L2.3.1: Essential Newborn Care

• Essential Newborn Care

  ● It involves the following practices to newborn care which have proven to improve the health outcomes of the baby
• Essential Newborn Care

  (1) Immediate DRYING of the baby When the baby is still inside the womb, it is surrounded by a warm environment (due to the amniotic fluid). Once it comes out wet, drying must take place to prevent hypothermia.

  ● Using a clean, dry cloth, thoroughly dry the baby (face, eyes, head, front and back, arms and legs).
• Essential Newborn Care

  (2) Early SKIN TO SKIN contact.

  So that mother and baby can establish a bond, and so that baby can stay warm (body heat).

  ● Place the newborn on the mother’s abdomen or chest-to-chest.
• Essential Newborn Care

  (3) Timely CORD CLAMPING Prevents further transfer of blood from the mother to the baby. This establishes a transition for the baby to breathe on its own. This will also avoid infection.
• Essential Newborn Care

  (3) Timely CORD CLAMPING

  1. Clamp the cord, and cut it once pulsations stopped (1-3 minutes)
  2. Tightly tie cord at 2 cm and 5 cm away from newborn’s abdomen
  3. Observe for oozing blood
  4. Do not milk cord towards the newborn
  5. After cord clamping, ensure oxytocin 10 IU IM is given to the mother.
• Essential Newborn Care

  (4) Non-separation of baby and mother for EARLY BREASTFEEDING INITIATION

  Promotion of mammary gland production and mother-baby bond. This is also done so that the baby learns how to suck from the mother’s breast.

  ● Initiated in the FIRST hour after birth

  ● Observe the newborn, counsel on positioning and attachment, and initiate breastfeeding
• Essential Newborn Care

  (5) Eye PROPHYLAXIS

  To prevent bacterial infection. Babies are vulnerable to developing Sepsis (Septicemia - When bacteria enters the bloodstream)

  ● Place an ointment in the eye (Placed from the inner canthus to the outer canthus)

  (Inner Canthus - Area near nose)

  (Outer Canthus - Area farthest from the nose)
• Essential Newborn Care

  (6) VITAMIN K administration For coagulation (blood clotting mechanism)

  ● Administered intramuscularly (deltoid)
• Essential Newborn Care

  (7) WEIGHING of the baby

  To monitor and assess baby’s development, growth, and nutrition.

  ● Mother is weighed first. After, mother and baby are weighed together. (Get DIFFERENCE of the 2 measurements)

  ● There are babies who can be small for gestational age, or large for gestational age.
• Essential Newborn Care.

  (8) First dose of HEPATITIS B VACCINE To counteract the presence of Hepatitis B (transmitted via blood)

  ● Administered intramuscularly (thigh - vastus lateralis)

  ● 5 ml for 3 doses in 1 and a half month intervals
• Essential Newborn Care

  (9) First dose of BCG VACCINE (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) given to counteract the presence of

  Tuberculosis.

  ● Administered intramuscularly (shoulder - deltoid, thigh - vastus lateralis, buttocks - gluteus maximus)

  ● Those who are injected have a circular scar (depression) evident.