Care of Your Newborn

Caring for your baby is both exciting and scary.  Your baby will give you a variety of cues to tell you when he or she needs your help.  If you have any questions about the baby’s care, please call your baby’s health care provider.  No question should be considered to be inappropriate.  Your baby’s health and well-being is important!

Call your baby’s health care provider if you notice:

• Fever over 99.6° F or 37.6° C (taken under the arm)
• Change in your baby’s behavior:
  • Crying without stopping
  • Fussy and hard to comfort
  • Not able to wake-up
• Decrease in eating
• Less than six wet diapers per day
• More than four watery stools in eight hours
• Thick, yellow eye drainage
• Redness or swelling around the cord
• Yellow color of skin or eyes
• Persistent cough

Important telephone numbers:

Mother-Baby:  319-356-2493
Newborn Nursery: 319-356-2532
Child Health Clinic:319-384-7333
University of Iowa Children's Hospital
888-573-KIDS (5437) or 384-KIDS (5437)
Lactation Specialist 319-384-8741

Peer Review Status: Internally
Peer Review Date: 2004