If you have a newborn, no doubt you are aware of the tons of activities involved. You have to take good care of these little, amazing creatures. You probably know the basics, from feeding, changing their diapers, and bathing to soothing them.
However, that’s not all there is. The health of newborn babies is one thing you should always be concerned about. There are physical conditions that, when you see them in your little one, you should inform your pediatrician.
What problems can your newborn experience? For your convenience, Omega Pediatrics has pulled up information to deliver some of the common problems you might experience with your newborn. Keep reading as we explore to find out.
1. Rash
In most cases, we assume that babies, especially newborns, have perfect and flawless skin. Others wish to have skin like that of a baby. However, this is often not the case. Babies who are days old and newborns experience rashes.
Rashes are common among newborns. Well, if you’re wondering what forms the rash can take, it can occur in any of the following: bumps, blisters, and scaly patches.:
Rashes may appear on your newborn’s face, scalp, body, or even around the diaper area. Should you be worried? Well, the good news is that most of them aren’t serious, so worry no more. However, there are extreme cases that will require medical attention.
In severe cases of rashes, an accompanying symptom is a fever, and the newborn just acts not like their normal self. In this case, don’t hesitate to see a pediatrician.
Book an appointment with Omega Pediatrics. Your pediatrician can clinically assess your baby’s skin rashes and will prescribe medications if need be.
2. Too Much Crying
If you have experience with newborns, you know that they’re vulnerable creatures who cry a lot. Interestingly enough, they can even cry for no specific reason. However, as a mother or caregiver, this doesn’t mean you don’t take your little one’s crying seriously.
Ensure you have fed the newborn. Also, the baby is burped and stays warm. Moreover, the diaper should be clean; otherwise, you will need to change it. What should you do if, after taking these steps, everything is in check but the baby is still crying?
Understandably, you might be frustrated, but your baby still can’t stop crying! In this situation of excessive crying, you can hold your newborn, sing, or talk to him or her until he or she stops crying. What a soothing strategy!
Remember, this isn’t the time to spoil your baby with too much attention. When your baby still can’t stop crying, wrap him or her comfortably in a blanket. The good news is that, over time, you will be able to differentiate between their various cries.
Plus, you will know the patterns of crying so that, in case something goes wrong, you know how to handle things and when to seek medical help. Once you have mastered your baby’s sleep patterns, you can take notice of any strange sounds.
Moreover, if the cries are prolonged, you need to be worried. It might be a prelude to a serious underlying health condition. Reach out to your pediatrician for the necessary advice and help.
3. Jaundice
If you notice your newborn’s skin appears yellowish and the white parts of their eyes appear yellow, it could be a sign of jaundice. It may appear in the legs, abdomen, and arms. This is normally expected during the first few days of life.
Based on research data, it’s estimated that almost half of newborns develop this condition. On a happy note, these are mild forms of jaundice. For premature babies, this condition starts early and lasts longer compared to full-term newborns.
You might be wondering about the underlying cause. Jaundice in newborns occurs due to high levels of bilirubin produced as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells.
Another cause is that the livers of newborns aren’t fully developed, thus unable to get rid of the bilirubin from their bloodstream. The bilirubin appears yellowish.
Other types of jaundice are due to infections, breastfeeding issues, or a blood type mismatch between the mother and child. A mother should breastfeed her newborn 8–12 times daily. This way, enough milk will be produced, reducing the levels of bilirubin.
Jaundice may be observed once the newborn leaves the hospital. If you notice that your newborn has signs of jaundice, you can contact your doctor. This condition is treatable in most cases. However, if it’s extreme, it can lead to brain damage.
4. Excessive Sleep
It’s quite common for newborns to sleep for very long hours. Most of their time is spent sleeping. This sleep pattern is normal when the baby wakes up on his own after a few hours, feeds properly, remains alert, and generally looks content.
However, if your newborn is rarely alert most of the day, doesn’t wake up by himself or herself to feed, looks extremely tired, and isn’t interested in breastfeeding, you need to be concerned. The baby’s excessive sleep may not be safe at all.
You need to alert your pediatrician so you can see what can be done. Importantly, if you notice any sudden change, you need to take quick action. There could be some serious illness along the way, and excessive sleeping could just be one of the symptoms.
5. Respiratory Problems
It normally takes newborns a few hours after birth before they form normal breathing patterns. After this, the rest should be easy; your baby should not experience any difficulties.
When you notice that your baby’s breathing is unusual, the nasal passages are probably blocked. How can you fix this problem? You can apply saline nasal drops or use a bulb syringe as an immediate remedy.
However, if you notice any of the following in your newborn, inform your pediatrician immediately:
- increased rate of breathing, usually over 60 breaths per minute. However, you should also know that babies breathe faster than adults.
- muscles between the ribs are sucked with each breath. You will then notice the ribs protruding.
- grunting when breathing
- unending blue coloring on the body parts
Therefore, you need to always be aware of how your newborn breathes so that you can easily spot any sudden changes. It’s abnormal to breathe with any of the symptoms highlighted above; you should inform your doctor immediately. Don’t waste time.
6. Abdominal Distention
If you notice your newborn’s belly is soft during feeding, you need not worry. But when you’re done feeding, especially if it’s a heavy feeding, you notice that the belly feels hard and looks swollen or bloated. You were probably stressed.
If your newborn experiences any of the following, you should consult a pediatrician:
- swollen and hard abdomen
- lack of bowel movement for more than one or two days
- vomiting during or after feeding
In most cases, abdominal distention is a problem as a result of excess gas or constipation. Unfortunately, the condition can be an indicator of a major intestinal problem. New moms must always be in the know in these cases.
7. Blue Baby Syndrome
Blue baby syndrome manifests when the baby’s skin turns blue due to less oxygen in the blood. This is congenital in some babies, while others develop it in their early lives. If you notice their hands and feet appear mildly blue, this isn’t much to worry about.
More often, the newborn’s hands and feet turn blue due to the cold temperature in the nursery or bedroom. These will later return to pink once they’re warm.
Also, when the baby cries hard, their lips, face, and tongue may turn blue. When they’re calm, the normal pink color comes back. Therefore, in these cases, there can be some blue coloration on your newborn’s body parts.
The original color of the baby’s skin will return once the conditions go back to normal. These, however, don’t mean that you should stay at ease all the time.
You will be more concerned if you notice that the blue color becomes persistent. Also, if the newborn has breathing problems, together with difficulty feeding, then the problem can be serious. Probable The lungs and the heart aren’t functioning properly.
When your baby’s lungs or heart aren’t functioning well, he isn’t getting enough blood and oxygen. This case can be very serious. Inform your pediatrician immediately so that your newborn can receive medical attention.
8. Injuries at Birth
Expectant mothers hope and wish for safe births with no injuries or complications to either them or their babies. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. If you think that newborns are spared from injuries during childbirth, well, you’re mistaken.
When the labor was difficult or the baby was too big, there could be some injuries experienced. So, it’s true that newborns can also be injured at this critical stage. The good news is that they can recover very quickly from some of these injuries.
However, some injuries go on for way too long, and only then can newborns recover. Here are some injuries at birth:
- broken collarbone
This manifests if one arm is motionless for a while. A few weeks later, a lump will form at the point of the fracture, indicating the formation of a new bone. The baby will then recover from this injury.
- muscle weakness
The muscles are weakened on one side of the baby’s face, one shoulder, or even one arm. They will become normal after a few weeks.
As you wait for your baby’s injuries to heal, your child’s pediatrician will explain and show you how you will hold and nurse your newborn. Give your baby the most tender touch so that the healing process is promoted.
Know the Common Problems in Newborns
Babies are amazing little creatures. They need to be treated and cared for tenderly with all the love. However, there are problems that they experience when they’re still newborns. Some of these are common and should not worry you.
On the other hand, other problems are so severe that action needs to be taken so that the baby is helped before the situation gets out of hand. Moreso, if you doubt any condition or any symptom your baby has, you can always contact your doctor.
Help your baby live a healthy life by addressing any of the conditions that can interfere with their health. Your provider at Omega Pediatrics is with you to give the best possible care for your precious little one. We are your best ally in babies’ healthcare.
