Soon after birth, when your baby has his first physical check, the doctor or midwife will feel if both testicles are in the scrotum. This is important because sometimes a baby boy’s testicles might temporarily disappear back into the abdominal cavity. If they have already descended, however, this will not be a permanent reversal. You could feel for the pea-sized testes occasionally too when bathing your baby, just in case you need to alert your doctor to a continually empty scrotum, albeit on one side only. Do not worry, though, as this condition will not be detrimental to your baby’s health.
Umbilical hernia
All human beings have a ‘seam’ running vertically along the midline of the abdomen. This is the result of the way we develop. Our organs develop on the outside of the body after which the abdominal wall folds around them, enclosing all body parts on the inside, while the edges grow together. Sometimes this seam is not united strongly enough by the time of birth, especially around the navel, where the umbilical cord passing through is a potentially weak area. Another potential hernia area is the groin area. This is called an inguinal hernia.
Signs of an umbilical hernia are a tendency of the navel to pop outwards, or an even more pronounced weakness in the abdominal wall, with the edges visibly separating under the skin and sometimes even some abdominal organs protruding through. This is usually worse when Baby sneezes, cries or coughs, as a result of increased pressure in the abdomen.
Treatment varies from none for minor hernia symptoms in which the navel just pops out a little, to an operation to unite the abdominal wall for serious hernias, to prevent organs from becoming twisted or obstructed. Applying bandages or plaster to the area might keep the navel from popping out but does nothing to heal the seam, which only occurs with time. The tissue salt remedies Ferrum phos and Calc fluor are excellent for strength and elasticity of body tissues and seem to contribute to a more rapid resolution of this problem. If an operation becomes necessary, it is usually done at about six months, but this depends on the severity of the problem, and would automatically be picked up at the post-birth check done routinely on all babies.
Purely Practical Issues
LAYETTE
Babies actually don’t need much other than love and attention in the early years, apart from a few important pieces of equipment, which are unfortunately quite expensive but should not be compromised on. Here is a basic list of essentials:
Software (clothes, etc.)
30 towelling nappies if you are not using disposables
6 vests of each appropriate size
5 stretch towelling suits made of cotton
3 jerseys or jackets
5 pairs of waterproof pants
6 bibs
2 caps
4 pairs baby socks or booties to wear under stretch towelling suits in winter to keep little feet warm
4–5 receiving blankets (the ones with the pictures!)
Fitted cot sheets
2–3 covering blankets for the final cover up on a cold night
Baby carrier pouch, sling or wrap (very useful to ‘abba’ in the front or on your back)
Hardware
Crib or cot (paint must be lead free)
Changing table
Baby bath
Carry cot
A camp cot is nice to have especially when visiting
Three-in-one pram (these sometimes come with a carry cot)
Nappy bucket if you are using towelling nappies
Car seat (this must have an SABS stamp, be the correct size for the age and be used at all times)
Remember that this list can be altered to suit your needs.
COTS AS OPPOSED TO CAMP COTS
It is not essential to have a cot but it can provide a secure and restraining environment for your baby. A camp cot has the advantage of being a ‘bed away from home’ when necessary, often making sleep issues easier when visiting. It is also transportable around the home and usually takes up less space. The ideal camp cot is one in which the mattress height is adjustable so that you can have Baby close to your bed at night, almost as an extension to your bed. A camp cot should be quite big to accommodate a growing baby, as you will probably be using it for quite a while, and also to prevent climbing-out accidents. Similarly, a cot should be roomy enough to deal with these challenges. A roomy cot will also mean that your baby does not need to move on to a bed too soon, which often heralds the end of going to bed easily at night. Of course, many babies often end up sleeping more in their parents’ beds at night than in their own. This is fine, as it often means more secure little ones and less hassles at night for the parents, especially moms!
BABY OUTING BAG
Your handbag might soon be replaced by a hold-all baby bag! Keep a list in Baby’s cupboard to check before each outing. Add to this anything you find makes your life easier:
•3–4 nappies
•wet wipes for cleaning bottoms away from home
•buttock cream
•baby skin lotion
•waste disposal bag
•a change of clothes
•a hat or cap
•something warm for Baby
•dummy
•breast pads in early weeks
•formula feeding requirements like powder dispenser, bottle and accessories
•medicine dispenser
•a toy appropriate to age
•a jar of food when Baby is older
•beverage other than milk
•feeding spoon
•moist cloth in a plastic bag for face wiping
Emotional Issues
‘Motherhood is not simply the organic process of giving birth . . . it is understanding the needs of the world.’ – Alexis De Veaux, mother and sponsor of MADRE, a Latin American relief organisation, as quoted in Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: The Complete Guide to Women’s Health and Wellbeing by Dr Christiane Northrup, Great Britain, Piatkus, 1995.
A profound comment indeed, but very true! As a mother, you have a vital role to play in shaping your child’s world and the destiny of the next generation.
Babies and mothers have a very special relationship – they can almost be thought of as one entity. Like Siamese twins, they are inextricably linked to one another. While the baby is obviously more dependent on the mother, the father and child are also, though to a lesser extent, bound up in a complex play of emotions and even physical manifestations.
It is only a snip of the umbilical cord that has separated you into two entities, but I believe that babies do not accept this physical separation as a reality until much later in their lives. It is a gradual process and it requires a mother to move with the times and to adapt her approach constantly. This theory helps us understand why a baby becomes especially fretful when Mom is coping badly or when family stresses are severe. At times such as these, your