Newborn Care;The followings are the ways of new born care.
Components of Essential Newborn Care
Neonates are prone to develop different complications because they are so delicate in
terms of immunity and homeostasis
• It is important to provide essential care to all neonates to prevent such complications
Ensure Warmth for the Baby
• Neonates have poor regulatory mechanisms and can die in response to extreme changes in
temperature
• Maintain a ‘warm chain’ for all newborns
o Have a warm room for the birth
o Dry the newborn completely immediately after birth
o Replace the cloth or towel used to dry the newborn with a second dry towel, cloth or
blanket
o Keep the newborn’s head covered
• Keep the newborn in close contact with his/her mother
o Skin-to-skin is the best as in the ‘kangaroo mother care’ position
• Use skin-to-skin to re-warm a baby who becomes cold
• Encourage all mothers to breastfeed on demand from birth
• Delay bathing the newborn for at least 6 hours, and better still, 24 hours
• Teach mothers how to keep the newborn warm, including keeping the baby’s head
covered, how to check for hypothermia (cold feet or body), and how to re-warm
Breastfeeding
• Put newborn baby together with the mother in the first hour after birth
• Help mother with first breast feeding
• Place baby next to mother on the same bed or mat to sleep
• Encourage mother to feed baby often
• Tell mother and family to give only colostrum and breast milk to baby
• Avoid bottle feeding and using pacifiers
Cord Care
• Wash hands before and after cord care
• Put nothing on the umbilical cord stump
• Fold nappy (diaper) below umbilical cord stump
• Keep umbilical cord stump loosely covered with clean clothes
• Explain to mother that she should seek care if the umbilicus or surrounding skin is red or
draining pus or blood
• Do not bandage the umbilical cord stump on abdomen
• Avoid touching the umbilical cord stump unnecessarily
Eye Care
• Clean baby’s eyes immediately after birth by swabbing each eye separately with a clean
cloth dipped in normal saline or boiled and cooled water
• Apply Tetracycline eye ointment after cleaning and within one hour of birth
• Do not touch eye with the tip of ointment tube
• Always wash hands before and after taking care of the baby.
Routine Immunization
• Counsel mother on importance of immunizing her baby
• Advise mother that even a small baby can be immunized without harm
• Immunize baby with BCG vaccine for TB and first dose of OPV (polio)
• Explain any side effects that may occur and how to treat them
• Emphasize that the risks of not immunizing a baby are greater than the dangers of side
effects (which are rare) and that immunizations save lives
• Counsel mother about importance of implementing the immunization schedule.
Breastfeeding
Infant Care;
• Adequate feeding is essential for growth and development
• Poor feeding during infancy can have lifelong effects
• The best way to feed a young infant is to breastfeed exclusively
o Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) means that the infant takes only breast milk, and no
additional food, water or other fluids (except prescribed medicines and mineral
supplements)
o EBF gives a young infant the best nutrition and protection from possible disease
o If mothers understand that EBF gives the best chances of good growth and
development, they may be more willing to breastfeed
o Mothers may be more motivated to breastfeed to give their infants a good start in spite
of social or personal reasons that make exclusive breastfeeding difficult or
undesirable
• It is important for the mother to initiate breast feeding within the first hour after delivery
of the baby
• It is best not to give an infant below the age of 6 months any milk or food other than
breast milk. (do not give cow’s milk, goat’s milk, formula, cereal, or extra drinks such as
tea, juices, or water)
o Giving other food or fluid reduces the amount of breast milk taken.
Advantages of Breast Feeding
• For baby
o Breastfeeding is a fundamental way of providing food for infants and young children
for their health, growth and development
o Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients for first 6 months
o Breastfeeding should be initiated soon after birth of the baby
o Breast milk is easily digested by baby
o Promotes bonding and love between mother and baby
o It helps to establish proper suckling
o Prevents diseases in infants due to presence of antibodies and macrophages in
colostrum
o Always fresh, readily available, no special preparation or equipment needed, does not
depend on a source of clean water
o Contributes to the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract via Lactobacillus bifidus
factor, decreases chances of diarrhoea and respiratory diseases
o Reduces risk of allergies and intolerances
o Establishes the habit of eating in moderation, thus decreasing the possibility of
obesity
o Contributes to proper development of jaws and teeth for better speech development
o Clean, biologically safe and cheap.
• For mother
o Moderate contraceptive benefits for mother (lactational amenorrhea)
o Stimulates secretion of prolactin and oxytocin which aid in uterine contraction
o Lower risk of breast/ovarian cancer
o Promotes bonding and love between mother and baby
o Cost-effective.
• For the community/environment
o Does not damage the environment
o Decreases health care expenses.
How to Help the Mother Initiate Breastfeeding
• After birth let the baby rest comfortably on mother’s chest in skin to skin contact
• Tell the mother to help the baby to her breast when the baby seems to be ready, usually
within first hour
• Signs of readiness to breastfeed are:
o Baby looking around and moving
o Mouth open
o Searching
• Check that position and attachment are correct at the first feed
o Offer to assist the mother if she seems to need help
• Let the baby release the breast her/himself, then offer the second breast.
• If the child doesn’t feed in the first hour, examine, if healthy, leave the baby with the
mother to try later and assess again in three hours
• If the mother is ill and unable to breastfeed, help her to express breast milk and feed the
baby by cup
o On day one, express milk in a spoon and feed by spoon
• If the mother can not breastfeed at all use one of the following options
o Donated heat-treated breast milk
o Use commercial infant formula
o Home made formula from modified animal milk.
Supporting Exclusive Breastfeeding
• Keep mother and baby together in bed or within easy reach, do not separate them
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand, day and night, 8 or more in 24 hours after birth
• Help the mother with whatever she wants, especially if she is an adolescent mother
• Let the baby release the breast her/himself, then offer the second breast
• Advise the mother on the acceptability of medication (as indicated) while breastfeeding.
• Do not force the baby to take the breast
• Do not interrupt feeding before the baby wants to stop
• Do not give any other food or water
• Do not use artificial teats or pacifiers.