A Nurse in Your Purse

By Bekah Shephard

Ever wish you had a nurse on speed dial to ask questions about your baby's health? Even just to ask about the little things, like what to do for a stuffy nose or how to handle spit up?

That's where A Nurse in Your Purse comes in.

As a pediatric nurse, I've worked with a lot of babies and their mamas. And after

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bekah Shephard LLC
• Release date: May 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737070115

Book preview

Bite-sized answers for every mama’s

questions about basic infant health care

Bekah Shephard, RN

Purse

in your

Nurse

a

Bekah Shephard, RN

A Nurse in Your Purse

Bite-sized answers for every mama’s

questions about basic infant health care

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. All children are unique and this book is not intended to substitute the advice of your pediatrician or other physician who should be consulted if your child shows any signs of illness or unusual behavior. No book can replace a professional medical diagnosis and treatment that comes from a physical exam. If in doubt, have your child evaluated by a doctor.

Copyright © 2021 A Nurse in Your Purse, by Bekah Shephard, RN

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

Paperback ISBN 978-1-7370701-0-8

Ebook ISBN 978-1-7370701-1-5

Illustrated by Jeanne Mouch

Layout by Bekah Shephard

Published by Bekah Shephard

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

For more information, contact the author at bekahshephard.com

For Ava and Brody. Thank you for making me a mama. You two are the greatest gift I could have ever asked for and my greatest adventure. I will always be your biggest fan.

For Brice. I won’t tell anyone that you came up with the name for this book. Thank you for believing in me, putting up with all the late night mouse clicks, and encouraging me on every hairball scheme I come up with. I always want you to be my partner in crime.

For all my fellow mamas out there. This time can be scary, uncertain, exhausting and challenging as you learn how to care for something so little and so helpless, all while running on very little sleep and way too much coffee. Amidst all the diaper changes, the never ending feedings, the snot, the vomit, the first smile, the first laugh, and the first step … remember to treasure every moment. The hardest parts of being a mom are also the sweetest parts, too. So go ahead and hold your baby a little longer … I promise it’s something you will never regret doing. I’m rooting for you, mama, and so is every other mama out there. You’re never alone in this adventure!

After reading Bekah’s book, I wish I would have had it as a first time mom! It was so down to earth and educational - answering all of the common questions us mommas have. Whether you’re a first time or a seasoned momma, I HIGHLY recommend getting a copy of her book - you won’t regret it!

Allayna Buzzard, wife, mother, and business owner

As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I often hear some of the same questions from worry-filled parents. Unfortunately, I'm not always there to answer the questions that parents want answers to right away. This book provides many of those answers and serves as a great reference book for those anxiety inducing issues at home. Whether you're a new mom or a mom of six, this book is a great refresher course for the first few years of your precious one's life. The information is solid and the advice is spot on.

Clorissa Diedrich, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

"Bekah’s A Nurse in Your Purse guidebook is easily digestible! As a new mom, you don’t have a ton of time to read and decipher a scholarly article. Bekah’s guide gives you all the information you need about common worries you’ll have about your baby and writes it in a way that’s easy to understand and navigate. I wish it was something I had as a first time mom AND a second time mom! I probably wouldn’t have called our pediatrician about my son’s eye every other week if I had. Another great thing I like about her A Nurse in Your Purse guide is she’s a mother herself AND a nurse, so I know she not only understands firsthand any worries us new mothers have, she has the medical knowledge to back it up. I’m the kind of person that will spend hours researching an answer, but knowing this guide was developed by a mother for mothers gives me a certain sense of peace. This is definitely something every new mom should have!"

Karla Morales, wife, mother of 2, and owner

of Morales Virtual Management

Contents

Introduction 8

Umbilical Cord 12

Jaundice 14

Cradle Cap 16

The Poop Section 18

Spit Up, Vomit, or Reflux 22

How Much to Feed Baby 25

Stuffy Nose 27

Flat Heads 30

Torticollis 32

Blocked Tear Ducts  33

Nail Clipping 35

Diaper Rash 36

Thrush 39

First Foods 42

Baby Skin 46

Teething 50

Coughing 51

Fevers 52

Minor Burns 56

Ticks 58

A Note About CPR 60

Medications and Dosing 61

Well Child Visit Chart 64

Eat, Sleep, Poop Chart 66

First Foods Chart 68

Names & Numbers   70

Supply List 71

Acknowledgements 73

About the Author 75

References 76

I don’t know about you, but when my two kids were born, a how-to manual didn’t just pop out along with either one of them telling me everything I needed to know as a new mom. The moment they said