When should I call my newborn's doctor?

Wouldn't it be great if your newborn came home from the hospital with a set of instructions and rules that tell you exactly when to call the pediatrician? But it's not. And your baby can't tell you what's wrong. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the signs of serious problems.

When to call a doctor immediately

Respiratory disorder. If your child breathes more than 60 times per minute, pauses in breathing, or has a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and nails, it could be a lung or heart disease.

Fever. If a child has a temperature measured in the rectum of 38 C or higher, he has a fever. For the first 3 months of a baby's life, measure the temperature in the rectum, not in the ear, mouth, or armpit. Fever in newborns can be caused by a serious illness such as bacterial meningitis or sepsis, a blood poisoning. Both can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. Before calling, write down your child's temperature and the exact time you took it.

Blood in vomit or stool. It could just be diaper rash, but it could also be a sign of a more serious stomach problem.

Yellowish skin or eyes. This may be a sign of jaundice, which usually develops between the second and fourth day after birth. You can check this by pressing lightly on the baby's forehead, he may have mild jaundice. Most hospitals check your newborn for jaundice before they go home, but breastfed babies can develop it any time during the first week of life. Your pediatrician will check this during the first doctor's visit 1-3 days after the child is discharged from the hospital.

Your baby sleeps more than usual or doesn't wake up. It's true that most newborns can sleep almost anything. But if your baby doesn't move even after you undress him or push him a little, it's time to call the doctor.

What to watch for

Not eating. If your newborn refuses to feed several times in a row or seems to be eating less than usual, check with your doctor.

Not peeing. A healthy newborn has 6-8 wet diapers 24 hours after the 4th day of life. If there are fewer of them, they may be dehydrated. Other signs include sunken eyes and a sunken fontanel, as well as a lack of tears when crying.

Diarrhea. This can be difficult to notice in a newborn baby, especially if he is breastfed, as he has frequent loose stools. If you suddenly notice more frequent or very watery bowel movements, it could be diarrhea. Call your pediatrician if that's enough for 6-8 diaper changes.

Constipation. Your newborn should have a bowel movement at least once a day for the first month. If not, call your doctor as the child may not be eating enough. Thereafter, the formula-fed child should receive at least one dose per day, but breastfed children may go without it for several days or even a week. If your baby is 1 month old or older and is constipated, you can try giving him apple or pear juice. If this doesn't help in a day or two, call your pediatrician.

A cold that does not get better. Even newborns get colds. Most of the time, nasal congestion and a runny nose make your baby uncomfortable, but this is normal. But call the doctor if your baby is so congested that he has trouble feeding or sleeping, seems particularly grumpy, or if nasal symptoms last longer than 10 to 14 days.

Vomiting. The newborn expectorates a small amount of milk within an hour after feeding. This is fine. But if the discharge is especially strong and occurs more than two or three times a day, see a doctor. This may indicate an infection, gastroesophageal reflux, or, in rare cases, pyloric stenosis, a thickening of the stomach muscles requiring surgery.

Tender belly button or penis. If your child's belly button area or penis turns red, oozes, or bleeds, it could be a sign of a bacterial infection and he needs to start antibiotic treatment right away.

A diaper rash that doesn't go away. More than half of all babies have redness around the diaper. You can treat it with a thick layer of zinc oxide or petroleum jelly, but if it doesn't improve within 48 to 72 hours, if you're bleeding or seeing pus-filled sores, call your doctor. Your child may have a yeast or bacterial infection and will need medication.

Cries inconsolably. Of course, all children cry. But if yours has been crying for a long time and none of your actions can calm him down, something may be wrong.

Follow your instincts

If you're worried, pick up the phone. It's always better to play it safe, especially when it comes to newborns. Pediatric offices are accustomed to answering the calls of worried parents and are always available to help allay your concerns or give you advice on what to do. Before calling your doctor, make sure you have a pen and paper with you to write down any instructions he may give you. You should also have the following information ready: