Where There Is No Doctor 2011 273
2. Either low temperature (below 35° C) or high fever can be a sign of infection.
High fever (above 39° C) is dangerous for the newborn. Take off all clothing and
sponge the baby with cool (not cold) water as shown on page 76. Also look for signs
of dehydration (see p. 151). If you find these signs, give the baby breast milk and
also Rehydration Drink (p. 152).
3. Seizures (fits, convulsions, see p. 178). If the baby also has fever, treat it as
just described. Be sure to check for dehydration. Seizures that begin the day of birth
could be caused by brain damage at birth. If seizures begin several days later, look
carefully for signs of tetanus (p. 182) or meningitis (p. 185).
4. The baby does not gain weight. During the first days of life, most babies lose
a little weight. This is normal. After the first week, a healthy baby should gain about
200 g., a week. By two weeks the healthy baby should weigh as much as he did at
birth. If he does not gain weight, or loses weight, something is wrong. Did the baby
seem healthy at birth? Does he feed well? Examine the baby carefully for signs of
infection or other problems. If you cannot find out the cause of the problem and
correct it, get medical help.
5. Vomiting. When healthy babies burp (or bring up
air they have swallowed while feeding), sometimes a little
milk comes up too. This is normal. Help the baby bring up
air after feeding by holding him against your shoulder and
patting his back gently, like this.
If a baby vomits when you lay him down after nursing,
try sitting him upright for a while after each feeding.
A baby who vomits violently, or so much and so often
that he begins to lose weight or become dehydrated, is
BURP YOUR BABY
ill. If the baby also has diarrhea, he probably has a gut
AFTER FEEDING.
infection (p. 157). Bacterial infection of the blood (see the next pages), meningitis
(p. 185), and other infections may also cause vomiting.
If the vomit is yellow or green, there may be a gut obstruction (p. 94), especially
if the belly is very swollen or the baby has not been having bowel movements. Take
the baby to a health center at once.
6. The baby stops sucking well. If more than 4 hours pass and the baby still will
not nurse, this is a danger sign—especially if the baby seems very sleepy or ill, or if
he cries or moves differently from normal. Many illnesses can cause these signs, but
the most common and dangerous causes in the first 2 weeks of life are a bacterial
infection of the blood (see next 2 pages) and tetanus (p. 182).
A baby who stops nursing during the second to fifth day of
life may have a bacterial infection of the blood.
A baby who stops nursing during the fifth to fifteenth
day may have tetanus.