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, you should know what is considered normal and what is pathology in the field of thermoregulation of the child's body in the first weeks of life.
About baby physiology
What is the normal temperature for a newborn baby? Neonatologists - doctors who observe babies immediately after birth - give an unambiguous answer: from 36.5 to 37.4 oС. This range is explained by the fact that the thermoregulation mechanism of the baby has not yet stabilized. Therefore, if the conditions for measuring this parameter change (method and time), you can get new results every time.
So, the temperature in newborns, as a rule, is examined in four places: in the mouth, in the rectum, in the armpit and in the groin. It is worth mentioning that, depending on where this parameter is measured, its indicator also differs. The tallestthe temperature can be obtained rectally and reach 37.4 oC. The lowest is underarm measurement.
Normal temperature in a newborn baby also varies depending on when it is measured. Thus, 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 well and shows excellent signs of activity characteristic of him at this age. The answer is simple - to help establish thermoregulation.
Temperature tracking can reveal why a baby suddenly becomes restless and cries when he is not hungry, there is no colic, and his position is comfortable. What can parents do in this case? First, assess the child's condition - is it 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 him. 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 - this is a signal of pathogenic processes occurring in the body.
The first thing parents should do if a thermometer measurement shows an increase of at least 0.1 degrees from the upper limit iscall the pediatrician. In the meantime, the doctor gets there, cool the room to 19-20 degrees, rid the child of the diaper, change into dry clothes and constantly offer warm liquids, but do not force water, as there is a high probability of inducing 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 a fever in newborns is not a sign of illness, but an indication of a parent's mistake. And the thing is that adults sometimes do not know how to properly measure babies.
So, your preference should be given to mercury or electronic thermometers. When conducting research in the rectal or oral areas, the best, in terms of safety and accuracy of measurements, is an electronic thermometer. But in 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 оС. In the mouth and groin area, it rises to 37.2 oS. At the same time, a mercury thermometer will need about 5 minutes to correctly assess the parameter under study, and an electronic one only a minute.
If parents take into account the above information, it will be relatively easy for them to assess the condition of their child.
