Nursing Care of Newborns at Birth
Newborns should be given utmost importance especially immediately after birth since many untoward incidents may occur.
At the delivery room, a pediatrician or a trained nurse or midwife may receive the baby.
The newborn is then dried thoroughly and placed under a radiant warmer to avoid hypothermia.
Then, suctioning of the mouth and the nose of secretions are done.
Once stabilized, a complete physical examination will follow.
Anthropometric measurements are taken especially the birth weight, height, head, chest, abdomen and mid arm circumferences and all these are all recorded in the baby’s chart.
The initial medications given at birth for normal newborns are the following:
1. Vit K
2. Hepatitis B vaccine
3. Bcg vaccine
4. Crede’ prophylaxis
It is also important to initiate breastfeeding upon delivery especially for the normal spontaneous deliveries.
Newborns are placed on the mother’s chest for the skin to skin contact and for breastfeeding.
“Unang Yakap” is a program of our Department of Health in cooperation of the World Health Organization to adopt the Essential Intrapartum Newborn Care (EINC). The EINC ensures the best care for both the mother and the baby.
The step-by-step interventions are:
1. Immediate and thorough drying of the baby
2. Early-skin -to-skin contact
3. Properly -timed cord clamping and
4. Non- separation of the mother and the baby for early breastfeeding initiation.