How will I know when my baby is sick?

A lot of first-time parents worry that they will fail to pick up on the warning signs that their baby is seriously ill. Fortunately, most quickly discover that their “parent radar” is more finely tuned than they thought and that they are able to zero in on the following symptoms of illness with relatively little difficulty:

■ Runny nose (usually caused by a viral infection such as the common cold, but can also be triggered by allergies or chemical sensitivities);

■ Coughing (can be caused by the common cold, allergies, exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritants, or chronic lung diseases);

■ Wheezing (caused by the narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and the presence of excess mucus in the major airways);

■ Croup (a noisy, seal-like bark that is caused by an inflammation of the windpipe below the vocal cords);

■ Diarrhea and/or abdominal cramps (can be triggered by a gastrointestinal problem, a food sensitivity, or other illnesses);

■ Vomiting (caused by a related illness and generally only cause for concern if your child is becoming dehydrated);

■ Changes to your baby’s skin color (e.g., extreme paleness or extreme flushedness; can be the result of a systemic or localized infection);

■ Rashes (caused by a viral or bacterial infection or an allergic reaction to a food, medication, or other substances);

■ Behavioral changes such as extreme fussiness or lethargy (caused by an illness or infection);

■ Fever (caused by an infection, a reaction to an immunization, or overdressing your baby).

Source : The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby. Second Edition . Ann Douglas and John R. Sussman, M.D. 2004

Are there any food safety issues related to pregnancy?

Pregnant women are especially susceptible to foodborne and waterborne hazards due to the physiological changes in pregnancy that may increase the exposure of the mother and fetus to hazardous substances.

To reduce the risk for foodborne illnesses, pregnant women need to follow general food safety guidelines: wash hands and surfaces often, don’t cross-contaminate, refrigerate perishable foods promptly, and cook food to proper temperatures.

Foodborne illness can be very harmful. For example, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or acute illness, and toxoplasmosis and E. coli can cause severe fetal infection. Pregnant women should avoid raw fish and seafood, and any fish that may be contaminated with methyl mercury and PCBs. The FDA recommends that pregnant women avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. Nutrition counseling during pregnancy should address these food safety issues.

Source : Healthy Eating During Pregnancy. International Food Information Council Foundation. 2003