Taking baby home

▲Mommy danger signs ▲ Baby danger signs Baby safety Questions Period of PURPLE Crying Resources

▲ Temperature: Greater than 100.4 F ▲ Urination

Difficulty, pain, burning or frequency

▲ LegsSwollen, red, painful area on leg (especially calf) that is warm/hot to touch

▲ BreastsSore, reddened, hot, painful area with fever and/or flu like symptoms

▲ Vaginal flowHeavy bleeding, soaking more than one large pad per

hourMultiple golf ball sized clots or larger

▲ Vaginal odorFoul odor to discharge, soreness or itching

▲ Severe painVaginal, pelvic or abdominal pain unrelieved by medicationPersistent, severe headaches

▲ Incision site-episiotomy

Increased pain and may be accompanied by bleeding or foul discharge

▲ Incision site-cesarean

Redness, increased pain, drainage or foul odor

Incision opens ▲ Chest pain and cough ▲ Nausea and vomiting

▲ Postpartum depression or anxietyFeeling depressed, uncontrolled crying, inability to eat

or sleep, anxiety or agitation, feeling trapped

Thoughts of harming self or baby

Interferes with ability to care for child or self Can occur any time within one year of giving

birth Help is available

▲ TemperatureAxillary (under arm) temperature above 100.4 F or less

than 97.4 ▲ Jaundice

Eyes yellow, yellowing of skin ▲ Breathing difficulty, blue or very pale ▲ Poops and pees

Less than 1 wet diaper per each day oldup to day 6-10 per day.

Frequent watery stools or no bowel movement for 48 hrs

▲ FeedingFeeds poorly or skipping two to three feedings

Vomiting: more than spitting up

▲ CircumcisionRedness, swelling, pus or bleeding

▲ CordIncrease redness at base

Foul odor or discharge

More than a little blood when cord falls off ▲ Extreme sleepiness or irritability ▲ Cold symptoms: Coughing, difficulty breathing or

noisy breathing. ▲Exposure to disease like measles or chicken pox.

Place baby on his/her back to sleep to prevent SIDS

Do not co-bed with baby Discuss with provider

Avoid toys with small removable parts Keep hot objects and fluids away from baby Crib mattress should fit crib properly Childproof your home before bringing baby

home

Smoke alarm in working order Correctly place baby in car seat when

traveling, rear facing Never leave baby unattended on a high

surface

Infant crying is part of baby’s normal development

Crying can range from 20 min to 5 or 6 hours per day

Purple is based on over 25 years of research

P peak pattern

U unexpected

R resistant to soothing

P pain-like face

L long-lasting

E evening crying

Make sure baby’s needs are met: fed, burped, clean diaper, comfortable temperature

Try holding, walking, gently rocking, swaddling or singing in order to calm baby

Sometimes nothing works–it does not mean you’re a bad parent or you have a bad baby

Research tells us that crying is the #1 trigger for shaking a baby

Have a plan Put baby in a safe spot and take a 5 to 10

minute break Do something you enjoy: call a friend, watch

TV, take a shower Have a good support system

Remember This period of crying is part of normal infant

development and will end Show everyone who cares for your baby the DVD

and booklet Don’t leave your baby with someone who is easily

frustrated Have a support system for yourself

Refer to Samaritan Maternity Notebook and/or discharge materials provided

Purple triangle in Maternity Notebook and discharge materials for danger signs

Who to callProvider or midwife