Newborn Conditions & Concerns
Newborn Jaundice
Jaundice happens when your baby's liver is still immature. The liver can't help the body get rid of enough bilirubin; a substance found in red blood cells. It can build up in the blood after your baby is born as part of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. If bilirubin levels become too high and aren't treated, they can harm your baby's developing brain and nervous system.
At this stage of your baby's growth, an immature liver is normal. Your baby's liver should soon start to help remove bilirubin from the body. almost half of all babies show some signs of jaundice, such as yellow skin or eyes. Your baby's healthcare provider will closely watch your baby's health until the jaundice goes away to make sure the bilirubin level doesn't become unsafe.
Home Care
- Watch you baby for signs of jaundice coming back or getting worse. Symptoms include:
- your baby's skin or the white of eyes turns yellow
- If jaundice gets worse, the yellow color will move from the eyes to your baby's face. Then it will move down your baby's body toward their feet.
- Breastfeed your baby often. Feed your baby at least 8-12 times every 24 hours.
- most babies with jaundice get better after eating for several days because the bilirubin is removed from the body in stools.
- Talk with your baby's healthcare provider about feedings if you are bottle-feeding your baby.
- Arrange to have "bili lights" at home if your baby's healthcare provider advises it.
- They can help your baby's body break down the bilirubin.
- Sometimes babies need to go to the hospital for more intensive therapy if the bilirubin stays too high.
Seeking Medical Advice
Call your baby's healthcare provider right away if your baby:
- doesn't want to feed at least 8-12 times every 24 hours
- has pale skin
- has pale or grayish stool or bowel movements
- has jaundice that gets worse
- has jaundice that doesn't improve by 2 weeks of age
- has a fever
- is fussy or crying a lot
- is vomiting
- has fewer wet or soiled diapers per day than expected
- As a general rule, newborns who are getting enough milk will poop 3-4 times a day by their fourth day of life. Thier stool should be yellow rather than black, brown, or green by day 5. They will likely also have at least 1 wet diaper or each day of age in the first week - 1 the first day, 2 the second day, and so on.
RSV Infection (Bronchiolitis)
Bronchiolitis is a viral infection. It affects the small air tubes in the lung. It's usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It occurs mostly in babies under 2 years old. Older children and adults can get this virus, but it generally feels just like a common cold to them.
The virus is contagious during the first few days. It's spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. It's also spread by direct contact. This might be touching your sick child, then touching your own eyes, nose, or mouth. Washing your hands often will lower the risk of spreading it to others.
This illness usually starts like a cold, with fever and nasal congestion. After a few days, the virus spreads into the bronchioles. This causes mild wheezing and rapid breathing for up to 7 days. The congestion and cough may last up to 2 weeks. Antibiotic medicines are usually not needed for this illness. They might be prescribed if your child gets a bacterial infection such as pneumonia or an ear infection. Medicines used to treat lung or a breathing condition such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or asthma can help ease RSV Symptoms. Treatment for RSV Infection offer support. The main goals are to keep good oxygen levels and make sure the child has enough fluids and nutrition.
Home Care
- Your child's healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat wheezing. Follow all instructions for giving these medicines to your child.
- Use children's acetaminophen for fever, fussiness, or discomfort, unless another medicine was prescribed. In babies over 6 months of age, you may use ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If your child has chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your child's provider before using these medications. Also talk to their provider if your child had a stomach ulcer or digestive bleeding. Never give aspirin to anyone younger than 18 years of age who is ill with a viral infection or fever, it may cause a serious condition called Reyes syndrome or could cause severe liver or brain damage.
- Wash your hands well with soap and clean, running water before and after caring for your child to prevent spreading the infection.
- Give your child plenty of time to rest.
- Help your older children blow their nose well. Your child's healthcare provider may advise saline nose drops to help thin and remove nasal secretions.
- For younger children, suction mucus from the nose with saline nose drops and a small bulb syringe.
- to prevent dehydration and help loosen lung secretions in toddlers and older children, have your child drink plenty of liquids. use a medicine dropper if needed to give small amounts of breastmilk, formula, or oral rehydration to babies. Give 1-2 teaspoons every 10-15 minutes.
- To make breathing easier during sleep, use a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom. Clean and dry the humidifier daily to prevent bacteria and mold growth
- Don't give over the counter cough and cold medicines to children under 6 years of age unless directed by a healthcare provider. These medicines can cause series side effects in children under 2 years old and may not help ease symptoms.
- Keep your child away from cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke can make symptoms worse.
Seeking Medical Advice
Call your child's healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:
- Fever
- repeated temperature of 104 degrees F or higher in a child of any age
- fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in a baby younger than 3 months
- fever that last more than 24 hours in a child under age 2
- fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older
- loss of appetite or feeds poorly
- earache
- sinus pain
- stiff or painful neck
- headache
- repeated diarrhea
- vomiting
- new rash
Recognizing a Fever
Use a digital thermometer to check your child's temperature. Do not use a mercury thermometer.
First, ask your child's healthcare provider how you should take the temperature. Some guidelines to follow for if your child has a fever are:
Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:
- rectal or forehead: 100.4 degrees F or higher
- armpit: 99 degrees F or higher
Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months:
- rectal, forehead, or ear: 102 degrees F or higher
- armpit 101 degrees F or higher
Your child's healthcare provider may give you different numbers for your child; follow your providers specific instructions.
Call 911 immediately if any of these occur:
- Increased trouble breathing
- Fast breathing, as follows:
| Birth - 6 weeks |
over 60 breaths per minute |
| 6 weeks - 2 years |
over 45 breaths per minute |
| 3-6 years |
over 35 breaths per minute |
| 7-10 years |
over 30 breaths per minute |
| 10+ years |
over 25 breaths per minute |
- Blue, purple or gray tint to the lips or fingernails
- Signs of dehydration including dry mouth, crying with no tears, urinating less than normal, or no wet diapers for 8 hours in babies
- unusual fussiness, drowsiness, or confusion
Circumcision
Circumcision is a surgery to remove the foreskin, a fold of skin that covers and protects the rounded tip of the penis. It is up to the parents to decide whether your baby is circumcised or not.
If circumcision is done, it's usually done by a pediatrician or urologist soon after birth, but it can also be done later in life. After the procedure, you will be given instructions on how to prevent infection and care for your baby's penis after returning home.
The risks associated with being uncircumcised are rare, but circumcision may be done for various health benefits, such as:
-
easier hygiene
-
lower risk of urinary tract infections
-
lower risk of sexually transmitted infections
-
prevention of penile problems
-
lower risk of penile cancer
Circumcision doesn't affect a child's ability to have a baby in the future. And in general, it's not thought to lessen or improve sexual pleasure for men or their partners. Your child's doctor will be able to answer any questions you have about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
Behavioral & Mental Health Assistance
Nebraska Family Helpline || 888-866-8660
The Nebraska Family Helpline makes it easier for families to obtain assistance by providing a single contact point 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Helpline is supervised by licensed mental health professionals.
Trained Helpline operators screen calls and assist callers by:
- assessing immediate safety needs
- identifying the potential level of a behavioral health crisis
- making recommendations or referrals to appropriate resources
- helping callers connect to emergency resources or providers
The Helpline can help in situations such as:
- kids not following family rules
- aggression at home or school
- arguing
- poor grades
- problems with school authority
- kids running away
- problems with sibling relationships
- absenteeism
- chemical dependency
- depression
- physical and sexual abuse
The Nebraska Family Helpline is provided by Boys Town and supported by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
402-371-4880