Hi All,
I don't know if I am just being paranoid or what but my newborn lips have slighly turned purple over the past couple of weeks. She is more alert, smiling, making little noises but nothing out of the ordinary, eating well, yet sleeping alot (do not know if its fatigue or regular sleep for an infant) but wakes up ever two-three hours to eat. For the past four days she is having extra wet pampers but no poop, and foul gas. I am nursing and bottle feeding.
The day she was born she was placed in the NICU because one of her lungs was collapsing. The nurses & doctors worked hard to get her breathing on her own afterwards and we were able to go home within two days. I receive a call from her doctor last week who informed me that she tested positive for Alpha Thallesemia (red blood cells are growing smaller than the normal size). I didn't mention the blue lips to the doctor because I was shocked about the AT positive screening and was asking questions about that, now I am really about to loose my mind because I have a blood disorder that I prayed their dad's blood type would dominate over mine and our children would not have to deal with the symptoms I have. What should I do? Please help!
Should I be alarmed? Call the doctor? Or Just relax?
Thank you all for your advice, care, concerns. I just made it home from the ER, and as one of you said, they definitely got us in fast! Well to make a long story short...baby Is all good!!!! Now I can relax, lungs ok check, heart ok check, stomach ok check, her oxygen was at the 100 level ok check. They say they think it is just her pigmentation not blended in yet which in time will as she gets older. They said if the blue is not on and off or throughout different areas on tge body like fingers, hands, legs, stomach etc...that there is no need for me to be alarmed.
I am relieved for now...THANK YOU MOMMIES!!!!
I would call the doctor. That's what they are there for, remember they work for you!
You would hate for something to be wrong and then you have to live with what if I had called sooner.
Definitely call the doctor! I would want to know if it was related her lung issue, and be concerned about her oxygen levels.
Her blue lips could be that her blood isn't circulating right since they are smaller than usual. I would call the doctor right now given her history.
*update: Thanks for updating us. I didn't known that could happen, learned something new :)
Call the doc and if you can't get a timely answer - our triage nurse line takes about 20 minutes max, I'd honestly head for the ER.
Anytime there is a suspected breathing or oxygen issue they'll get you in ASAP, had it happen with my oldest son on a Sunday morning, the ER at the children's hospital was packed but I listed breathing issues/blue lips on the sign in sheet and I think we were brought back in less than 15 minutes.
I would head to the ER...better to have a professional check her out. And I am not one to rush to the ER or doc for things. Blue lips to me would be a concern.
I would call the dr, considering what happened at birth and the fact that red blood cells transport oxygen, I would want the dr's input. I realize that it is late and the weekend when I am posting this, but maybe you can call in and talk to the on call dr or nurse with your pediatricians office? Low oxygen saturation is not something to mess with and if you feel very concerned you can take her to the ER and they can check her oxygen saturation for you very easily. I know taking a young baby to the ER does not sound fun at all, and so as I said you may want to talk this over with your own dr first, but I would definitely pursue it sooner rather than later. It may be nothing, it may be something totally fixable, and if her sats were low, that could be handled at the hospital immediately. Now I did think my baby boy's face looked bluish once, turned out to be absolutely nothing, so you could just be paranoid. I wish you the best, and yeah I would call the doc.
Call the doctor now. This can mean a lack of oxygen which can be caused by lots of things.
You never want top see any blue or purple coloring on any part of your child's body.
call the doctor. if the symptoms werent her being happy and eating and drinking well and alert i would say er. but blue lips is a sign of asthma but everything else you are describing is opposite of what it would be if it was asthma. be safe call the doctor.
i would call the doc now. thats what they are there for. and she is very little.
Definitely call the doctor tonight. It might be a good idea for them to order an echocardiogram to make sure she doesn't have a small defect (hole) in the septum of her heart. Or since she had the lung issues at birth, I would want them to confirm that her lungs were OK now. It could be alot of things, but don't wait to get her checked out.
Babies should be pink, not blue. I'd call the doc's office, just to be sure!
Good Luck, keep us posted!
:)
I would call the dr now. Blue lips could be a sign that she's getting a lack of oxygen.
Also make sure you're dressing her properly and she's warm enough. Babies this young can't regulate their temp well on their own yet.
I would call the doctor and make sure to tell them. Blue lips is a sign of not enough oxygen for whatever reason. My daughter had to have open heart surgery as a newborn. She had a lot more signs something was wrong, so I have my fingers crossed that isn't the case with your baby. But it's definitely good to rule it out. Good luck!
None of the other symptoms raise a red flag. But blue lips, along with her history of lung issue and current blood test, are concerning. Red blood cells are what carry the oxygen, and blue lips can be an early sign that her blood isn't carrying enough.
I would call the doctor and ask if you need to be concerned. I would call tonight, if you can (many pediatricians have an on-call service of some sort, usually by calling the regular office number)
I hope you have already called your doctor or headed to the ER. A very simple, non-invasive test called a pulse ox can check the level of oxygen in your baby's blood and at least give a preliminary idea of whether everything is ok. She'll still likely need a work-up but you might get some reassurance that she's getting the O2 she needs for now. Don't panic, but don't ignore this one. Please update us.
Given your child's diagnosis and the sleepiness and blue lips you need to call your doctor now or just go to the ER.
This info may be of help: (Note the shortness of breath as a symptom)
The most severe form of alpha thalassemia major causes stillbirth (death of the unborn baby during birth or the late stages of pregnancy).
Children born with thalessemia major (Cooley's anemia) are normal at birth, but develop severe anemia during the first year of life.
Other symptoms can include:
Bone deformities in the face
Fatigue
Growth failure
Shortness of breath
Yellow skin (jaundice)
Persons with the minor form of alpha and beta thalassemia have small red blood cells (which are identified by looking at their red blood cells under a microscope), but no symptoms.
Isn't motherhood one worry after another? Try and relax as much as you can, but you do need to call the doctor. Don't worry about sounding like a paranoid, crazy mom. Pediatricians are used to parents calling a lot in the beginning and understand how to calm us down. Especially because your little one has had some special medical needs in her first 3 weeks. : ( Your pedi will most likely have you go to the ER to get a full evaluation since it is the weekend/after hours.
Don't panic though, it's better to go to the ER and be safe and know that she's okay or find out if something is wrong so she can be taken care of properly.
Good luck friend!
A pediatrician would always welcome a concerned parent's question, especially one that concerns a newborn with blue or purple lips. You need to discuss this today with your baby's doctor.
If it was the hospital's inpatient doctor who gave you the call, you need to have him/her refer you to a pediatric specialist (a hematologist) with experience with this blood disorder in children. You will get an appointment with that specialist/pediatric hematologist sooner if he/she sets the referral from a doctor. If the hospital doctor is unable to do so, if you have a local university medical center or children's hospital they will have a referral service as well. You can go to the following site and others concerning your child's blood disorder to try to locate a specialist nearer to where you live.http://www.medicinenet.com/alpha_thalassemia/city.html
At the very least, you should consult with your child's pediatrician today.
I am sure that you are already doing searches on the internet, but it helps to have some support for yourself as well. There are other parents out there who are also dealing with this same condition. You can use their expertise, but also remember that when it comes down to it, you are your child's advocate. You will find the strength within you to deal with this. Just try to listen to your better judgement (intuition, guidance by your higher power or the spirit) and don't listen to your fears.
Be aware that you are also going through a type of mourning because your hopes for this baby is changed from your ideal
Along with all of the emotions that go along with this you are having hormone changes after having the baby. These might also make everything seem harder to bear. Talk to your obstetrician about these feelings, especially if you have difficulty enough that you become depressed.
If you can focus on doing instead of worrying, you'll get the help your baby needs AND the help you need.
I am glad that your baby is ok. Just be informed and you will have a lot less worry in the future, as well.
God Bless you in your endeavors
Mom of 9 (some with disorders as well)
Any turning blue in a baby or child is cause for alarm. Please take your child to the ER right now. Do not wait! Turning blue in the lips means there is not enough oxygen getting to the body! Take your baby, make a big fuss----better to be safe than sorry. Test your baby for the blood disorder and check her lungs--get a whole physical. I hope and pray your baby is ok! Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.....
Molly
Schedule an appointment right away. Better safe than sorry. I'm pretty sure you felt like that was the right answer as you typed your question. Go with your gut, mama!
Call your doctor. While it could be nothing, it's not the type of thing you want to risk. I hope she's ok!
Updated
Call your doctor. While it could be nothing, it's not the type of thing you want to risk. I hope she's ok!
Yes, please call her doctor or head to an Urgent Care or ER to have her oxygen sats checked.
My DS didn't have the blood disease but had lung problems at birth and later showed blue lips when he had oxygen decreases due to fluid in his lungs. She dealt with a collapsing lung such a short time ago you want to be sure there isn't something slight going on.
Praying it's nothing serious!
Make sure the baby is warm enough first. If that isn't the problem then call your doctor and have the answering service put you in touch with the doctor. If you have a pulmonologist as a specialist you can call them (they handle heart/lung/circulation issues). Also, you could call the NICU and ask whoever is on duty. A doctor can advise you best if you need the ER or not (if in doubt they will probably tell you to go in with such a small baby). If you see any other concerns in addition to the lip color then go to the ER ASAP. If you have a choice of ER pick the place you doctor has privledges or where the baby was in the NICU or a children's hospital. Near me the children's hospital also has a children's ER track and a more sophisticated NICU. Both my babies were in the NICU and needed specialist follow up but are doing well now. It can be scary at first but you need to get enough info from the doctors to know when to get immediate help or otherwise follow up. I ended up taking a notebook with my questions and for writing down the doctor's instructions.
Glad all is well! For future reference, don't freak unless baby is also floppy and her nail beds are blue as well, because that means baby isn't getting enough blood oxygen everywhere. Check her fingers and toenails if it happens again... if you press on them and they turn white, then back to pinky normal, she's okay :)
Call the dr on the blue lips, he will probably send you to the ER though but call first. Onthe pooping or no pooping. When my son was about 3 weeks or so he stopped pooping. He went from pooping everytime I changed him to not at all for like 5 days then OMG did he poop. Up his back up his front...it was crazy. Also very gassy. He pooped once a week for months and months and his doc said that breastfed babies can go a week without pooping because it is so thin and watery that it takes a lot to get enough to force it out. I pray everything is ok with your baby.
Please call the doctor right away! Your little one is not getting enough oxygen.
blue lips mean that her body is not getting enough oxygen, take her to the emergency room this morning, do it now, pick up the phone and call 911
this nothing to relax about
K. h.
With her symptoms and her (and your) history, I would beat a path to the doctor. Today.
