The first month of life is a period of rapid adjustment for every newborn. While most bodily changes are normal, certain signs indicate that a baby needs immediate medical evaluation by a paediatrician or neonatologist.
Critical signs include laboured breathing, persistent refusal to feed, poor muscle tone, extreme lethargy, and deepening jaundice extending beyond the chest onto the abdomen.
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Newborns breathe between 40 to 60 times a minute. Fast breathing above 60 breaths, grunting sounds, or chest retractions require emergency care.
Newborns typically feed 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period. An infant who consistently refuses multiple feeds should be examined promptly.
Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life or jaundice spreading rapidly down the body requires immediate bilirubin testing and phototherapy.