What is the difference between “baby blues”, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), the baby blues can happen in the days right after childbirth and normally go away within a few days to a week.

A new mother can sudden experience mood swings, sadness, crying spells, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, and feel irritable, restless, anxious, and lonely. Symptoms are not severe and treatment isn’t needed. But there are things you can do to help your spouse feel better. Make sure she naps when the baby does Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness.

The difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues is that postpartum depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps her from functioning well for a longer period of time. Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support groups, and medicines are things that can help. Postpartum psychosis is known to be rare.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), it occurs in 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric problem called schizoaffective disorder are known to have a higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings, from depression to irritability to euphoria.

Adenovirus, what's that?

Adenoviruses are viruses affecting both humans and animals and were initially isolated in human adenoids ( tonsils ) — hence the name. The infections caused by these viruses tend to cause illnesses mainly in your toddlers’ respiratory system. Children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years are most commonly susceptible to these infections.

The common cold is the most typical example of an upper respiratory tract infection. A pharyngoconjunctival fever involves sore throat, red eyes with fever. This is another commonly occurring adenoviral infection.

Other adenoviral infections may include:

• Sore throat


• Ear infections


• Tonsillitis


• Conjunctivitis

Your toddlers and the virus

Toddlers spend their time touching their mouths, noses and eyes throughout the day. They can often be observed running around with runny noses and afterwards, suffering from occasional fevers. The two causes are not unrelated—the one leads to the other. This is because viruses tend to survive on surfaces which your toddlers touch and easily enter their bodies through contamination.

Preventive measures:

• Make sure kids cover their noses when they sneeze and cough.


• Wash their hands before and after play and otherwise as frequently as possible.


• Wash the surfaces they come in contact with — avoid contamination.

Treatments

It is important to remember that antibiotics are not useful in this situation. Although there is no cure for common cold, there are ways of making your toddlers comfortable and relieving them of their symptoms with the help of the following techniques.

• Moisturizing nasal drops


• Decongestants


• Cough suppressants


• Giving them plenty of fluids to drink

Constipation: How Can You Protect Your Baby from the Pain?

Constipation is defined as difficulties in bowel movements characterized by hard or firm stools and irregular or infrequent bowel movement. It is labeled chronic if the symptoms are present for more than two weeks.

Causes

The causes of constipation in infants and toddlers include:

• Change from breast milk to formulas


• Insufficient intake of fluid


• Low fiber diet


• Metabolic disorders


• Cow's milk or any other ingredient in the child's food


• Certain medications

Symptoms

Here are some symptoms of constipation seen in young children:

• No bowel movement in three days


• Stool is hard and looks like small pebbles or is large in diameter


• Gas formation in the stomach


• Pain and discomfort with passage of stool


• Leakage of liquid stool into the child's underwear or diaper

You should call the doctor immediately if the following are noted:

• Blood in the baby's stool


• Stomach ache


• Fever


• Vomiting


• Constipation despite 3 days of home care

Treatment

The following methods may be used to reduce constipation:

• For infants older than six months, a high-fiber diet can be introduced. Increase the child's intake of barley, oatmeal, vegetables especially peas, fruit, and other foods that are rich in fiber.


• For infants between four to six months, drinking 2-4 ounces of water or diluted fresh fruit juices day may work.


• Avoid honey, infant mineral oil, cow's milk, and syrup.


• Remember also that a BRAT diet (Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast), which is good for diarrhea, has a worsening effect for constipation.

If nothing works, it is important to consult your doctor immediately.

Baby Cold - How to Prevent Your Baby from Cold

Common cold is simply an infection that affects the nose and respiratory tracts. More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold. Babies, in particular, are more vulnerable, because their immune systems are not completely developed. Most colds are not dangerous, and usually last only a week. Colds that last longer than a week should be treated by a health professional. A cold may lead to pneumonia or other serious illnesses, especially in babies younger than three months.
 
Symptoms
 
Children with a common cold may display one of the following symptoms:

• Runny nose


• Low-grade fever


• Sneezing


• Coughing


• Watery eyes

Treatment
 
There is no cure for the common cold. However, here are some ways you can help your baby feel better:

• Wash your hands regularly. Keep the baby's toys, pillows, and bed clean.


• Let your baby drink plenty of water, juice, or other suitable liquids to keep your baby hydrated. Breastfeeding is the best option at this age, since human milk contains the necessary antibodies to fight infections.


• Clear the baby's nasal passage with a rubber-bulb syringe.


• Keep the air in your baby's room moist by running a humidifier or vaporizer.


• Doctors may suggest giving a medication such as acetaminophen to reduce discomfort to babies older than three months but always double-check dosage since the doctor will calculate on exact weight and age of your baby.

Call the doctor immediately in the following cases:

• When the cold symptoms persist for more than two weeks


• When the child displays symptoms such as wheezing, panting, or other breathing difficulties


• When the child complains of pain in the ears


• When a fever higher than 100F persists for more than three days


• When the sputum is tinged with blood

Parent's Participation in Children's Education

You cannot expect the school district to bear sole responsibility for the teaching of a child. Education is a process, so stick with your child each step along the way to ensure a smooth transition through the years.

Know your child
According to Betsy Combier, administrator for the parentadvocates.org website, knowing your child is the first step. Take an active role in recognizing what your child's strengths and weaknesses are and knowing how he learns best. If you know what excites and frustrates your child from a learning perspective, then that information can serve as a point of reference for his teacher. Combier recommends sharing these feelings along with him. "Get in there," she says. "Get excited right along with him."

Be active
To maximize your child's education, it is not enough just to have your voice heard during an annual parent-teacher conference. Teachers want your help in educating your child through his successes and failures. Reach out to your child's teacher with phone calls and e-mails. If you two maintain a cooperative relationship from the onset of the school year then if and when an issue arises you can face it together as a team. A joint understanding and clear communication are usually enough to help solve any problem.

Success benchmarks
No classroom environment is perfect. One teacher cannot address each student's needs. Furthermore, since education is not one-size-fits-all, a high grade does not necessarily mean that your child is being challenged. Parents should ask teachers about course benchmarks and their child 's achievements so they are updated.

Don't forget that other parents can provide a wealth of information as well. All of you have expertise in different areas so share what you know. Also, do your part to know what's expected of your child in each grade by researching educational resources online and reading the newspaper to stay current.

Curriculum check
If you are interested in checking out your child's curriculum, approach the situation from a curiosity perspective so you're not on the offensive when talking to your child's teacher. Do not be afraid to ask questions and know there is always more work that can be done at home. You can enhance your child's education by using library resources as well.

Communication tactics
Always act with integrity because your children are watching. Be respectful of the teacher's boundaries since it is his classroom. Set up appointments beforehand and keep careful notes of any communication you have. If any issues escalate that you and the teacher or the guidance counselor cannot resolve then consider reaching out to the principal or another administrator.

No matter what your parenting style, the key to a successful academic experience is to partner with your children in their education.