Your newborn baby's health
Newborn babies, especially breastfed babies, are generally healthy during their first weeks of life. But their immune systems and internal organs are not yet fully developed, so there are some ailments that can affect them at this early age.
Jaundice of the newborn
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This is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that's produced when primitive red blood cells are destroyed - something that often happens after birth.
Infant jaundice usually appears by the second or third day after birth, and lasts for about seven to ten days. By this time, the surplus red blood cells have died off and the baby's liver has matured enough to mop up the excess bilirubin in the body. The jaundice usually clears up by itself, but if the bilirubin levels are particularly high, a baby may need phototherapy. In this treatment a baby is exposed to carefully controlled amounts of ultraviolet light, which breaks down the bilirubin pigment in the skin.
Haemolytic disease of the newborn
This is a more serious condition caused by too much bilirubin in a baby's blood. It can result from the breakdown of large numbers of red blood cells due to the action of antibodies from a Rhesus-incompatible mother. The main symptoms are jaundice, pallor, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and blood abnormalities. It's usually treated by blood transfusion.
Diarrhoea and vomiting in newborns
Mild cases of upset stomach or diarrhoea will soon pass but a young baby's digestive system is extremely vulnerable. Breastfed babies are less prone to these gastro-intestinal infections than bottlefed babies, because of the protective antibodies that are contained in breastmilk.
Contact your doctor immediately if your baby vomits up all his feeds over a six-hour period or is passing frequent, loose, green, watery stools.
Dehydration in newborns
The major danger to babies who are suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea is dehydration because of the loss of fluids. Symptoms of dehydration include a dry mouth, sunken eyes, the fontanelles looking or feeling unusually low, irritability, lethargy, and refusal to feed. Never ignore these symptoms; call your doctor at once.
Bowel and bladder problems in newborns
Breastfed babies don't get constipated - the ideal composition and digestibility of breastmilk keeps everything moving. Bottlefed babies can get constipated and this is usually because they're not getting enough fluid. If your bottlefed baby passes no stools for a day or two, then produces a hard one, give him drinks of water between feeds to increase his fluid intake. If this doesn't make his stools softer and more frequent, ask your doctor or health visitor for advice.
Urinary problems
If your baby starts to urinate infrequently it might be a sign of a fever, or of a blockage or infection in his urinary system. If he goes for a couple of hours without wetting his nappy, give him plenty of water to drink. If his nappy is still dry two hours later, call your doctor.
If your baby's urine becomes strong-smelling and deepens in colour, he may not be having enough to drink. This makes the urine more concentrated. Increase his liquid intake by giving him several drinks of water between feeds. If this doesn't make any difference, he could have a urinary infection and might need treatment, so call your doctor.
Fever in newborns
A fever is a sign that your baby's body is fighting an infection - the rise in temperature acts to make the body's own defence system work harder. If you think your baby may have a fever, take his temperature. Check it again in 20 minutes to see if it's changed and note each reading. If his temperature rises slightly, but he seems his usual self and shows no other signs of illness, it's probably a minor infection and will usually pass within a day or two, but tell your doctor just in case.
Call your doctor at once if your baby's temperature rises by a degree or more, if he gets hot and distressed, or shows symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Posted 16.11.2010
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