When you should worry about your newborn baby

Being a parent is a very difficult task. As babies can not talk and share their pain and problem.

So it becomes very difficult to understand when these little one are suffering from serious problems.

Today we will see the condition which can cause the serious problems in the newborn babies if timely treatment is not received.

Following are the conditions when you should worry about your newborn and consult a paediatrician or neonatologist immediately:

1. Not feeding well- When you observe that if previously well feed baby is not feeding well, then it’s time to consult your doctor immediately, as it might be due to infection or underlying systemic illness.
2. Temperature- The normal temperature of the baby is between 36.5-37.5 degree celsius and it feels warm to direct touching by hand, the temperature below 35.5 degree celsius it known as hypothermia, and above 37.5 degree celsius is known as hyperthermia, If any time you feel the skin temperature of the baby is less than or above the normal or when the thermometer is available the temperature of the baby is below 35.5 degree celsius or above 37.5 degree celsius then it’s time to consult a doctor immediately. Because the baby might be having infection in the body.
3. Convulsion- Convulsion or seizure is a little bit difficult to understand in newborn, because of it’s different patterns, in the newborn it doesn’t look like the seizures in the adults, newborns might be having staring look, cyclical movements of limbs on one side or on both the sides or repeated movements like lip smacking or involuntary movements, unresponsive child or irritable child. When you observe such things, it can be a convulsion in the baby and it’s better to consult a doctor and make sure about the it.
4. Yellowish discolouration of the skin-  It is called as Icterus and it is nothing but jaundice, there is a condition called physiological jaundice it occurs at around 3-5 days of life and you should not  be worry about it as it is self limiting condition and it will resolve in around 7-10 days and it doesn’t need any treatment most of the time, but when you observe the yellowishness is more and it includes the palm and soles of the baby and when this yellow discolouration is occurred before 24 hrs of birth or after 7 days of birth then you should consult a doctor because your baby might need a treatment for the same.
5. Bluish discolouration- The bluish discolouration of the fingers is called the acrocyanosis, it is normal most of the time as it can be present after birth and on exposure to cold. But when the lips, face or trunk becomes the blue then it is concerning as it can be a sign of systemic diseases, which might be due to heart related problem called as cyanotic heart disease or other systemic problem which needs immediate attention.
6. Increased Respiratory rate- Even though the babies normally have the increased respiratory rate, but it should not be more than 60 breaths/minute and they should not have signs of respiratory distress as grunt, intercostal or subcostal recession. When you observe the respiratory rate is increased in the baby and it is more than 60 breaths/minute along with there are signs of respiratoryh distress  it might be due to the baby is feeling breathlessness which can be the result of respiratory system problem or heart problem or it can be due to the infection etc. So it is very important to consult a paediatrician as timely taken stapes can save the life of the baby.
7. Lethargy- Lethargy is nothing but baby becomes less responsive, Normally the newborn are playful, active, have loud cry, breastfeed well but when the babies develop infection or illness they tend to be lethargic, they don’t respond well, don’t feed actively, even have shrill cry and have less activity, then it’s the time to visit the clinic.
8. Bleeding- Bleeding from any site including from umbilical stump, stool or echymotic patches on the skin or from any other site is an absolute emergency, and you should consult a doctor immediately as it can be due to infection or bleeding disorder which can fetal to baby.
9. Abdominal distension- Normally abdomen of the babies is little bit distended as abdominal muscles of the babies are lax, but when that distension becomes excessive it can be due to underlining causes like not able to pass meconium, enlargement of the abdominal organs, perforation of the intestine, infection, excessive collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity etc, which has to be diagnosed as early as possible as these are the fatal but treatable conditions. So immediate diagnosis and treatment is necessary.
10. Excessive weight loss- It normal to lose up to 10% of body weight in the first 7 days after birth as this is due to water loss from the body, and the birth weight is achieved back in 10-12 days of age. But if you observe that your baby is not gaining weight and losing weight excessively i.e. approximately more than 10%, then it is the time to rule out the systemic and other pathological conditions.
11. Vomiting- Babies do have regurgitation after feeding few times a day which is a normal condition, as it can be due to lack of or inappropriate or faulty burping technique and this regurgitation doesn’t cause all the feed to come out unlike the vomiting where babies vomit all the feed out. And if this happen excessively then it should be concerning and need medical attention.
12. Loose motions- Excessive loose motions in newborn is different from adults as newborn babies normally can pass stool for 5-6 times a day, even if it is more or less is normal as long as the babies are playful, active and feeding well and doesn’t need any treatment for it but if baby is passing more than 8-10 episodes of loose motions in a day and having abnormal colour of the stool or becomes lethargic or not feeding well then you should be worried about your baby and consult a doctor.
13. Reduced urine output- Normally babies pass urine 10-12 times per day, when they are feed properly, but when it reduces significantly it might be due to faulty feeding technique, kidney diseases or infection.

I hope this information is useful for you, as it can be life saving if appropriate decision is taken at appropriate time.

Along with this you should not be worried all the time. 

At the same time it is also very important to enjoy the parenthood.

So wish you all the best and take care of your little one.