Patient's question:
A few days ago, my aunt's daughter was born. Since it was a cesarean birth, she is still in the hospital and hasn't come home yet. Last night, I visited her, and I noticed that her lips were half red and half purple. My aunt said that this situation hadn't occurred even in the afternoon.What kind of help is needed: Could you please tell me what could cause a newborn's lips to be half red and half purple?
Doctor's answer:
According to the description, the lips are cyanotic, which is likely a symptom of choking. This is mainly caused by feeding too quickly and greedily, leading to difficulty in breathing temporarily. Appropriately adjusting the feeding position and controlling the feeding speed usually resolves the issue. However, if this situation occurs frequently, it is necessary to rule out the possibility of congenital heart disease. If necessary, it is recommended to have the child undergo an echocardiogram to rule out the possibility of cyanosis caused by congenital heart disease.