It is true in hypernatremic dehydration a baby does not necessarily have all
of the usual signs that a baby with a normal sodium has when
deydrated....like poor circulation, and no pee.

The reason for this is more fluid stays in the intravascular space where the
salt is, even thought the total body fluid is low. So the kidneys get
perfused til the bitter end. It is our policy to notify the MD if one of us
sees a baby more than 12% below birthweight, and they really ought to have
electolytes drawn. They are usually also quite yellow.


Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC
Medical Director, MilkWorks
Lincoln, NE

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