The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Unfortunately, you did not attach the story, the text, or the name of the article/text. Without this important information is so difficult to help you.
However, trying to help you, we did some deep search and can comment on the following.
The additional information you would want to know to understand Emma and Jacob's panic is the following.
First, you want to understand what is the real cause of the parent's panic. And all comes down to the health of their baby. The baby had problems with feeding. What happened was that Emma's baby stopped feeding after seven days.
This couple had lost a baby that died in the first nine days with no clear explanations at all. So they were traumatized by that fact and do not want to have another traumatic experience again. That is why they are afraid.
The parents desire the baby to feed normally and have the correct weight.
Parents are afraid that the baby dies or if it survives, could end up with some illness or mental ret*rdation, or could have another kind of complications when the baby is growing up.