[birthblessed]

On more than one breastfeeding question thread, I've suggested that conservatively, I'd recommend consulting a pediatrician. Of course, you are all with me in UC, and whether you heed the advice is up to you and your DH and your Lord, and I expect you to prayerfully consider any advice you get anywhere on the 'net. Of course. I myself often will suggest someone else consult a Pediatrician or other professional when I myself would not do it. But I have to be conservative when I cannot see your baby... but only get your side of the story.

Here is a handout used in the Dept of Health for breastfeeding women. It's called "When to Call the Doctor."

The following are some signals your baby may be in trouble and needs to see a doctor or clinic staff without delay.

Urine - Your baby has fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours, urine is dark yellow, or the diaper contains dried urine crystals (looks like brick dust). [this isn't life threatening, check for a deep latch, use breast compression, and watch baby carefully]

Stools - Your newborn has fewer than 3 stools in a 24 hour period. After the first month or two, this may be normal for your baby. [most newborns will have at least 3 a day, many will have more. Usually the reason a baby has fewer is poor transfer of milk. Check for a deep latch, use breast compression, and watch baby carefully]

Suckle - Your baby is unable to latch-on, suckle, or stay latched on. [I consider this a major danger sign]

Nursing - Your baby falls asleep or stops nursing immediately after latch-on. [use breast compression, check for a deep latch, but if it continues and any other of the warning signs starts up, seek help immediately]

Poor weight gain or weight loss - Your baby is losing weight or has not gained back to birth weight by two weeks of age. Keep your two week well-baby check-up; where your baby will be weighed. If you have a scale at home, make sure the scale is zero-balanced and always weigh babies naked. [Many LCs now support waiting 3 weeks for regain of birthweight. If baby is not weighed on the same scale at the 2-week check, the comparison is invalid as it can be off as much as 8 oz. All comparisons should happen on same scale, naked baby, at the same time of day not immediately after a feeding.]

Signs of infection - [These are important and warrant IMMEDIATE ACTION]
Your baby has a fever or a temperature below normal. An abnormal axillary temperature (temperature measured under the baby's armpit for 5 minutes) is either above 99F or below 95F.
Your baby has a change in feeding habits and is feeding poorly.
Your baby sleeps a lot more than usual and is difficult to wake or is floppy.
Your baby is irritable all the time even when you are holding him.

Signs of breathing problems - [These are Crucial and can be a reason to call 9-1-1]
Your baby is breathing very fast (faster than 40 times per minute).
You can see baby's chest sink in around the ribs with each breath.
Baby makes a sucking noise upon breathing, inhaling or exhaling.

Signs of digestive problems - Your baby has vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody stools. Baby vomits brown or black.

Signs of dehydration - Your baby has a dry mouth, sunken fontanel (soft spot in the skull), decreased urine output, or dark yellow urine. Vomiting and diarrhea can quickly make your baby become dehydrated.

If any of the above fit your baby, don't delay - call for help.

[mamaperk]

birthblessed, on Nov 14 2005, 11:48 AM, said:

On more than one breastfeeding question thread, I've suggested that conservatively, I'd recommend consulting a pediatrician. Of course, you are all with me in UC, and whether you heed the advice is up to you and your DH and your Lord, and I expect you to prayerfully consider any advice you get anywhere on the 'net. Of course. I myself often will suggest someone else consult a Pediatrician or other professional when I myself would not do it. But I have to be conservative when I cannot see your baby... but only get your side of the story.

Here is a handout used in the Dept of Health for breastfeeding women. It's called "When to Call the Doctor."

This is excellent, thanks for sharing Amy.

[Slingnmom]

birthblessed, on Nov 14 2005, 11:48 AM, said:

Nursing - Your baby falls asleep or stops nursing immediately after latch-on. [use breast compression, check for a deep latch, but if it continues and any other of the warning signs starts up, seek help immediately]

Kaden had this after birth for several days. It was because of the jaundice which is usually the case, and I reluctantly but on advice from a Dr.Sears book gave my son formula in a bottle to help hydrate him, feed him, and to help pass the bilirubin and it worked. I only did it for 24 hours and it didn't ruin our nursing relationship but it did help him to "wake" up some.

But I agree with your post I always tend to tell others to seek a doctors advoce as well because of exactly what you said! It was very well put!

[fwlady]

"Your baby is breathing very fast (faster than 40 times per minute). "

Having a baby that has many breathing problems, and been in and out of the drs ALOT for this, I wanted to add to this. This depends on age. At 6 mos even, the baby can breath 60 times a min while awake, and be perfectly fine. And, much of this can be attributed to ear pain (and some of us use natural remedies for that), tummy ache, and immediately after crying, don't do a breath count. LOL But, for 6-7 mos 80 breaths per minute while awake is suppose to be the telltale sign that he needs to be seen. And, it was a cardio that told me this.

What I have found out, that if the baby is breathing 40+ while ASLEEP, the baby is 6 mos old, the baby is in distress. In a 13 mo old, it just warrants keeping a close eye on him, and perhaps call the dr for advice. Even though it should be even more disturbing for the older baby.

However, the same type of sickness for a 13 mo old, and has been breathing 40+ while asleep, the drs probably won't be concerned. I would get his oxygen checked (with us, it was helpful to have our own pulsox), but don't be surprised when they send him home. When the same baby, is walking around, and has been breathing 50 per minute once asleep, again, he may be sent home. But, if he is breathing 55-60 times per minute, you need to take the baby to the ER until SOMEONE will admit him. Because ours was still walking, they didn't take us seriously, and I had to find another ER to put him in, and he was on oxygen much longer than usual, and on a higher amount than normal. So, I KNOW the first hospital messed up sending him home.

What I am trying to say, is that our baby breaths 40+ times per minute when he has been playing and having a good time, especially at younger than a year. So, really, that number applies to when they are totally at rest. I think the biggest indication, is if the baby is less active than normal, or is crying more than normal, and the breathing seems labored. Now, my son would be more active, anxious like, when he has breathing problems, and this was interpreted that he was fine. By the time we got him into the drs/ER that would listen to me, on both occasions, he was needing oxygen.

When in doubt, call the dr. Kymberli