Body temperature is an indicator of human health. The thermoregulation in the newborn is not fully formed and differs from the thermoregulation of children after a year. Parents often worry when values greater or less than normal appear on the thermometer. If the body temperature of the newborn baby exceeds normal values, this is a cause for concern, as this can signal health problems.
However, in the first days of life, a slight increase in the values on the thermometer can be observed, which does not cause particular harm to the body. A temperature of 37-37.3 degrees, which is measured in the armpit, is considered the norm. A week later, the value should be established at around 36-37 degrees. If this does not happen, you should seek medical advice. It is worth noting that a normal constant temperature will be established only by the year.
Conclusions should be made only after regular temperature measurements for several days. Measurements should be carried out at different times of the day and in different ways, writing down all indicators in a notebook. During the measurements, the average value should be revealed - this will be the normal temperature in the newborn. A deviation from the norm should be considered an excess or decrease of precisely these values, and not the usual value of 36.6 degrees.
The temperature should be measured in the armpit and its indicator should vary normally from 36-37 degrees. With rectal measurement, the value can be 36.9-37.4 degrees, with oral measurement - 36.6-37.2.
In the mouth and in the inguinal fold, the value is usually several tenths higher than when measured in other places. In the first months of life, temperature is recommended to be measured rectally. This is a reliable method, but after 5 months the baby will most likely not allow the procedure to be carried out normally.
The body temperature of a newborn baby in the mouth should be measured with a special thermometer. First of all, it should be safe for the baby. To measure the temperature under the armpit, you can use a mercury thermometer, and for other methods it is better to use an electronic one.
The baby should have a separate thermometer. The temperature of a newborn baby may rise after crying or after feeding, so you should measure it when the baby is in a calm state.
The lowest values will be on the thermometer at night and in the morning, during the day and evening - the highest.
Elevated body temperature of a newborn baby is not a disease. However, it can be a symptom of the disease. It can cause various infections, overheating, a reaction to vaccination.
It is necessary to lower the temperature if the child is two months old, there is no disturbance of health, the arms and legs are warm and the values on the thermometer reach 38.5. If convulsions appear and blanching of the skin is noticeable, and the limbs are cold - the temperature must be reduced when it reaches 37.5 degrees.
If the body temperature of a newborn child who suffers from diseases of the heart, blood or central nervous system reaches 38 degrees, it must be reduced.
For this, both medical methods and physical methods can be used. First, you should try to reduce the fever by available physical methods, the first of which should be simple undressing. If the skin turns red and the limbs are warm, you can wipe the body with a cloth dampened with water. Do not rub the newborns with vodka or vinegar. If vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions appeared against the background of the temperature, you must immediately call an ambulance. Before using drugs to reduce the temperature, you should read the instructions and do not exceed the indicated dosage. The main means of lowering the temperature in infants is ibuprofen and paracetamol.