Immediate Newborn Care

Study Notes

Care given to the newborn immediately after delivery to keep them healthy
Purpose: to keep the newborn in good health, assess their condition, detect any abnormalities, prevent asphyxia, and provide cardiac care

A: Airway
B: Breathing
C: Circulation
Position the infant on their back or side with the head slightly extended in a neutral position
Clear the airway and gently suck mucus from the oro-pharynx with a suction catheter or mucus extractor
Dry the infant thoroughly with a preheated towel to prevent heat loss
Initiation of breathing may be stimulated by drying and suctioning
If the infant does not breathe immediately, slapping the soles of the feet or rubbing the infant's back with a warm blanket can be an effective measure to stimulate rhythmic breathing

Definition: a time schedule measuring the general baby condition to keep the baby in good health
Measured at 1 minute to assess the general condition of the newborn, and at 5 minutes to assess the prognosis of the baby
Score ranges from 0 to 10
Normal score: 7-10
Mild asphyxia: 4-6
Severe asphyxia: 0-3

Heart rate
- Absent: 0
- Slow below 100: 1
- Fast above 100: 2
Respiration
- Absent: 0
- Weak crying: 1
- Good crying: 2
Muscle tone
- Limp of flaccid: 0
- Some flexion: 1
- Active flexion: 2
Reflex irritability
- No response: 0
- Grimace: 1
- Good response: 2
Color
- Blue and pale: 0
- Body pink and extremities blue: 1
- Completely pink: 2

Mother should be notified of the sex of her baby immediately after delivery
Wristband containing mother's name, hospital number, infant name, date and time of birth, infant sex, race, and weight and length
Footprint

Should not be performed immediately after delivery, but rather a day or two later, after the infant has been demonstrated to be healthy

At birth, baby's skin is covered with greasy vernix casosa, which provides a natural barrier against infection
Excess vernix in the neck folds and groin may cause skin irritation
Bathing the baby immediately after delivery is not recommended, only wiping the baby's skin with a sterile moistened swab before clothing
One complete bath given by the mother under instruction on the second or third day before discharge is all that is required

Must be thorough to assess the newborn, detect any congenital anomalies, birth trauma, and specific neonatal problems
General appearance and measurements:
- Weight: ranges from 2.5-4.0 kg, with an average of 3 kg
- Length: average length of male and female is 47.5-53.5 cm, with growth of approximately 1 inch per month for the first six months