[Severe dehydration in a newborn following ambulatory birth]

A nine day-old girl was hospitalised because of breast-feeding problems and life-threatening hypernatremic dehydration; weight loss was 30% of birth weight and s-Na 187 mmol/l. The question is raised whether there could be an association to the current changes in the perinatal health care in Denmark. The case emphasizes the necessity of a sufficient safety net beneath the newborn children in order to minimise the risk of breast-feeding problems and re-hospitalizing. Neonatal problems such as marked weight loss, dehydration, hypernatremia and marked jaundice are potentially preventable.