| When you're expecting your first baby there are | | | | Once you get home with your newborn one of |
| many issues that you may be unsure of. | | | | the first obstacle you will run into is giving your |
| Sometimes experienced parents and even some | | | | infant a bath. This may be a little more difficult |
| health care physicians take for granted that you | | | | than you imagined if you don't have any |
| already know many of these things when most | | | | experience. After all, you have the umbilical cord |
| likely you don't. So where do you turn to for | | | | to deal with and newborns seem so fragile. The |
| advice? Here you will find some of the most | | | | most important thing to remember is that you |
| common things new parents are expected to | | | | only need to sponge bathe your newborn for the |
| know but don't. | | | | first couple of weeks. Your doctor will give you |
| One of the first decisions you will need to make if | | | | directions for cleaning the umbilical cord, which |
| you have a baby boy is whether or not to have | | | | usually consist of using a cotton ball and alcohol. |
| him circumcised. If you're like most new parents | | | | After a couple of weeks the stump will dry up |
| this is one of the last things you've thought about | | | | and fall off. Once this happens you can begin using |
| throughout the pregnancy. Now you're faced with | | | | that baby bath you've been waiting to try out. If |
| making the decision whether to have him | | | | anything seems odd or if the stump appears to |
| circumcised or not. What do you do? Circumcision | | | | be infected contact your baby's doctor for |
| is one of those things that can have several | | | | instructions. |
| health benefits for your child but not something | | | | One of the biggest fears of all new parents is |
| that is absolutely necessary. | | | | SIDS or crib death. No one knows exactly why |
| If you choose to have your son circumcised you | | | | this occurs in some infants but it's a real concern |
| can rest assured that it will not cause any serious | | | | and something you should be aware of. Studies |
| emotional trauma that will effect him for life. | | | | have shown that some infants are more |
| However, some of the benefits include lowering | | | | susceptible to SIDS than others. These include |
| his risk for urinary tract infections and greatly | | | | premature babies, females and minorities. Infants |
| reducing the risks of penile cancer. You may want | | | | of young single mothers and newborns in a home |
| to take a little time before you're ready to | | | | with smokers are at high risk for crib death. Don't |
| delivery to learn more about circumcision so you | | | | be misled by the myth that you can reduce the |
| can make a good informed decision for your new | | | | risk of SIDS by sleeping with your infant, it's only |
| son. | | | | a myth. In fact, studies have shown this can |
| Many new parents-to-be don't understand what a | | | | increase the chances of your baby having SIDS. |
| caesarian is and why it may be necessary. | | | | It's recommended that you place your infant on |
| Sometimes, there will be complications during the | | | | his or her back when sleeping to help reduce the |
| delivery and when this happens it may be | | | | danger of SIDS. |
| necessary to have a caesarian. There are a | | | | New parents are faced with many questions and |
| number of different types of complications that | | | | concerns that may seem overwhelming. These |
| can arise such as the baby not being in the | | | | are just a few of the main problems new parents |
| correct position or you may not go into labor on | | | | must deal with. If you have any questions before |
| your own and it's unsafe to wait any longer. If | | | | or after your baby is born, don't hesitate to talk |
| you're at high risk your doctor should discuss the | | | | with your doctor, a family member or a friend. |
| possibility of having a caesarian during your office | | | | The better you understand how to deal with the |
| visits. However, keep in mind, sometimes it may | | | | problems you face the easier the transition to |
| be a last minute decision and something that must | | | | parenthood will be. No question is too small or |
| be done fast in order to protect you or your | | | | unimportant to ask when it concerns your new |
| baby. | | | | baby. |