First Time Mum - Help Please

[Rmcc14]

Hi.

I am a first time mum to a beautiful baby girl born prematurely at 32 weeks. She is currently a few days short of 4 months old and thriving but I have a couple of minor little issues that have started recently I was hoping some of you have come across before. I haven't gotten much information from health visitors/doctors on it.

Over the last month or so, her poops have been very acidic with a strong vinegar smell. This 1st happened before her 1st vaccinations so don't believe this was the causes and there was no sign of other infection and no change in formula This has continued with varying degrees (sometimes smells stronger than others but always there)

She has recently developed what seems to be the start of eczema/dry skin all over her body. I have just today started using an Aveeno dermexa emollient and will use sudocrem as well maybe....is this the best course of action if it remains mild? Again no change in formula and this isnt bothering or itching her yet.

Lastly, a redness has developed in her hands (mainly index finger) which I originally thought was dry skin but I'm wondering if it could be something else. It almost looks like a blotchiness and oddly when her finger is straightened out it goes away. I have attached a photo of this. Looking at the photo now it maybe looks swollen?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Teething. Both of mine had acidic smelling poos when teething.

I'd get a GP appointment for both the hand and potential eczema. Again mine have eczema and it's a pain trying to get the right cream and bath stuff to work on them, we're lucky it's mild and we can manage it but it can be difficult in a flare. If she's been chewing her hands a lot recently that could be causing the sore on her hand. I'd get it checked over.

Second teething for strong wee. Eczema is something that babies get sometimes - you might want to experiment with different washing detergents or get rid altogether and use wash balls. Re her finger - she is prime age for sucking fingers. That cld make her finger sore. I loved calendula cream for my babies. Oh and stop using soap. Warm water is perfectly fine.

I agree with PPs, I would definitely be making a GP app to have her finger checked - I’m not sure what that could be. You can also ask about possible eczema during the app. My little boy started with what I thought looked like mild eczema on his chest and arms so we used Hydramol- you can buy it off Amazon and it works wonders.

Hi OP just a word on the eczema (life long sufferer here) avoid using sudocrem on it as you don't want to use anything that will dry the skin out further. Stick with aqueous creams or oil based ointments to lock moisture in.

Thanks for the replies.

Our GP prescribed a cream to treat for a fungal rash on the finger but has since cleared up without treatment by time we had gotten the cream so it may have just been due to gnawing/sucking on her fingers. Always good to have this now in case it returns so will keep a close eye.

Also have GP appointment to put a plan in place for the eczema. Even though there is a degree of it all over, it seems the flare up was a reaction to one of the Aveeno products. We have since used an alternative moisturiser suitable for eczema prone babies and it seems to be helping a lot.

I have another question about feeding schedules as I'm doubting whether she is getting too much despite her wanting it.

Our little one has a good appetite and now weighs about 12lb at 4 months (2 months corrected) She has gradually ramped up in feedings to last week where we would have been feeding her 5 scoops nutriprem 2 with 150ml water (175ml mixed) roughly every 4 hours.

This last week though she had been crying after finishing feeds and finishing those bottles quickly and wanting more so we upped her to 6 scoops (210ml total) This is now stretching her to 5-6hours between feeds and sometimes longer at night.

Is it ok to stretch her this long between feeds? Also when counting feeds in 24 hours....do you count the last feed? Is every 6 hours 4 feeds in 24hours or 5? (12am/6am/12pm/6pm/12am (again) maybe this is a very silly question.

Absolutely fine to stretch the feeds as long as your baby has gained weight well and is eating well.
I count feeds from midnight to midnight. So 1st feed at say 4am then next 8am then 12 noon etc.
If your baby is eating well during the day chances are they will sleep longer at night. ( maybe even through the night you never know)
You are doing the right thing upping your feeds. If baby is draining bottles adding an extra oz or 2 is right.

I wouldn't be stretching time between feeds at this early age. Feed on demand and give as much as needed ie. increasing volume. Increasing volume but stretching time doesn't equate to an increase which is what baby needs.