Is it cause for concern?

When to call us about urgent care

Call your care team immediately if your newborn:

• Develops a cough

• Has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher

• Makes a raspy sound or their voice sounds deeper

• Appears to have fast, labored breathing

When to call us about umbilical cord care

It’s normal for the umbilical cord stump to change from yellow to brown or black. Once it darkens, it should fall off on its own. Avoid pulling or tugging at the umbilical cord to remove it. Watch for the following signs of infection around the umbilical cord stump:

• Redness and swelling

• Bleeding, with more than a few drops of blood

• Yellowish or pus-filled drainage

• Foul smell

Call us immediately if you suspect that your baby is developing an infection. If your baby’s umbilical cord stump does not fall off within 4 to 8 weeks, let us know.

Learn more about umbilical cord care for your newborn.

When to call us about circumcision care

Your baby may seem fussy while their penis starts to heal, which should happen a few days after the circumcision. While the pain usually fades after 3 to 4 days, their penis may not start to look better for 7 to 10 days. If your baby’s care team placed a plastic ring around the head of their penis for the procedure, it should fall off on its own in 10 to 12 days.

Call us immediately if you notice:

• Spots of blood in the diaper larger than a quarter

• Redness, pain, or swelling that gets worse instead of better

• Pus-filled blisters

• Fever of 100.4 degrees or greater

• Yellow crusts that last longer than 7 days

Learn more about circumcision care for your baby.

*If you reasonably believe you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent serious jeopardy to your health. For the complete definition of an emergency medical condition, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage.