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Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care
Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care
Developed and field tested by international and local experts, EINC practices reflect current knowledge.
EINC distinguishes the necessary practices in the delivery and care for the newborn and the mother, from
the unnecessary. In December 2009, the Secretary of the Department of Health Francisco Duque signed
Administrative Order 2009-0025, which mandates implementation of the EINC Protocol in both public
and private hospitals. Likewise, the Unang Yakap campaign was launched.
Recommended EINC practices for newborn care are time-bound interventions at the time of birth
1. Immediate and thorough drying of the newborn
2. Early skin-to-skin contact between mother and the newborn
3. Properly-timed cord clamping and cutting
4. Unang Yakap (First Embrace) of the mother and her newborn for early breastfeeding initiation
Within 90 minutes of age, facilitate the newborn’s early initiation to breastfeeding and
transfer of colostrum.
1. Leave the newborn on the mother’s chest in skin-to-skin contact.
2. Health workers should not touch the newborn unless there is medical indication.
3. Counsel mother on positioning infant and attachment to breast. If attachment is not good,
reassess. Suggest mother to assist baby towards the breast.
4. Advice mother not to throw away colostrum.
5. Advice mother to start feeding once the newborn shows feeding cues like opening the mouth,
licking and rooting.
6. Encourage the Kangaroo Mother Care.
Kangaroo mother care provides the newborn with low birth weight or preterm babies with
benefits of incubator care. Once baby is stable, kangaroo mother care can begin.