After Delivery: When to Call the Healthcare Provider

Health problems may happen for you or your baby after delivery. Call a healthcare provider if you see any of these signs.  

Watch your baby for these signs

Call your baby’s healthcare provider if your baby has any of these:

• A rectal or forehead temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by the provider

• Fewer than 6 heavy, wet diapers a day

• Skin or whites of the eyes that look yellow

• Blue lips, tongue, or mouth

• Skin that is pale, grayish, or bluish

• Crying for a long time

• Crying that seems caused by pain

• Diarrhea

• Refusing 2 feedings in a row

• Is inactive or listless

• Vomiting

• Blood in the stool or vomit

• A rash

• Fluid coming from an ear

• Trouble breathing

• A seizure

• Will not wake up

• Redness, swelling, or fluid (pus) at the umbilical cord

• A circumcision that isn't healing or that bleeds

Trust your instincts. Newborns need a lot of care. Call your baby's healthcare provider if you are worried.

Watch your own health for these signs

Call your own healthcare provider if you have any of these:

• Burning feeling or pain in your breasts

• Red streaks or hard lumpy areas in your breasts

• Problems with breastfeeding

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider

• Extreme tiredness or body aches, as if you have the flu

• Pain, fluid, or bleeding from a cesarean incision

• Feelings of being very sad or anxious

• Feeling that you don’t want to be with your baby

• Belly (abdominal) pain that isn’t eased with medicine

• Fluid from your vagina that has a bad smell

• Vaginal bleeding that soaks more than 1 pad per hour

• Seizures

• Severe headache

• Swelling in your face or limbs