fourth day. If a baby is been fed with breast milk, he or she passes three to four stools in a day. The stool is light yellow or yellowish golden in color, pasty in consistency with a smell similar to the one of the sour milk (sweet smelling). In a formula fed baby, he or she passes two to three stools in a day. The stool is firmer in consistency and has a more offensive smell or noticeable odour compared with the stool of babies fed with breast milk.
Other Newborn Types of Stools
A jaundiced baby who is under a phototherapy passes bright green stool due to increased secretion of bilirubin while a baby born with an obstructed bile duct passes clay colored stool since the obstruction prevent the bile pigments from entering the gastrointestinal tract. Blood stained stool may indicate an anal injury or an anal fissure.
Black or tarry stool may be due to a newborn having swallowed the maternal blood during the delivery or it would be due to intestinal bleeding. Loose, waterly stool or stool mixed with mucus may be due to lactose intolerance or a milk allergy or other medical conditions. This is the reason why knowing the different kinds of stool that you should expect from a newborn is importance in order for you to be able to pinpoint a variation that may need further medical attention.
Newborn Vital Signs Ranges
Posted by Healthfitline
On
Friday, February 1, 2013
Changes in newborn vital signs is evidenced immediately after birth. This is because, the baby is no longer confined in the utero and he or she has to try to adapt to the changing environment. The newborn temperature regulating system is also very immature, hence it is unable to regulate the body temperature as required. Temperatures of the newborns ranges in between 36.5° to 37.2° centigrade or 97.5° to 99°F but it usually falls below normal levels immediately after birth.
Newborns lose heat through various ways; convection, evaporation, conduction and radiation. In convection, the heat is lost by transfering it to a cooler sorrounding air, such as, when using an air conditioner in a room. In evaporation, the heat is lost through conversion of liquid to vapor. This can happens if the child is not dried immediately, especially on the face and head after a bath.
In conduction, the head is lost when the baby comes into contact with a cooler contact, such as, when a baby is placed on a cold surface during changing. In radiation, heat is lost by transfering it to a cooler object that does not comes into contact with the baby, such as, when a baby is placed near a window.
In conduction, the head is lost when the baby comes into contact with a cooler contact, such as, when a baby is placed on a cold surface during changing. In radiation, heat is lost by transfering it to a cooler object that does not comes into contact with the baby, such as, when a baby is placed near a window.
Newborn Pulse
The fetal heart rate during intrauterine life ranges in between 120 to 160 bpm but it rises further up to 180 bpm immediately after birth as the baby struggles to initiate breathing. The heart rate usually settles after one hour or so after birth, averaging around 120-140 bpm and inbetween 90 -110 bpm when the baby is asleep. Heart rate also tend to be slightly irregular due to immature cardiac regulatory system.
Newborn Respiratory Rate
A few minutes after birth, the respiratory rate can be as high as 80 breaths per minutes but it eventually settles down, averaging inbetween 30-60 breaths per minute when the baby is at rest. You can easily count the respiratory rate by looking at the baby abdomen, since babies use diaphragm and abdominal muscles to breath. Short period of apnea without cynosis (bluish discoloration of skin) are considered normal and a newborn respiratory rate, depth and rhythm may sometimes be irregular.
Newborn Blood Pressure
The newborn blood pressure immediately after birth ranges in between 65 mmHg to 80 mmHg (systolic) with diastolic ranging inbetween 46 mmHg to 41 mmHg and it raises again to around 100/50 mmHg after 10 days. Blood pressure taking is rarely done in newborns, since the measurements tend to be very inacurate. It is mostly done on babies born with heart anomalies or if a doctor suspect a cardiac problem.
How to Prevent Drastic Changes in Newborn Vital Signs
- Dry a newborn as soon as possible. Newborn care should be done as quickly as possible.
- Keep a newborn warm by wrapping him or her with a warm blanket.
- Use a warm room when bathing or changing a newborn.
- If you use an air conditioned room, make sure it is not very cold or you can move the baby away from the aircon and open windows.
- Always cover surfaces with a warm towel or a warm blanket before placing your baby.
- Do not let your baby cry for a long time. Short period of crying is fine but leaving your baby to cry for a long time, add stress to already weakened cardiovascular system and may not be helpful to the the baby. Newborns also become fatigued easily due to rapid breathing.
Newborn Profile - Vital Statistics
Posted by Healthfitline
On
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Most people tend to think that all newborns look and act alike while indeed, every newborn is different with physical and personality trends that make him or her unique. While a first time mother may have problem differentiating between a baby within the normal vital statistics and one that may need further evaluation and attention, mothers who have previously given birth may be able to pick such abnormalities with ease. Though in most cases, it requires the help of a medical professional.
Newborn measurement of vital statistics include; measurements of weight, length (height), head and chest circumference.
Newborn Normal Weight
The weight of a newborn may be influenced by several factors. Such as nutritional status of mother during pregnancy, genetics, race, intrauterine defects and the overall health status of the mother during pregnancy. However, weight is usually calculated by use of a standard neonatal graph, with the exceptional of children who are born pre-maturely or those born with other defects. For example, if a baby head circumference is in the 90th percentile and the height is only in the 50th percentile, this may be an indication of an abnormal head growth and further evaluation is required.
The normal weight of a newborn should be within the ranges of 2.5 kgs (5.5 pounds) to 4.7 kgs (10 pounds). However, there are several babies who have been born weighing more than 4.7 kgs (macrosomia) but most likely this is due to maternal diabetes. Newborns usually lose 5% to 10% of their weight during the first few days after birth and start regaining it back within 7 -10 days.
Newborn Height
On average, girls height is around 53 cm (20.9 inches) and boys height is usually around 54 cm (21.3 inches) but babies with lower height of up to 46 cm (18 inches) and as high as 57.5 cm (24 inches) have been born.
Newborn Head Circumference
In full term babies, head circumference is within the ranges of 34 to 35 cm. Any child born with a head circumference of less than 33 cm or bigger than 37 cm need to be evaluated to make sure there is no neurological problem involved.
Newborn Chest Circumference
Newborn chest circumference should be atleast 2 cm less than the head circumference, measured at the level of the nipples. If the newborn head is 34 cm, then the chest circumference should be 34-2 which equals to 32 cm.
Teenagers Issues - How to Handle Defiant Teenagers
Posted by Healthfitline
On
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Parents find themselves having a hard time dealing with teenagers and end up putting too much blame on teenagers or even giving up. As a parent, you will all agree with me that, handling and understanding what a teenager really wants is the hardest thing that most parents face. This is because at this stage, teenagers are going through identity and development crisis and most parents have problem knowing how to relate with them.
In reality, no matter how much your teenager daughter or son may seems disconnected with your world, deep inside themselves, they care and they are always looking for someone to share their worries and concerns with. This is one reason why parents should try to learn and understand their teenagers' needs at this time. If parents are less concerned with their teenagers needs, most of them turn to doing other negative vices to try and attract their parents attention.
At this stage of development, it is important for a parent to spare some quality time to spend with his or her teenager and listen to what they say. This lead to the teenagers becoming more open to a point that, they can easily sharing their concerns and worries with their parents.
However, there are 3 main issues that teenagers struggle with and are known to have a big impact on who they become and how they make their decision. These issues are;
- Parents
- Peers Influence
- Responsibility
Parents
Teenager may seems very rebellious or defiant but they long for their parents to be part of their growth and in decision making. Some parents think that teenagers do not really care about their feelings, while indeed they do care alot. Indeed at this time, teenagers are looking for a place where they can live comfortably and at the same time, they are also looking for someone to understand them at this time of identity crisis.
Some parents turn to criticizing their teenagers which leave them feeling miserable and unloved. Parents should instead try to show them that they really understand what they are going through and they are there to help them instead of criticizing.
Some parents turn to criticizing their teenagers which leave them feeling miserable and unloved. Parents should instead try to show them that they really understand what they are going through and they are there to help them instead of criticizing.
An angry kind of approach will not yield anything and will instead widens the relationship gap. The point here is, parents should sit down with their teenagers, try to understand their needs and come up with a reasonable advice. When it comes to disciplining your teenager, discipline her from the perspective of what you are doing will be of benefit to her rather than, you are doing it since you are frustrated or angry with what she has done.
Disciplining your teenager by anger and frustrations will not solve anything and most likely, she will not learn anything from what you are doing. Most teenagers may look rebellious but when a situation is presented to them in a positive manner, they are always willing to adapt the solution easily. By doing this, you are also creating a good environment for them to express their feelings and frustrations, if any.
The other issue that parents need to ask themselves, is what type of role model they are to their children. Teenagers are always looking for a role model to imitate and since they spend most of their time with their parents, been a good role model is important. If you are good role model to your children, you help them in creating an unique identiy with the right values.
Parents should be a good example on the best way to behave, dress, talk or even to handle crisis. If a parents is a good role model to her teenager child, this will have a long time impact on the teenager life for the rest of her life. These are important values that becomes part of the teenager and eventually determine what type of person she will be when she grow up. It is the duty for the parents to decide which values they would like their daughters or son to carry along with them when they grows up.
Peer Pressure
The power of peer pressure in a teenager's life cannot be underestimated. Peer influence is a big thing in a teenager life and most of the decisions that she make is based on what friends say or think about her. Infact, peer group opinions will be of much weight than what parents says or think about a particular situation.
When it comes to peer influence, it does not matter how independent your teenager may seems, no teenager is prone to peer pressure influence. Peer pressure plays a significant role in the choices that a teenager make, whether it is buying new clothes, attitude, how they speak and even how their behave.
When it comes to peer influence, it does not matter how independent your teenager may seems, no teenager is prone to peer pressure influence. Peer pressure plays a significant role in the choices that a teenager make, whether it is buying new clothes, attitude, how they speak and even how their behave.
Some teenagers find themselves joining the wrong peer groups and end up getting involved in risky behaviors. This is another reason why parents should be part of a teenager's growing life. Parent should make sure that they teach their teenager the importance of making their own decision and having a firm stand rather than been swayed by the crowd.
This is a very imporant value to teach your teenager since it will help her in finding a balance during those difficult times. The challenge to all parents is to make sure that they instill values that will help their children to move along during turbulents moments.
Responsibilities
A teenager will only learn to be responsible if she is taught and given chance to learn how to be responsible. Most parents assume that teenager are learning just by watching what is been done by others without taking part in it. This is not true, if you want your teenager to learn how to be responsible, you must give her an opportunity to become responsible.
This is also a good way to show that you can trust her which will help in building her self confidence. Teenagers need to be encouraged to take part in planning a task since most teenagers will be more comfortable in accomplishing a task that they planned rather than the one which was planned by someone else.
Finally, learning to be responsible needs time and patience. You cannot expect your teenager to learn how to be responsible within a few days or one year but it is a continous process that is learned in small steps over a long period of time. The most important task for the parents is to provide a conducive environment that will help the teenager to develop to a responsible and a health adult. Parents need also to teach their teenagers about time management so that they can be able to accomplish different tasks on time.
Lastly, been a parent is a hard thing but it is also the duty of the parents to help in shaping up their teenagers to be the kind of a person that they would like them to be. Teenagers usually look up for their parents as role model and parents need to be the best example of what a role mode should be to their teenagers.
Eating Disorder Red Flags Signs to Watch Out For in Teenagers
Posted by Healthfitline
On
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It is undeniable that, media influence has been of much significant especially when it comes to teenagers or young adult who are still struggling with identity problems. In modern society, what is perceived as beautiful is far much below anyone expectations.
If you have been watching some of the catwalks, you may have noticed that, most of those girls that are presented to us are like "walking skeletons" not because they do not want to gain some weight and remain health but somehow, they are forced to eat less to remain marketable.
This trend has led to most teenagers and young adults thinking that, in order for you to be accepted and to look beautiful, you need to eat less than what your body require. To achieve this, most teenagers has turned to unhealthy eating habits which gradually progresses to an eating disorder.
In some cases, it may be very hard for a parent to notice that her child is experiencing a eating disorder since most parents are very busy and rarely have adequate time to monitor their childrens' eating habits. There are a few red flags that you should watch out for. These red flags may be a sign that something wrong might be going on with your child;
Sudden Change of Dressing Style
If you child has been wearing tight fitting clothes and suddenly, you noticed that she or he is no longer interested in those type of clothes and has turned to wearing oversized or loose ill-fitting clothes. Do not just assume everything is fine.
You may be surprised to find that there is something more inside those baggy clothes than you thought. The other red flag would be a sudden change of posture which could mean that she might be hiding something inside.
Change of Eating Habits
The following is unusual eating habits that a parent should watch out for;
- The child starts re-arranging items or food on a plate.
- She takes too long to chew or she is chewing food for a long time.
- She start eating food in unusual style.
- She cuts food into small tiny pieces while eating.
She may also start getting obsessed in measurement and calories count. Changing of eating habits is one of the earliest sign that a parent should be able to notice and take action early in the course of this disorder before it is too late.
Taking Meals Alone
