heartbroken by my newborn's diaper rash! anyone has any advice?

[Carmen2]

DD2 is just 6 days old, and she's got a bad diaper rash. We've always noticed that she's got a red bottom since birth, but my doctor told me it's due to my hormones. Well, yesterday, it was so red that she struggled when we changed her nappy. I have tried applying zinc oxide barrier creams, applied milk cortisone, cleaned with lukewarm water, and airing out without a nappy. Nothing seems to work so far. Every time she has a bowel movement (yellowy soft poo), it gets irritated no matter how quick I clean her up. I haven't slept the whole night last night because I was on guard for her since we let her bottom air out the whole night. It look better this morning, but as soon as she's got a bowel movement, the redness comes back... also, this morning, she has minor bleeding...

At the moment, she's being formula fed because I have a cold and am taking some medications which I don't want to consume from my breastmilk. Once my body is cleared from the cold, I will breastfeed again...

Can anyone give me any advice... I am so teary every time I see her in pain when changing her nappy...

[aussienic]

I would try vaseline as a barrier but I have recently been using paw paw cream. It is just brilliant.. I can't remember if it is a barrier cream as well though.. Try the paw paw first and then use vaseline (petroleum jelly) as a barrier..

Nappy Rashes are horrible.. I never had to deal with them till I had my DD

Another to consider is maybe get it checked to make sure it isn't a fungal rash. It isn't anything bad but would need a different cream..

Congrats on your bub..

[~Raven~]

My DS 2 has super sensitive skin and as a 2 day old his butt was covered in red welts and bleeding

I was advised by the midwives to stop using commercial wipes, or if I had to then get the sensitive or fragrance free ones. That helped a bit to take the angryness out of the rash within a day or two.

We had to experiment with the cream a bit too and after a bit or trial and error it was curash or bepanthen that was the best for him. Looking back I also think he was sensitive to disposable nappies and is one reason why I use cloth for my youngest two. I couldn't leave his bum cream free after any nappy change otherwise it would be red and nasty for the next one and I'd change him 2 hourly unless he was sleeping. Once he was toilet trained his rash cleared up.

[Tinks]

Maybe try canesten or something similar on it.

[Alan]

My suggestions are
Do not use commercial wipes. Only use warm water.
Lots of nappy free time.
Use zinc and castor oil cream but put lots on.
Other things to consider are
Are you using disposables? There is a small chance that these could be causing the rash
Has the rash started since you started using formula?

[Kitt3n]

i would definately stop using commercial wipes and use some nice soft cloth ones - facewashes are fine hun just with some nice warm water

i find pawpaw ointment is the best

if you are using sposies your baby might be allergic to them chemicals in them. you might like to try some MCN

your baby will actually benefit from your breastmilk whilst you have a cold much much more than formula - because your baby will be getting antibodies from your milk, I had a terrible flu and was on the lounge for days - laaa did not get sick at all!

GL hun