In newborns, skin color changes are often due to something happening inside the body. Some color changes are normal. Others are signs of problems. The changes described below can happen to any newborn. But skin color changes may be more obvious in babies born early, or prematurely, who have thinner skin than full-term babies.
Polycythemia occurs when a baby's blood has more red cells than normal. It's the opposite of anemia, which is caused by too few red cells.
Omphalocele and gastroschisis are types of birth defects. They can occur in newborns. They happen when the body structures that are meant to hold the bowel (intestines) inside the belly (abdomen) do not form in the right way during the early weeks of pregnancy.
When cerebrospinal fluid backs up into the brain, it's called hydrocephalus. Learn about the procedures used to treat this condition in newborns.
IVH is a serious condition caused by bleeding (hemorrhage) in the ventricles in the days after birth
NEC is a serious health problem. It occurs when a part of the baby's bowel (intestine) becomes damaged. NEC is more common in premature infants because the bowel is not yet mature.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung disorder that causes breathing problems in preterm, low-birthweight babies who need breathing assistance. Read on to learn more.
Babies who are born too early (premature) often have health problems, such as apnea. Apnea is when a baby stops breathing for a bit of time (more than 15 seconds). The baby may also have a slowed heart rate and a drop in oxygen in the blood.
Your preemie's immune system needs time to develop. During this time, germs that don't make you sick at all could make the baby very sick. So you need to give your baby extra protection.
It can be frustrating when your baby won’t stop crying. But no matter how fed up, tired, or upset you are, you should never shake, hit, throw, or drop your baby. This can lead to major brain damage or even death.