10 Steps of Essential Newborn Care
Learn the 10 essential steps for newborn care to help new parents ensure their baby's well-being from day one.
High-quality newborn care is a fundamental right for every child. Essential care must be accessible to all newborns, both in healthcare settings and at home. These practices are vital for ensuring a baby's health, growth, and development, as well as fostering a strong bond between parent and child.
This guide will outline ten essential newborn care steps to help prevent illnesses and create a nurturing environment for your baby.
10 Steps for Essential Newborn Care
By following these steps, you can make a significant difference in your newborn's early days.
Step 1: Immediate and Thorough Drying
A newborn baby is covered with amniotic fluid and blood when it is born. These fluids must be dried off immediately to ensure that the baby doesn't feel cold.
Immediately drying the baby prevents conditions like hypothermia, a condition where the baby's body temperature can drop to dangerous levels. Caregivers can also use warm blankets or heat lamps to avoid heat loss. This also helps in stimulating the baby’s first breaths.
Use a warm and clean towel to gently but thoroughly dry the baby after birth. Start with the head and work your way down to the feet. Ensure all moisture is removed, especially from skin folds.
Step 2: Skin-to-Skin Contact
This is the process where, after drying, the newborn is placed on the mother’s bare chest. Both the mother and the child should be well-covered with a warm blanket. They should be given some time together to emotionally bond with each other. This helps the newborn's internal process to go through instinctive stages like crying, getting into an activity, crawling, suckling, and sleeping.
This practice stabilizes the newborn’s heart rate and breathing. It also promotes bonding, reducing stress levels for both the mother and baby.
Step 3: Early Initiation of Breastfeeding
Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth is crucial for both mother and baby. Colostrum, the initial breast milk, is packed with nutrients and antibodies that boost the newborn's immune system, protecting them from infections.
The act of breastfeeding also stimulates the uterus to contract, reducing postpartum bleeding. Additionally, early breastfeeding encourages milk production and lays the foundation for a successful breastfeeding journey. The tender closeness experienced during skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding fosters a deep emotional bond between mother and child.
Here are the right ways to initiate early breastfeeding:
- The baby’s mouth should cover the nipple and areola.
- Hold the baby by its head and body to face the breast and support its neck and shoulders.
- Ensure that the baby’s nose is above the nipple to avoid suffocation.
Step 4: Proper Cord Care
When a baby is in the womb, the umbilical cord delivers the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow. Once the baby is born, the cord is clipped off, and a small stub remains attached to the baby. The best way to take care of the cord is to keep it dry and allow it to fall off naturally. Avoid touching it, and give the baby sponge baths to keep it clean and avoid infections.
Here are some steps to ensure proper cord care:
- Clean the cord with plain water and keep it dry.
- Fold diapers below the stump to avoid irritation.
- Do not apply alcohol unless advised by a healthcare provider.
Step 5: Eye Care
Newborns are susceptible to bacterial eye infections, which can cause serious problems, including blindness. Eye care prevents infections and helps protect the child against bacteria encountered during birth. Here are some ways to care for the newborn’s eyes:
- Use a fresh cotton ball soaked with sterile water to gently clean the baby's eyes.
- You can also use a saline solution as recommended by the expert.
- Apply any prescribed antibiotic ointment if required.
Step 6: Immunization
One of the biggest risks for newborns is contracting viruses and infections since their immune systems have not begun to develop.
Newborns must get their first shot of the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth to avoid it. Moreover, other vaccines like BCG for tuberculosis, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, and oral polio vaccine should also be given in the initial few months.
Immunization helps mitigate infant mortality and prevent infections. Discuss your baby's immunization schedule with your paediatrician to ensure the correct doses are being given at the right intervals.
Step 7: Temperature Regulation
A newborn's temperature should range between 36°C and 37.5°C. A low temperature can be too cold or hypothermic, and a high temperature is considered too hot or hyperthermic for the child. Both are dangerous for the newborn. Regulating an ideal temperature can help children conserve energy and build up reserves. It also supports overall health.
Keep the baby warm with skin-to-skin contact and appropriate clothing. Use an open bed with a radiant warmer. Avoid over-bundling or covering an infant's face or head.
Step 8: Early Identification of Danger Signs
Parents must be well-equipped with techniques to identify signs that their newborn may be in danger. This can ensure prompt medical intervention, which can save lives. Some of the common danger signs in newborns include:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Excessive drowsiness
- Less activity than normal
- Staring blankly
- Uninterested in surroundings
- Not awake and alert
- Cannot be roused even when shaken
- Jaundice or seizures
If any of these occur, you must avail of medical attention immediately.
Step 9: Early Initiation of Postnatal Care for the Mother
One of the critical areas of newborn care is to ensure that the mother is well taken care of. She needs to support breastfeeding and take care of the child’s physical and emotional needs. Here are some ways to initiate postnatal care for the mother:
- Proper healthcare services provided to the mother
- Schedule regular check-ups
- Be on the lookout for symptoms of postpartum depression
- Ensure proper nutrition and rest
Step 10: Family Planning Counseling
It is important to educate parents on child spacing and limiting births. This will enhance maternal and child health and also support the well-being of the entire family. Here's how medical practitioners and family-planning counsellors can ensure that parents make well-informed and practical decisions:
- Impart counselling sessions and provide appropriate resources to the parents.
- Provide contraceptive options and discuss the side effects.
- Offer personalized counselling on marital, career-related, and financial situations.
Closing Thought
The first few weeks and months with a newborn are a whirlwind of emotions and adjustments. While this guide provides a solid foundation for essential newborn care practices, navigating the world of parenthood comes with countless questions.
Bharosa.life empowers new parents by offering a platform brimming with trustworthy resources and unbiased reviews of healthcare professionals. On Bharosa, you can find qualified doctors and paediatricians based on location, speciality, and, most importantly, real patient experiences.
Visit Bharosa.life today and connect with the best healthcare providers for your precious newborn!
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