Anemia in new-born babies or neonates is a condition in which the baby is born with a low level of Red Blood Cell than usual. A neonate can develop Anemia due to several reasons, the more common of which include the inability to produce enough RBCs (also called Physiologic Anemia). The Premature birth of a baby often results in insufficient storage of all major nutrients. Other reasons of anemia include the mismatch of the mother's and baby's blood types, which leads to Rh/ABO incompatibility resulting in the body breaking down the RBCs too quickly. Blood loss in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU also may lead to cases of Anemia in a new-born baby. This results in poor immunity and the child suffers from multiple infections.
Most neonates with mild or moderate anemia have no symptoms. Symptoms of moderate Anemia may result in sluggishness (lethargy) or poor feeding (that is, getting tired while feeding). They may also show pale skin like symptoms, hair loss, flattened nails or may have an unusually fast heart rate and rapid breathing while resting.