Where There Is No Doctor 2011 405
SPECIAL CARE FOR SMALL, EARLY, AND
UNDERWEIGHT BABIES—‘KANGAROOING’
A baby who is born very small (weighs less than 2 ½ kg. or 5 pounds) will need
special care. If possible, take the baby to a health post or hospital. In the hospital,
these babies are often kept warm and protected in a special temperature–controlled
box called an incubator. However, for a baby who is basically healthy, a mother can
often provide similar warmth and protection by ‘kangarooing’ the baby:
♦ Place the baby naked, with or without a diaper
or nappy, upright inside your clothing against
your skin, between your breasts. (It helps to
wear a loose blouse, sweater, or wrap tied at
the waist.)
♦ Let the baby suck at your breast as often as he
wants, but at least every 2 hours.
♦ Sleep propped up so that the baby stays
upright.
♦ Wash the baby’s face and bottom each day.
♦ Make sure the baby stays warm at all times.
If it is cool, dress the baby with extra clothing,
and cover his head.
♦ While you bathe or rest, ask the father, or another family member, to ‘kangaroo’
the baby.
♦ Take the baby to a health worker regularly. Be sure that he gets all his
vaccinations (see p. 147).
♦ Give the baby iron and vitamin supplements—especially vitamin D
(see p. 392).
EAR WAX
A little wax in the ears is normal. But some people have too much wax, or it dries
into a hard lump close to the ear drum. This can block the ear canal so that the
person cannot hear well.
Treatment:
To remove the wax, first soften it by putting several drops of warm vegetable
oil into the person’s ear. Then have her lie down on her side with the ear up for
15 minutes. Next, wash the ear out well by pouring several cups of warm (not hot)
water into it.
If this does not work, remove the needle from
a syringe and fill the syringe with warm water
and squirt it into the ear canal. Repeat this
several times, or until the wax comes out. Stop if
the person starts to feel dizzy. If the wax still will
not come out, seek medical advice.
syringe
without
needle