BREATHING:  Babies make all sorts of sounds with normal breathing.  They may breathe irregularly with fast. Shallow breaths followed by deep, slow breaths.  The most common breathing sounds may come from small amounts of mucous in their nose and throat.  Babies will also have periods of quiet breathing.  When they cry, they may become redder. 

If your baby shows any of the following:
   • Labored breathing with a grunt sound with each breath
   • His/her chest seems to cave-in with each breath when baby is not crying
   • Is breathing more than 60 breaths a minute and lasts more that 15 minutes

You will need to call us right away.

COLOR:  A small amount of blue color on the hands and feet is normal for a new baby.  They may even have irregular color patterns called mottling on their chest or tummy.  If your baby has blue coloring on lips or body, or is gray, call us.

TEMPERATURE:  Your new baby is adjusting to life outside and the temperature may be unsuitable the first few days.  Take your baby’s temperature under the arm for 5 minutes.  If the temperature is BELOW 97 or ABOVE 100 F, consistently, call us.

FEEDING:  Your baby should have a strong, vigorous suck.  Babies should be fed when they seem hungry.  Babies need to breastfeed at least every two hours at first.  Frequent feedings encourages your milk supply to increase to meet your baby’s needs.

DIAPERS:  Watch for your baby’s first wet diaper.  Call your baby’s care giver if your baby has not urinated by 24 hours of age.  After your milk supply has increased, 6 or more wet diapers a day is normal.  The first bowel movements (BM) your baby will have are large, sticky, black/green stools called meconium.  It normally happens by one day of age.  The BM’s between meconim and milk stools can range from brown to green and may seem soft.  The breast milk stools are more mustard in color and loose.  

MOVEMENT:  Babies movements are somewhat jerky at first.  Your baby may seem to startle easily in the first 3-4 months.

CORD:  Your baby will have a cord clamp on the cord.  We will remove it at the first home visit.  You can clean the cord with moist Q-tips at diaper changes, if you’d like.  Keep the diaper folded under the cord to help it dry.  When the cord falls off, it may bleed a very small amount; this is normal.  If it develops a foul odor, call your baby’s doctor.  Until the cord falls off and the belly button is dry, give your baby sponge baths using plain warm water or a mild soap.

JAUNDICE:  Your baby will begin to break down extra red blood cells which are no longer needed.  The liver breaks down (metabolizes) the red pigment matter called bilirubin in the red blood cells.  When there are too many cells to handle, the liver can’t keep up.  The extra bilirubin gives the baby a yellow color to the skin and the whites of the eyes.  This is called jaundice.  Check this by looking at your baby under natural light (by a window).  Gently press on the skin.  Almost all babies, especially breastfed ones, are slightly yellow 2-3 days after birth.  The best way to clear this normal, slight jaundice is to nurse, nurse,  nurse!  Also, spend 10 minutes, on each side, twice a day with baby wearing only a diaper in filtered sunlight (by a window is fine).  If jaundice develops before 24 hours of age, or baby looks more than slightly yellow, call the midwives.

APPOINTMENT:  Call your pediatrician within the first 24 hours to let him/her know that your baby has been born.  We recommend you see your pediatrician within the first week of life.