Disclaimer [ENGLISH]
Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
Fever
- In babies less than two months of age, a rectal temperature of greater than 100.4°F (38°C) is reason for concern. Do not trust ear or forehead thermometers at this age. Rectal thermometers are the best and are the gold standard measurement in newborns.
- You should call us immediately, day or night, if your less-than-two-month old baby has a temperature greater than 100.4°F.
Jaundice
- Many babies get some yellowing of the skin and eyes, usually between three and seven days of age.
- This is a result of immaturity of the liver, the organ responsible for clearing the yellow substance (bilirubin) from the blood.
- The yellow color usually begins around the face and progresses downward toward the body.
- If the jaundice is mild, it is not likely to be of concern, but if it is becoming more pronounced or occurs before three days of age, you should give us a call.
- In most cases, the yellow color will gradually disappear with the help of frequent feeding and stooling. If your baby looks yellow and is not feeding well or stooling often, please let us know.
Dehydration
- In the first days and weeks, new babies are adjusting to their environments, and this includes feeding.
- Most babies will get plenty of fluids with feedings about every two to three hours.
- If your baby is having about six wet diapers a day, they are doing fine.
- However, please call us if you are having difficulty getting your baby to feed well, and the diaper is dry for more than six hours after the first week of life, as they may be becoming dehydrated.
Irritability
- Most babies will have an hour or two of fussiness at some time of the day or evening, usually just as you sit down to dinner.
- If your baby is crying excessively without an obvious cause and is behaving very different than usual, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. The same applies if he/she is much less active than usual or listless.
- Your baby's level of activity is a very reliable indicator of their well-being. Please call us if there is a change in your baby’s level of activity.
Rash
- New babies have very sensitive skin and you will probably notice lots of peeling, redness, and even what may look like pimples in the first days and weeks. All of these are normal.
- The following skin findings may not be normal, so please call right away:
- (1) redness or swelling of the skin surrounding the umbilical stump
- (2) fluid-filled or weeping blisters anywhere on the body
- (3) swelling or hardness under the skin
- (4) small pinpoint red or purple spots under the skin that are increasing in number
- (5) any rash that is accompanied by temperature greater than 100.4°F (38°C).