Newborn worries...please advise

[mw1234]

Just had a gorgeous little boy. Weighed a big 10lb 1oz. He's less than 2 days old so I'm probably being silly, but some things, cumulatively, are making me a little worried.

He has a large head circumference (98th percentile) but the paediatrician says he is physically fine but something to keep an eye on. He is very sleepy, and hasn't been awake much, and is not taking to the nipple although he drunk the formula he was given. He's not a real 'mover' during his sleep and doesn't make a huge amount of noise or crying. Very different to my first.

Also, he doesn't open his eyes a huge amount when awake and his eyelids seem to almost curve inwards (difficult to describe).

Also, his chin is slightly receded.

What keeps on worrying me is that the pediatricians have asked 'does he look like anyone in your family' as if this is a 'code' question amongst themselves that they suspect a condition but aren't saying.

I know baby is very very new, so am I worrying for nothing?

mw

[CarGirl]

did they test his blood sugar levels (heel prick for blood)?

Large babies can be sleepy because of some sort of gestational diabetes that affects them when they are newborn. They kept stabbing my huge babies at every opportunity.

[Mouette]

Hi mw
My boy when he was born was a very quiet baby, slept a lot, hardly ever cried, I had to wake him up to feed him. They put it down to him being born 3 weeks early and having had a difficult birth. So it's not necessarily a problem, but if I were you I would ask the doctors outright if they suspect something. I think though that if they are worried they will do tests, they did loads on my son. xx

[mw1234]

They have done the sugar level test about 5 hours after he was born, it was borderline and they get him feeding (first few times via expressed milk), today it was formula. He was 10 days overdue as well. I think I'm just comparing him to the other babies in the ward and my first son and he's a lot different.

I do plan to ask the paediatrician whether he suspects something when I see him next....but you're right, he would have done tests.

[CarGirl]

my most overdue (16 days) and biggest 10lb 6oz just wanted to sleep, I think she had a belly ful of meconium fluid tbh. she also just turned out to be a chilled baby who liked her sleep!

They're supposed to have receding chins otherwise they would suffocate when breast feeding

[Mouette]

The midwives on the ward said: "Just thank your lucky stars you have a baby that sleeps lots!"
He's 4 months old now and still sleeps very well and doesn't cry much... but like you at the beginning I wondered if it was normal, I expected him to cry all the time, having been told that's what babies do!

[fishie]

mw, possibly stating the obvious here but newborns are a bit alienlike because they have been in liquid (womb) they start looking more babylike after a week or so in open air.

and no chin on my ds at first but by 6m or so it was more (and as dh is not overendowed in that dept it was a relief, apparently his mum was horrified at first)

i am a bit worried about your breastfeeding, they should be helping you with getting that going - but not shoving ds at your breast - not giving formula.

[Mouette]

My DS would simply not breastfeed, they put him to the breast correctly, he simply did not suck. Didn't have the energy, because of the hard birth and being premature. It happens. He had to be given formula because he was hungry and had to be fed. Got lots of support afterwards, and managed to breastfeed but then had to stop because he was jaundiced. They have to give formula if the baby can't breastfeed, but with support there's no reason why you can't breastfeed later.

[mw1234]

Thanks for all the comments/responses.

Since last night, little one has become much more active. He's had 3 really good breast feeding sessions and woke me up a couple of times at midnight and during the night asking for food. No complaints from me.

Still sleepy compared to my first but he is also more active when he is asleep, moving hands, feet, etc.

We again spoke to the paediatrician today and two came along - we have now had 4 different paediatricians say that they believe nothing is wrong with him.

However, because of a couple of 'soft' issues e.g. he is slighly hypotonic, and he has a double crease on one palm but a single on the other (which can mean nothing) and considering we are stressing and perhaps latching on to a few things, they have offered some chromosomal tests. We have agreed since we would sooner know however, we are much more reassured given the developments over the past 24 hours i.e. normal feeding, pooing, eyes open, alert time, etc.

He seems like a normal baby - it's just impossible not to get stressed and worried..I thought I would be less worried with my second, but clearly not.

I should add that he was delivered via C-section and stuck right up the top of the uterus so no surprise he looks odd - they all do.

Thanks all.

[Mouette]

Hi mw1234
Glad to hear things are getting more "normal". Hopefully the tests will finish putting your mind at rest. I honestly think that if there was a serious anomaly (like Down's) they would know by now. DS was very sleepy too at first, it's not uncommon with babies who have a difficult birth (he was delivered by emergency c section after a 20 h labour and failed forceps delivery). All the best! x

[CarGirl]

I hope the tests come back clear so you can relax and enjoy your lovely new baby x