One of the toughest and most nerve-racking things for new mums is figuring out when to call the baby’s doctor. As a general rule of thumb, trust your instincts. If you suspect something is not right, you should always call the doctor. Even small changes in eating, sleeping, and crying can be signs of serious problems for newborns. Call your paediatrician or baby’s doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms.

When to call your baby’s doctor:

• No urine in first 24 hours at home
• No bowel movement in the first 48 hours at home
• Trouble breathing, very rapid breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute) or blue lips or finger nails
• Pulling in of the ribs when breathing
• Wheezing, grunting, or whistling sounds when breathing
• Rectal temperature above 38 ° C or below 36.6° C
• Persistent cough
• Nosebleeds
• Yellow or greenish mucus in the eyes
• Pus or red skin at the base of the umbilical cord stump
• Yellow colour in whites of the eye and/or skin (jaundice) that gets worse 3 days after birth
• Circumcision problems – worrisome bleeding at the circumcision site, bloodstains on diaper or wound dressing larger than the size of a grape
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea – This can be hard to detect, especially in breastfed newborns. It often has a foul smell and can be streaked with blood or mucus, and is usually more watery or looser than normal. Any significant increase in the number or appearance of your newborn’s regular bowel movements may suggest diarrhoea.
• Fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours
• A sunken soft spot (fontanel) on the baby’s head
• Refuses several feedings or eats poorly
• Hard to waken or unusually sleepy
• Extreme floppiness, lethargy, or jitters
• Crying more than usual and very hard to console

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