In the world we live in, organisms can either be living or non-living. Most living organisms are further divided into sexes namely males and females. Each sex has its own special and unique reproductive system. What makes each system unique is not the size and shape of its structures but each of its roles and functions. The main purpose of both the male and female reproductive system is to produce and procreate. The female reproductive system is designed to produce eggs for conception, implantation, pregnancy and delivery while the male counterpart is made to produce and transport sperm. Compared to the female reproductive system that is composed of parts located inside the pelvic area, the male reproductive system has parts located inside and outside the pelvis.

The male reproductive system has various structures such as the testes, the duct system, the scrotom, the accessory glands and the penis. The testes also know as testicles are the organs responsible for sperm production and storage. When a boy reaches sexual maturity the testicles can store millions of sperm cells. The testicles are two oval shaped organs approximately 5 centimeters in length and 3 centimeters in diameter. Aside from producing sperm, the testes also produce testosterone, the hormone responsible for the development of secondary male characteristics like facial hair, deep voices and large muscles. The duct system is made up of the epididymis and vas deferens. The vas deferens is a slender muscular tube that transports semen, the fluid that contains sperm. The epididymis is a coiled-like tube structure that connects to the vas deferens. The scrotom is the pouch like sac that holds the testicles. This pouch regulates the temperature of the testicles, keeping it cooler than the rest of the body. A cool environment is necessary for sperm production. The accessory glands of the male reproductive system include the seminal vesicles and the prostate glands. Both these structures help lubricate and provide nourishment to the sperm. The prostate gland, which surrounds the ejaculatory ducts, also produces a portion of the semen. This gland is highly sensitive to any form of stimulation. The penis is composed of the shaft and the glans penis or the tip or head. The penis’ tissue is spongy allowing it to expand and contract. At birth, the penis has a foreskin covering the tip; this is removed through circumcision for cultural and sanitary reasons.

With regards to reproduction, the entire male reproductive system work as a whole to produce and deliver sperm into the female reproductive system via sexual intercourse. The male reproductive system is also responsible for producing sex hormones which is very evident during puberty. At birth, all the male reproductive structures are already present in the baby boy’s body; they only become mature around the age of 10 to 14. Once mature, sperm mixes with the semen and is discharged through ejaculation. Each ejaculation contains approximately 500 million sperm cells. A mature sperm cell can already fertilize a mature egg cell, making pregnancy possible.

Most parents are having a hard time in giving their little angels a bath. Some are afraid to give their babies a bath thinking that they may do the wrong thing and harm the baby. But bathing your baby is not hard as it seems. All you need to do is to practice and of course find that confidence.

The rule of the thumb in bathing babies is safety. Make sure that your baby is safe so that accidents will be prevented. It is also very important that the parents or caregiver bathe the baby the proper way to get rid of dirt and bacteria that can cause diseases. The baby’s body temperature should also be monitored so as not to cause the baby to have hypothermia.

Here are some of the tips on how to easily bath your baby:

• Before bathing the baby, see to it that everything is prepared. The essentials should be easy to reach like soap, shampoo, diapers, clothes, and towels. Also it is a must that the baby’s toiletries are hypo allergenic so that it can’t irritate the delicate skin of the baby. Towels should also be 100% cotton and clean to minimize irritation and infection.
• Always check the water’s temperature before pouring them over to the baby. In checking the water you should pour water on your arms and wrists. Never make the water too cold, the baby can have hypothermia or too warm, the baby can be scalded.
• Do not live the baby alone in the tub of water. This is a very dangerous thing to do; accidents can happen anytime so it is better to prevent them from happening.
• Wait until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off before you give him or her sponge bath. Sponge baths may initiate the cord to prematurely fall off leading to infection.
• When bathing the baby make sure that you use soft strokes. Avoid washing the baby’s face with a foamy soap. Although baby soaps promise to be not irritating on the eyes, still the baby’s eyes are very sensitive and can be hurt by the soap’s foam. Make sure that the baby’s genitals are cleaned thoroughly so that infections are prevented. Urinary tract infections can happen to newborns especially if the genital region is not clean.
• Shampoo the hair gently. See to it that the shampoo’s foam won’t reach the baby’s eyes as it may irritate them.
• While giving the baby a bath, talk to them or sing to them. This may sound weird because most of the time the baby cries when bathed in water. When doing this, maternal and infant bonding is further enhanced.
• After the bath, make sure that the baby is kept dry. This will restore the baby’s natural body temperature. Also when the baby’s body is not dried thoroughly, this can lead to respiratory infections like cough and colds. This may lead to pneumonia if not managed well.

It is considered normal for infants to occasionally throw up or vomit after feeding them. It might be very inconvenient for some parents because of all the cleaning involved, but it should not be a cause for alarm. But in other cases, vomiting is worrisome especially when it involves the expulsion of digested food in a projectile force. Most of the time, projectile vomiting can be very dangerous for it represents a serious medical problem that every parent should not ignore. Therefore, it is important for every parent to know everything they need to about projectile vomiting, and the possible danger it represents for their baby.

Projectile Vomiting

Projectile vomiting in infants is the expulsion of vomit with force. When infants vomit with a projectile force, the food is expelled forming an arc-like shape, and the vomit is more than the usual. It is considered normal when this happens occasionally, but when projectile vomiting is frequent, and is paired with other symptoms like choking, coughing, loss of weight, the presence of blood or bile in the vomit, and when the baby seems like he is in pain, immediate medical attention should be administered. Below are some of the known causes of projectile vomiting in infants, as well as the conditions associated with it:

1. Acid Reflux – defined as a disorder wherein the child’s gastrointestinal tract is not functioning properly. Infants who are under 3 months of age are more likely to have acid reflux, wherein the acid and the food taken by infants go all the way back to their esophageal tube.
2. Lactose intolerance – this is a condition where an infant’s digestive system does not have the ability to properly digest milk and dairy products or when the infant is allergic to milk.
3. Stomach flu – also known as gastroenteritis, it is an infection in the intestine which can be obtained due to viruses.
4. Pyloric stenosis – is a condition characterized by the thickening of the infant’s pylorus muscle which can be found near the opening of the small intestine. In this condition, the food ingested by the child is blocked from entering the small intestine which results to projectile vomiting just after intake of food.

What are the Dangers of Projectile Vomiting in Infants?

Aside from the possibility of your child having a serious illness, when they are vomiting in a projectile manner frequently, it could cause a lot of health problems. Some of the known effects of frequent projectile vomiting in infants include weight loss, abnormal growth rate, possible injuries that can be sustained by the stomach and the esophagus, high fever, dehydration, and in some cases, pneumonia.

What to do when Infants Vomit with Projectile Force

When an infant vomits with force, and it happens frequently, he should be immediately taken to the pediatrician so that proper diagnosis can be made. However, if the doctor sees no serious illness is connected to projectile vomiting, there are some things that you can do to prevent it like:

1. Elevating the baby’s head (approximately 30 degrees) on the bed after feeding.
2. Discourage unnecessary and strong movements after feeding.
3. Patting the back of the baby after feeding to induce burping – this minimizes gastric pressure which is a common cause for vomiting.
4. The Infant should be on the proper position when he is fed.
5. Feeding the baby in small amounts while increasing the frequency of food intake.

Not all babies are the same. Some sleep most of the time and make minimal noise while some babies cry and become fussy all throughout the day. Some parents can be frustrated especially if they are not able to stop their babies cry. Others, especially first time parents are scared because they are clueless on what to do on how to make their babies stop fussing. Oftentimes parents feel frustrated when they are unable to calm their babies.

Comforting a fussy baby may seem like a big challenge, but once you know how to handle your baby’s fussiness, everything will be easy. Below are 5 ways to help comfort a fussy baby. These are suggestions you can use to ease your crying baby.

• Babies fuss and cry as it is their way of expressing what they need. They cry when they feel hungry, they have wet diapers, feel warm or cold, and even when they want to be held. Once you know why your baby is crying, you can give them what they need.
• Let the baby feel your presence. Babies need love and security from their primary caregivers. When they cry, carry them and swing them gently. It can help the baby stay calm knowing that you are there.Gently massaging the baby also helps them to relax which can console them. Some babies stop being fussy once they smell the scent of their primary caregivers.
• Sing to your baby and let them listen to soothing music. Babies love to hear lullabies especially if you are the one singing. When the baby is crying sing those lullabies or nursery rhymes.For parents who are not that musically inclined, you can also play classical music, nursery rhymes, and other calming tunes. Music therapy also works in fussy babies.
• Find ways to distract your baby. When your baby cries nonstop and you cannot pacify them, divert their attention. Most parents turn on their electrical appliances like the vacuum cleaner when the baby is already very irritable. When the baby is distracted, he or she stops crying and focus on something else.
• Decrease disturbances in the environment. Babies are very sensitive to sound, light, and heat or cold. Make sure that it is not too hot or too cold for them to sleep and rest comfortably. Babies should not be in a room where there is too much noise. Extreme noise can cause stress to the baby making them fussy. Make sure that the room is well lit. During sleep, do not turn all the lights off as the baby can wake up anytime. They can be afraid of the dark causing them to cry.

Comforting your baby when they fuss is not spoiling. It simply means that you love and care for your baby that you want them to be comfortable and feel loved as much as possible.

Every mother wishes that her baby is born healthy into this world. But a mother should also take into consideration the things that she invested in while she was pregnant, including the things she did, the food she ate and her lifestyle. This will all in the end affect the baby one way or another. One of the diseases that a baby can acquire is the blue baby syndrome. This article will give the reader all the important information there is to know about blue baby syndrome.

What is the Blue Baby Syndrome?

The blue baby syndrome, also known as blue baby, is a condition wherein a baby is diagnosed with cyanosis, which is characterized by having blue skin. Instead of the normal reddish color of the body, a baby with cyanosis is blue as a result of inadequate oxygen in the body. This is a case wherein the oxygen received by the baby’s tissues, organs and cells are not enough. In the past, studies reveal that when this condition is not attended to, it can be fatal for the baby. But through years of research, there is now a cure for this type of syndrome. Statistics have also shown that the blue baby syndrome is common in babies below six months, but in some cases, the disease can also affect adults and older children.

 What are the Causes of Blue Baby Syndrome?

The blue baby syndrome may be caused by different health conditions and excessive intake of substances which are:

1. Tetralogy of Fallot – is a case of congenital heart disease which is the result of the inadequacy of oxygen received by the blood. This is one of the most common causes of blue baby syndrome.
2. Dextro-TGA – Dextro-TGA, also known as dextro-transposition of the great arteries is a kind of birth defect which involves the great arteries of the heart. In this condition, the primary arteries namely the pulmonary artery and the aorta are transposed. The condition is classified as CHD or a congenital heart defect due to the blue color of the baby caused by inadequate oxygen.
3. Tricuspid Atresia – this is a type of congenital heart disease wherein there is no tricuspid valve present in the heart. This results to improper oxygenation of the blood in the entire body which causes blue baby syndrome. It has been traced that this is caused by the underdevelopment of the heart of the child during pregnancy and immediate medical attention should be administered to preserve the life of a child with this condition.
4. Methemoglobinemia – this disorder is the result of excess methemoglobin in the baby’s blood, which causes very little oxygen transport to the body’s tissues. As a result, it causes blueness of the skin or blue baby syndrome. Medical studies have shown that this disorder is acquired by babies due to the nitrates that are present in the water which is taken by the mother. When these nitrates are combined with the hemoglobin, they produce methemoglobin.

Congratulations! Your little one is finally here – he or she is perfect in every little way, but there are minor things which to you, are bothersome. One of the most common concerns new parents have is the shape of their newborn’s head. Passing through a tight birth canal causes a baby’s head to look pointed or sharp for the first few days of life. The baby’s skull is made up of different plates that haven’t fused yet at the time of birth, so they shift, and make a slightly cone-head shape. Pediatricians will assure you that this is normal and your baby will eventually grow out of that sharp head.

However, what if your baby has a flat spot, usually on the side of his or her head, or in the back? A persistently flat area in your baby’s head may be positional plagiocephaly. Based on the term itself, positional plagiocephaly is also called flattened head syndrome. Because babies spend hours sleeping, usually in the same position every day and night, that part that touches the bed most frequently gets flattened.  This may also be due to the immature neck muscles of the child. If your child has positional plagiocephaly, relax. It is relatively easy to manage, and what’s even better is that, with the right amount of care and intervention, your baby’s head to be able to assume a rounder shape before your baby turns one.

How does positional plagiocephaly happen?

A part of an infant’s head is flat, and if he or she has hair, this area usually has very scarce growth. This disorder is caused by prolonged lying in a one position of the head. Typically, the head is resting only on one side (the affected side) of a flat surface or their crip, playpen, or swings and strollers. It’s not that parents keep their baby’s head that way. The weak neck muscles of the child cause his or her head to fall a particular angle when he or she is sleeping, and it’s usually that area that gets flattened.

Babies’ heads are soft – they are made this way so that their brain can have room to grow during the first few years of their life. As such, their head is susceptible to molding, even if it’s into a flat head.

A medical condition called torticollis could be another cause for the flattening of one part of the baby’s head. Torticollis occurs because of the baby’s overly tight neck muscles. This tightness results to very limited movement, and as a result, the baby’s head will only be consistently angled to one side.

 How is positional plagiocephaly diagnosed?

Parents are the first ones to notice a flat spot on their child’s head. Sometimes, the ear on this side is constantly folded, or the other (unaffected side) may be bulging. A doctor confirms the diagnosis by examining the child’s head. There is no need to x-rays or other lab tests. However, x-rays or ct scans may be ordered if the doctor is suspicious about the bone growth of the child.

 How to correct positional plagiocephaly

Most doctors will tell parents to wait it out and patiently reposition the child’s head to the other side to prevent constant flattening of the affected side. If it really is positional in nature, it should be able to disappear by the time the child turns one year old.

Undeniably, one of the most common illnesses suffered by babies these days has something to do with gastrointestinal problems particularly diarrhea. Sadly, diarrhea is difficult to assess especially for babies who usually poop especially after feeding and of course their stools are usually soft. Additionally, your baby’s stool is also dependent on what he has ingested so typically, it is really difficult to tell if your baby is indeed suffering from diarrhea.

Nonetheless, as you become more attentive, you will note that diarrhea for babies is a sudden deviation from what you normally see and probably feel. If the bowel movements have suddenly changed; specifically, if you change diapers more than the usual, then your baby may be suffering from diarrhea.

Diarrhea is caused by a host of factors and it is important for the carers to be able to identify the possible cause of the condition. Bacteria, virus and even parasites can cause baby diarrhea. Apart from the three, it can also be a result of taking medicines particularly antibiotics, poisoning, allergic reaction, and food intolerance. It is crucial to be able to remember pertinent information that have happened before the diarrhea has occurred because if something goes wrong that which necessitates careful history taking, the triggering reason will be easily identified making treatment speedier and more accurate.

Additionally, keep in mind that some cases of diarrhea do not need hospitalization but most of the cases should really be checked by your pediatrician. For instance, the sometimes harmless but eventually deadly influenza can manifest a symptom like diarrhea. If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting and the evidence in plain sight is seen, then, a 911 call should be done. The call also holds true for cases of food allergy. The allergy which commonly results from milk protein is usually accompanied by breathing problems and in very severe cases, rashes all over the body with difficulty of breathing.

Generally, parents’ instincts really work out during these trying times but as reminders, you should call your doctor right away if your baby suffers from diarrhea and high fever at the same time. Make that visit especially if your baby is six months or less.

Be aware that hydration is very important; breastfeeding can actually suffice the replenishment needed by your baby but if your precious one already exhibits dehydration signs like a very diaper to no diaper at all, sunken eyes, less to no tears at all when crying and a springy skin, you should your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital. Also check if your baby has not slept like the usual, even a tinge of blood present in the stool or vomit and more importantly, a sunken soft spot on the top of the head. With these three signs, your doctor will readily assess and recommend hydration measures.

Your baby has lived in a moist, warm environment for nine months, so transitioning to the external world can be challenge. Although he or she is born pink and plump, you may notice that your baby’s soft skin, particularly on the head, begins flaking off. Don’t panic. This article will explain everything you need to know about your newborn’s cradle cap, and how to deal with it effectively.

Newborns experience some conditions as they adjust to the external environment. One of them is cradle cap, a condition characterized by scaly patches on your newborn’s scalp. It is most frequently found in newborns, although some babies have persistent cradle cap until they are about a year old.

As your baby’s skin gets used to the external environment, some old skin cells from his or her scalp should naturally peel and fall off. However, in the case of cradle cap, your baby’s scalp oil glands stop the skin cells from naturally sloughing and falling off. The result is flaking that seems to go on and on.

Cradle cap is considered to be normal occurrence among newborns, so doctors do not generally prescribe any medications to treat the condition. However, the constant flaking and peeling from your baby’s scalp can cause some irritation and itching, so you may have to ask about comfort measures from your pediatrician. These could be an OTC cortisone cream, or some baby oil to be applied on the scalp.

Here are some tips on how to manage cradle cap at home.

1. Give your baby regular baths. Make sure the water is lukewarm. Clean the scalp with mild shampoo, like Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. These do not contain harmful chemicals that may dry out baby’s scalp even more. Regular baths keep the area clean and free from crusting and infection.
2. Observe the area for signs of infection. Your baby’s cradle cap is a normal condition. However, if your baby develops a fever, and the affected area becomes red and oozes with blood, or pus, then an infection may have occurred. Do not wait for a fever to develop. Take your baby to the doctor for treatment right away.
3. You can gently scrape off the cradle cap with your finger, but never ever pick at it, because you might be causing infection. Moisturizing shampoo that’s also baby-friendly makes the crap soften on its way until it can be scraped off.
4. A baby brush works well in scraping off the dead skin cells from your baby’s scalp. Make sure the scrub you purchase is gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin and won’t cause any scratching or any irritation to the scalp.
5. Do not force the flakes to come off if they can’t do so easily. The flakes will detach themselves from the scalp naturally, over time.
6. Finally, do not fret over cradle cap. It is a fairly common situation which your child will grow out of in time. Do not let it come in between you and your baby and prevent you from precious bonding moments.