The Global Library of Women’s Medicine

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Enhancing the Welfare of Women

Expert Health Information for Women

Danger signs in
newborn babies

The Global Library of Women’s Medicine

(www.glowm.com)

This video tells you about the danger signs of illness in a newborn baby.
Healthy babies normally have wet nappies 6-8 times every day, wake to feed 8-12 times every day and move their arms and legs.
However, babies can easily get sick and this can happen very fast. You will usually know when your child is sick, because they are behaving differently.
Before they get really sick, there can be warning signs that you can spot. If spotted early, healthcare workers can help your baby to get better quickly.
Here are some important signs that your baby is sick and needs to be taken to a healthcare worker as soon as possible.
Your baby is crying non-stop and not behaving normally.
Your baby is floppy or difficult to wake.
Or shaking or having seizures.
Your baby is not feeding or suckling well.
Your baby's temperature is too hot or too cold.
Your baby is having difficulty breathing, has noisy breathing, is breathing too fast (more than 60 breaths in a minute) or too slow.
Your baby looks a different colour, such as blue, pale or yellow, or has reddish-purple spots or rash.
Finally, look out for any other signs of infection such as yellow pus coming out of the eyes or belly button or non-stop vomiting or diarrhea.
If your baby has any of these signs, get help from a trained healthcare worker as soon as possible.

The authors of this DANGER SIGNS IN NEWBORN BABIES programme are:

  • Dr Hani Syahida Salim
    Family physician, Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Elspeth Currie
    Research Administrator, University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Dr Tracy Jackson
    Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Dr Parvez Izzudin
    Family physician, Family Medicine Clinic, UPM Teaching Hospital, Malaysia

The Welfare of Women programme has been created under the General Editorship of Dr Kate Lightly, University of Liverpool, UK and is overseen by an expert International Editorial Board

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