If you’re a first-time parent, you’re probably going to be extra cautious about providing the best newborn care you can. You’ve likely never had to take care of a baby before, so you’ll probably be concerned at any moment you notice something that seems wrong. It’s important to know when you need to call a pediatrician for situations that require medical attention. Knowing this will help to lessen your anxiety as you go about your newborn care. Here are some tips on when to call your pediatrician.
Fever
Parents can often get anxious when they notice their newborn’s temperature is higher than normal. Your child’s body temperature rises in order to effectively fight off a viral infection. While this can be normal in some cases, there are times where you should contact your pediatrician. If your baby is below the age of two or three months, you should contact the doctor if they’re having a fever, even if it’s as low as 100 degrees. Since the immune system is less mature at this age, this can potentially be a sign of something more serious.
For a baby three months or older, if the fever lasts more than three days or your baby appears weak, you should get in touch with the pediatrician. Be prepared to answer specific questions the pediatric medical staff may ask you. The questions they’ll ask may include what your child’s temperature is, when you last took it, the length of the time they’ve had the fever, and if there have been any other symptoms.
Vomiting
Young children often get more colds than adults. On average, a child will catch about six to eight colds a year. If your child has only had an isolated incident of vomiting, there’s generally nothing to worry about. If the vomiting is persistent, then you should be concerned. You’ll want to make sure you’re giving your child enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Any vomiting that seems severe or is lasting more than a few hours will require pediatrician care. When you take your child to the pediatrician, they’ll examine them, and possibly order some blood tests, urine tests, or an X-ray to help diagnose the problem. A stool sample may also be tested as well if the doctor suspects a bacterial infection.
Colds
An older baby doesn’t generally need to see a doctor for a cold. For babies three months or younger, pediatricians will tell you that colds can turn into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia or croup. At the first sign of any illness, you should get in touch with your pediatric doctor as soon as possible. For babies older than three months, there are a few signs that indicate you should seek pediatric care. if they’re having trouble breathing, have a cough that persists for a week, a stuffy nose that persists for 10 days, or an earache, you should get in touch with your pediatrician so your child can get proper medical treatment.
Being a first time parent can be a challenging time. Even if this is your second or third child your providing newborn care to, it’ll always be natural to feel nervous when it seems your baby isn’t doing well. You can keep this information in mind to help you know when it’s necessary to call your child’s pediatrician.
