You probably don't want to think about it yet, but it's the harsh reality: poopy diapers. Should you choose disposable or washable nappies? We'll help you choose. Join us on a dive into the world of baby poo and nappies. Is your baby breech and do you want to give him a helping hand? Have you ever thought about moxa therapy? This method for turning your little one is from Traditional Chinese Medicine and is very successful. We will tell you all about it!
Disposable nappies versus washable nappies
Get used to it: changing your baby's diapers is a daily job. Your baby will treat you to at least one little errand after every feed. That's a lot diaper-changing sessions (Youth health care). Reason enough to make an informed choice between disposable and washable diapers. We put the pros and con's for you. First and foremost, washable nappies are better for the environment. Even including the energy used for washing and drying, they save 27% in CO2 emissions compared to disposable nappies. It will also save 44% in waste. Washable nappies are also a lot cheaper in the long run. They are a bit more expensive to buy than disposable nappies, but they last a lot longer. If you're lucky, you can still use them for your next child. The downside to washable nappies is - as the name suggests - that you have to wash them out. This can be a stumbling block for some parents, who simply don't have time for the extra washing or find it too much of a hassle. You have to be a master of planning if you want to start using washable nappies. That brings us to one of the biggest advantages of disposable diapers: you just throw them in the bin and that's it. That saves you a lot of time and you should always have a clean one at hand. The downside is that disposable nappies can be quite expensive in the long run (Consumers' Association).
Choices, choices...
Now that you know the pros and cons of disposable and washable diapers, you can make your choice. And you can also choose a combination. If you go for the washable diapers, it is always good to have a few disposable diapers on hand, just to be sure. Are you going for washable diapers? Then don't buy a whole load at once. It may take some time to find the perfect size and fit for your baby.
Whether you go for washable or disposable diapers, without a cool diaper bag you will get nowhere. With this hip diaper bag From NurtureGoods you are sure to steal the show! The bag features three insulated compartments for thermos, a special slot on the side for quick access to baby wipes, and a waterproof storage compartment to keep wet wipes or clothing separate from the rest.
All the colours of the rainbow
The youngest of us take the proverbial seven colors of shit very literally. The colour of baby's poo varies from bright yellow to green, from orange to brown. The first baby poo is called meconium and is completely black and odourless. This first poo comes from swallowing amniotic fluid in the womb. Meconium is extremely sticky and gooey. Once your little one has been bottle-fed or breast-fed, the stool will change on its own (Pregnancy Portal). How often your baby defecates depends on the type of food, but apart from that it varies enormously from baby to baby. In the beginning your baby will defecate a few times a day, but after a while this will be about once a day. It can even happen that there is a week between two nappies (Youth health care).
Sensitive sofas
All that poo and pee sometimes causes diaper rash. Your baby's bottom will be red and painful. It is harmless, but it can be a real nuisance to your baby. It can be quite painful or itchy. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it (Family physician)! In this blog you can read how to help your baby get rid of it. But, prevention is of course better than cure. Change the nappy regularly. Before or after every feed and when he has defecated. Keep their bottom as dry as possible; talcum powder works wonders! And don't use too many products when changing. Wipes are not always necessary. Lukewarm water is often sufficient (Consumers' Association).
Moxatherapy
It is possible that your little one is still in breech position towards the end of your pregnancy. He will lie with his bottom down instead of his head. It is important that your baby is in the head position because the chance of a normal vaginal birth is much greater. There is also a 50% chance that your baby will have to be born by caesarean section when he is in a breech presentation (The gynaecologist). The midwife may at some point try to turn the baby by means of a so-called 'external version' (The Midwife), but there is another option: moxatherapy. Moxatherapy comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCG) and is part of acupuncture. If your little one is still breech at week 33, you might consider moxatherapy. And the sooner the better, because after week 36 it becomes more and more difficult. After all, your baby just keeps on growing (NHS). The moxa stick is often used to turn a breech baby. This is a kind of thick cigar made of mugwort herb that is used to heat the side of the little toe, called bladder 67, for fifteen minutes. According to the TCG, the warming energy of bladder 67 goes to the pelvis and creates movement in the uterus which makes the baby more mobile.Acupuncture Hillegersberg). The chance that your baby will turn by moxa therapy is more than 65%, while with an external version it is around 50% (NHS Bolton). We think this is definitely worth a try!
Always consult your midwife or obstetrician before trying moxa therapy and see an acupuncturist who is well trained in this area. The treatment is safe for you and your baby and there are no known side effects. So we say: if it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt!
Sources:
Acupuncture Hillegersberg. (s.d.). Moxa therapy for breech presentation. Consulted from https://www.acupunctuur-hillegersberg.nl/moxa-therapie-bij-stuitligging/
Grotenhuis, L. ten (2020a, December 2). Prevent and cure diaper rash. Consulted from https://www.consumentenbond.nl/verzorging-van-je-kind/luieruitslag-voorkomen-en-genezen
Grotenhuis, L. ten (2020b, December 2). Washable nappies or disposable nappies? Consulted from https://www.consumentenbond.nl/verzorging-van-je-kind/wasbare-luiers-of-wegwerpluiers#:%7E:text=Wasbare%20luiers%20zijn%20gemaakt%20van,en%20voor%20het%20vervaardigen%20energie
Youth Health Care. (s.d.). Urination and defecation | Icare JGZ. Consulted from https://www.icarejgz.nl/opvoeden-en-opgroeien/opgroeien/baby/0-3-maanden/plassen-en-poepen.aspx
KNOV. (s.d.). Breech presentation. Consulted from https://deverloskundige.nl/zwangerschap/subtekstpagina/173/stuitligging/
NHS. (2020, December 2). What happens if your baby is breech? Consulted from https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/if-your-baby-is-breech/
NHS Bolton. (s.d.). Moxibustion. Consulted from https://www.boltonft.nhs.uk/services/maternity/information/complementary-therapies/moxibustion/#:~:text=Moxibustion%20is%20a%20traditional%20Chinese,points%20on%20your%20little%20toes
NVOG. (2020, February 28). Turning your baby when he is breech: a version. Consulted from https://www.degynaecoloog.nl/onderwerpen/baby-laten-draaien-stuitligging-versie/
Home Physician. (s.d.). Diaper Rash. Consulted from https://www.thuisarts.nl/luieruitslag
Pregnancy Portal. (2019, November 23). Your baby's stool. Consulted from https://www.zwangerenportaal.nl/baby/verzorging/alles-over-de-ontlasting-van-je-baby