Breastfeeding and H1N1 Swine Flu
Mother and Infant Baby
There is a common concern regarding breastfeeding if a mother or baby has H1N1 swine flu.  Should I breastfeed my baby if I have swine flu?  Should I continue feeding my baby breast milk if he or she has swine flu?  The answer to both is yes.
According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, it is important for mothers to breastfeed, because infants and babies who are not breastfed have a higher chance of hospitalization due to a respiratory illness, especially at the height …

H1N1 Swine Flu NICU
Swine flu (H1N1) in the NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is becoming more and more of a concern for parents with a baby in the Neonatal ICU.  If a mother or father of a baby in the NICU has the swine flu, or normal flu, then certain precautions must be set in place.
If a mom or dad of an NICU baby has H1N1 Swine Flu, then it is almost a certainty that they will not be allowed to visit their baby in the NICU for the duration …

NICU Infant Atelectasis
Infant atelectasis refers to when a newborn baby or premature infant is born without the ability to inflate one (or both) of his or her lungs.  The condition is most common with premature infants, and due to underdeveloped lungs found in neonates, they are commonly placed on a ventilator (breathing machine), to help them breathe.
In the instance where infant atelectasis is caused due to a blockage, the airway can be cleared of blockages by suction, allowing for the lung to expand on its own.

NICU Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate
Cleft Palate is a birth defect and condition where the roof of the mouth and the upper lip do not connect before birth.  The severity of the condition can vary, but infants born with a cleft palate, or cleft lip, may have difficulty eating, and later on in life may face hardships with talking and hearing.
Both defects are generally unmistakable, and treatment is usually surgery to repair the connection between the roof of the mouth and the upper lip.  This is usually done in several stages, …

NICU Neonatal Sepsis
Sepsis in general terms means that there is a critical bacterial infection in the neonate’s system that can cause serious issues, potentially even leading to death.  It can affect many parts of the pretmature infant’s body, including the intestines, lungs, and brain.
The bacterial infection that causes sepsis can originate in a number of places, including the intestines, lungs, or skin.  Because premature infants have extremely weak immune systems, they are particularly vulnerable to bacterial infections.
Life support and life saving procedures commonly associated with premature infants, such as intubations, …

NICU – Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice)
Jaundice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is also called hyperbilirubinemia, meaning that there is a higher than normal amount of bilirubin in the baby’s body.  Bilirubin is a pigment in the blood that makes an infant’s skin look yellow.
What causes jaundice?
When an infant is born, bilirubin is passed through the liver and removed from the infant’s blood, then eliminated when the baby stools.   Jaundice occurs when the liver cannot remove all the bilirubin and it builds up in the blood, causing the skin to look yellow.
In …

NICU Bradycardia
Bradycardia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit refers to the temporary slowing down of an infant’s heart rate.  This can result from several issues, including apnea.  Extra precaution is taken while NICU staff determines the cause of the bradycardia.
Bradycardia is treated by addressing the underlying issue causing the slower heart rate.  Until the cause of the bradycardia is determined, it is unlikely that the infant will be discharged from the NICU.
In the event that the bradycardia is related to a heart defect, the infant may be seen by a …

NICU Apnea
Apnea refers to when and infant, or baby, stops breathing momentarily, causing irregular breathing patterns. In the NICU, when apnea occurs, that means the infant has not taken a breath for 20 seconds or longer. Apnea can happen in shorter spans of time if also accompanied by a bradycardia.
Infants in the NICU are always linked up to monitors, so an alarm will sound if the baby has an apnea spell. This will immediately notify the NICU staff.
Apnea usually is a symptom to a more serious underlying issue.  …

NICU Anemia
Anemia simply means a low red blood cell count.  A NICU infant may have anemia for several reasons, including blood loss and a deficiency of iron in the blood.
To diagnose anemia, the  neonatalogist or physician can order a blood test.  If anemia is confirmed, treatments can include adding an iron supplement to help bring up iron levels in the blood, as well as blood transfusions in more critical cases.
When the NICU is ready to send an infant home who has anemia, it is likely the baby will be sent …

Breastfeeding can pose many questions for parents, so here is a small collection of some of the most often asked breastfeeding concerns.
How do I treat sore, blistered, or bleeding nipples?

Try to change feeding positions with each feed, as this will shift the position of the baby’s mouth.
Try to feed more often, but for shorter periods of time.  The idea is that the infant will not be as hungry, thus will not suck as avidly when going shorter times between feeds.
Apply breast milk to nipples, as this can help heal them.  …