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Newborn Corner

Dr. Aspinwall with a baby Congratulations on your new baby! Here are a few helpful tips to help you care for your newborn baby in the next few days. Your GPAM provider will answer all your questions at your newborn checkup. So, start making a list to bring with you.

Your newborn baby should be seen in our office 2-4 days after being discharged from the hospital. If you deliver at GMC, one of our nurse practitioners will assist you in scheduling your newborn checkup. If you deliver at a hospital other than GMC, please call our office on the day of discharge to arrange a newborn checkup.

Please bring any paperwork given to you in the hospital to your first GPAM visit. This is helpful even if a GPAM provider cared for your baby in the hospital.

If one of our providers orders a bilirubin lab on your newborn, you should be called with the result on the same day it was ordered. If you do not hear back from one of our providers within 4 hours of the lab being drawn, please call our office to get the lab result. Please call our office even if it is after hours to get the lab result.

Fever is an emergency in a newborn. If your newborn feels warm, take a rectal temperature. If your baby has a rectal temperature of 100.4 or greater, call our office immediately. Do NOT give your newborn Tylenol. Do NOT delay calling our office. Click here to learn how to take a rectal temperature.

In order to prevent illness, please have visiting family wash their hands before handling your newborn. Please do not allow anyone who is ill to handle your newborn. Avoid visits to public places.

Your baby should breast or bottle feed at least every 3 hours. If bottle-feeding, your newborn will likely take about 2 oz per feeding and have 6-8 wet diapers a day. If breastfeeding, your newborn will likely nurse about 10-15 minutes on each breast. A mom’s breast milk usually comes in 3-4 days after delivery. Before your breast milk comes in your baby will likely have 3-4 wet diapers a day. Once your breast milk comes in, your baby will have 6-8 wet diapers a day. If you have any concerns about your newborns intake or urine output prior to your newborn checkup, call our office immediately.

It is very important that your baby sleep on his/her back in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Your baby should sleep on a firm mattress in a bassinet or crib. It is recommended that the bassinet or crib be in the parent’s room for the first 2-3 months. The bassinet or crib should be free of pillows, stuffed animals, etc.

The umbilical cord requires no special care. When left alone, most umbilical cords will just fall off by themselves. It is recommended to avoid getting your baby’s umbilical cord wet.

If you have any concerns about your newborn prior to his/her newborn checkup, please call our office.