After Delivery: When to Call the Healthcare Provider
Health problems may happen for you or your baby after delivery. Call a healthcare provider if you see any of these signs.
Watch your baby for these signs
Call your baby’s healthcare provider if your baby has any of these:
-
A rectal or forehead temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by the provider
-
Fewer than 6 heavy, wet diapers a day
-
Skin or whites of the eyes that look yellow
-
Blue lips, tongue, or mouth
-
Skin that is pale, grayish, or bluish
-
Crying for a long time
-
Crying that seems caused by pain
-
Diarrhea
-
Refusing 2 feedings in a row
-
Is inactive or listless
-
Vomiting
-
Blood in the stool or vomit
-
A rash
-
Fluid coming from an ear
-
Trouble breathing
-
A seizure
-
Will not wake up
-
Redness, swelling, or fluid (pus) at the umbilical cord
-
A circumcision that isn't healing or that bleeds
Trust your instincts. Newborns need a lot of care. Call your baby's healthcare provider if you are worried.
Watch your own health for these signs
Call your own healthcare provider if you have any of these:
-
Burning feeling or pain in your breasts
-
Red streaks or hard lumpy areas in your breasts
-
Problems with breastfeeding
-
A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider
-
Extreme tiredness or body aches, as if you have the flu
-
Pain, fluid, or bleeding from a cesarean incision
-
Feelings of being very sad or anxious
-
Feeling that you don’t want to be with your baby
-
Belly (abdominal) pain that isn’t eased with medicine
-
Fluid from your vagina that has a bad smell
-
Vaginal bleeding that soaks more than 1 pad per hour
-
Seizures
-
Severe headache
-
Swelling in your face or limbs
Online Medical Reviewer:
Amy Finke RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Heather M Trevino BSN RNC
Online Medical Reviewer:
Liora C Adler MD
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2022
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.