This document provides information for new mothers on baby safety and danger signs to watch out for after bringing the baby home from the hospital. It lists potential danger signs for the mother like fever or heavy bleeding as well as signs for the baby such as jaundice, breathing issues, or not having enough wet diapers. It also gives tips on safe sleep practices, car seat safety, and dealing with periods of unexpected crying which is normal for babies in the first few months. Mothers are advised to contact their provider or midwife if any danger signs appear.

1. Taking baby home

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

3. ▲ Temperature: Greater than 100.4 F
▲ Urination
Difficulty, pain, burning or frequency
▲ Legs
Swollen, red, painful area on leg (especially calf) that is
warm/hot to touch
▲ Breasts
Sore, reddened, hot, painful area with
fever and/or flu like symptoms

4. ▲ Vaginal flow
Heavy bleeding, soaking more than one large pad per
hour
Multiple golf ball sized clots or larger
▲ Vaginal odor
Foul odor to discharge, soreness or itching
▲ Severe pain
Vaginal, pelvic or abdominal pain
unrelieved by medication
Persistent, severe headaches

5. ▲ 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

6. ▲ Postpartum depression or anxiety
Feeling 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

7. ▲ Temperature
Axillary (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 old
up to day 6-10 per day.
Frequent watery stools or no bowel movement for 48 hrs

8. ▲ Feeding
Feeds poorly or skipping two to three feedings
Vomiting: more than spitting up
▲ Circumcision
Redness, swelling, pus or bleeding

9. ▲ Cord
Increase 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.

10.  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

11.  Smoke alarm in working order
 Correctly place baby in car seat when
traveling, rear facing
 Never leave baby unattended on a high
surface

13.  Infantcrying 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

15. P peak pattern
U unexpected
R resistant to soothing
P pain-like face
L long-lasting
E evening crying

16. 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

17. 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

18.  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

19. Refer to Samaritan Maternity Notebook
and/or discharge materials provided
Purple triangle in Maternity Notebook and
discharge materials for danger signs
Who to call
Provider or midwife