Conquering Diaper Rash

Need some tips to overcome diaper rash?  Nursing for Women’s Health Journal recently published an article* with some great tips to prevent and cure diaper rash.  This post will cover non-infectious diaper rash, also known as irritant or chaffing dermatitis.  If your baby has diaper rash that will not go away, there is skin breakdown, or you would use words like crusty or vesicles to describe the diaper rash, it is best to seek medical treatment.

This article suggests an ABCDE approach. 

Air – let your baby air out when possible.  After baths or diaper changes letting the diaper area dry before putting back on a diaper is a great time to expose your baby’s skin to the air.  If your baby isn’t yet a mover, you could try laying them on an absorbent diaper changing mat to hang out for a bit, just in case they do let loose!

Barrier – If your baby has frequent rashes you may want to consider diaper rash cream to be part of your diaper routine.  The best creams contain zinc and petroleum for protection.  Though you are welcome to try alternatives.  The key to a barrier is to lay it on thick, covering much of the diaper area or at least where the rash typically appears.  The cream should NOT be removed during diaper changes, but simply wiped as you would normally.  No scrubbing.  This may be a little more difficult to do when poop is present, and a very wet wipe may help in this case.  If your baby currently has a rash, you would follow the same tips as the preventative method, taking much care to cover the rash areas thickly with cream.

Cleansing – Always be gentle during a diaper change, avoiding scrubbing to remove diaper contents.  If you have a particularly messy diaper, a soak in the tub might be your best option, especially if baby frequently suffers from diaper rash.  If commercial wipes are used, it is best to avoid perfumes.  If made at home wipes are used, choosing a soft clothe is best.  

Diapering – There is not enough evidence to recommend cloth vs disposable diapers, but what is known is, frequent diaper changes are important.  Diapers should be changed every 1 to 3 hours during the day.  Crazy talk, I know.  Let’s say your child does not have a rash, and you change their diaper every 3 hours, really that is only 4-5 times during the day.  Not terrible.  What if you are in prevention mode?  Aiming for every 2 hours is certainly reasonable.  And if you are trying to cure, I would change the baby’s diaper each time it seems wet.  The types of diaper rashes we are talking about here should clear up in about 3 days.  Easy?  No.  Doable?  Probably yes.  A few other tips would be to change the diaper once in the middle of the night if you are clearing a rash, but certainly immediately before bed and upon waking.  And always change a poop as soon as it is detected!

Education- The E stands for educating parents, and is written from a health care providers standpoint, so for “E” I thought I would add a few more educational that came from the article and a few of my own.

-       Wash hands before and after diaper changes, this is particularly important if there is any skin breakdown

-       Try changing diaper brand, type (cloth vs disposable), or size if your baby is having recurrent rashes

-       Try changing wipes brand or type of wipes.  Look for ones without alcohol (huggies and pampers both have alcohol free versions, seventh generation seems to be completely alcohol free)

-       Wipe front to back (in both genders)

-       Pat the diaper area dry before replacing the diaper

Anything you have found particularly helpful in clearing up a diaper rash?

*article reference: Clinicians Discuss Diaper Dermatitis. (2015). Nursing for Women's Health, 19(5), 422-429.

A little pause

While there has been a little pause in the the blog/business.  We are ready to roll.  We look forward to further creating a resource for parents in this journey called life!

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Pregnancy and infant loss affects more families than is probably realized.  It is the grief, especially in pregnancy, that often goes unnoticed or perhaps ignored.  Today we remember.  We remember those who may never have had a breath, a heartbeat or a voice, whose lives ended far too soon. 

And to the families who lost their babies, their hopes and dreams, we are so sorry.  We know the words we say will never change your situation or make it all better.  We can only hope you may rest in the comfort of a community who supports you and acknowledges your great loss. 

Today October 15th, we pause on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and we remember. 

Can Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women Eat Honey? Yes!

Finding the reason why it is ok for pregnant and breastfeeding women came from an understanding of why infants should not eat honey.  Let me lead you through what I found.  It was hard to find a single scholarly source of the risks to infants under 12 months, and it took reading a few to have a complete understanding.  This online resource from Kid's Health had the best overview based on all the reading I did. 

All honey carries the risk of being contaminated with spores from a bacteria that causes the illness infant botulism.  The digestive tract of a baby under one year old is immature in several ways.  Infants do not have all the normal flora (healthy bacteria) of an older child or adult to compete with the bacteria spores that cause botulism.  The spores are then able to set up shop in the infant’s digestive tract.  Additionally, the pH and decreased mobility of the infant’s bowel may also place a role in their susceptibility.  

Adult botulism from food ingestion is extremely rare.  The digestive tract of adults and child older than 12 months is able to move the spores out before they can cause harm.  Thus honey is considered safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

While the number of cases of infant botulism remains low, less than 100 per year, avoiding honey is a smart tip to protecting your little one.  Infants do not need honey and avoiding is generally easy.  However, it is good to note that cooking or baking the honey will most likely not destroy the spores (need to boil for 20-30 minutes). 

In addition, after all of my reading, I would probably avoid feeding a baby under 12 months home canned vegetables for the first year of life.  This is not something we routinely eat, so avoiding would be easy for me.  If you do consume home canned vegetables, make sure the cook is following proper canning techniques and it may be best to boil before consuming.  This resource has more details

http://goo.gl/UkSJY6

Pregnant or breastfeeding?  Eat your honey!  Under the age of one?  Steer clear!  If you do find out your little one consumed honey, don’t panic.  While the risk is low, I would keep my eye out for any concerning symptoms mentioned in the first link, as it could take up to one month for symptoms to present. 

Pregnant and Breastfeeding: Is it Safe?

Pregnant?  Still breastfeeding?  You may be getting a lot of mixed messages about what is best for you, your child, and your growing baby.  The Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine Working Group on Breastfeeding thought this topic was of enough interest/importance to dedicate a workshop to it during their national conference in 2013.  Their review can be found here. 

Their basic conclusion was breastfeeding during pregnancy could be promoted, especially during the 1st and 2nd trimesters.   Many of the so-called “risks” of breastfeeding during pregnancy were not supported by research.  There is little, if any risk of miscarriage, preterm labor or growth restriction in the general population of developed countries.  Interestingly, it is noted that only developed countries seem to be concerned with the nourishment of the nursing child (older than 6 months) during this time. 

So, what’s a gal to do?  Essentially, keep breastfeeding!  It's safe!  Additionally, though it seems like there is little to worry over, it might not be a bad idea to keep a closer eye on your diet and hydration.  Babies, both nursing and in utero, will take what they need, so stay fueled mama, that you aren’t left in deficit. 

Many moms use pregnancy as a time to wean their older child.  Beyond concerns for supply, many moms find breastfeeding uncomfortable during pregnancy.  Did you experience breastfeeding while pregnant?  Did pregnancy make you anxious to wean your older child?  I am sure other women in similar situations would love to hear your experience. 

Lamaze App Recommendation

I love my smart phone.  The ease of the camera, availability of email, and the alarm clock are just a few of my favorite features.  But I am an app under-user.  Is under-user a word?

Lamaze International has created an app for your parenting needs.  The app usability begins during pregnancy and continues during early parenting.  Some of the features include daily tips, a contraction timer, and a diaper log, to name a few.  While I haven't had the chance to use it in real time, it's one I have started recommending to parents. 

Here is the link to Lamaze's webpage about the app. 

Have you used the app?  What are your favorite features?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Welcome to Birth Avenue

Welcome to Birth Avenue!  We have had the wonderful opportunity of working with pregnant women, new moms and their families throughout our nursing careers.  During this time, we have seen a huge need, common amongst pregnant women a desire to be part of their care. However, they often feel their only option is to trust the medical system.  On the flip side, women can become easily overwhelmed with information during their pregnancy, but struggle to know what is the “right” answer.

After too many conversations that ended with, “I wish I had a way to let women know...” Birth Avenue was born.  We want to provide current information that is based in research to help you make the best decisions for you and your family.  We also know that parenting can be intense, and hope to lighten the mood with a blend of more lighthearted posts. 

So journey with us down Birth Avenue, as we work to be a guide during your parenting years!