It often happens that parents cannot clearly assess the condition of the baby. And the main cause for concern is the temperature in newborns. Therefore, one should know what is considered the norm, and what is the pathology in the field of thermoregulation of the child’s body in the first weeks of life.
About baby physiology
What temperature is considered normal in a newborn baby? Neonatologists - doctors who observe babies immediately after birth, give a definite answer: from 36.5 to 37.4 ° C. This range is explained by the fact that the baby’s thermoregulation mechanism has not yet stabilized. And therefore, if the measurement conditions of this parameter (method and time) change, you can get new results every time.
So, the temperature in newborns is usually examined in four places: in the mouth, in the rectum, axillary and in the inguinal region. It should be noted that depending on where the measurement of this parameter takes place, its indicator also differs. The highest temperature can be obtained rectally and reach 37.4 about C. The lowest - when measuring axillary.
The normal temperature in a newborn baby also varies depending on when it is measured. So, the lowest values occur in the morning, but in the evening they can reach the upper limit of the specified range.
Why take such measurements, especially if the baby sleeps well, eats and shows excellent signs of activity characteristic of him at this age. The answer is simple - to help establish thermoregulation.
Tracking the temperature can give an answer why the child suddenly became restless and cries when he is not hungry, there is no colic, and his position is convenient. What can parents do in this case? Firstly, to assess the condition of the child - it is hot or cold. To do this, measure the temperature orally, rectally or in the inguinal fold using a mercury or electronic thermometer.
Secondly, help him: if it's hot, then undress, and if it's cold, then, on the contrary, dress. But these actions will be sufficient only if the temperature fluctuates within the range outlined above.
Pathology
If the temperature in newborns goes beyond the above parameters, for pediatricians and parents it is a signal of pathogenic processes occurring in the body.
The first thing parents should do if measuring with a thermometer shows an increase of at least 0.1 degrees from the upper limit is to call a pediatrician. In the meantime, the doctor gets to cool the room to 19-20 degrees, save the baby from the diaper, change into dry clothes and constantly offer warm liquid, but do not drink by force, since it is likely to cause vomiting.
In no case should you engage in self-medication, put candles or give syrups without a doctor’s prescription. Only he is able to correctly assess the situation and prescribe adequate treatment.
Correct measurement
It also happens that fever in newborns is not evidence of illness, but an indication of the mistake of the parents. But the thing is that adults sometimes do not know how to correctly measure babies.
So, you should give your preference to mercury or electronic thermometers. When conducting research in the rectal or oral zones, the best, from the point of view of safety and accuracy of measurements, is an electronic thermometer. But in the area of the inguinal fold, you can use any of these two types.
It should be remembered that the highest temperature is recorded in the rectum - up to 37.4 ° C. In the mouth and groin area, it rises to 37.2 ° C. In this case, the mercury thermometer will take about 5 minutes to correctly evaluate the parameter under study, and the electronic - just a minute.
If parents take note of the information presented, it will be relatively easy for them to assess the state of their child.