Question
My baby was born on the second day, and the doctor did a physical examination and said there is neonatal hypocalcemia. What are the dangers of this condition?
Answer
If a newborn’s blood calcium level is too low, it is called neonatal hypocalcemia. The normal serum total calcium range for newborns is 2.25-2.75 millimoles. If the serum total calcium is below 2.0 millimoles or the serum ionized calcium is below 0.9 millimoles, it will be diagnosed as neonatal hypocalcemia. Neonatal hypocalcemia can be divided into early and late stages according to the onset time. Early neonatal hypocalcemia mainly occurs in premature infants and newborns of diabetic mothers, with causes including insufficient calcium storage, thyroid function suppression, and increased parathyroid hormone secretion.