Routine Newborn Baby Care Procedures
Choices for newborn baby care procedures start immediately at birth.
The best preparation is to have some knowledge on the tests and decide which test you wish for your baby to have . For
a hospital birth, there are some routine procedures which can be administered, delayed or even refused. Unfortunately,
first time parents are often unaware that many of these routine procedures are not educated about the test and just allow
all of them.
Many parents don't realize the impact that these procedures can have on their newborn child.
Once you have decided what procedures you prefer and whether you want them performed immediately or on a delayed schedule, you
can comunicate this by having a birth plan. Another ways is by choosing a pediatric before birth and interveiwing them and
discussing these tests with him/her. A Birth Plan will ensure that your preferences are on paper though, before
the birth and remove any doubt as to your wishes for your new child after birth. A birth plan is great, but also find out
what the hospital, that you are having your baby at : their standards. The Dr. you choose may not be a participating
Dr. at your birthing hospital and until you are released , may not be doing your babies first test. Usaully it
is done by the OB nurses, staff in the hospital directly after the birth in the delivery room.
Another Thing to
remember is that you can and absolutely have the right to receive information about each and every procedure that will
be performed, as well as the right to either request the procedure be performed in your room or that a parent/guardian accompany
the newborn for each one. This includes weighing, measuring and the pediatrician's evaluation of the baby - all
can be performed right there in the mother's room. Remember, your first responsibility is to the welfare of your
child, not to the comfort of the hospital staff nor arbitrary hospital policies.
The most commonly performed
routine newborn baby care procedures to consider are:
Suctioning
For most hospital births, it is routine procedure to suction the baby's mouth and nose
as soon as the head emerges on the perineum. Either a deep suction hose will be used or a bulb syringe to extract any
mucus or meconium that may be present.
While it may seem a good idea to suction as soon as possible, the
reality is that the baby is not at great risk at this point since it will not take its first breath until the cord stops pulsating
or is cut. Suctioning can be delayed until after the baby has been born. Better yet, suctioning can only be performed
when indicated rather than a routine procedure for those infants who do not need it.
Cord Clamping
The next and perhaps most critical newborn baby care decision to be made for your baby's welfare
is cord clamping - immediate or delayed. The benefits of delayed cord clamping, which is defined as waiting until the cord has stopped pulsating until clamping or cutting it, are well-documented.
Once the baby is born, its entire circulatory system undergoes an amazing transformation to allow the baby to receive oxygen
via its lungs rather than through the umbilical cord - a valve in the heart closes, the lungs perfuse with blood and eventually
a first breath is taken. When this delicate balance is interrupted by prematurely severing the child's lifeline,
its umbilical cord, numerous undesirable side effects can occur.
Newborn Vitamin K Injection
All
newborns are born with a low level of Vitamin K which is responsible for preventing hemorrhage by enhancing the blood's
clotting ability. In a small percentage of newborns, cerebral hemorrhage can occur which spurred the universal practice
of newborn vitamin K injections in the United States. There are, however, some points to ponder when considering this intervention, especially the
alternative of an oral dose.
PKU Screening
Certain metabolic disorders, including a PKU test, are routinely screened for at birth through a heel stick blood sample. These disorders have devastating effects that
are best handled with early detection and treatment to ensure the best possible outcomes. This is the least controversial
newborn baby care procedure since the benefits do outweigh the risks.
Hep B Vaccine
The Hep B Vaccine, a disease that is transmitted via infected blood and sexual intercourse, is given at birth in the hope of catching as many
people as possible. It is not required for administration at birth and may be given at any time in childhood or adulthood.
In low-risk families, it may be advisable to delay the administration to the weeks after birth, rather than injecting a minutes-old
baby, causing pain as one of its first experiences outside the womb.
Silver Nitrate or Antibiotic Eye Ointment
To
prevent the chance of blindness due to gonorrhea from an infected mother, hospital-born babies are given silver nitrate or other antibiotic drops in their eyes, even if the mother previously screened negative for this or other STDs in her pregnancy.
Silver nitrate causes pain, burning, swelling and blurred vision for the first days of life and in the vast majority of cases,
is not needed when the mother is known to be free from infection.
To Bathe or Not to Bathe
If there is
one newborn baby care procedure that many families never consider, it's bathing a newborn. However, this may indeed be something a new family decides to decline. The vernix which coats the baby's
extremely sensitive skin is the best natural moisturizer available and will protect it from infection when massaged into the
skin. Additionally, a bath can cause a baby's body temperature to drop, thus necessitating further interventions
to regulate it.
Circumcision
Male circumcision, and female circumcision, for that matter, are very controversial subjects. Some religions require circumcision. However,
there are no proven medical benefits to the procedure and significant drawbacks. It is now considered a cosmetic procedure
and its routine performance is being phased out in many areas. The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer supports
it. In Australia, public hospitals are no longer performing routine circumsions.
Carefully
consider your newborn baby care options, especially if you are birthing in a hospital. Over 1 million healthy infants
each year spent up to 3 days in the NICU for "observation" in the United States, with many unneeded interventions
simply because the technology exists. If at any time you have questions about a procedure for your newborn, don't
hesitate to ask questions. You are your child's first and foremost advocate - be the voice they lack as you choose
what interventions are in their best interest.
You can get a waiver for the state in which you live in to not have
of the baby vacines.
