Ask:
My 4 month old's hands are turning purple every once in a while. I figured her hands are cold, but the daycare called and said I should call the pediatrician. Its probably been happening a day or so. This happen to anyone else? Any concern? I am waiting to hear back from the ped. office.
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I would be concerned. It could be just poor circulation which might be nothing bad, but could be from something more serious. I would take her in just in case.
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I wouldn't panic, but taking her in is a good idea.
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That happened to my youngest dd when she was a baby. I called the dr and they said to just watch her. It never got worse, it got better and that was it. But I would definitely talk to the dr.
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Definitely get her to the doctor. It could be a circulation problem, a respiratory issue or she could just get cold way too easily. It could also be from an iron deficiency - anemia. Let us know. Does she have this at home? Do her hands and feet seem cold a lot? Some babies need extra covering. By four months, they are starting to regulate their body heat a little more.
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Still haven't heard back from Ped. I am getting ready to call again
This just started happening. Hadn't really seen it before. I think it happened a couple of nights ago with her hands and I thought her mouth area looked a little purple for a second and then it perked back up. I would have to ask the day care how long she thinks it last because I hadn't really noticed. It does happen at home.
Thanks for all the replies.
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OK. Call the doctor again, and push. Let them know exactly why you are calling, and don't let them say, "If you're worried, go to Urgent Care." That is why you are calling the baby's doctor. Is she wheezing? Does she seem to be breathing OK? Does she have a cold?
I'm asking these questions because during one of my daughter's wheezing episodes, I mentioned how her mouth area, not the lips, but around the mouth, got very white. They told me that if her fingers and toes turned blue, or her lips turned blue, to go to the ER because she wasn't getting enough oxygen. I'm not trying to frighten you, but if wheezing/breathing is involved, this is urgent.
Also, in calling the ped., if I have a medical issue like this, and I've already called, I do this: First, I ask if a nurse is available. Usually one has to call me back. Fine. I leave that message, and ask that the doctor or nurse calls me back. If it's a strong issue, I ask for the Dr. to call back, but know that will take longer. In cases like this, I call up and tell them what is going on and see if I can get in same day. Our ped. has same day appts. for urgent cases and sick kids, and because you don't know what you're working with and it's Friday, I would see if you can get in today. Even if the Dr. is busy today, is there a partner to see? In our ped.'s office, I have five other Dr.s, if my Dr. is not in or is booked. Please let us know.
It's a good sign that it's intermittent, and not constant, but is it getting more frequent? Is it tied to a time of day, hunger or tiredness? Is the baby on a feeding schedule? If so, maybe you need to shorten the time. One mom I knew had hers on a four hour schedule. Baby's tummies can't hold 4 hrs. worth of food, and the baby would become so lethargic after 2.5 hours and was very out of it after 3.5 hrs. I still get angry at that mother, and her child should now be 6 yrs. old. People, and especially kids, need snacks or something to keep that blood sugar level. I'm just throwing some ideas out there so you can bring up what you can to the doctor. There's nothing wrong with making a pest of yourself if you have to - it shows the urgency, and they'll do something just to get you to be quiet.
I hope all is OK and baby is simply going through self-regulation, or is just a little cold. I know after I found out my daughter was anemic (separate from the wheezing issue), and we started giving her iron supplements, it made all the difference in the world! But of course, don't give iron w/out knowing she needs it for anemia, as an excess can be a problem.
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She could have Raynauds Syndrome, a systematic inflammatory disease in the arthritis family. You might want to do some reading up on it and take a few precautions.
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PLEASE take her to the dr. DS had alot of respir. issues as an infant and this bluish tint was the sign of an acute asthma attack and not having enough oxygen. Push them hard, even tell them she seems to be having trouble breathing....I had to push hard with mine. Sometimes a little fudge in the symptoms isn't such a bad thing to get them in there. if it turns out to be nothing more than being cold, then so be it, but it's better to get her in there and have them evaluate her. Keep us posted!
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Does it happen when she cries or just all the time? I would call the doctor either way, but I'd be more concerned it it happened when she cried (at least I think so). I always believe it's better to be safe than sorry, so have her checked out. Hopefully it won't be anything.