Hypocalcemia in the Newborn

Hypocalcemia is when a person
doesn’t have enough calcium in the blood. In babies, it’s called neonatal
hypocalcemia. Your baby can get it at different times and from different causes. There
are 2 types of hypocalcemia in newborns:

• Early hypocalcemia. This happens in
  the first 2 to 3 days of a baby’s life. To some degree it’s part of a normal
  developmental process. It’s more likely to go away with nutrition support.
• Late hypocalcemia. This starts in the
  first week or weeks after birth and is less likely to go away.

Early hypocalcemia can have many
contributing factors and often goes away.

Late hypocalcemia is rare today. It
was often caused by drinking cow’s milk or formula that has too much phosphate, because
calcium is linked to phosphorus levels in the body. This is no longer a common
cause.

Hypocalcemia can be caused by a
problem with parathyroid hormone. This hormone is made by the parathyroid glands in
the
neck. It helps keep the amount of calcium and phosphorus at a normal level in the
blood.
Low parathyroid hormone levels can cause too little calcium in the blood. Many
conditions, such as DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome), may cause low
parathyroid hormone levels. Low magnesium levels may also cause low calcium levels.
This
is because calcium levels are linked to levels of magnesium. High phosphorus and low
calcium may be seen in people and babies with kidney failure. This is because the
kidneys can’t get rid of phosphorus.

Hypocalcemia is more common in babies who are premature or who have a
low birth weight. This is because their parathyroid glands are less mature. Babies
whose
growth was slower than normal before birth may be more likely to have severe
hypocalcemia. This happens because less calcium crossed the placenta. Hypocalcemia
can
also occur in babies who have a difficult birth. It also occurs in babies whose mothers
have diabetes.

Symptoms of hypocalcemia may not be easy to see in newborns. Most
infants have no symptoms. If a baby does have symptoms, they may include:

• Being grouchy (Irritability)
• Muscle twitches
• Jitteriness
• Shaking (tremors)
• Poor feeding
• Lethargy
• Seizures

The symptoms of hypocalcemia in the
newborn may seem like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees their
healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Your baby’s healthcare provider will examine your baby. They will
also do tests to check the amount of calcium in the baby’s blood.

This condition may get better without treatment, especially if there
are no symptoms. Early hypocalcemia most often goes away in a few days. Babies with
hypocalcemia may have calcium supplements in their feedings or in an IV.

• Hypocalcemia is when a child doesn’t
  have enough calcium in the blood.
• There are 2 types of hypocalcemia in
  newborns. Early hypocalcemia starts a few days after birth and often goes away. Late
  hypocalcemia starts in the first weeks of life and may not go away.
• This condition is more common in babies who are premature or who
  have a low birth weight.
• Symptoms may be hard to see, but may include poor feeding,
  muscle twitches, and lethargy.

• This condition may get better without treatment, especially if
  there are no symptoms.

Tips to help you get the most from
a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for the visit and what
  you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down
  questions you want answered.
• At the visit, write down the name of a
  new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new
  instructions your provider gives you for your child.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment
  is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects
  are.
• Ask if your child’s condition can be
  treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is
  recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if your child does
  not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If your child has a follow-up
  appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your child’s
  provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have
  questions or need advice.