Turke & Thomashow Pediatrics: Newborns

Infant Care

During the first month of life, babies need to be fed at least every two to three hours. They should not be allowed to sleep longer than three hours without a feeding, even at night. You need to call us if you cannot awaken your baby, or get him or her to eat after four hours have passed. Some other reasons to call are for fever (rectal temperature greater than 100.3 F) and for unusual fussiness.

If your baby is ill

When our offices are closed you can reach us if your baby has an URGENT medical problem by calling our office number. Your call will be forwarded to our answering service and an operator will page the on-call physician (either Dr. Turke or Dr. Thomashow).

For emergencies you need to call 911 before calling us!

Newborns to toddlers Taking care of your baby

With the birth of your newborn infant comes an amazing new world. After nine long months of anticipation, visits to your obstetrician and/or midwife, careful nutrition including prenatal vitamins, taking extra good care of yourself, and redefining your life, it's time for Baby!

Congratulations on your newborn! Within 24 hours after discharge from the hospital, we like to see your newborn in our office. During this first visit we will examine your baby and answer your questions. Some common questions that we can discuss include infant immunizations, circumcision, and general questions about newborn care.

Perhaps your most important decision is how you are going to feed your baby. There are many benefits of breastfeeding, and it is strongly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, formula feedings is a healthy alternative for your baby.

Breast Feeding

The benefits of breastfeeding include superior nutrition and prevention of infection. Other possible benefits are increased intelligence and Photo of baby decreased allergies. Exclusive breast feeding is recommended for the first six months of life, continuing with partial breast feeding until at least one year of age. Breast feeding is also economical. The average cost of feeding a baby formula for the first year of life is $1,500.00. This is in contrast to the "caloric-cost" of breast feeding, which is less than $100.00 per year.
We offer these guidelines for establishing breast feeding in the hospital:
1. Breast feed within the first hour after delivery.
2. Breast feed on demand, or about every 2 hours for 10 to 20 minutes (even at night). More frequent and longer feedings are fine and will help with the milk supply.
3. Only give your baby breast milk, unless formula is medically indicated.
4. Keep your baby with you at all times and all night long, unless it is medically necessary for your baby to be in the nursery.

Formula Feeding

There are many formulas on the market making the decision of which one to choose difficult. Powdered formulas are the least expensive. Always mix them according to the package instructions. We suggest that you start with a cow's milk protein based formula with iron. Newborns usually require 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours for the first week of life.

Discharge Instructions

We would like to see your baby in our office 24 hours after discharge from the hospital. Please call between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment. Infants discharged on Friday need to be seen in the Ann Arbor office on Saturday morning.

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