Question

What recommendations would you make to the parents during discharge teaching related to their newborn’s immune system?

Answer 1

The immune system is a chain of cells and proteins that prevent the body against any kind of disease and infection. A newborn's immune system is not mature at the time of birth.

A Doctor should give proper advice to the parents about immune system of a new born since initially they have a very weak immune system and proper care should be taken in order raise them healthy.

There are some basic but important points which should be followed by the parents, to enhance the immune system of newborns.

1. Hygiene is the first thing that should be taken care of. Before handling the baby hand sanitizer should be used in order to prevent them from getting infected by any viral or bacterial infection.

2. Body massage is also very essential for newborns to make their bones strong and to give them proper body shape.

3. Nappy should be changed time to time in order to prevent them from any kind of rashes. And while doing this hands should be well sanitized.

4. Breastfeeding: It contains many essential nutrients like protein, fat, sugar which is necessary to enhance the immune system of a baby. As we know that mother's milk is the best initial food for baby. The baby who intakes breast milk has less chance of getting any kind of infection or disease when compared to the baby who intakes formula(artificial) milk. Breast fed babies recover more quickly than formula fed babies, from any infection or disease. But if mother is not able to breast feed ,formula milk is other alternative for that.

5.Vaccination- It is the most essential initial step to prevent the child from different types of serious diseases. There is a particular vaccination chart for different diseases,that should be given at a particular time period

6.Diet & supplement- Generally breast milk and formula milk provides all type of nutrients to the baby what they have actually need.

Doctor suggests parents to feed only formula milk or breast milk till 6 months. After 6 months of baby they can give water, well processed baby food available in market,juice etc.