Ask the Expert Series: What Are The Danger Signs in Newborns?

Dear user, thank you for your question. 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 the 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.

Dear user, thank you for your question. Fathers can definitely contribute to the health and development of the newborn baby in many ways, not limited to: 1) assisting with doctor appointments such as vaccinations and follow ups; 2) observe baby's developmental milestones by ticking off the list in the baby's health booklet; 3) Ensure safety features in newborns are in place, including avoiding objects which may suffocate baby, preventing water scalds during bath time, infant car seat installation, avoiding sarong cradle and ensure baby is never left alone at all times. More information can be found in websites from established government agencies or internationally recognised organisations, including HealthHub (HPB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites. Hope they are helpful!

Dear user, thank you for your question. A mother's postpartum depression may affect an infant's weight gain, increase infant physical health concerns, and increased 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.

Dear user, thank you for your question. Jaundice is a condition where bile pigments are accumulated in the bloodstream and appear as a yellow discoloration 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.

Dear user, thank you for your question. 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, World Health Organisation (WHO) actively promotes breastfeeding as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children.

Dear user, thank you for your question. There are many preventative measures that can help your newborn, and here are some important ones: 1) Always ensure baby sleeps on his/her back, as this is established in research to significantly reduce risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 2) Ensure that warm water in the bathtub is tested before placing baby, to prevent serious scalds on newborn's skin. 3) Always ensure that baby is safely belted in a rear-facing car seat placed in the back seat when travelling in a car, as it significantly reduces risk of severe injury in the event of a car accident. Hope these are helpful!

Dear user, thank you for your question. Newborn danger signs include abnormal breathing, reduced feeding, less than 4 urinations in 24 hours, unexplained weight loss or inconsolable crying (e.g. crying continuously for 4 hours). In any of these scenarios, do seek medical attention immediately.

Dear user, thank you for your question. 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. Examples of these include HealthHub (HPB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which contains a robust database of evidence-based information, from nutrition to vaccinations. In the event of emergency, be prepared by knowing where your child's health records are and the nearest clinic / emergency department.