Sunken soft spot... Advice please?

[NewlywedUpTheDuff]

Don't know if this is the right place to post but here goes....

I have a 18 day old DS and today after his bath I noticed his soft spot on the front of his head was slightly sunken. Not to look at but you can feel it when you touch.

He hasn't had this before and I'm slightly worried as I know it can be a sign of dehydration
He is EBF and fed on demand, has been feeding well today, lots of wet and dirty nappies and fine in himself, although he was awake a lot today where as he usually sleeps most of the time.

Anyone have any experience/advice? I am first time mum and not sure what to do, if anything.

Thanks

Having raised this as a "symptom" with my DC2 at A&E once (along with other symptoms) the doctors and nurses advised me to look for other things like pinching skin and if it springs back as a truer sign of dehydration.

Trust your instincts, and don't take any chances. No one is going to think you stupid for seeking medical advice with a small baby.

Thanks, he seems fine in every other way. I'm a bit of a worrier and don't want to over react if it's normal.

If he's not vomiting, doesn't have diarrhoea and seems well in himself then it's not necessarily anything to worry about. Dd3 often had a sunken fontanelle as an infant. Could you pop in to see the GP/HV to reassure yourself tomorrow? Fwiw ds was hospitalised with dehydration when he was 2 and it's not just a sunken fontanelle. His eyes sunk back into his head, he was sheet white and listless after having d and v for 4 days.

Almost certainly dehydration. You can give cooled boiled water although you don't technically need to as your milk should adjust accordingly.

If you feel deep down worried as opposed to niggly enough ti chexk with mn, call nhs 24, that's what they are for

Congratulations btw, welcome to a life time of ceaseless worry

Have you checked his temp? It could be because of the heat. Mine used to sink a little if too warm. Is he easily rousable and responsive?

Perhaps offer and extra feed?

If he's acting normally I wouldn't panic just keep an eye on him and offer extra feeds.

I'm not a medical person by the way and if it was my child and I was very worried I'd call ooh for advice

Thanks all

Spoke to NHS direct and out of hours GP who said as he is showing no other "signs" of dehydration it's probably nothing to worry about, but to call back if anything changes.

I remember well the panic when I saw my son with a sunken fontella

it tuned out to be nothing , just something which does happen occassionally for no reason

I turned in a screaming banshee and rushed of to A & E convinced that this was what they talk about in the books and he was dehydrated.

Turned out nothing was wrong , but I would do it again, and have no qualms in seeking medical advice when they are so little

It was around 3 weeks with my son to

Congatulations and sleep well

Sorry but that last 'tip' sounds like utter bollocks. The skin forms a naturally waterproof layer and does not absorb water, whether dehydrated or not. Also, dryness of skin does not indicate how dehydrated someone is (eg eczema).
Sounds like you've done the right thing OP, congratulations on your baby

DS2 often had a depressed fontanelle - really spun me into a panic the first time I noticed! - but as Annie says above, it was only when he was upright.

They feel so fragile and delicate when they're that age, don't they? I'm also a natural worrier and I was constantly on the watch for anything even slightly wrong with both my boys and misdiagnosed many times. Still, far better to be over cautious than miss something, and no GP/A&E ever begrudges seeing a tiny new baby.

If it helps, the constant sense of panicky omg-is-that-a-symptom-??!! should fade fairly quickly past the 3- and then 6-week mark. DS2 is only 13-weeks but already feels like a massive bruiser :o,

Congratulations!

Ps - time for a nn change?

Ha ha yes I will be name changing soon and thanks everyone, good to know its not just me who worries about every little thing