Newborn Procedures
A variety of procedures and / or tests may be offered to your baby after birth . The following pages contain information about the most common health care practices . Discussing these topics with your medical team will help you decide what is best for your baby . Use pages 74 – 76 to help determine your priorities for newborn care after birth .
Suctioning
Baby ’ s nose and mouth are sometimes suctioned with a bulb syringe during and immediately after birth . However , recent studies suggest that routine suctioning is not needed , and vigorous suctioning can interfere with breastfeeding .
Cord Clamping and Cutting
Some health care providers routinely clamp and cut the umbilical cord immediately at birth , while others delay clamping for several minutes , or until the cord has stopped pulsing and turns white . Research shows that delayed cord clamping significantly improves iron
Eye Ointment & Vitamin K
Antibiotic eye ointment may be put in the eyes of newborns to protect them from possible infections . This is done in case the baby has been exposed to bacteria from sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea present in the birth canal .
An injection of vitamin K is given after birth to boost newborns ’ blood clotting ability . This prevents a rare newborn bleeding disorder .
Preview
Newborn Exam stores and hemoglobin levels in newborns with no increased risks to mothers . On occasion , delayed clamping may contribute to an increased possibility of jaundice in infants .
An overall evaluation , checking gestational age , anatomy , weight and measurements are typical protocol . For a healthy newborn , this exam should be delayed until at least after the first hour of bonding and first breastfeeding .
If possible , choose a health care provider for your baby before birth . Look for someone compatible with your family and someone you trust . If your child needs extra testing , observation or needs to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( NICU ), the health care provider you have chosen for your baby can serve as a valuable resource . If unexpected health concerns arise , stay with your baby as much as possible and ask lots of questions to make sure you have a full understanding of the situation .
Newborn wellbeing is assessed using an APGAR score , usually at one minute after birth and again after five minutes . Scores range from zero to ten , with zero , one or two points given in each of five categories . A score of seven to ten is considered normal . A score lower than seven may indicate that baby needs some help to transition . This score has no value for predicting the health or wellness of the baby after the first few hours of life .
Life with Baby 62