Health Checks for Your Baby

As babies are very vulnerable to sicknesses and accidents, the doctors make it a point to keep a record of all their incidents in a book called the Child Health Records. It comes in either blue or red depending on where you come from and is usually given to the mother a few weeks before birth. The book is used to record any important health details about your baby such as their vaccination and immunisation, weight and other health checks. So, when are these checks done?

AFTER BIRTH

When the baby is born, the nurses and doctors perform special tests on him to see whether there was any problem with the birth process as well as establish any special issues such as hearing and sight impairments. He will also be given Hepatitis B and vitamin k vaccinations.

Some hospitals offer special support sessions for the new moms by providing necessary information about post-maternal care.

THE FIRST TO THE FOURTH WEEK

At this stage, the baby is very delicate and needs constant care. It is recommendable to have a child, and family health nurse, pediatric doctor or certified midwife assess the baby’s progress in detecting any possible problems. They can also provide advice on aspects such as how to feed the baby and help them grow up in good health. Most nurses are willing to make visits to the mothers’ homes as it may be hard to go out with a newborn baby.

THE SIXTH TO THE EIGHTH WEEK

The doctor or pediatrician performs checks on the baby regularly to ensure that he has a standard growth curve. It is also at these weeks that the doctor checks for any conditions that may not have been detected in the first month after birth. This helps to identify them and treat them early enough to avoid further complications. The baby’s hearing, sight, weight, height, head circumference, and other critical growth indicators are also measured. Also, the baby receives their vaccinations according to the schedule.

FOUR MONTHS

The baby is also checked at four months to ensure that they are growing up as expected. Any slight deviances from the normal are taken seriously and used to establish whether the baby may have developed an illness or condition that may require urgent attention. The vaccinations are given as per the schedule, and the mother is informed of any tests conducted.

THE SIXTH TO NINTH MONTH

The baby’s critical aspects of growth and senses, as mentioned above, are checked as assessed for any abnormal developments. As this is about the time the baby starts being active and begins to move around, the mother is also provided with information on important things such as child safety in the house and car and poisoning.

TENTH MONTH TO ONE YEAR

More health checks and scheduled vaccinations.

Conclusively, every mother should take their baby’s health very seriously. If anything happens and is ignored at this stage, it is likely to affect them for the rest of their lives.