By Fred A. Tega, MD, FAAP.  Board Certified Pediatrician      

 

When to call your Pediatrician

 

Call your pediatrician right away or make an appointment and bring your newborn baby that is less than three months old to the clinic if your baby has any of the following:

 

1. Your baby feels warm, you think the baby might have a fever, and you take the temperature and your baby has a temperature of 100.4^oF (38^oC) or higher, or if your baby feels cold to touch, you take the temperature and it is less than 98oF (36.6^oC) when taken under the arm.

 

2. Your baby is vomiting and it is forceful (projectile), especially if there is a large amount after each feeding session, or if vomiting persists for more than 24 hours.

 

3. Your baby is refusing to feed for more than one or two feedings.

 

4. You baby seems to be sleeping a lot, especially if difficult to awaken, is weak or floppy and or not feeding well.                                                       

 

5. When your baby is fed, changed, properly swaddled in appropriate clothing and comforted but is crying constantly.

 

6. There is redness around the umbilical cord or it has a foul odor or any kind of discharge or drainage.

 

7. Your baby has an eye discharge, swelling or redness around the eyes.

 

8. Your baby has frequent, watery, foul smelling stools (diarrhea), especially if the stools contain blood.

 

9. There is bleeding from around the umbilical area, the circumcision site or any other site(s).

 

10. Your baby has a seizure or convulsion.

 

11. You notice a color change; - either the skin becomes pale or blue or your baby becomes blue around the eyes or mouth.

 

12. If your baby looks yellow or has jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin which usually starts on the face and spreads downwards towards the body and feet. The eyes may also look yellow.

 

13.  Your baby has trouble breathing, breathes fast (more than 60 times a minute), or makes a grunting noise when breathing. If you notice nose flaring with breathing or chest retractions.

 

14. If your baby has not had the usual number of wet diapers in 24 hours. As a guide during the first week of life, babies should make at least the number of wet diapers corresponding to their age in days. For instance a 4-day old baby should be making at least 4 wet diapers in 24 hours. After the first week your baby should be making about 6 to 8 wet diapers per day, or sometimes with each feeding.

 

15. If you notice white patches on the roof of the mouth, the tongue or the inside of the cheeks that you are not able to rub off. This is thrush and may prevent your baby from feeding well.

 

Please note that this is not an exclusive list of problems that newborn babies may develop. If you have any concerns, feel free to contact us at ABC Pediatrics.