Common Newborn and Infant Problems
Written by Jana Angeles
Newborn and infants will have their challenges and depending on their health conditions and lifestyles, they can experience all kinds of health problems. As parents, it’s important we constantly check in to see if our newborns and infants are taken care of, following the appropriate measures when it comes to medical advice and attending to medical emergencies as required. Newborns and infants are small so fighting off certain illnesses can be difficult for them if not treated immediately. When looking out for common health problems, the ones below are the ones you’d most likely face. In the end, if your gut feeling is telling you something’s not right, follow through and take extra precautions when it comes to taking care of your newborn and infant.
Birth Injuries
If you’ve experienced a difficult labour, your newborn may have contracted birth injuries after being born. These can include a broken collarbone, forceps marks, muscle weakness, etc. The good news is that newborns tend to be resilient from these injuries and can quickly recover from them. It’s advised for parents to seek immediate medical attention when they see any changes to the health of their newborn after a difficult birth. The earlier a problem is detected will give you peace of mind as a parent.
Coughing
During feeding times, your baby may experience some coughing fits while consuming milk. This could be because they are feeding too fast and the liquid just goes in the wrong pipe sometimes! However, if you see them gagging or have consistent coughing fits, see a doctor and get them checked out. The coughing could be caused by problems in the lungs or digestive system. You may want to also see if they have symptoms of whooping cough as coughing fits worsen during the night.
Respiratory Problems
It’s common for newborns to learn how to breathe normally within the few hours after their born. It shouldn’t take too long for them to adapt a normal breathing pace, ruling out any respiratory issues. However, if you find that your newborn is not able to breathe properly, check their nasal passage and see if there’s any obvious blockage. For treatment, you’ll need to purchase saline drops so the blockage can be eliminated. Compare their breathing pace after doing this so you can determine whether or not they need immediate medical attention.
Also look out for:
- Blue skin colour (the kind that doesn’t fade away)
- Flaring of the nose
- Grunting while breathing
- Fast breathing
If you’re newborn is a preemie, they’ll most likely experience respiratory issues so be sure to get them checked out if you see that they’re not breathing properly.
Vomiting
Another health problem that is common for infants is vomiting. Vomiting can be triggered after feeding sessions. Although this happens to most infants, frequent vomiting is not normal. Ensure that your child is not lactose intolerant or allergic to breast milk. Get into the habit of making them burp frequently to alleviate the symptoms of vomiting and to stop themselves from throwing up their meals.
If you see that your child is underweight, seek advice from a medical professional. You also need to pay attention to the colour of their vomit. If you see it is a green colour, go to your doctor and ask if it’s caused by a possible infection and ask for the best treatment options. Also, your little one could be experiencing digestive issues, which could be another cause of why they are vomiting.
Fever
Though fevers can happen in babies, it’s not considered a serious problem. Fevers normally indicate that they are trying to fight off an infection, so mild fevers don’t need immediate medical attention. However, if it’s considered a high fever, it’s best to see your local doctor and check to see if anything is wrong with your child. It’s important to do this as soon as you can because high fevers could lead to seizures if not treated properly.
Constipation
Is your baby struggling to pass stool? This could be sign of constipation. Though constipation is not considered a serious health issue, it’s important to take extra precautions in making sure that they are comfortable. See a local health professional and ask if there are any ways to alleviate the effects of constipation and what foods/medication they need to take to improve their well-being.
Whether it’s dealing with vomiting or coughing, there are other common problems that newborns and infants face on a daily basis. Just keep in mind that just because something is seen as ‘mild’, doesn’t mean you should skip out a visit on the doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your child’s health. It will give you peace of mind knowing you can identify health problems early on.