Tips for New Moms – When to Call the Doctor when Baby is Sick
Baylor Medical Center obstetrician Dr. Kristin Williams has some tips for new moms on how to decide when to reach for the phone. Dr. Williams says there are several situations that arise when you should always call the doctor.
For baby:
– a rectal temperature above 100.4Ã?ºF or 38 degrees Celsius
– labored breathing, wheezing or bluish fingertips
– yellowish skin or jaundice
– refusal to eat, drink or suck
– persistent vomiting or diarrhea
– spells of apnea (brief pauses in breathing)
– no wet diapers for 12 hours
A rectal temperature is taken in the baby’s bottom, or rectum. It’s a good idea to have a digital rectal thermometer on hand when you bring your newborn home from the hospital. To take a rectal temperature:
– lubricate the tip of the rectal thermometer with petroleum jelly such as VaselineÃ?®
– place your baby on his or her tummy
– carefully ease the tip of the thermometer one-half inch to one inch into the rectal opening
– hold the baby still by gently placing your other hand in the small of his or her back
– leave the thermometer in until it beeps (usually two to three minutes)
– wash the thermometer in cool, soapy water after you’re done
For mom:
A new mom should also be aware of symptoms that could seriously affect her health following childbirth. According to Dr. Williams, you should immediately call your obstetrician if your have any of the following symptoms following delivery:
– temperature above 100Ã?ºF ( 38 degrees Celsius) or flu-like symptoms
– continuous, heavy post-delivery bleeding
– vaginal discharge that has a strong odor
– burning, bloody or frequent urination
– phlebitis (redness, swelling and tenderness on the leg)
– painful breasts with red streaks
– depression
In conclusion:
A good guide to follow is the old saying that “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” Whenever you are in doubt as to whether you should call the doctor, you should always trust your instincts.
I personally remember when my youngest daughter was an infant and she woke up in the middle of the night screaming her lungs out. She was about three months old and usually slept for five or six hours a night before waking up and crying because she was hungry, lonely, or her diaper needed changed. However, her crying this particular night was different and I was scared.
She did not have a fever, but I had a gut level feeling that something was really wrong because as she was screaming, she was pulling at her ear. Because of that, I somehow knew instinctively that she had an ear infection. I called her pediatrician as soon as the doctor’s office opened in the morning and took her in to be seen. Sure enough, she had an ear infection even though she had not exhibited any symptoms of coming down with a cold when I put her to bed.
As a word of caution to new moms, I must say that if her symptoms would have been something like labored breathing, I would not have waited until morning to call the doctor. I would have called her pediatrician’s office in the middle of the night and insisted that the answering service have the doctor on call contact me immediately. I also would not have hesitated to call 911 if I even suspected that it was a life threatening situation. You should always trust your instincts!
