To Moms and Dads Feeling Anxious About Infant Health Checkups
Hello.
I am Yoshihiko Iwama, Director of Iwama Children's Clinic.
【Anxiety of Moms and Dads Before Infant Health Checkups】This time, I will focus on the theme of
I have learned that moms and dads who bring their children to infant health checkups often harbor various worries and anxieties even before the checkup.
Therefore, I decided to write this article so that you can feel a little more relaxed when attending your infant health checkup. I will also answer questions from moms and dads.
【Purpose of Infant Health Checkups】
In infant health checkups, we regularly check growth, development, and nutritional status according to your child's age in months or years.
We perform physical measurements (height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, etc.), check for any underlying illnesses, and discuss congenital diseases and vaccinations.
If you have any worries or anxieties about your daily child-rearing, this is a great opportunity to consult with a doctor.I encourage you to consult us about even the most trivial matters without hesitation.
For me, infant health checkups are an irreplaceable time to witness a child's growth, while also being a time of tension as they may lead to the early detection of illness.
Receiving an infant health checkup is very important for both the child and the parents.
Now, let's answer some questions from moms and dads about infant health checkups.
【① I am anxious about being pointed out that there is a problem at the infant health checkup】
When coming for an infant health checkup, unlike children who come for regular consultations, they are almost always healthy children. It is extremely rare for a physical problem to be discovered.
Of course, the possibility of a problem is not zero. As a doctor, I check for that point thoroughly.
Before the infant health checkup, I hope moms and dads will not be overly anxious about "what if something is pointed out," but rather think of it as a place to check your child's growth together with a pediatrician and ask about things you are usually concerned about.
【② My child cannot "sit up" or "crawl" at the 9-month checkup. Is there a problem?】
When you read child-rearing books, it says that "sitting up" can be done from 3 to 4 months, and "crawling" from 7 to 9 months.
However, this is just a guideline.
Some children crawl at 6 months, while others start "pulling to stand" suddenly without ever crawling at all.
If there is any problem, I believe the pediatrician in charge will give you specific instructions such as "let's have this checked."
Instead of thinking "if they can't do X by the 9-month checkup," it is important to understand thatthere is a range in the timing when a child can do something.
By doing so, I think moms and dads will feel much more at ease.
【③ At the 7-month checkup, the head size (head circumference) was far outside the infant physical growth curve band, and I am worried】
So the "head circumference" measured at the 7-month checkup was far outside the infant physical growth curve band. Unless your doctor tells you that "an examination is necessary," I think it is fine to wait and see until the next checkup.
The growth curve is not meant to look at the measured value of a single checkup, but to look at the curve formed by the measured values of each checkup.
Even if your child's head circumference curve exceeds the infant physical growth curve band, if it follows the curve, I think it is fine to wait and see.However, caution is required if it suddenly deviates from the curve.
You may want to have an ultrasound (echography) examination in the future. Unlike CT scans, where there is concern about radiation exposure from X-rays, babies can safely undergo ultrasound examinations.
【④ My child is turning 1 year old, but their "weight" has never once been inside the infant physical growth curve band, and I am worried】
You are concerned that your child's growth curve has never entered the infant physical growth curve band even at one year old.
The point is what shape your child's weight growth curve is drawing.
If your child's weight does not increase much and deviates significantly from the infant physical growth curve band, there is a possibility of calorie deficiency or illness.
If your child's growth curve is slightly below the infant physical growth curve band but is rising along the lower curve, it is unlikely that a major illness is lurking.
In such cases, what pediatricians focus on ishow far your child's growth curve is from this band (degree of deviation).If no examination has been necessary until now, it is considered that the degree of deviation was not large enough to worry about.
In such cases,it is a good idea to check not only the weight measured at the checkup but also the weight measured at home frequently.If the weight gain slows down or levels off, please consult a pediatrician without waiting for the next checkup.
【What is a growth curve?】
Drawing a "growth curve" is widely recommended to watch over your child's (baby's) smooth growth and development. Recently, many people seem to record it with apps.
You can draw your child's growth curve by writing down values such as weight, height, and head circumference in the "Infant Physical Growth Curve" and "Child Physical Growth Curve" (there are versions for boys and girls respectively) published in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook and connecting them with lines.
In the "Infant Physical Growth Curve" in Figure 1, you can enter the changes in a baby's height and weight up to 12 months of age.
This "Infant Physical Growth Curve" serves as a guide for knowing health and nutritional status. If your child's curve is within the colored band, it is normal.
Image cited from NHK Educational "SukuCom"
That is all for this article.
Thank you for always reading.
I hope this is helpful for moms and dads facing child-rearing.
Iwama Children's Clinic
Director Yoshihiko Iwama
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©Iwama-Clinic
※Please note that we cannot respond to individual consultations or questions within note.