Entering the phase of motherhood is a blessing, which accompanies many responsibilities. The problem occurs when you are unwell and must care for the newborn. At this point, the newborn’s immunity system does not develop and they cannot avert infections. So, caring for the child in such a condition becomes very challenging. But, this does not mean that the responsibilities can be shifted to anyone else in the family. The reason is the unwavering bond a child develops through your motherly touch. Despite such issues, there are exceptional ways that can help you in handling your newborn child.
How to take care of your newborn when you’re sick? (How to care for newborn if I am sick)-
Such information that will help you to take care of yourself while having a newborn baby are as follows:-
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Calling Doctor:
Obviously, treating your sickness is highly important at the time of handling a newborn. You need to call your doctor and get the proper treatment before taking care of the baby. Certainly, no mother would want their child to catch a cold or cough through the infection. It might be hard for you to avoid the child as the nurturing spirit feels unrest. But, you have to cure your sickness to keep the newborn safe. Moreover, the doctor will guide you about the proper ways of handling the newborn in such a situation.
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Family Help:
Taking care of your newborn becomes difficult when the mother is unwell. With a lot of weakness after delivery and followed-up tasks, it becomes difficult to handle the child. In fact, you may not be left with much energy to manage all the matters single-handedly. So, taking the help of other family members can be a good decision. The father can feed the baby with a bottle or change the nappies, and his mother can bathe the child. Since you will not be handling the child, the chances of infection are not there.
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Precautionary Measures:
The most significant aspect is that you should never sneeze on the child’s face. The reason is that the droplets falling off the nose or mouth contain germs, which can infect the baby. Secondly, do not kiss the baby on the face when you are sick. In this way, germs get transferred to the baby. Moreover, the immunity of a newborn baby is weak and prone to infections. Lastly, bottle-feeding the baby with lighter milk powder can be the best option.
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Cleanliness:
For the newborn baby, breastfeeding is an important source of energy. When the mother is sick, there may be chances of infection transfer through it. Wash your hands before breastfeeding the newborn and keep your child safe from infections. Certainly, the energy in the mother’s milk can stop infection in the child’s body. Also, you can use a breast pump to take out the milk and keep it in the feeding bottle. Before doing so, it is necessary to clean the breast area too. Later on, the father can feed the baby without compromising nutrition.
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Reduce Screen Time:
When you are sick, watching too many movies or spending excessive time on the screen can lead to stress. In this condition, your health will deteriorate and you may get sicker. So, it is ideal to reduce your screen time. On the other hand, you can spend time with your baby by playing with them and showing glittery toys. Ideally, children are attracted to bright things and colors, which keeps them happier. By doing so, you can develop a stronger bond with your newborn kid.
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Wearing Mask:
A newborn baby cannot stay away from their mothers much, which increases your responsibility. Even if you are sick, it becomes mandatory to take care of them. You can wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose in this condition. It will save your child from catching germs if you get a cough or cold. In fact, wearing a mask will protect your child from any contamination that may harm the child.
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Getting Vaccinated:
Vaccination is the perfect answer to all the problems as the medicines are given intravenously through syringes. The medicine will spread quickly and cure the disease that has been taking a longer time through allopathy. However, it is important to consult an experienced doctor because they have more knowledge about the medicines to be given. Indeed, the vaccination is meant to cure the disease quickly and you will be healthy enough to take care of your newborn.
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Keeping a Nanny:
Today, keeping a caretaker for your baby has become more like a trend. But, when a mother is sick, this tactic can prove beneficial. Rather, it is considered a necessity for helping mothers handle their newborn kids without worry. When you are ill, the nanny is the best person to care for your newborn, clean, and bottle-feed them.
From feeding to what should be given after 6 months, everything has to be carefully planned. If the mother gets sick during this time, the mother must be cautious. The reason is that a newborn’s body can catch infections quickly compared to grown-up kids as their immunity is in the developmental phase. So, the mothers can get help from other family members or keep a maid to take care of the baby. Moreover, the newborn child’s health matters the most, and preventive measures are needed because of the mother’s sickness.
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You should take extra care while breastfeeding and bottle feed – (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss ‘How to care for newborn if I am sick’
Before breastfeeding your newborn baby you should wash your hands with hand wash so that it will not affect you and your newborn baby’s health. You should avoid sneezing in front of your newborn baby because it can affect your newborn baby. Infection can be carried in droplets from your mouth as well as nose.
You can continue breastfeeding and bottle feeding, but it is very important to take special care of hygiene. The benefits of breastfeeding your baby outweigh the risks, even if you have a fever. However, talk to your partner about this so that the decision is satisfactory to both of you.
Minimize your contact with your cute newborn baby – (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss ‘How to care for newborn if I am sick’
When you have a newborn baby you cannot stop yourself from kissing or holding him/her but you should control your emotions and feelings just because you are sick and when you are not feeling well. It’s always recommended that you should avoid touching your newborn baby when you are sick. Try to avoid contacting your newborn as much as possible so that your newborn baby will not be affected by your illness. As a newborn baby can easily suffer from respiratory syncytial virus and other diseases such as flu so it’s your responsibility to take care of this.
You should set some boundaries for not meeting your newborn while you are suffering from any fever, cold, cough or any other symptoms. You should always wash your hands while dealing with your newborn baby.
Don’t Panic about getting your newborn baby sick – (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss How to care for newborn if I am sick.
It’s very normal that you can feel anxious and start worrying about your little one because your newborn baby can easily be affected while you are already sick and not feeling well. At that time, you should not overthink about little things because it can affect your mental health. As a result, you will not be able to take care of your own as well as your newborn baby’s health. So, please stop panicking right now and start taking three deep breaths for your own well being.
Regular hand washing with hand wash liquids will be good for you and your newborn baby and it will give you a safe and healthy environment. You should be aware of all things that can affect your physical as well as mental health. You should also take care of your newborn baby without taking any stress. It will help you quickly to overcome your health issues. So, be happy always and enjoy your own company while taking care of your own health.
Keep your newborn baby warm but not so overheated – (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss How to care for newborn if I am sick
If you are feeling good then you should take care of yourself but always remember to take care of your baby also. They need your love and attention all the time. To protect your baby’s health, you should keep your newborn baby warm but make sure not to overheat as it can affect their overall health.
Take proper rest and necessary precautions given by your doctor -(How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss How to care for newborn if I am sick
If you have a newborn baby it doesn’t mean that you have to take care of your newborn baby only, it means that you also need good and proper rest for you and your little one’s health. Rest is very necessary so that you can take care of your newborn baby efficiently and effectively.
Always remember that you don’t need to worry about many things while you are already sick, just follow the diet plan and all the essential precautions that are necessary for your good health. It will make yourself happy and healthy so start doing such things that will make you calm while dealing with your own health issues.
Follow all the instructions and precautions that have been given by your doctor so that you can feel better and relaxed. Your self care and precautions will help you quickly to overcome various health issues from which you are already suffering. So, it is better to follow some expert advice to take care of yourself as well as your newborn baby.
Stay hydrated while dealing with any health issues -(How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Let’s discuss How to care for newborn if I am sick
It’s very essential for you to stay hydrated all the time as now you have a newborn baby so you should take care of yourself so that you can take care of your little one. Therefore, it is necessary to keep yourself hydrated all the time while dealing with any health issues. It will not only help you but can also help your newborn baby physically and mentally.
Conclusion: (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
A Newborn baby can feel sick more often than kids, so it’s your first and foremost duty to take care of your baby while you are already feeling sick. We discussed the above points regarding How to take care of your newborn when you’re sick? But you can take the advice of old members in your family. And it’s always recommended to consult any doctor or specialist for precautions so that you can follow the necessary steps for taking care of your newborn while dealing with your own health issues.
When a child is born, the mother’s body becomes weak and catches infections. So, it is difficult for an ailing mother to take care of the newborn because of the risk of infection. But, this does not mean the mother should stop caring for the newborn. Indeed, cuddles from the mother, breastfeeding, and nurturing can be done by taking extra precautions. This enables unwell mothers to do their duty without difficulty. If they keep a nanny, a mother can focus on the child’s diet, and get treatment for her ailment.
Lastly, always follow all the instructions carefully. After all, it’s all for you and your newborn baby’s overall health. It’s very essential for you to stay hydrated all the time as now you have a newborn baby so you should take care of yourself so that you can take care of your little one.
FAQs:- How to care for newborn if I am sick (How to care for newborn if I am sick):
Should I stay away from my newborn if I am not feeling well?
While it’s not necessary to stay away from them, you can take some necessary precautions like wearing a mask if you have a cold, cough or fever, avoid direct contact with your newborn, avoid kissing or holding your newborn, and always wash your hands while dealing with your newborn baby.
How do I prevent spreading my cold and cough to my newborn?
It’s very necessary to avoid touching your newborn every now and then because it can affect your newborn baby’s overall health. Wash your hands before touching or holding your newborn baby. Always clean your newborn baby’s toys. Use a mask and tissues if you are suffering from a cold and cough.
Is my newborn Ok if I get sick?
Yes, if you will take care of your own as well as your newborn baby’s health then everything will be ok. As a newborn baby can easily suffer from respiratory syncytial virus and other diseases such as flu so it’s your responsibility to take care of this.
Can I kiss my baby if I am feeling sick?
No, not at all. You should avoid kissing your baby if you are feeling sick. When you have a newborn baby you cannot stop yourself from kissing or holding him/her but you should control your emotions and feelings just because you are sick and when you are not feeling well.
Can I give my breast milk to my newborn while I am already sick?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to feed your newborn baby with your own breast milk as a mother’s breast milk can play a vital role as an antibody for the newborn. So, you can give your breast milk to your newborn baby while dealing with any health issues.