Introduction
After birth, most infants receive ordinary neonate routine care. Mothers usually need more help and support to properly care for their babies. Complex physiologic changes occur in both mother and newborn. The care of infants should be accessible, continuous, comprehensive, and family-centered. Therefore it is the responsibility of parents to provide proper care and a safe environment for children.
What Is Routine Care after Birth?
After delivering the baby majority of mothers stay at the hospital for a very short duration of time. This is the time they require to know about their baby. Parents need to know what care should be provided to their child and what to do if the baby is feeling well. Mothers who deliver for the first time must understand the proper care of newborns. Routine care after birth consists of the everyday care of the baby.
How Is Everyday Care of a Baby Done?
Everyday care of the baby includes breastfeeding and maintaining proper hygiene and warmth. The room should be clean and at least 25 degrees Celsius. During winter, radiant heaters or other devices can be used. The bed net should be there for the prevention of diseases caused by mosquitoes and other insects. The baby should be kept in clean and dry clothes to cover the head and feet. Mothers should reassess their body temperature.
How Should Breastfeeding Be Done?
Mothers should have proper information about breastfeeding clinicians. Initially, thick yellow milk is secreted, which is known as colostrum. Gradually the amount of milk secreted is increased. Rooming or bedding practice is essential for successful breastfeeding. Newborn babies should be breastfed eight to twelve times a day for the first few months. Due to the easy digestion of breast milk, newborns are often hungry. Therefore the request is advised to stimulate milk production. Breastfeeding should be in demand for the first few weeks. The length of time between the feeding should be two to three hours. Newborns may nurse for up to twenty minutes on one or both breasts.
How Is the Hygiene of the Baby Maintained?
Cleanliness of the environment, mother, and family is very important. The baby should be washed properly during the bath. The face, neck, and underarm should be wiped daily. The gluteal region should be wiped properly whenever it is dirty. Mothers should be cautious about applying anything to their baby's eyes or ears.
How to Take Care of the Umbilical Cord Region?
Mothers should make sure that the umbilical stump region is dry. Avoid applying anything near the cord area. Clothes should be clean and loosely covered. It should be washed with water and mild soap and wiped with clean clothes. In case of any redness, swelling, or discharge, parents should inform the healthcare professional as soon as possible.
How to Hold the Baby Properly?
The baby should be handled gently. Slide your hand softly under the head and slowly raise it from chest level. Proper support should be given to the head and neck. Mothers can hold their babies in various positions like cradle hold, shoulder hold, and belly hold. Rough play, such as shaking, bouncing, or throwing in the air, should be strictly avoided. The head and neck should be taken care of.
When Should We Introduce a Bottle to the Baby?
Breastfeeding should be continued for the first six months. The baby can be shifted to bottle feeding after three months of breastfeeding. If the baby is refusing to take a bottle, a different bottle and moving around various nipple temperatures should be tried. It takes time to suck milk from a bottle and requires different mouth and tongue movements. Always make sure the temperature of the bottle is optimum. Be consistent with a routine that will eventually develop into a habit.
How to Do Baby Diapering Properly?
After bringing the baby back home, parents probably need to learn how to change diapers. The diaper should be clean, and the parent should check the diaper every 10 to 20 minutes. Most of the time, parents wipe their baby with a wet wipe which might form rashes on the baby's skin. Instead of this, we can use warm water and cotton clothes to wipe our skin. Lay your baby to the back and move dirty diapers. Use the water cotton balls and wipe them very gently. To avoid urinary tract infection, wipe the bottom from front to back. Always clean your hand properly before changing a diaper.
How to Take Care of Baby’s Sleep?
Infants usually sleep for 2 to 4 hours. The digestive system of babies is so small that they require feeding every 4 hours. Babies should be placed on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. The position of the baby’s head should be alternated from night to night to prevent a flat spot on the side of the neck. Usually, the newborn starts making a pattern of sleep. Parents should follow this pattern.
How to Be Aware of Danger Signs Related to the Baby?
Parents need to look after the child and all the visible signs and activities of the baby. All those signs which suggest that the baby is not are known as danger signs. Identifying this sign in a newborn requires urgent care and immediate treatment.
Following are the signs,
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Not feeding properly.
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Less active.
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Breathing more than 60 breaths per minute.
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Moderate or severe chest in the drawing.
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Moaning.
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Convulsion.
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Temperature raised.
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Discharge of pus from the umbilical region.
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Presence of pustules bullae, swelling or redness of the skin.
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Bleeding or cutting in the skin.
How Should Parents Be Prepared for Immunization?
All newborns receive the three vaccines first, preferably before discharge from the health facility.
Following are the three vaccines,
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BCG.
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OPV-0.
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Hepatitis b.
The baby should be immunized before getting discharged from the hospital. Parents should be provided immunization cards and follow the immunization schedule.
How to Maintain Follow-Up of Newborn Health?
Every baby should be followed up properly in a Pediatric clinic for assessment of growth and development, immunization, early diagnosis, and management of illness. Proper healthcare updates should be presented to parents. Parents should make sure of complete physical examination, administration of prophylactic medications, vaccination, proper feeding, adequate sleep, clean hygiene, and proper well-being of the baby.
Conclusion
Every newborn is different in habits and patterns. It may take time to develop a certain routine and settle into that routine. It is the parent’s responsibility to establish a simple routine. It needs consistent discipline and patterns to develop a routine. Parents and family members should behave responsibly and be aware of their well-being.
