Pediatric Health and Diseases Department

Healthy Child Follow-up

In brief, the following services are rendered at Pediatric Health and Diseases Clinic of Anadolu Medical Center:

1- Healthy Child Follow-up: A child’s growth (length, weight, head perimeter), development and physical state are evaluated through healthy child examinations performed in the 1st and 2nd weeks after birth, once a month between 0 and 6 months of age, and once every 2 months between 6 and 12 months of age, once every 3 months between 1 and 2 years of age, and once every 6 months after the age of 2. Thanks to these follow-ups, your baby is vaccinated in line with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, and preventive medicine recommendations are provided. At the same time, physical, social and psychological development of your babies is followed up.

2- Vaccinations; Childhood vaccines, administered at family medicine centers or not, are all administered at our clinic. These include routine annual flue vaccine, meningococcal vaccine, HPV (Human papillomavirus vaccine) and all other childhood vaccines.

3- Check-up examinations; Annual check-up examinations after the child starts pre-school education (after 4 years of age) and adolescent check up examinations (10-16 years) are performed.

Neonatal Care and Nutrition

The most perfect food for the nutrition of a newborn baby is breast milk. Breastfeeding is a unique opportunity for healthy growth and development of a baby. It is a biological and traditional method of feeding for the baby. It is an important factor that creates an emotional tie between the mother and the baby.

Breast milk alone meets all needs of the baby in the first six months, including water. Breast milk is first of all a clean food. It has no difficulties like preparation, heating, and is any time ready for use. It is easy to digest. Its functional components and live cells protect the baby from diseases. Breastfeeding mothers are less prone to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and anemia.

Breast milk does not have a constant content and the content is regulated according to the baby's requirements independent of the mother's diet. For example, the breast milk of mothers who had a premature delivery is different than that of mothers who had a normal delivery. Milk produced in the first seven days after birth is called colostrum. It is yellowish in color and thicker. It is rich in terms of antibodies, minerals and vitamins that protect the baby from diseases. In subsequent days, breast milk has less protein, but more lactose and lipid. Towards the end of breastfeeding, the lipid content of the milk increases, and the lipid-rich milk offers satisfaction and protects the baby from obesity.

The most important factor that promotes production and continuity of breast milk is sucking. The process by which the milk transforms into a lipid-rich content during the breastfeeding process changes according to the sucking power of the infant. For this reason, in order for the infant to take the lipid-rich milk, the infant should be breastfed until it gives up sucking itself.

In addition to infant sucking, production of breast milk increases with proper and frequent breastfeeding of the infant. During breastfeeding, the mother should sit comfortably, hold the infant close to her body, the head and body of the infant in the same straight line, and the baby should grasp not only the nipple, but the brown area around it. Although the breasts will not be full right after the birth, it is very important to start breastfeeding immediately so that milk production is induced and continued. In the first months, night breastfeeding increases milk production. Tiredness and sleeplessness are factors that have a negative effect on milk production. For this reason, the mother needs help and support.

Breastfeeding the infant: In the initial weeks, breastfeeding is irregular and the infant should be breastfed whenever it wants. It is ideal to give the two breasts in equal time periods. However, this is not always possible. If the infant sucks one breast at a time, it is necessary to breastfeed the infant with the other breast the next time. Burping the baby after breastfeeding lessens colic. Average breastfeeding time is 15-20 minutes, and average breastfeeding interval is 2-3 hours. In general, infants suck at 3-hour intervals after the fourth week. The period of night sleep may rise to 4-5 hours. If the infant is asleep, it must not be awaken for breastfeeding. It is not necessary to give water to a breastfed baby.

Neonatal Care

General characteristics of a newborn:

Your baby’s hands and feet may seem more purple than normal in the first 48 hours. They are generally colder.

It may have edemas in eyelids and on the outside of hands and feet. Again, there may be birthmarks in the eyelids, the forehead and the neck.

There may be swelling and the so-called witches’ milk in its breasts due to the hormones transmitted from the mother. In general, these symptoms disappear spontaneously in a few weeks. In baby girls, there may be white vaginal discharge or bleeding for the same reasons.

In baby boys, the testicles are in the scrotum or the canal. There may be a swelling in the scrotum.

The blue-gray Mongolian spot on the buttocks is a normal finding.

There may be tiny, white-colored bumps called milia in the chin and around the nose.

It is a normal finding that vesicles are seen in armpits, the neck and the body due to blockage of sweat glands in excessively hot environments.

The first urination is made right after the birth or in 24 hours. The first defecation is seen generally in the first 24 hours. The first stool which is called meconium is dark in color and sticky. Its color starts to lighten after the first three days. Breastfed infants have stool in gold color. An infant can defecate 7-8 times a day. Again it urinates 5-6 times a day.

In the first two week, the skin and the white part of the eye may seem yellow due to rise of a substance called bilirubin. If it is excessively elevated, phototherapy may be necessary.

Infants lose 5-10% of their birth weight in the first week. They reach their birth weight in seven to ten days.

Room temperature: Normal body temperature is between 36.5-37 ° C. If the infant's body temperature is above 37.3 ° when measured in the armpit, or 37.5 ° C when measured in the anus, a doctor should be consulted. In particular, too high room temperature, or wearing too much clothing increases body temperature. The room should not be too hot. A temperature of 22-24° C is sufficient.

Choice of clothing: Clothes should be made of 100% cotton fabric. Snap-on baby apparels should be preferred. At normal temperature, undershirt, apparel, gloves, and socks are sufficient. Wearing too much clothes should be avoided. The infant should wear one more layer than you do. Labels of clothes may disturb the infant’s skin, and so these have to be cut.

Umbilical cord care: The umbilical cord stump should be cleaned with 70% alcohol once or twice a day until it falls off. Keep the umbilical cord stump outside the diapers.

Eye care: Clean the eyes using sterile gauze soaked in boiled and warmed water, starting from the interior toward the exterior without applying much pressure. If there is excessive discharge and crust around the eyes, consult a doctor.

Laying your baby down: The baby should be laid on its side or supine so that its neck is not twisted, and no pillow should be used. The baby should not be covered with a heavy blanket or quilt. There should not be pillows or too many quilts on the bed.

Bath: After the umbilical cord stump falls off, the baby should be bathed everyday. The temperature of the room where the baby is bathed should be 26°C. Shampoos should not be used more than twice a week. Massaging the baby during and after the bath will relieve the baby. This will lessen its gas pain and help it sleep better.

Nail care: There is no need to cut the nails in the first days if they are not too long. But if nails are long and scratch the baby’s face, they can be cut off with a nail clipper designed for babies.

Oral care: If there are white spots in the mouth, these may be thrush. A doctor should be consulted. To prevent thrush, care should be taken with respect to hand and breast hygiene.

Caring for the baby's bottom: Before each breastfeeding and whenever the baby is anxious, you should look at the baby’s bottom. Bottom care can be performed with the help of warm water and cotton. To prevent rash, it is essential that you keep the baby's bottom dry and clean. At intervals, anti-rash creams can be used. In baby girls, the bottom should be wiped from the front to the back to prevent urinary tract infections.

Gas pain: In the early period, babies may have gas complaints as their digestive system has not fully developed. They cry pulling their feet to their abdomen. These pains lessen when they are three or four months of age. The most important cause of gas is wrong breastfeeding technique. Gas is caused by swallowing air due to incorrect positioning of the baby and failure of the baby to grasp the nipple. The baby may, to some extent, be affected from the mother’s diet. It is necessary to burp the baby after each feeding.

Vomiting: Babies may vomit a little after they are fed up and when they are burped. This is normal. However, in case of excessive vomiting in green color, or reduced sucking, swollen abdomen, the baby should be taken to a doctor.

Sneezing and hiccup: Sneezing is a reaction to remove the drops that escape to the nasal passage, whereas hiccup is a reflex which occurs when the diaphragm is stimulated. This reflex will slowly disappear when a hiccupping baby is breastfed for a short period.

When traveling: Use a baby seat. The baby seat can also be used as an infant carrier.

Visits: The baby should avoid crowds and kissing. Upper respiratory tract infections caused by viruses are encountered more indoors in winter in particular.

Vaccination record: The first doctor visit is paid one week after discharge. Do not forget to bring your vaccine record and to follow up the vaccinations of your baby.