Read This

Your Child Temper

2006-09-13T09:01:00.000+07:00

Source:KCM

Agar tidak salah menangani balita Anda, ada baiknya Anda mengenali 5 jenis temperamen si kecil.

Little Angel
Balita yang masuk dalam kategori ini adalah idaman banyak orangtua. Biasanya si kecil sangat mudah menerima lingkungan baru dan gampang merasa nyaman, jika bertemu kerabat atau famili yang baru pertama ditemuinya, ia tidak rewel. Ciri lainnya adalah ia lebih cepat belajar bahasa dibanding balita lain.

Ketika ia menginginkan sesuatu yang tidak bisa dimilikinya, Anda tidak akan kesulitan mengalihkan perhatiannya sebelum emosinya naik. Dan ketika ia sedang rewel, Anda juga bisa membujuknya dengan mudah, sangat jarang balita ini masuk dalam periode tantrum. Si kecil juga senang bermain. Singkatnya, balita ini mudah diatur, bahkan ketika diajak bepergian ia bisa menyesuaikan diri dengan cepat.

Textbook
Semua proses kembang dan tumbuhnya, persis waktunya seperti apa kata buku. Berguling umur 4 bulan, tumbuh gigi ketika berusia 7 bulan, dan sebagainya. Si kecil tidak akan rewel ketika Anda membawanya ke acara sosial seperti pertemuan keluarga meski pada awalnya ia malu-malu saat bertemu orang asing.

Ia lebih nyaman jika berada di lingkungan yang dikenalnya, tetapi jika semuanya sudah diatur dan Anda menyiapkan mentalnya, ia tidak akan kesulitan untuk beradaptasi. Misalnya sebelum masuk play group, Anda sebaiknya menceritakan suasana sekolahnya, apa saja yang akan dipelajari, dan sebagainya, sehingga ia tidak kesulitan menerima lingkungan barunya. Balita dalam kategori ini menyukai rutinitas dan lebih suka jika semuanya sudah dijadwalkan.

Sensitive
Balita dalam kategori ini memiliki sifat yang sensitif dan lambat beradaptasi dengan situasi baru. Ia lebih menyukai dunia yang sudah dikenalnya. Ketika sedang menikmati suatu kegiatan, ia tidak suka diganggu. Misalnya ketika ia asyik dengan boneka atau mobil-mobilannya dan Anda memintanya untuk berhenti, ia akan marah dan menangis.

Balita ini sering disebut sebagai "si pemalu". Dan memang demikianlah sifatnya. Dalam hal bersosialisasi ia memang kurang pandai, apalagi jika ia merasa merasa tertekan di antara teman-teman barunya. Terkadang ia juga susah untuk berbagi.

Sebenarnya ia lebih suka melakukan sesuatu sendiri, untuk itu sebaiknya Anda memberi kepercayaan padanya karena hal itu bisa membuatnya belajar mandiri. Ia adalah anak yang memiliki perasaan peka dan berhati-hati dan serta banyak pertimbangan dalam menghadapi masalah. Balita yang memiliki sifat peka dan sensitif biasanya berbakat dalam hal seni.

Enthusiasm
Si kecil sangat aktif bergerak secara fisik dan cenderung mengalami temper tantrum (marah yang sulit dikendalikan). Ia suka bergaul dan punya rasa ingin tahu yang besar dibanding balita lain. Balita ini suka petualangan ; ia akan melakukan apa yang disukainya dan tidak suka dilarang. Ia sangat bangga jika berhasil melakukan atau mengerjakan sesuatu.

Sebagai orangtua, Anda sebaiknya memberi peraturan yang jelas untuk diketahuinya, mana yang boleh dan mana yang tidak. Sekali ia menangis, susah untuk menghentikannya, bahkan ia punya banyak energi untuk terus menangis. Saat bermain bersamanya, Anda bisa menanamkan ’aturan’ agar ia tidak bersikap semaunya. Anda juga harus kreatif menemukan permainan agar si kecil bisa menyalurkan energinya. Si semangat berbakat untuk menjadi pemimpin dan akan giat berusaha untuk mendapatkan apa yang menarik baginya.

HotHead
Ia adalah anak yang keras kepala, pemarah dan ingin semua sesuai kehendaknya. Jika Anda memaksanya melakukan sesuatu sebelum ia siap, ia akan menolak dan meledak. Jika Anda mengajarinya melakukan sesuatu, ia akan menepis tangan Anda. Karena ia suka mengerjakan sesuatu dengan caranya, ia lebih suka dibiarkan sendiri. Padahal, sebagai balita ia belum terampil mengerjakan banyak hal, tetapi ia cenderung sok tahu, akibatnya ia sering frustasi dan marah.

Ketika sedang marah, ia akan menangis sekeras-kerasnya. Karena ia agak susah mengekspresikan perasannya, maka ia jadi pemarah dan suka memaksa. Balita ini lebih suka melakukan sesuatu sesuai moodnya. Semakin Anda paksa, semakin keras kepala ia. Meski begitu, balita pemarah memiliki ’jiwa lebih tua’, mereka biasanya kreatif, banyak akal dan terkadang bijaksana, seolah sudah pernah mengalami sebelumnya.

Tips for prevention and relief

2006-09-01T14:00:00.000+07:00

Drink plenty of fluids. The first thing to consider when dealing with constipation is whether your child is getting enough fluids. Fluids of all kinds are important, although water is best.

Consume foods that are rich in fiber. The bulk in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, such as wheat bread and bran cereals, is beneficial. So are prune and pear juices. Diets high in fat, sugar, protein or dairy products may aggravate constipation. In general, foods from animal sources promote constipation, and foods from plant sources do the opposite. Because it can be difficult for parents to know what or how much their children are eating in school or child-care centers, the diet at home becomes all the more important.

Pay attention to your child's bowel habits. Encourage your child to go to the bathroom as soon as there's an urge to defecate. If your child is constipated, ask him or her to sit on the toilet after meals. It also may be helpful for you to record his or her bowel movements on a calendar or diary.

Encourage daily exercise. Just getting up and moving around is one of the best ways to conquer constipation. Staying active helps the digestive system flush waste from the body more quickly.

Help your child relax and loosen up. For constipation, doctors may recommend certain muscle relaxation techniques. For example, young children's feet don't usually reach the floor while they're on the toilet. Placing a footstool underneath their feet may take pressure off their pelvic bone and relax their muscles.

Laxatives. A doctor may also recommend a laxative or stool softener if improvements in diet and toilet habits don't ease your child's constipation. Check with your doctor before giving a laxative to your child.

Promote thorough wiping and cleanliness. It's important to keep the anal area clean to prevent skin irritation, which can lead to pain during defecation. If the anal area is sore, tell your child to clean it with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Soap and other cleaning agents, such as bubble bath, may cause further irritation.

Talking with your child. Your child may be reluctant to discuss bowel habits, particularly after age 4 or 5, when all children become more modest. However, it's important to reassure your child, whatever age he or she happens to be, that mild constipation is bound to occur at one time or another.

It's reasonable to wonder how often your child should be having bowel movements, but there's no definite answer. As a general guideline, though, at least three normal bowel movements a week is probably just fine.

When to call the doctor

In cases of persistent constipation, your doctor may need to rule out an underlying cause. Give your doctor a call if your child:

Goes over 10 days without a bowel movement
Has had recurrent episodes of constipation since birth
Has difficulty participating in daily activities because of frequent bouts of constipation
Develops anal tears or hemorrhoids
Has to strain in order to expel stool
Has blood in or on the stool
Has diarrhea, cramping or stool leakage along with constipation

Remain compassionate
Constipation is very common in children, and it can happen at any age. Frustrating as the problem may be, parents should do their best to keep it in perspective — it certainly shouldn't cost you any sleep. With your patience and support, your child will establish regular bowel habits in time.

Children and constipation: Ways to cope and when to worry

2006-09-01T13:24:00.000+07:00

source: Mayoclicic

Does your child put off going to the bathroom because he or she is busy doing more important things? Or is your child avoiding the bathroom for fear of a painful bowel movement? This may be a sign of constipation.
Parents often think their worries about their children's bathroom habits will end with the final diaper. But successful toilet training doesn't prevent occasional troubles with bowel movements. Constipation is among the most common.

To the rescue
If constipation is persistent, it can be difficult to manage. Fortunately, parents can detect warning signs and take early corrective action. So just as in those diaper-changing days, it's mom or dad to the rescue again.
Constipation refers to infrequency or difficulty in passing stool, or the passing of hard stool at every bowel movement for two weeks or longer. If your child is constipated, he or she may have the following signs and symptoms:
• Abdominal pain, gas and cramps.
• Lack of appetite.
• Increased irritability.
• Soiled underwear. Some children, out of embarrassment, might hide or throw away their underwear. A large amount of stool leakage in your child's underwear may be a sign that your child has encopresis, a more serious type of constipation that you should alert your doctor about.
• Large or blood-streaked stools.
• More frequent urination because of pressure on the bladder.

What's the cause?
Here's a list of things that commonly contribute to constipation in children. Often, two or more of these factors in combination exacerbate the problem.
• Eating mainly low-fiber, high-fat and high-sugar foods.
• Drinking too little water.
• Ignoring the urge to go to the bathroom.
• Having a condition such as hypothyroidism or an illness that reduces hunger and thirst. Conditions associated with reduced muscle tone also may cause constipation.
• Taking a tricyclic antidepressant medication, such as doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan) and nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), or taking iron supplements.
• Being inactive.

Children are most likely to become constipated when their routines change — for example, when they shift from pureed to solid foods or start school. Even changes in season can disrupt your child's bowel habits. To recognize the problem early, monitor your child's bowel movements during periods of adjustment to any changes.

Tips for prevention and relief

Coughs, Colds and Antibiotics

2006-09-01T09:38:00.000+07:00

JAMA & ARCHIVES JOURNALS, American Medical Association

The common cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, occurs more than 1 billion times each year in the United States. Most adults can expect to have four to six colds per year. Children often have more than nine colds per year, especially if they attend child-care facilities, where they are exposed to other children with colds. The May 28, 2003, issue of JAMA includes an article about upper respiratory tract infections and proper use of antibiotics.

Cold Facts
Colds are caused by viruses. Cold viruses can be spread through the air by droplets from a sneeze or cough but are primarily spread by touching your nose, eyes or mouth after contact (for example, shaking hands) with someone who has the cold virus. You do not catch a cold from exposure to cold weather or by being chilled or overheated. Two or three days after infection with a cold virus, symptoms develop. Runny nose, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, scratchy throat, mild fatigue, slight fever and dry cough are all symptoms of a common cold. You are infectious (can spread the cold) to other people before you know you have a cold.

Preventing the Spread of Colds

Wash your hands frequently, especially if you or your children have a cold.
Avoid close contact with anybody who has a cold.
Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze from a cold and throw the tissue away immediately.
Wash your hands after blowing your nose or sneezing into your hand.
Stay at home and rest if you have a cold. Your body needs rest to recover from a cold, and you can avoid giving the cold to others.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics are not useful for treating colds because they only kill bacteria, not viruses. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major factor in causing bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics that previously were able to kill them. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem around the world. Bacteria with antibiotic resistance can cause serious illness and death.

Prevent Antibiotic Resistance

Do not ask your doctor for antibiotics if you have a cold.
If antibiotics are prescribed for a bacterial infection, take them exactly as you are instructed. It is important to take the full course of antibiotics.
Do not share antibiotics with anyone else.
Do not take antibiotics as a preventive measure against bacterial infection when you have a cold. This does not help you prevent a bacterial infection.

Usually cold symptoms last for one to two weeks, although chest colds (bronchitis) typically last two to three weeks. If your symptoms are not improving after one to two weeks, you may have an allergy, a complication of a cold, or some other reason for your symptoms. You should contact your doctor if your cold symptoms do not improve after two weeks, or anytime during your illness if you develop a high fever; have difficulty breathing or swallowing; or experience severe headache, severe fatigue or a rash.

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

2006-08-31T16:01:00.000+07:00

It's not always easy to recognize when a child has been abused. Children who have been mistreated are often afraid to tell anyone because they think they will be blamed or that no one will believe them. Parents also tend to overlook symptoms because they don't want to face the truth. This is a serious mistake. A child who has been abused needs special support and treatment as early as possible. The longer he continues to be abused or is left to deal with the situation on his own, the less likely he is to make a full recovery.

The best way to check for signs of abuse is to be alert to any unexplainable changes in your child's body or behavior. Don't conduct a formal "examination" unless you have reason for suspicion, as this may make the child fearful, but do look further if you notice any of the following:

Signs of Physical Abuse

Any injury (bruise, burn, fracture, abdominal or head injury) that cannot be explained.

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Fearful behavior (nightmares, depression, unusual fears, attempts to run away) Abdominal pain, bedwetting, urinary tract infection, genital pain or bleeding, sexually transmitted disease .
Extreme sexual behavior that seems inappropriate for the child's age.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Sudden change in self-confidence.
Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause .
Abnormal fears, increased nightmares.
Attempts to run away.

Signs of Emotional Neglect

Failure to gain weight (especially in infants).
Desperately affectionate behavior.
Voracious appetite and stealing of foodLong-Term Consequences of Abuse and Neglect.

In most cases, children who are abused or neglected suffer greater emotional than physical damage. A child who is severely mistreated may become depressed or develop suicidal, withdrawn or violent behavior. As he gets older, he may use drugs or alcohol, try to run away, refuse discipline or abuse others. As an adult, he may develop marital and sexual difficulties, depression or suicidal behavior.

Not all abuse victims have severe reactions. Usually, the younger the child, the longer the abuse continues, and the closer the child's relationship with the abuser, the more serious the emotional damage will be.

When to Call the Pediatrician for Abuse

If you suspect your child has been abused, get help immediately through your pediatrician or a local child protective agency. Physicians are legally obligated to report all suspected cases of abuse or neglect to state authorities. Your pediatrician also will detect and treat any medical injuries or ailments, recommend a therapist and provide necessary information to investigators. The doctor also may testify in court if necessary to obtain legal protection for the child or criminal prosecution of a sexual abuse suspect. Criminal prosecution is rarely sought in mild physical abuse cases but is likely in those involving sexual abuse.

Your child will benefit from the services of a qualified mental health professional if he has been abused. You and other members of the family may be advised to seek counseling so that you'll be able to provide the support and comfort your child needs. If someone in your family is responsible for the abuse, a mental health professional may be able to successfully treat that person as well.

If your child has been abused, you may be the only person who can help him. There is no good reason to delay reporting your suspicions of abuse. Denying the problem will only make the situation worse, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked and decreasing your child's chance for a full recovery.

Child Abuse and Neglect

2006-08-31T15:56:00.000+07:00

Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult often synonymous with the term child maltreatment or the term child abuse and neglect.

source : American Academy of Pediatrics

The news is so full of reports about child mistreatment that you can't help but wonder how safe your child really is. While it's a mistake to become overprotective and make your child fearful, it is important to recognize the actual risks and familiarize yourself with the signs of abuse. More than 2.5 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year. Of these, 35 percent involve physical abuse, 15 percent involve sexual abuse and 50 percent involve neglect.

Child abuse is common. Studies show that one in four girls and one in eight boys will be sexually abused before they are 18 years old. About one in 20 children is physically abused each year. Sexual abuse includes inappropriate touching of a child's breasts or genitalia, as well as someone's exposing their genitalia to a child. Physical abuse involves injuring a child's body by burning them, beating them or breaking their bones. Because a bruise indicates that body tissue has been damaged and blood vessels have broken, any discipline method that leaves bruises is not appropriate.

Child neglect can include physical neglect (withholding food, clothing, shelter or other physical necessities), emotional neglect (withholding love, comfort or affection) or medical neglect (withholding needed medical care).

Treating Diarrhea and Dehydration

2006-08-30T16:54:00.000+07:00

This article is provided by Medem, Inc.

Most children should continue to eat a normal diet including formula or milk while they have mild diarrhea. Breastfeeding should continue. If your baby seems bloated or gassy after drinking cow's milk or formula, call your pediatrician to discuss a temporary change in diet. Special fluids are not usually necessary for children with mild illness.

Children with moderate diarrhea can be cared for easily at home with close supervision, special fluids, and your pediatrician's advice. Your pediatrician will recommend the amount and length of time that special fluids should be used.

Later, a normal diet can be resumed. Some children are not able to tolerate cow's milk when they have diarrhea and it may be temporarily removed from the diet by your pediatrician. Breastfeeding should continue. Special fluids have been designed to replace water and salts lost during diarrhea. These are extremely helpful for the home management of mild to moderately severe illness.

Do not try to prepare these special fluids yourself. It is too easy to get confused by some of these complex recipes. You could accidentally make a bad fluid for your baby. Use a fluid that is made by one of the reputable manufacturers.

The three most widely available products that you will find in nearly every pharmacy are:

Pedialyte (Ross Laboratories)
Infalyte (Mead Johnson Nutritionals)
ReVital (PTS Labs)

Other brands of special fluids are available and equally effective. Many drug stores have their own generic brands of special fluids. Ask the pharmacist for assistance. If a child is not vomiting, these fluids can be used in very generous amounts until the child starts making normal amounts of urine again. If your child develops severe diarrhea, he may require IV fluids in the emergency department for several hours to correct dehydration. Usually hospitalization is not necessary. Immediately seek your pediatrician's advice for the appropriate care if symptoms of severe illness occur.

While this illness runs its course, here are some general do's and don'ts that you should keep in mind:

DO:

Watch for signs of dehydration which occur when a child loses too much fluid and becomes dried out. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, no tears when baby cries, high fever, dry mouth, weight loss, extreme thirst, listlessness, and sunken eyes.
Keep your pediatrician informed if there is any significant change in how your child is behaving.
Report if your child has blood in his stool.
Report if your child develops a high fever (more than 102ºF or 39ºC).
Continue to feed your child if she is not vomiting. You may have to give your child smaller amounts of food than normal or give your child foods that do not further upset his or her stomach.
Use diarrhea replacement fluids that are specifically made for diarrhea if your child is thirsty.

DON'T:

Try to make special salt and fluid combinations at home unless your pediatrician instructs you and you have the proper instruments.
Prevent the child from eating if she is hungry.
Use boiled milk or other salty broth and soups.
Use "anti-diarrhea" medicines unless prescribed by your pediatrician.

Diarrhea

2006-08-30T16:19:00.000+07:00

by Robert Steele, MD

(source: http://parenting.ivillage.com)

What is it?
Infectious diarrheal disease or acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common illnesses in childhood. This can be quite a significant problem for children in daycare. There are many causes of diarrhea, most of which have no specific treatment. Rotavirus, one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis, falls into this category.

What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is profuse, watery bowel movements. Other symptoms your child may experience include fever, rash and vomiting for the first 24 to 48 hours. Diarrhea caused by viruses (the most common type of diarrhea) may last up to 14 days.

What can/should be done at home
Because there is no medication that can cure it, treating the symptoms is the mainstay of therapy. The main symptom to be concerned with is dehydration. The amount of fluid and salts lost in the diarrhea can be significant, and thus both must be replaced.
Remember that treatment is not geared to make the diarrhea stop. Therefore, do not become distressed that the diarrhea has not gone away after a few days. It may last up to two weeks.

Replace fluids with a substance that contains both water and salts. The best thing is to continue a regular diet. However, if vomiting is an issue, a simple salt-containing solution, such as Pedialyte or Infalyte, should be started. Substances like Gatorade have salts, but they have a lot of sugar as well, which can make the diarrhea worse. However, as a parent who has tried to get my children to take this salty fluid, I can tell you some children will absolutely refuse to take it. Therefore, you may have to compromise and use any liquid they will take.

The most important thing to remember: Getting your child back onto solid foods (or breastmilk or formula) again is the best way to treat the diarrhea. Initially, the vomiting will hold you back from advancing to the regular diet. But once this has subsided, you will be able to go back to regular food. Not only does this provides the salts the body is lacking, but it also nourishes the cells that have been damaged by the virus. Study after study has shown that feeding a regular diet as soon as possible decreases the length of time diarrhea lasts.

Feses Bayi

2006-08-30T14:18:00.000+07:00

Kenali Warna Feses Bayi
(Source : nakita.com)

Frekuensi yang sering bukan berarti pencernaannya terganggu. Waspadai bila warnanya putih atau disertai darah. Kegiatan buang air besar pada bayi kadang membuat khawatir orang tua. Warna, bentuk dan polanya yang berbeda dengan orang dewasa inilah yang kerap menimbulkan kecemasan. Sebelum kita menjadi cemas, berikut penjelasan dr. Waldi Nurhamzah, Sp.A, tentang feses bayi.

Warna

Umumnya, warna-warna tinja pada bayi dapat dibedakan menjadi kuning atau cokelat, hijau, merah, dan putih atau keabu-abuan. Normal atau tidaknya sistem pencernaan bayi, dapat dideteksi dari warna-warna tinja tersebut.

Kuning

Warna kuning diindikasikan sebagai feses yang normal. Kata Waldi, warna feses bayi sangat dipengaruhi oleh susu yang dikomsumsinya. "Bila bayi minum ASI secara eksklusif, tinjanya berwarna lebih cerah dan cemerlang atau didominasi warna kuning, karenanya disebut golden feces. Berarti ia mendapat ASI penuh, dari foremilk (ASI depan) hingga hindmilk (ASI belakang)." Warna kuning timbul dari proses pencernaan lemak yang dibantu oleh cairan empedu. Cairan empedu dibuat di dalam hati dan disimpan beberapa waktu di dalam kandung empedu sampai saatnya dikeluarkan. Bila di dalam usus terdapat lemak yang berasal dari makanan, kandung empedu akan berkontraksi (mengecilkan ukurannya) untuk memeras cairannya keluar. Cairan empedu ini akan memecah lemak menjadi zat yang dapat diserap usus. Sedangkan bila yang diminum susu formula, atau ASI dicampur susu formula, warna feses akan menjadi lebih gelap, seperti kuning tua, agak cokelat, cokelat tua, kuning kecoklatan atau cokelat kehijauan.

Hijau

Feses berwarna hijau juga termasuk kategori normal. Meskipun begitu, warna ini tidak boleh terus-menerus muncul. "Ini berarti cara ibu memberikan ASI-nya belum benar. Yang terisap oleh bayi hanya foremilk saja, sedangkan hindmilk-nya tidak." Kasus demikian umumnya terjadi kalau produksi ASI sangat melimpah. Di dalam payudaranya, ibu memiliki ASI depan (foremilik)dan ASI belakang (hindmilk). Pada saat bayi menyusu, ia akan selalu mengisap ASI depan lebih dulu. Bagian ini mempunyai lebih banyak kandungan gula dan laktosa tapi rendah lemak. Sifatnya yang mudah dan cepat diserap membuat bayi sering lapar kembali. Sedangkan, ASI belakang (hindmilk) akan terisap kalau foremilk yang keluar lebih dulu sudah habis. Hindmilk mengandung banyak lemak. "Lemak ini yang membuat tinja menjadi kuning. "Nah, kalau bayi hanya mendapat foremilk yang mengandung sedikit lemak dan banyak gula, kadang-kadang terjadi perubahan pada proses pencernaan yang akhirnya membuat feses bayi berwarna hijau. Bahkan sering juga dari situ terbentuk gas yang terlalu banyak (kentut melulu), sehingga bayi merasa tak nyaman (kolik). Mestinya yang bagus itu tidak hijau terus, tapi hijau kuning, hijau dan kuning, bergantian. "Ini berarti bayi mendapat ASI yang komplet, dari foremilk sampai hindmilk supaya kandungan gizinya komplet. Nah, ibu harus mengusahakan agar bayinya mendapat foremilk dan hindmilk sekaligus. "Sayangnya, disamping ASI, ibu juga kerap memberikan tambahan susu formula.Sebelum proses menyusunya mencapai hindmilk, anak sudah telanjur diberi susu formula hingga kenyang. Akibatnya, ia hanya mendapat ASI foremilk saja.Waldi menyarankan, "Berikan ASI secara eksklusif. Perbaiki penatalaksanaan pemberiannya agar bayi bisa mendapat foremilk dan hindmilk. "Kiatnya mudah; susui bayi dengan salah satu payudara sampai ASI di situ habis, baru pindah ke payudara berikutnya.

Merah

Warna merah pada kotoran bayi bisa disebabkan adanya tetesan darah yang menyertai. Namun dokter tetap akan melihat, apakah merah itu disebabkan darah dari tubuhnya sendiri atau dari ibunya. Jika bayi sempat mengisap darah ibunya pada proses persalinan, maka pada fesesnya akan ditemukan bercak hitam yang merupakan darah. Umumnya bercak itu muncul selama satu sampai tiga hari. "Jadi, tinggal dites saja, asalnya dari mana? Dari darah ibu atau darah bayi." Bila darah itu tetap muncul pada fesesnya (bisa cair ataupun bergumpal), dan ternyata bukan berasal dari darah ibu, maka perlu diperiksa lebih lanjut. Kemungkinannya hanya dua, yaitu alergi susu formula bila bayi sudah mendapatkannya, dan penyumbatan pada usus yang disebut invaginasi. Dua-duanya butuh penanganan. Kalau ternyata invaginasi, bayi harus segera dioperasi. "Darah ini sangat jarang berasal dari disentri amuba atau basiler, karena makanan bayi, kan, belum banyak ragamnya dan belum makan makanan yang kotor." Kalau penyakitnya serius, biasanya bayi juga punya keluhan lain, seperti perutnya membuncit atau menegang, muntah, demam, rewel dan kesakitan.

Putih/Keabua-abuan

Waspadai segera jika feses bayi yang baru lahir berwarna kuning pucat atau putih keabu-abuan. Baik yang encer ataupun padat. Warna putih menunjukkan gangguan yang paling riskan. Bisa disebabkan gangguan pada hati atau penyumbatan saluran empedu. "Ini berarti cairan empedunya tidak bisa mewarnai tinja, dan ini tidak boleh terjadi karena sudah 'lampu merah'. "Waldi menegaskan, bila bayi sampai mengeluarkan tinja berwarna putih, saat itu juga ia harus dibawa ke dokter. Jangan menundanya sampai berminggu-minggu karena pasti ada masalah serius yang harus diselesaikan sebelum bayi berumur tiga bulan. Sebagai langkah pertama, umumnya dokter akan segera melakukan USG pada hati dan saluran empedunya. "Yang sering terjadi, ibu terlambat membawa bayinya. Dipikirnya tinja ini nantinya akan berubah. Padahal kalau dibiarkan, dan bayinya baru dibawa ke dokter sesudah berumur di atas tiga bulan, saat itu si bayi sudah tidak bisa diapa-apakan lagi karena umumnya sudah mengalami kerusakan hati. Pilihannya tinggal transplantasi hati yang masih merupakan tindakan pengobatan yang sangat mahal di Indonesia."

How to Comfort a Crying Baby

2006-08-30T10:50:00.000+07:00

by Susan Biasella, RN, BSN, LCCE, FACCE
(source : http://parenting.ivillage.com)

All babies cry. And at about two weeks of age, it is common for babies to develop a fussy period in the evening that can last for as long as two hours.
If your baby becomes fussy, what will you do? Try some of the following techniques, or perhaps a combination of them, to soothe your baby. As you offer comfort, pay attention to what your baby is trying to tell you. Through trial and error, and with loving patience, you'll soon discover together which soothing methods work best. Here are some techniques to try:

New Positions

Hold your baby facedown over your forearm with his head at your elbow and your thumb and fingers wrapped around his thigh.
Hold your baby seated in your hand with his back to your chest and your other hand across his chest, wrapping your thumb and fingers around his upper arm.
Hold your baby high over your shoulder so his stomach is being pressed into your shoulder bone.
Cradle your baby in your arms, holding him tummy-to-tummy tightly against you.

Rhythmic Motion

Babies are most comforted at a pace of 60 times each minute, so try these methods:

Walking around.
Rocking vertically by doing deep-knee bends.
Swaying side to side or back and forth while standing up.
Rocking back and forth in a comfortable rocking chair.

Warmth

Swaddle your baby tightly in a receiving blanket.
Hold your baby close to you so she can receive your warmth.
Put a heating pad in your baby's sleep area to warm the sheets before putting her down.
Take out the heating pad and check the temperature of the sheets to be sure they're comfortably warm.
Lay your baby facedown over a wrapped hot-water bottle on your lap.

Soothing Sounds

Speak reassuring words in a soft, low voice.
Hum and sing familiar songs you enjoy.
Make a tape recording of a dishwasher, washing machine, vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer to let your baby hear repeated swooshing sounds. A fan or humidifier in the baby's room can sometimes do the trick, as can a radio tuned to the static between stations.
Play classical, new age, soft rock or soft jazz music. No heavy metal, please! It makes babies nervous.

5 Sites I Love

2006-08-30T10:12:00.000+07:00

1. Yahoo!
2. Google
3. Amazon
4. Wikipedia
5. Blogger