When to call a Doctor
It’s only natural to be overprotective and extra cautious when dealing with a newborn baby. The impulse is to reach for the phone and call a doctor whenever the baby has a cough, sneezes or does anything that seems abnormal. However, more often than not your baby is simply adjusting to his new environment and you certainly don’t want to be the parent that cries wolf and gets a bad reputation at the hospital for bringing your baby in every time something seems wrong. Keep in mind you will be charged for each visit so for your own sake you’ll want to keep the panic in check.
As soon as you give birth you will begin to notice the things that make your baby unique. Trust in your instincts and your own observations since no one will know your baby better than you. Today with the information overload we are all subject to it’s easy to forget that you know as much about your baby as a doctor and that usually you will be able to tell if there is a serious problem or not. Having access to information is great but relying on it instead of trusting your own judgment can be a mistake.
All babies go through adjustment periods during their infant stages and it’s only natural that a little dust will make them sneeze, a tickle in the throat will force a cough and too much lactose will cause gas. These are not reasons to rush your baby to the hospital. From day one you will begin to familiarize yourself with your baby’s eating and sleeping habits, crying and fussing bouts and other characteristics that will be his and his alone. Knowing these traits will give you better insight into his overall health and when there is a sudden disturbance in any pattern that is when you should pay close attention.
Of course, serious problems can arise and there are definitely situations when you will need to call your doctor for professional advice and even assistance. Generally if your baby shows signs of the following you should have a doctor called to see how serious a problem you may be dealing with: high fever (usually over 102 degrees) or low temperature (under 97 degrees), your baby isn’t eating or isn’t able to keep food down, the appearance of any strange rash or skin discoloration that does not have an obvious cause, abnormal bowel movements, excessive crying, persistent coughs with heavy mucous or difficulty breathing and a yellow tint to baby’s skin since 60% of newborns develop jaundice which indicates an excess of bilirubin in the blood
Many of the above mentioned symptoms can be easily treated but if left alone could quickly develop into a major problem that could involve hospitalization and possibly surgery.