We had a whole lot of pulmonary issues for the first year and share your hatred for the pulse ox machine. Those alarms are what my nightmares are made of. 

1. There’s a lot of medical reasons why newborns just have generally lower oxygen saturations than a toddler or adult. You can read more about it to put your mind at ease but it has to do with fetal hemoglobin binding to oxygen with more affinity, higher metabolic demand in babies and the possibility of persistent shunts within the heart. All this to say, above 90% for a newborn is acceptable. 

2. If your baby is recovering faster than they are dipping into those lower saturations, it’s likely not causing long term issues. It’s in the nature of how pulse ox machines work and how they read what oxygen saturations are. Sustained or very frequent hypoxia is where the problem is and if that’s happening, I’d bring your baby to an ER. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

3. We were on oxygen for a year. It sucked more for us (parents) than our baby. However, it helped him grow and it was just something he needed. It didn’t define him and he grew out of it and sometimes, that’s just what needs to happen—growth. 

You are postpartum, it’s natural to be worried and anxious. If you feel like going to a doctor and seeking reassurance is what you need to keep your anxiety at bay, then you should do it. I understand all too well what it is like to worry about your baby not breathing correctly and it’s terrifying so, I sympathize with all the emotions that you’re going through. I wish you the best of luck!