first time mom anxiety...help?

Question

I'm really nervous about being a new mom at the age of 19 and I'm not sure I will always know what to do and how to tell if she has an ear infection or a cold or anything. what are some symptoms of common baby illnesses, and how can i help prevent them? i know she will get sick, but is there anything i can do to lessen the risk of something serious or chronic?

also, i wanted to put a plant in the baby room because my fiance and i like plants. is bamboo baby safe? or maybe even a flowering plant, like a gerber daisy?

Answer 1

I had my first baby at 19 too......

If you want to keep your baby from getting sick there are a few things you can do
1. Make sure everyone washes their hands (even you!) before they touch the baby. Wash after each diaper change,obviously!
2. Keep sick people away from the baby.
3. Don't allow anyone to smoke in your house/avoid smoky places.
4. Keep her warm, dry, and properly fed.
5. Sterilize her bottles, toys, pacifier in boiling water or run through the dishwasher.
6. Don't let anyone stick the pacifier in their mouth and then put it in the baby's mouth. I had a friend do that and it's GROSS!

You'll know when the baby is sick, trust me! She'll be fussy and have a fever, cough, whatever. If she tugs or pulls at her ears, take her to the doctor. She might have an ear infection.
Ask your doctor and they can help you to figure out when she's ill.

If you put a plant in her room, make sure it's nowhere near her crib. Babies can move more than you'd think and some plants are poisonous! Keep it out of her reach.

Get a copy of "What to Expect the First Year". It's very helpful.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 2

There is so much to say. I remember the first time I was a mom. Yes, I was young. Worse in a foreign country that I new little English. So many of the answers you have here are correct.
One: always not only talk to your doctors, hospitals, family and friends...but research a bit. So much is available. Above all...don't fear, but rejoice. You and your fella have created a new life. Remember that a baby needs TLC, food, shelter, love et al above all attention. The worse illness I faced was the cholic, which I advise using peppermint tea...luke warm. Relieves the gas better than any product on the market.
Keep you temper, and make anyone that has a problem with the screaming baby...and they do scream...to go to another room where it doesn't bother them.
Of all the things a child faces today that I can think worse than anything is abuse. Parents should take turns so as not to be overwhelmed. The rest of the childhood problems are normal, get the innoculations required on time. (They won't vaccinate if the child is ill, so don't worry about that). Make sure you have the basics on hand: ie: baby tylenol (liquid), a head thermometer (more cause I think it is less traumatic for the child), a bath thermometer so the water is not too cold or hot, keep your baby clothed in seasonal clothing, but always bring extra clothes (and diapers galore) for weather changes et al. Rashes are the worst. Use an over-the-counter product containing five percent benzoyl peroxide. Hmm...there's so much to tell, mainly don't worry. All kids get ill, get the usual childhood diseases. As for plants, pets et al. Make sure the child is not allergic through allergy tests or personal family histories to avoid certain things. Check with a florist for baby/pet safe plants. Don't put toxic plants near or where they can get at them...ie)poinsettia's. As far as I know bamboo and daisies are safe...at least till the baby can grab them. Use the below link for more help.

Answer 3

Relax, you will do just fine as long as you are an attentive mother (sounds like you will be :) There really isn't a lot you can do to prevent her from developing a chronic disease, most of them are genetic or a result of not treating an acute illness. The best thing you can do is have a reference book on hand to help you decipher symptoms that may warrant a call to the Dr. There are tons of them out there just ask an associate at Barnes & Noble and they can point you in the right direction. As far as the plants they are just fine to put in the baby's room and to be honest the earlier she is exposed to things (same as pet dander) the less likely she is to develop allergies to them. Just be sure it isn't a poisonous plant (bamboo and gerbra daisies are fine). You are going to be a great mom, I had my first child at 19 and now I'm a pro with a wonderful family, my own in-home daycare, and more often than not others turn to me for advice in dealing with their chidren :)

Answer 4

With ear-infections YOU WILL KNOW! I had one and they are extremely painful. Your baby will not stop screaming I am sure.

You will know she has a cold because her nose will run, or she will cough. This is not a big deal. Just watch for changes to her behaviour. Extreme tiredness or crankiness, or even just not seeming like herself are reasons to go to the doctor.

You can put any kind of plant you want in the babies room. You may want to consider hanging it from the ceiling (not over the crib) that way your baby can see it, and later on won't be able to eat the plant and dirt. Not that eating the plant or dirt will be bad, or that your baby won't eat the plants and dirt in the park, but you know.

Breastfeeding will reduce sickness. Also if you breastfeed take extra vitamin C, good for both of you (your baby will get theirs from your milk). And there is *some* evidence that it prevents SIDS.

As for whether, when, which, or if to vaccinate that is your decision. You need to decide on your own.

My #1 piece of advice is: Listen to that little voice inside, you will learn to seperate it from the paranoid voice. When the little voice says something is wrong LISTEN and make your doctor LISTEN.

Answer 5

I don't have a clue on the plant thing. Probably a good idea to ask on your next doc visit. But if you live in a cold climate area. PLEASE bundle up your baby when taking her outside. I get so mad when I see little babies out in the cold with no hats to protect their heads and ears. Their faces all red from the cold. Keeping the baby warm at all times will definitely cut down on sicknesses. Always washing your hands as well as making sure anyone else that touches her does the same. And anytime you think she may be sick, take her to the doc. Better safe than sorry.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 6

They fuss and cry when not feeling good.You will learn to distinquish between a hungry cry and a i'm wet and i'm sick cry. don't be nervous just relax.Be sure you know what you can and can't feed her the first year.Some thing's can cause allergie's if eaten too early. The same for thing's that you and dad are allergic too she could be too.As for an ear infection they will pull at the ear cry and fuss.a cold will cause a runny nose.if it turns a greenish color it's dr. time.But you are very caring so you'll do fine ask your mom and his; other mom's you know and follow your instincts a mom always knows best. Good Luck and God Bless.And i almost for got no plant's it could cause allergies

Answer 7

I think a plant in the babies room would be fine *until*she starts crawling- once they are mobile the baby room, and really the rest of the house, needs to be kept baby proof-

Also with the illnesses- for ears, pay attention to when and how the baby is crying, if she is tugging at her ears or trying to always put a finger in it, it could be an indication of irritation. Also there might be increased redness-

Do not worry too much, my neice was full of anxiety over her first baby, when he was about a month old she saw a brand new, brown mark on his leg. She flipped out. Called our local ER saying "My son has cancer I need to bring him in, he got a new mark on his leg that was not there before, I know about skin cancer and color changes and all that, we will be in, in 5 mins." as her mother (the grandmther)was getting him dressed, she looked at it also, using her finger nail to scratch it, the peice of, whatever it was, came off. She told her daughter "dont worry, false alarm."

HAHA that story cracked me up! thought I would share it with ya.

Answer 8

don't worry hun! You will be just fine! Everybody worries about that stuff and NOBODY knows the answers to those questions before they have kids. Just follow your gut. If you every suspect something is wrong. Take the baby to the doctor. If it turns out to be no big deal...then you haven't lost anything, but you gained peace of mind. I think a plant would be lovely in your baby's room! I'm not a plant expert....but I thnk either one would be fine!

Answer 9

I'm not a mom, but my friend who's a mom got a some books on being a first time mom at her baby shower that she said was helpful. You may want to do a search on Amazon.com for some or go to your local library. I'm sure you'll be find. Congratulations and well wishes!

Answer 10

I WOULD NOT PUT ANY PLANTS IN THE BABIES ROOM. WHAT IF SHE IS ALLERGIC TO THE PLANT. (I WOULD ASK THE DOC FIRST)
KEEP HER HEALTHY BY KEEPING HER SHOTS UP TO DATE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME SEE HER WASH THERE HANDS AND ARE NOT ILL OR GETTING ILL WHEN THEY COME OVER.
SHE WILL GET SICK AT ONE POINT AND I KNOW WITH MY BABY SHE WILL GET A RUNNING NOSE AND THAT IT ALMOST ALWAYS A SIGN FOR ME THAT SHE MAY HAVE AN EAR INFECTION. BABIES WILL NORMALLY PULL AT THE EAR THAT HURTING THEM AS WELL. JUST WATCH FOR THESE SIGN AND OTHER YOUR BABY MIGHT GIVE YOU. AS THE MOM YOU WILL KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH YOUR BABY. I KNOW I DO. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS YOU WILL BE A GREAT MOMMY!!