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Newborn babies need a lot of care and help. If both mother and baby are healthy, there are a few simple steps that will help the baby get a good start. If the baby has a problem and the mother is not already in a hospital or health facility, she may need to go to a health facility in order to get the problem treated.
As soon as the baby is born, there are a few steps that must be taken right away. These are:
KEEPING THE BABY WARM
The very first step is to wipe the mucus from the baby's mouth and nose so that the baby can start breathing. It is important to have a trained attendant who knows how to help the baby start breathing if necessary.
Next, the rest of the baby's body should be dried with a soft, clean cloth or towel, and then wrapped in a warm cloth and given to the mother to hold close to her body. Newborn babies get cold much more easily than adults or older children, so babies must be kept warm and dry. The room where the baby is being delivered should be kept warm if possible. Since most heat loss occurs through the head, the baby should wear a hat or be wrapped in a blanket so the top of the head is covered.
The baby should lie on his or her side with the head slightly lower than the body. This will help drain mucus and fluids from the newborn's mouth and nose.
CUTTING AND CARE OF THE CORD
Right after the infant is born, the umbilical cord is still providing oxygen. It should be left alone until it is no longer pulsing (this can be felt by holding the cord between the thumb and forefinger). Then, it should be clamped or tied shut in two places: one tie or clamp should be about two finger widths from the baby's belly, and the other tie about two finger widths closer to the mother (see Figure 14.1). The cord should be cut between the two ties, using clean, sterilised scissors or a new razor blade. The instrument used to cut the cord must be sterile. If it is not, the baby may get tetanus, a very dangerous disease.
Figure 14.1: Proper Cutting of
Umbilical Cord
The umbilical cord should be tied or clamped as shown, then cut between the two ties using sterilised scissors or a new razor blade.
Figure 14.2: Putting the
Newborn Baby to the Breast
The baby should be breastfed immediately following delivery. The liquid that comes from the breast at this time, called colostrum, is very good for the baby and protects against illness.
The stump of the cord on the baby's belly should be kept clean and open to the air to dry. By no means should things like mud, cow's dung, herbs, or other substances be put on it, as these are likely to cause infection. If the cord stump gets moist it should be left more open to the air. If it begins to bleed or have a bad smell, it could be infected, and should be looked at by a trained health worker.
PUTTING THE BABY TO THE BREAST
The baby should be put to the breast immediately after delivery (see Figure 14.2). Contact with the mother's body helps give the baby warmth and comfort. Breastfeeding should be started right away, as long as the baby is alert and interested. The milk that comes from the breasts right after delivery, called colostrum, is very good for the baby and protects against sickness (see Chapter 15). Breastfeeding immediately also tells the mother's body that the baby has been delivered, and helps the placenta come out and the womb begin to return to its normal size right away. Sugar water or formula should never be given to a newborn baby. This can make the baby reluctant to take the breast, and can cause serious illness if the water is not clean, or if the cup or bottle is unclean. The sooner and more frequently the baby breastfeeds, the sooner the mother's milk will start coming and the more there will be.
EXAMINATION OF THE BABY
If the delivery occurs in a health facility, or if a trained health worker attends the delivery, the baby should be checked soon after birth. A midwife, nurse, or doctor should check the baby's pulse and heartbeat, make sure the baby is breathing well, and check to make sure the baby's colour is good and that the body is normal. The baby should also be weighed, and the weight should be recorded (see Figure 14.3).
Figure 14.3: Examination and
Weighing of Newborn Baby
Soon after birth the baby should be weighed, and the information should be recorded on a growth monitoring chart.
Infants who may require special care from a trained health worker include those who are born too early, who are underweight (less than 2,500 grams or 51/2 pounds), who were delivered by Caesarean section, or who are twins. These infants may need assistance to help them breathe, keep them warm, and possibly to treat complications they may have. If the mother had a complication or illness during her pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or bleeding from the vagina, the infant is also more likely to need special care. This is another reason why a woman should deliver in a hospital or health facility if she has a complication or illness during pregnancy: that way both mother and baby can be cared for properly.
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Box 14.1: Normal Physical Characteristics of a Newborn The baby's hands and feet may be slightly blue immediately after birth. The eyes may be uncoordinated and appear slightly crossed for the first several days or weeks. The stump of the umbilical cord is very moist at the beginning; it dries slowly until it falls off in a week to ten days. The baby's genitals may appear swollen for the first few days. The breasts of some babies are slightly swollen. This is an effect of the hormones from the mother, and will gradually disappear. Some baby girls bleed a little from their vaginas. This is like a small period caused by the mother's hormones. The baby will have two small soft spots on the top of the head that will slowly close during the first year. The size of these soft spots, called fontanelles, varies from baby to baby. Some babies are covered with fine hair that falls off during the first few months. Some babies, especially those that are born early, are covered with a creamy white substance called vernix. This can be wiped off after birth, and is not a sign of any problem. Many babies have small pimples covering their faces and bodies. These slowly go away during the first few days or weeks. |
There are many important steps to making sure the baby is healthy and happy. These include proper breastfeeding and weaning, protecting the baby from infections, knowing the signs of illness such as jaundice or anaemia, and what to do if the baby gets diarrhoea or starts vomiting. If the mother did not deliver in a health facility, she should go to one within 7-10 days to have the baby checked, and to have an examination herself. She should also receive guidance on how best to care for the baby, and what to do if the baby gets sick.
IMMUNISATION
Infants need to be protected against the diseases that are the most common causes of infant and child death. These include measles, whooping cough, and tetanus. Polio also disables one out of every 200 children who has not been protected by immunisation. All children should be fully immunised by the time they are one year old. The proper times to immunise a child are presented in Box 14.2 below.
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Box 14.2: Immunisation Schedule for Infants* |
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AGE |
ANTIGEN |
DISEASE TO BE IMMUNISED AGAINST |
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At birth |
BCG (and polio) |
Tuberculosis (and polio in some countries) |
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6 weeks |
DPT and polio (first dose) |
Diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, polio |
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10 weeks |
DPT and polio (second dose) |
Diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio |
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14 weeks |
DPT and polio (third dose) |
Diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio |
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9 months |
Measles |
Measles |
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* Immunisation schedules may vary slightly in different countries. | ||
Parents should be aware that a child may cry or develop a fever, rash, or small sore after an injection. These are normal after-effects and should not be a cause for worry. The child should be given plenty of food and liquids, preferably breast milk. If the problem seems serious or lasts more than three days, the child should be taken to a health centre.
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Summary: How to Care for the Newborn Baby Infants need care as soon as they are born. The first steps in caring for the newborn baby include: Cleaning the baby's mouth and nose, and drying the rest of the baby's body Later care of the infant includes proper breastfeeding and diet, treatment of common illnesses like diarrhoea, and immunisation to protect the baby against the major diseases of childhood. |
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