Medical problems a newborn baby could face

For the first four weeks following birth, a baby is referred to as a “neonate.” This is a very important period of time -- some describe it as the most important in a person’s life -- during which a newborn baby adapts to the world around him or her. This is also why any real problems faced by a newborn need to be recognized and dealt with as quickly as possible.

Sometimes, a newborn baby may have some head swelling as a result of birth trauma. In fact, swelling on eyelids, hands, arms and legs is seen as quite normal. This swelling should disappear in the days following birth.

Hormones that pass from the mother to her baby may sometimes cause swelling of the baby’s nipples after birth. Not only is massage no use in helping this swelling pass, it should also be avoided as it could cause infections.

In baby girls, sometimes hormones passed from the mother to the child can cause slight and temporary vaginal discharge of either bloody or white matter. No treatment is called for here as this is temporary.

You might see slightly swollen capillaries on the baby’s skin. And you might also notice blue-colored birthmarks on the thighs or back of a newborn baby. These are not signs of illness and will generally fade in one year’s time. Babies born relatively early may have lots of hair all over the body. The baby will lose this light hair soon. Some babies also have small pimples and blemishes on their face and body; this is also a result of hormones passing from the mother to the baby. Of course, call for medical intervention in any of the abovementioned situations if they are either extreme or not temporary. For a newborn baby, sleeping 18-20 hours a day is quite normal. It is also very common for a newborn baby to spit up a small amount of milk after nursing and also to produce some fecal matter after each nursing session. The first feces from a baby are generally dark green and sticky, almost like tar. But they soon turn yellow in color and soft in the days that follow, as the baby nurses from the mother. At this stage, a baby can fill a diaper with feces anywhere between one to five times a day.

Dangerous signs in a newborn

Normally, a newborn baby breathes in and out about 40 times a minute. You can count this by watching a baby’s chest. If the baby breathes more than this amount per minute, a doctor’s intervention is strongly recommended. Also, if the newborn baby’s ribs protrude when breathing, if breathing is labored, if the nostrils close and open when breathing or if the nose is bleeding, this is a dangerous sign and needs to be followed up by a doctor. The doctor needs to determine whether or not these respiratory problems could be related to more serious chronic problems such as heart disease or lung disease.

When a newborn baby does not urinate or defecate within the first 48 hours of life outside the womb, this is a situation which should be monitored closely by a doctor to ensure that there are no underlying problems with the baby’s organs or organ functions. Not producing the first fecal matter within the first 48 hours could be cause for intestinal surgery. The first urine is also generally produced within the first 24 hours.

Purple discoloration on or around the lips calls for an examination to ensure that there are no underlying coronary problems. A newborn baby throwing his or her head backwards and stretching into a backwards C-shape could be a symptom of brain dysfunction.

These could be the result of anything from trauma caused by a difficult birth process during which the baby did not get enough oxygen to meningitis to a septic infection or other problems, but whatever the situation, a doctor should absolutely see and examine the baby.

Insufficient nursing from either the mother’s breast or the bottle is another issue that may be encountered. Even when there are no other symptoms, insufficient nursing must be taken seriously, as it could be a sign of a serious health problem. An unhealthy baby may not have the strength to show the urge to nurse, which is a basic one. This is a situation that calls for immediate medical intervention and support in nutrition.

Unlike the white, milky vomit that may come up along with gas after a baby nurses, yellow or green colored vomit that is unconnected to nursing can be a serious sign of underlying problems. It could also indicate stomach or intestinal problems.

A very high or a very low body temperature is another warning sign. A baby’s body temperature should be followed closely and can be measured by either ear or rectal thermometers. When a newborn baby has a temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius, a doctor must examine the baby. This is a symptom that could turn serious over time. An infection that enters the bloodstream could pass to all of the organs of the body and cause sepsis, a serious problem in newborn babies.

Watch out for jaundice that starts on the first day. There is a more serious type of jaundice that begins to appear after birth and can last longer than 14 days.