IMMEDIATE CARE OF NEWBORN

Care should be 1) Care of birth

2) Care in nursery

Care at birth :
Soon after the delivery of the baby , it should be placed on a tray covered with
clean dry linen.
The tray is placed between the legs of the mother and should be at a lower
level than the uterus.

 Air passages should be cleared of mucous and liquore by gentle suction.

 Apgar rating at 1 minute and at 5 min, is recorded
 Clamping and ligature of the cord
 Cord is clamped by two kocher’s forceps, the near one is placed 5 cm
away from the umbellicus.
 Two separate cord ligature are applied with sterile cotton threads, the
proximal one being placed 2.5 cm away from the novel.
 The purpose of clamping the cord on the maternal end is to prevent
soiling of the bed with blood. and to prevent fetal blood loss of the
second baby in undiagnosed monozygatic twin
 Quick check is made to detect any gross abnormality and the baby is
wrapped with a dry warm towel.
 The identification type is tied both on the wrist of the baby and the
mother. Once the management of third stage is over, baby is given to the
mother or to the nurse.
2) Care in Nursery :
Admission in nursery :
All healthy new borns are kepti in the delivery room with their mother
to promote immediate breast feedings and early bonding.
Indication : Prematurity , respiratory distress, presence of pallor or cyanosis,
malformation and need for O2

Routine Nursery Care :

The new born is examined systematically.
Infants weight , fronto-occipital circumstances and length are recorded
The newborn must be kept under a neutral thermal condition

Daily Observation and Care :

Rooming in soon after birth if mother is fit, baby is kept by the bedside of
mother.
Baby bath : Routine bath is delayed until the baby is able to maintain the body
temp and has stanted breast feeding.
The water for baby bath should be at body temp and separate bath tub.

Umbilical Cord care :

It is kept exposed to air.
Topical antiseptics or antibiotics such as triple dye or Neosporin powder may
be applied.
Eyes : Eyes are kept clean with cotton wool soaked with sterile normal soline
as a prophylaxis against opthalmia neonatorum .

Immunisation and vaccines : Hepatitis B vaccines is given at birth

Assessment of vital signs :

 Respiratory rate
 heart rate
 temp are recorded
 daily weight are recorded

Feeding :
 The frequency, duration and volume of each feed is imp. for newborn’s
growth and development
 Feeding is allowed on demand.
 Usually 8-12 times per day

Follow up :
Follow up of newborns should be organized depending upon the risks of
feeding problems, infections, hyperbilirubinaemia or other tissue.