Section 14
Birth and Children

DIAPER RASH (Ammoniacal Dermatitis)

SYMPTOMS—A reddish rash affecting the diaper region, with or without secondary infection by fungus or bacteria. Redness, tenderness, thickening of skin, inflammation. If secondary yeast infection appears, the skin will be bright red with well-defined borders, frequently with distinct red papules.

CAUSES—About 50% go away within a day. The rest can last 10 days or longer.

Breast-fed babies have less diaper rash, and this resistance continues long after the baby has been weaned.

When diaper rash is more prominent later, a food allergy may be the cause.

TREATMENT—

• Give air to that region. Take the diaper off and lay him chest down, with his face turned to one side, on towels underlaid with a waterproof sheet. Keeping an eye on him, leave him that way for as long as practicable. But if you do not watch him, you will regret the results.

• Keep the child bare and exposed to air and sunlight as much as the climate will permit.

• Change the diaper frequently; wash the area with cool water and gently dab dry, using a soft cotton diaper.

• (Use corn starch as a drying agent; never use talcum powder! It is a powdered rock dust, and can cause cancer in anyone (infant or adult) that uses it.)

• Expose the infant to small daily doses of sunlight or ultraviolet light. Be careful not to burn him. No ocean bathing until the rash is gone. But fresh pool water or rainwater is okay.

• The new super-absorbent diapers greatly help solve the problem. They reduce skin wetness.

• Try blow-drying the baby before rediapering him.

• Adding vinegar to the final rinse when washing diapers will help reduce the pH of the cloth. Add 1 ounce of vinegar to 1 gallon of water during the final rinse.

• Giving 2-3 ounces of cranberry juice to older infants will make urine pH slightly more acid. This helps reduce irritation.

ENCOURAGEMENT—Even though the majority may choose the wrong, yet you can choose the right. Stay on God's side of the battle, and you will have victory.

CRADLE CAP (Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis)

SYMPTOMS—Thin, whitish, flaky scales. Or thick, yellow, greasy crusts. Sometimes it spreads to the eyelids, external ear canal, and nose.

CAUSES—Cradle cap is the most common scalp disorder of infants. About 50% have it at some time. There is an overproduction of sebum, a waxy oil substance that may plug the sebaceous glands, leading to inflammation and acne formation. The entire scalp can become covered with a thick mat of sebum and dead skin cells.

Possible causes include food allergies. Of 187 infants which had it, in later years 67% later had an allergy (whereas 20% have allergies in the general population).

The problem most frequently develops within the first 3 months and usually 3-4 weeks after introduction of a new food. When that food was withdrawn, cradle cap cleared up. Most likely to cause problems: milk, wheat, eggs, oranges, beans, peas, and sometimes oatmeal.

A deficiency of vitamin B₆ and zinc may be involved.

TREATMENT—

• Gently remove the crusts. Shampoo 2-4 times a week with a mild soap. Massage the scalp gently, but firmly enough to remove the flakes. Do not break the inflamed skin underneath.

• Massage vegetable oil into still-adhering flake areas; let set for a few minutes, then shampoo it off.

• Repeat 1-3 times a week until the condition is gone.

• Include vitamin B₆ (10-25 mg daily) and zinc (15-25 mg daily) in the infant's diet. Check for food allergies (see "Pulse Test").

ENCOURAGEMENT—There is an ornament that will never perish, that will promote the happiness of all around us in this life, and will shine with undimmed luster in the immortal future. It is the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit.

COLIC IN INFANTS (Infant Colic)

SYMPTOMS—Stomach or intestinal pain in an infant. There is abdominal pain, distension, insomnia, extreme fretfulness, or hysteria. The child cries out, pulls the knees up to the stomach, and has a distended stomach.

CAUSES AND TREATMENT—

• Abnormal amounts of gas are passing upward or downward, and this is causing pain.

• You can immediately give the infant warm catnip tea in a bottle. A catnip tea enema will also help. Crying spells occur at regular intervals; so, if a very warm bath is given an hour before an expected attack, it may be prevented. Have catnip tea on hand to use in an emergency.

• In addition, a hot footbath or hot fomentation over the abdomen will relieve the baby.

• If the baby is totally breast-fed, the cause is in the mother's diet. Any food the mother may eat may, through her milk, causes the baby to suffer infant colic; onions, cabbage, garlic, wheat, yeast, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are common offenders. Another major cause is fried food, junk food, refined food, and all types of confused food combinations. Both the mother and the child need a good diet.

• Colic in a formula-fed infant points to the food given to the child. It may be the milk, wheat, soy, or sugar in the formula. If possible, substitute vitamin-enriched goat's milk. Also try to have the mother begin breast-feeding the baby. Even if she did not begin doing it after delivery, she can, with some effort, get the flow started later. This is done by frequent attempts to feed the baby over several months.

• If the infant is bottle-fed, for added nourishment at this time you might pour boiling water over wheat flakes, to dissolve them; put them through a sieve; and add soybean milk, to bring it to a desired consistency. Potassium broth and oatmeal gruel are also helpful.

• If colic develops after weaning has begun, the new food is the problem. The infant must be given proper foods and only one new food should be added at a time, so the infant can be carefully monitored for colic, rashes, or other reactions.

• Wheat and dairy products are especially suspect. When in doubt, eliminate them first. Wheat and other grains are often introduced far too early. But this can cause the child to later develop celiac disease, which will affect him throughout life (see "Celiac Disease"). The infant does not have the digestive enzymes to handle grains until 5-6 months. Let grains be one of the last foods introduced, and do not give yeast bread until after a year old.

• Give fresh, boiled, goat's milk; it is far less of a problem.

• Keep diet diaries and do pulse testing, to ascertain offending foods (see "Pulse Test").

• It may help to give pancreatic enzymes (75-200 mg three times a day) before meals (enzymes may be constipating), flaxseed oil (1-2 drops) after each meal, and vitamin B₆ (10 mg twice a day).

—Also see "Colic in Children."

ENCOURAGEMENT—Speak words of hope and good cheer, and you will encourage all about you in the pathway of life. Ask God to help you be a blessing to others.

DIARRHEA IN INFANTS

SYMPTOMS—The infant has diarrhea.

CAUSES—You will want to try to find possible causes. Each time it happens, take note of what happened that was special or different. Was a new food added? Was the daily scheduling different? Was there stress?

TREATMENT—

• Diarrhea in infants can be checked by the use of thin rice or barley water. For an older child, use oatmeal gruel. This should be given until the looseness is checked.

ENCOURAGEMENT—The plan of salvation, as revealed in the Bible, opens up a way for you to go to heaven. Do all you can to take that path. Work to save your family.

CRIES OFTEN, INFANT

SYMPTOMS—The infant cries often.

CAUSES AND TREATMENT—

• This is often due to a deficiency of B complex vitamins. But he could also be lacking other important nutrients, including vitamins and minerals.

• Undue stress in the home could be another problem.

• Lack of sleep, fatigue, or constipation may be involved.

• Helpful herbs include hops and skullcap.

ENCOURAGEMENT—In the heart of Jesus there was perfect peace. Trusting in Him, you can have that peace also.

TEETHING

SYMPTOMS—The baby's gums become swollen and tender, and he becomes irritable and restless. Teething has begun!

CAUSES—An infant's teeth begin developing months before birth. In fact, the buds begin appearing in the fetus by the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy!

All 20 teeth will begin coming through over two and a half years following birth, beginning about 4-8 months of age.

TREATMENT—

• Massage the baby's gums, beginning before the teeth appear. Wrap a piece of clean gauze around your finger, and rub the gums gently. This removes bacteria and gets him used to having your finger in his mouth.

• Place teething rings in the refrigerator and then, when cold, give them to him to mouth. This feels good on the gums. If the baby is 6 months or more old, a clean, cold, washcloth does well.

• Wrap a piece of cold apple in a wet child-size washcloth, and let the infant mash on it to help his gums.

ENCOURAGEMENT—True happiness is found in surrendering to Christ, and, by His grace, obeying His Ten Commandment law.

NEONATAL JAUNDICE

SYMPTOMS—A yellowing of the skin is seen in the infant, appearing first in the upper body and progressing downward toward the toes. In the full-term normal baby, it is first seen about the third day; and, by the fifth day, it is disappearing. In a pre-term infant, jaundice may appear later, but last longer.

CAUSES—Jaundice is probably the most common disorder in newborn babies. Old blood is broken down, by the liver, into bilirubin, a yellowish pigment. But when too much is made, the excess is dumped into the bloodstream and is deposited in tissues for temporary storage. About a fifth of infants have this, to one extent or another.

"Breast milk jaundice" occurs in about 3% of infants. Peak levels of bilirubin do not occur until the tenth or fifteenth day, and may not return to normal for 12 weeks. But do not stop breast-feeding during this time.

If the baby has prolonged jaundice, have a thyroid check done; he might have a tendency toward hypothyroidism (which see).

Certain drugs given to the mother during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breast-feeding can lead to neonatal jaundice. This includes sulfonamides, hydrocortisone, Valium, Orinase, Gentamicin, thiazide diuretics, and oral contraceptives.

TREATMENT—

• If the baby is breast-fed more frequently, the bowel movements will carry bilirubin out of the body faster. One research team found that the 3-4 hour feedings, recommended by many hospitals, is incorrect; the feedings should be every 2 hours, in order to reduce bilirubin levels.

• Activated charcoal is very helpful in lowering bilirubin levels. Stir 2-3 teaspoons powdered charcoal into a little water, and give with a nipple. Beginning at 4 hours of age, give it every two hours, for 120 hours in normal newborns, 168 hours in premature infants or until bilirubin levels fall.

• Exposure to sunlight helps reduce bilirubin levels. It can fall on the infant a little through the window or he can be taken outside. Do not let direct sunlight enter his eyes, but let it fall on as much bare skin as possible. Of course, be careful and do not sunburn him.

ENCOURAGEMENT—By yielding your life to Christ, you can experience a peace and contentment which will make life a joy rather than a burden.

INFANTILE CONVULSIONS (J.H. Kellogg, M.D., Formulas)

BASIC ASPECTS—Regulate diet, withholding meats and all indigestibles. Avoid cow's milk if curds are present in the stools. Daily Cold Bath, Wet Hand Rub, or Cold Towel Rub.

GENERAL CARE—When due to autointoxication from intestinal irritation, give a large Hot Enema. For immediate relief, Hot Blanket Pack; Warm Bath, at 95⁰-98⁰ F., for 1-2 minutes. If not quickly relieved, remove from bath and employ Cold Pail Pour to head and spine. Alternate Hot and Cold Pail Pour, if necessary. Apply Hot Abdominal Pack, changing every 4 hours.

CHOLERA INFANTUM (Gastro-intestinal Catarrh in Children) (J.H. Kellogg, M.D., Formulas)

GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH IN CHILDREN (ACUTE), CHOLERA INFANTUM BASIC FACTORS—Withdraw all food; Hot Blanket Pack till skin is reddened, follow by Cold Mitten Friction or Cold Wet Hand Rub. If his temperature is high, apply a Heating Wet Sheet Pack. Repeat if necessary. Rest in bed.

PERSISTENT VOMITING—Ice Bag to stomach.

FREQUENT BOWEL MOVEMENTS—Hot Enema at 105⁰- 110⁰ F. after every movement; Fomentation to abdomen every 3 hours, followed by Heating Compress, changing every 20 minutes.

PAIN IN ABDOMEN—Revulsive Compress over abdomen for 15-20 minutes every hour or two.

COLLAPSE—Hot Blanket Pack until warm, followed by Prolonged Neutral Bath at 92⁰-95⁰ F.; Hot water drinking; large Warm Enema.

—Also see "Cholera,"

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)

SYMPTOMS—The infant suddenly dies.

CAUSES—There is no advance warning or symptom. That is what it is called "sudden infant death syndrome." The central nervous system is affected, which in turn suppresses the involuntary act of breathing.

Each year, in the United States, there are 10,000 deaths from this problem. SIDS primarily occurs in the winter, primarily to underweight babies from poor families, and the mothers are generally under 20.

Several possible causes have been traced:

There may be high blood levels of the toxic mineral, lead. It has been reported that there are high levels of lead in infants who die of SIDS.

Suffocation may be the cause. It has been found that infants who were laid on their stomachs, to go to sleep, are much more likely to suddenly die than infants who are laid on their backs.

Breast-fed babies are less susceptible to SIDS. In addition, they have less allergies, respiratory diseases, hypoglycemia, obesity, and gastroenteritis.

It is now known that SIDS can be caused by the pertussis vaccine, which is given to infants at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.

TREATMENT—

• Give careful attention to each of the above factors.

• Both the mother and child should receive nourishing food. If the infant is breast-fed, the mother's diet should be excellent; if the baby is bottle-fed, then, if possible, fresh boiled goat's milk should be used. Mothers should nurse their babies, if at all possible.

• Locate allergenic foods and eliminate them.

• The mother should avoid chemicals, drugs, and junk food during and after pregnancy. Even aspirin is not good (it interferes with blood clotting, and could damage the fetus).

• Do not use caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco; they harm the unborn child, so it does not develop properly.

ENCOURAGEMENT—Heaven is very near to those who suffer for righteousness' sake. Christ identifies His interests with the interests of His faithful ones. Be His little child, and He will care for you.