Notify your pediatrician if:
- If baby seems yellow (jaundice). Especially if associated with excessive sleepiness, refusal to eat, and/or irritability.
- If baby refuses 2 or more feedings. Baby can become dehydrated and/or become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar).
- If baby projectile vomits (not just spitting up; spitting up is normal). Baby can be sick, become dehydrated and/or become hypoglycemic.
- If vomit looks green (bilious) or is a coffee ground color.
- If baby’s temperature is <97°F or >100.4°F. First ensure baby is not cold/hot due to the environment. However, if baby is showing signs of illness and is having temperature problems, notify pediatrician immediately.
- If baby has less than 4-6 wet diapers in a day in the first few days of life or less than 6 wet diapers a day after the 6th day of life. This can be a sign of dehydration.
- If baby has not stooled after 24 hours (especially if associated with a hard abdomen and vomiting), stool is hard (sign of constipation) or is having consecutive liquid stools (diarrhea).
- Blood is present in stool.
- If baby is lethargic (floppy), crying excessively, and/or having jerking movements of body and/or eyes.
- If baby’s breathing pattern has become labored (i.e. rapid breathing, shallow breathing, gasping for air, flaring nostrils, changing colors, and/or making a grunting sound when breathing). If baby is turning blue—CALL 911.
- If umbilical cord or circumcision site has a foul odor, swelling, pus, or excessive bleeding. These are signs of infection.
