Sensitive Midwifery - Issue 43 - July2019

steps Mom & Baby The dangers of baby wipes A chemical preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MI), found in baby wipes, can cause an allergic reaction in some cases. The red, itchy, scaly rash is often mistaken for other conditions like eczema, impetigo, and psoriasis – but one study, published in Pediatrics , has found that the allergy is more common than previously realised. Parents can limit exposure by using cotton wool and water, or a damp cloth when at home, and saving the wipes for travel times. Byrd, C, ‘Doctors warn parents about the dangers of using baby wipes’. Available: https://edrugsearch.com/baby-wipes-doctor- warning/ Medical breakthrough for NICU babies Researchers in Chicago have now found a way to monitor vital signs in NICU babies – without all the wires that make care cumbersome and stressful. Dr Amy Paller, who co-led the study, explains: ‘… when you have wires everywhere and the baby is tethered to a bed, it's really hard to make skin-to-skin contact’. Now, the biosensor stickers – two of which are used, one on the chest or back and another on a foot – allow for more skin-to-skin contact, and more efficient, family-integrated care. The stickers monitor temperature, heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure. The stickers themselves have also been designed for a premature baby’s delicate skin, and are more gentle than traditional tape, sensors and blood pressure cuffs. ‘The strength of the adhesive required to keep our lightweight device on the skin is much lower than that of the kinds of adhesives needed to maintain an interface between a hardwired sensor and an external box,’ says John Rogers, PhD, a bio- electronics expert and the study's co-author. ‘We have seen no adverse side effects in our study, not even a hint of skin injury even in the most frail babies.’ John Rogers has said that American hospitals will likely be using the wireless sensors within two to three years. Hopefully this technology makes it to South Africa speedily! Marcoux, H, ‘New technology could see NICU babies go wireless within two years’, 4 March 2019. Available: https://www.mother.ly/ news/wireless-sensors-for-nicu-babies-coming-in-two-years Singing sessions alleviate PND symptoms A recent British study examined 134 mothers with postnatal depression and found that those who engaged in singing sessions with their babies tended to show quicker improvement in symptoms, compared to those who didn’t. These findings are especially encouraging, as singing is a simple, no-cost, no-risk activity that all mothers can try, regardless of location or socio-economic status. BBC, ‘Singing “speeds up” recovery from post-natal depression’, 9 January 2018. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/ health-42607141 22 Manufactured for and on behalf of House of Zinplex (Pty) Ltd. t: 086 111 9462 | f: 012 803 9283 w: www.zinplex.co.za | e: info@zinplex.co.za CALCIUM ZINC FOLIC ACID VITAMIN B’S VITAMIN D3 ESSENTIALVITAMINS BEFORE, DURINGANDAFTER PREGNANCY B-Complex Calcium Chewable