Oh to be a new parent. They weren’t kidding when they said being a parent is like your heart walking around your body. You feel immense joy witnessing your child’s first, but you also feel like your heart is being ripped into pieces when your newborn is sick.
The first months of your baby are crucial. Why? Well, for starters, tiny tots are still building up their immune systems, making them a bit vulnerable to viruses. And let’s face it. It’s tough because they cannot express what they are feeling. So, that’s where your intuition as a parent comes in. That, and being well-informed about the warning signs in newborns.
So, how do you know when your newborn is sick and need urgent medical care?
To help parents (old and new) in this area, we sought the help of a certified newborn expert, Dr Smily Lock, MBBS, MMed (FM), Head of Healthcare Solutions (Chronic and Long-Term Care) at Speedoc. She will be sharing her insights on how parents can identify potential health risks and danger signs in their newborns.
We asked parents to ask their questions about newborn warning signs and newborn care in our online community and Dr Lock tackled these queries and shared vital information on how you can ensure your baby stays healthy.
Want to learn more? Let’s dive in!
Reminder: Responses provided can be taken as professional opinion and does not replace a medical assessment. Please see a doctor for an assessment if your child requires medical attention.
Factors Affecting Newborn Health
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Table of Contents
Do environmental factors (like pollution or climate change) also impact the health and development of a newborn? What are the related danger signs to watch out for?
Environmental factors do affect adversely the health of infants and via different organs and systems. This can happen in the context of various kinds of pollution (e.g. water pollution, noise pollution, air pollution) and climate change (natural disasters).
In Singapore, for example, when air pollutants reach a high range, the National Environmental Agency posts regular updates on the situation and may recommend people to stay indoors to avoid pollutants. In the event of changes in breathing, skin appearance or feeding patterns, do consult your child’s doctor to seek advice.
Can a mother’s postpartum depression impact the health and development of newborns?
A mother’s postpartum depression may affect an infant’s weight gain, increase infant physical health concerns, and increase infant nighttime awakenings at 9 months.
One of the danger signs to look for include tapering growth centiles, which can be seen by observing the trends in the child’s weight, height and head circumference. These markers are found in the child’s health booklet.
If postpartum depression is picked up, medical advice should be sought at the earliest opportunity.
Caring For Your Newborn: New Parents Guide
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My newborn has jaundice. How can we treat this illness? What are the warning signs to look out for?
Jaundice is a condition where bile pigments accumulate in the bloodstream and appear as a yellow discolouration on the skin and whites of the eyes. There are many causes of jaundice, ranging from physiological jaundice (relatively harmless) to biliary atresia (serious).
In the event of high levels of jaundice, a complication called “kernicterus” can occur in the first 2 weeks of life, whereby the toxic bile pigments affect the brain. Some warning signs of kernicterus to look out for include lethargy, drowsiness and poor feeding, in which cases should be seen by a medical professional early.
What are some ways that fathers can actively participate in monitoring and promoting the health and development of a newborn baby?
Fathers can definitely contribute to the health and development of the newborn baby in many ways, not limited to:
- Assisting with doctor appointments such as vaccinations and follow-ups
- Observing baby’s developmental milestones by ticking off the list in the baby’s health booklet (check out our monthly guide)
- Ensuring safety features in newborns are in place including avoiding objects which may suffocate the baby, preventing water scalds during bath time, infant car seat installation, avoiding sarong cradle and making sure the baby is never left alone at all times.
More information can be found on websites from established government agencies or internationally recognised organisations, including HealthHub (HPB), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites.
How does breastfeeding promote the health and development of newborns and prevent danger signs?
There are many health benefits of breastfeeding for the infant, including reducing the risk of medical conditions like asthma, obesity, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome and otitis media (ear infection).
Because of these widely researched benefits of breastmilk for infants, the World Health Organisation (WHO) actively promotes breastfeeding as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children.
Do you have any tips on how to prevent accidents in newborns? What preventative measures can parents take to reduce the risk of these unwanted incidents?
There are many preventative measures that can help your newborn, and here are some important ones:
- While Sleeping: Always put the baby to sleep on their back, as this is established in research to significantly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- During Bathtime: Test the water in the bathtub before placing the baby to prevent serious scalds on the newborn’s skin.
- When Travelling: Always ensure that your newborn is safely belted in a rear-facing car seat placed in the back seat when travelling in a car, as it significantly reduces the risk of severe injury in the event of a car accident.
How can parents best prepare for potential emergency situations with their newborn?
Emergency situations can be both prevented and also prepared for. One of the best advice to prevent any emergencies is to ensure that your knowledge on caring for your young one is from highly accurate sources, such as established government agencies or internationally recognised organisations.
In the event of an emergency, be prepared by knowing where your child’s health records are and the nearest clinic or emergency department.
There you have it, mums and dads. Essential information on newborn warning signs and baby care straight from the expert. Remember, your baby’s first months are important to make sure they get the best start in life. If you have any questions about your newborn’s health, do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s paediatrician.
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Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.