Diaper Rash

by Myra Charleston

Most diaper rash is caused by a yeast or bacterial infection, two organisms that thrive in a moist, warm environment. The area covered by the diaper becomes covered with small, pimple-like bumps that may become scaly or crusty. In severe cases the sores ooze and have an unpleasant odor. At some time almost all babies will develop some sort of diaper rash.

When Susan first became pregnant, both her mom and mom-in-law advised her on preventative care. "They told me to keep the baby changed, how to clean the bottom and to use petroleum jelly."  Her pediatrician told her to forget the petroleum jelly because the baby's skin needed to breathe.  "When Amy had her first case of diaper rash, it was pretty standard and I did what I had been told by the doctor, I kept her clean, it seemed like I changed her all the time. But it was getting worse and she was crying every time she peed. I called the doctor, but she told me not to put anything on it, to continue to change her and that it would clear up. By then it was horrific, her little bottom was red and I swear it was peeling. I even had her on a pad instead of in diapers, and when she would pee, she'd stop and cry then pee some more. I told her (the pediatrician) how bad it was, but she just repeated what she had told me, keep her clean and dry.  I felt like she was being impatient with me, like, oh, I don't know.  It's my first baby and I felt unsure of myself."

At that time Susan and Neil had to attend a weekend corporate retreat. The men would attend some meetings, play golf and the ladies would play bridge and get to know one another. Grandmom Ellen (Susan's Mom) kept Amy the two days they were gone. "The first thing she said when she saw Amy's bottom was  what have you been putting on it?''  Susan became defensive. "I told her nothing; that the doctor said not to use anything, that it would clear up on it's own. I stressed that she was to follow the doctor's orders. Mom just looked at me over her glasses and asked if it was getting better or worse. I admitted it was worse, but, like an idiot, continued to stress what the doctor said."

"The minute they pulled out of the driveway I had that baby butt naked and put emu oil all over her little bottom." Reports Grandmom Ellen. "She cried at first, because of the contact, but settled down, the oil soothed her. I put it on her every time I changed her." Ellen uses a variety of emu oil products and keeps emu oil in the medicine cabinet. When Susan and Neil picked her up on Sunday evening, Susan asked how the rash was. She had to look when she was told it was gone and expressed amazement that it could clear up so quickly. Grandmom confessed to using the emu oil. Susan was angry, but not at  Grandmom - at the doctor for letting the baby suffer when it would be so easy to heal the rash up. Since then she has changed pediatricians, but has decided to follow Mom's advice and keep emu oil in the medicine cabinet, along with a variety of emu oil based baby products. 

Note: This information is provided for strictly educational purposes 
and is not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, 
consult your physician.