Be sure to visit our shop for all the latest baby care products.

Be sure to visit our shop for all the latest baby care products.

My Baby Has Heat Rash – What do I Do Now? Alternate Names – Prickly heat & Red Miliaria

For the benefit of any new mother, I would just like to reassure you that a heat rash is not a terminal illness & it is not a result of neglect!   Rest assured that the problem will be short lived & the information learned from the experience will be beneficial. 

We will discuss what causes the problem, why babies are more susceptible to it, how you can treat the condition & reduce the risks of it reoccurring.

A heat rash is the physical response that results when a baby becomes over heated.  The obvious time for this you may think is in the summer months when the days are hot & humid.  That is partly true.  Please keep in mind that it is caused when a baby over heats & not simply the time of year. 

That being the case this condition can also occur in the winter months as a result of a caring parent over-dressing the baby or applying too many blankets etc.  The last thing wanted is for the baby to be cold so we can tend to think that more clothing is better.  It is easier than you may think.

Be sensible & trust your judgement when dressing your baby.  Monitoring the temperature & feel of baby’s skin will be your most reliable guide.   You can do this by simply placing your hand onto the skin at the chest, the back & groin area.  (You may wish to warm your own hands first).  You will detect whether the skin is feeling warm & dry, hot & clammy or perhaps not warm enough & then act accordingly. 

Sweating is the mechanism that our bodies use to cool itself down.  When a baby sweats too much a heat rash may develop.  The sweat glands of a baby are not yet fully developed & this makes it more difficult for their body to maintain the ideal temperature. 

When a baby sweats excessively, the very tiny pores of the skin are too small for the amount needing to flow through.   The pores begin to clog & sweat remains trapped causing a heat rash to develop.

Small red bumps begin to develop & may at times become tiny blisters as a result of the sweat build up. 

The rash generally appears

The parent is likely to be suffering more than their baby.  The areas where the rash occurs may be slightly tender when touched.  The rash is more likely to itch & become an obvious irritation to the child. 

Suggestion: Some mothers report using 1 to 2 teaspoons of Baking Soda in the bath water helps soothe the irritation

After bathing softly pat skin dry.  Do not apply creams & lotions as they are more likely to trap the moisture in rather than allowing it to flow through.   Do not choose fabric & clothing that tends to cling to the baby.  Choose a loose fitting garment for additional comfort & air circulation.

Keeping your baby & their room as cool as possible is not always easy.  An air conditioner or fan may be useful.  Do not direct the flow of air onto your baby.  The circulating air will keep your baby more comfortable not cold.   Reduce the likelihood of further aggravating the condition by checking fingernails & trimming them if necessary.

During humid Conditions: 

Monitor fluid intake to maintain hydration

If in doubt have it checked out!  Your health practitioner will be able to quickly confirm that it is heat rash & not something more serious.  This may provide an anxious mother a little more peace of mind.  If the rash does not improve, it appears to worsen or a fever is present, definitely seek medical attention.

The emotional distress upon seeing your own beautiful baby suffering from heat rash remains etched in your mind.   Understanding the causes, why babies are more susceptible & implementing a few preventative measures will minimize the likelihood of it reoccurring. 

Do not doubt your judgement & beat yourself with guilt – simply learn to monitor the feel of your baby’s skin & you will act accordingly. 

Your baby is in the very safest hands.  A mothers love, touch & voice are irreplaceable.  You & your baby have an ongoing, learning, adventure ahead! 

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A happy baby is a well-moisturized baby, so make sure that you pay attention to your baby’s skin to keep him or her comfortable and happy.

Be sure to visit our shop for all the latest baby care products.

Be sure to visit our shop for all the latest baby care products.

Be sure to visit our shop for all the latest baby care products.

Your due date will be calculated as 40 weeks from the first day of your last period, so you need to take that in to account when planning pre-pregnancy fitness.

Why fitness is important

There are a number of physical changes during pregnancy. Here are a few the womb increases in volume (muscle) 1,000 times; the womb increases in weight (protein) 30 times the work done by a mother’s heart increases 50 percent; the volume of her blood increases by one third her kidneys filter 50 percent more blood.

Preventing anemia

If you’re anemic, your heart is over worked, which can affect your baby. A blood test would reveal anemia, and it may be necessary to take iron supplements.

Avoiding birth defects

Folic acid reduces the risk of some birth defects like spina bifida. It’s a good idea to start increasing folic acid in take three months before you stop contraception, and for three months after you conceive, Good food sources are green leafy vegetables, cereals, and bread, or you can take supplements.

If you have a medical problem

If you take regular drugs for a medical condition, let your doctor know before you try for a baby the dose may have to be changed once you’re pregnant.

When you decide to become parents, it makes sense to prepare your selves in advance, To have a healthy baby, research shows that by far the most important factors are your own and your partner’s fitness and nutrition.

Timing Of The Birth

If you’re serious about starting a family, ideally you should begin to think about it at least a year before the time you’d like your baby to be born. It’s a good idea to allow at least three months to get your bodies to peak pre-conception fitness. There are other issues you may want to take into account as well. If you’re planning to move, or know that work commitments are going to take you away from home at a specific time of year, you’ll want to avoid allowing these to clash with the possible arrival of your baby, Some parents may even want to rake account of whether their baby is born in winter or summer lost education systems involve a fall start to the academic year, and there is evidence to suggest that some children born in the summer, the youngest in their school year group, may not achieve as well academically as the older and more mature children who are born in the winter. This doesn’t just affect the early years; it can some times last well in to the teens.

Delaying Parenthood

More women are now delaying child bearing into their thirties or even early forties, A pregnant woman over 35 will be monitored more closely, but women’s general health and fitness have improved so much that the older pregnant mother is no longer likely to have the same risks of earlier generations. In addition, couples starting a family in their thirties are more likely to have planned the baby, be in a stable relationship, and be financially secure. But leaving conception until later does increase the time you might have to wait to conceive an average of six months when you’re 35, as opposed to four months when you’re 25.

When To Stop Contraception

If you’ve been using straight for ward barrier methods, such as the condom or diaphragm, you can safely conceive as soon as you stop using them. How ever, most doctors recommend at least one normal period after ceasing other forms of contraception, before you try to conceive.

The pill it’s best to stop the pill three months before hand, but a month would do, as long as you have one normal period before conceiving. Intrauterine device (IUD). The same time frame would apply to an IUD, so have it removed three months before you intend to get pregnant. Have at least one normal period before stopping all contraception use a barrier method in the meantime.

How Fitness Helps You Both

As a prospective mother, your body undergoes a great deal of physical change. The fitter you are the more easily your body will cope. But fitness and life style may also change a man’s ability to father a child, by affecting sperm production. Think about your health and life style at least three months before you plan to stop contraception. As well as improving your fitness, it will increase your chances of conceiving with out delay and of having a healthy baby.

A Healthy Diet

Adjusting your diet shouldn’t require uncomfortable changes. Your staple diet should include good quality carbohydrates, such as whole wheat bread, rice, and potatoes. Keep your animal fat in take down by changing to skim milk and low fat cheeses, and use olive or sun flower oil for cooking. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Don’t skip meals, avoid processed foods, outlaw the liquid lunch, and eat a hearty break fast, though not a fried one.

Getting Exercise

Exercise makes a contribution to becoming a healthy potential parent, so if you don’t already do so, start a gentle exercise program together, such as jogging, swimming, or gym sessions. Try for 20 minutes exercise that increases your heart rate at least three times a week. However, bear in mind that very strenuous training or dieting may reduce fertility.

Father

Your partner’s fitness and life style obviously has a bearing on her ability to conceive, but your own fitness is also a crucial factor. If you aren’t healthy, you may not donate the best genetic material to your child in your sperm.

Why your life style matters

Male fertility not only depends on the number of sperm produced, but also on the health of that sperm. This is affected by all sorts of life style factors, such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs, and also stress. Try to reorder your life if it’s stressful, and look at your diet and fitness.

Genetic Counseling

Seek advice and have tests in advance if a genetic disorder, such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, muscular dystrophy, or hemophilia, runs in your family.

What happens in counseling

The counselor explains the condition and your family background and shows you the pattern of inheritance through past generations. Not all carriers of a defective gene get the condition. If it’s recessive it can be masked by a healthy version, where as a dominant gene will always show up. With a dominant gene, the chances of your baby being affected are one in two with a recessive gene they are one in four.

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What your Baby Looks Like

The size of a new Born baby varies enormously a perfectly normal birth weight could be any thing from 5½ lb to 10 lb (2.5 to 4.5 kg). But even a 9-11-lb (4-5-kg) baby will seem tiny and vulnerable when new born. Your baby may look slightly battered and bruised after the birth, and his head may be rather elongated because of molding in the birth canal, but it will return to a normal rounded shape in a week or so. There may be the odd bruise here and there on his head, especially if your birth was assisted, or there may be a small scar if a fetal monitor was attached to his scalp. Until he has his first bath, his hair may be a bit matted with dried blood and fluid from the birth.

A New Born’s Reflexes

A new born has a set of built in reflexes that help him to survive. They disappear with in a few weeks as he develops.

Grasp

He grasps any thing put in to his fist; the reflex is so strong that he can take his own weight. The reflex is lost in a couple of weeks.

Step

If his feet touch a firm surface, he will take a step this has nothing to do with real walking.

Moro response

If startled, he throws out his arms and legs in a star shape to stop him self from falling.

Rooting

If you stroke his cheek, he automatically turns his head ( roots ) to find the nipple.

New Born Baby Check

Your baby is given a top to toe check before you leave hospital.

Vision and hearing

The doctor will shine a light into your baby’s eyes and will note if they move on hearing her voice.

Heart and lungs

She’ll listen to your baby’s heart and check his lungs and breathing.

Ability to suck

She’ll put her finger into his mouth to check that he can suck properly.

Internal organs

She’ll gently feel his abdomen and check his anus.

Spine

She’ll feel his spine to make sure the vertebrae are in place.

Hip manipulation

She’ll remove his diaper and check his legs and hips for any sign of congenital hip dislocation.

The Guthrie test

On about the sixth day, a tiny drop of blood will be taken from his heel to test for thyroid function and for phenylketonuria, a rare disorder that may cause mental retardation if undetected.

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Milk is still the most important fluid that the child should be ingesting but the introduction of solid foods means that the need for milk decreases although the need for fluids increases.  Only a small amount of juice can be offered a day with a meal in order to keep the baby healthy so drinking water for the baby can be a good alternative.  Water is the best thirst quencher and a healthy option.

There can be some problems with a baby drinking water.  The most basic being the child getting so full on water, that they do not drink enough milk or eat enough solids.  It may be necessary to consult a nurse or doctor on the best quantities and proportions to give to a small child.  Too much water can lead to a bloated belly and sometimes belly aches.  The water should always be cooled previously boiled water for health reasons as boiling the water sterilizes and can keep harmful germs away from the baby.A bigger problem could be high nitrate levels in the drinking water.  It can be risky for infants because it can cause a condition known as blue baby.  A baby’s stomach juices are less acidic than adults and may be susceptible to a growth of bacteria due to high levels of nitrate in the system.

Nitrate in the blood combines with hemoglobin and forms met hemoglobin which then reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen around the body and results in a blue tinge to the babies skin.  Boiling water with high nitrate levels can actually increase the amount of nitrate in the water and cause more harm to the baby.  Medical help should be sought immediately upon the appearance of the symptoms of this condition.

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Numerology tells us that we go through cycles that last approximately seven years. The more we are aware of these cycles, the better we can learn from them and the richer our lives become.

I have just completed a major cycle in my life – the 7 times 7 cycle. To me this means that everything in my life has over the past six months been turned upside down in a way that makes my jaw drop, but that is a story for another day.

What I am aware of is that I am seriously entering a new life phase in my life – a far more challenging one than I have ever experienced, and it is so exciting. That is what my heart and mind says, but there is evidence to the contrary in my body. Let me explain.

In my experience each new phase conquers more fear and expands my awareness massively. With every change I become more aware of the power of the prayer of Jabez.This prayer is in the Bible in 1 Chronicles 4:10 and reads as follows: “Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm harm so that it might not hurt me”. Each life change enlarges my border in the sense that more false illusions are broken down and more blessings come my way. Read the book The Prayer of Jabez for a very insightful explanation of the prayer.

I regularly deal with clients that are going through these big life changes, and in the readings that I do the changes are often described as shedding a new skin. It conjures up the picture of us leaving an old, dry skin behind, but this only happens at the right time when the new skin is in place. The new skin is soft and beautiful like a new baby skin, and something to treasure and enjoy. The process of moving from one skin or phase to the new one of course leaves us vulnerable and sometimes feeling alone on our spiritual journeys, because we often forget that we have been in this space before.

Because I have started to recognise the pattern and my awareness has grown over the years, it has become easier for me to recognise the new cycle. Of course when you know you are at the bottom of a foothill, you forget to look back at the part of the mountain you have conquered, and only see the series of foothills ahead of you. It then becomes so easy to resist and to say this is too much for me, I cannot do this, I want to have a break and so on.

That is what happened to me. My mind and heart know that there are exciting times ahead, but my body decided to resist. Of course our bodies simply express the state of our souls ‘ like a barometer, and I had fears that I did not want to acknowledge to myself.

I am normally in very good health and have never been allergic to anything in my life. Imagine my surprise when recently I woke up one morning, covered in dark red spots, literally from head to toe. My first thought was that I had picked up some contagious disease and I was at the doctor’s surgery before opening time.

The diagnosis was an allergic reaction that attacked all the hair follicles on my body and caused inflammation in every single one of them. It took about a week for the red spots to turn into ‘ you guessed it ‘ baby pink spots, and then to disappear.

For the next three weeks my skin was as dry as yes – a snake skin. By the time the tiny scabs came off, I was still puzzled as to why this had happened.

Then I had a dream about leaving my body and not liking the experience at all. I found this quite strange for various reasons. Firstly I had left my body on various occasions before, but this always happened when I was awake. On each occasion I can remember leaving and returning, but I cannot re-member what happened while I was out of my body. After each experience I could identify a distinct difference in the way my mediumship progressed, and the effect has always been a pleasant surprise.

The second reason why I found this dream strange was that in the dream I did not like being out of my body at all. Even though I cannot re-member what I experience while I am away, I know it is always pleasant and something to look forward to.

Then suddenly I realised what it was about. I have been resisting the changes, and the allergic reaction was in its own way a message from my body to me that I was “shedding my skin” as part of the new cycle that I have been entering. The message is now quite clear: I can resist the changes in my life, but they will happen anyway because they are part of my Path. I need to let go of any fears that I have, because I know that those fears are only illusions. I have learnt to trust my inner compass, and there is no reason under the sun why it would fail me this time.

And guess what? I have not made any changes in my diet, and the allergy is mostly gone. And in terms of the changes in my life, I am white-water rafting and screaming at the top of my voice, because I enjoy the ride and not because I am afraid.

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