What are the priority assessments that need to be conducted on the newborn immediately following birth?
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Topic Resources The successful transition of a fetus, which is immersed in amniotic fluid and totally dependent on the placenta for nutrition and oxygen, to a crying, air-breathing baby is a source of wonder. Healthy newborns (age birth to 1 month) and infants (age 1 month to 1 year) need good care to ensure their normal
development and continued health. Immediately after the normal delivery of a baby
Overview of Labor and Delivery Although each labor and delivery is different, most follow a general pattern. Therefore, an expectant mother can have a general idea of what changes will occur in her body to enable her to deliver... read more , the doctor or nurse gently clears mucus and other material
from the mouth, nose, and throat with a suction bulb. The newborn is then able to take a breath. Two clamps are placed on the newborn's umbilical cord, side by side, and the umbilical cord is then cut between the clamps. The newborn is dried and laid carefully on the mother's abdomen with skin-to-skin contact or on a sterile, warm blanket. Not all deliveries follow a standard pattern. For example, some women need to have a
cesarean delivery
Cesarean Delivery Cesarean delivery is surgical delivery of a baby by incision through a woman’s abdomen and uterus. In the United States, up to 30% of deliveries are cesarean. Doctors use a cesarean delivery... read more Soon after a baby is born, two clamps are placed on the umbilical cord, and the cord is cut between the clamps. The clamp on the cord's stump is removed within 24 hours after birth. The stump should be kept clean and dry. Some doctors recommend applying an alcohol
solution to the stump daily. The stump falls off on its own in a week or two. Keeping the newborn warm is critical. As soon as possible, the newborn is wrapped in lightweight clothing (swaddled), and the head is covered to reduce the loss of body heat. A few drops of an antibiotic, such as erythromycin, tetracycline, or silver nitrate or, in some countries, povidone iodine, are placed into the eyes to prevent infection from any harmful
organisms that the newborn may have had contact with during delivery. Immediately after a normal birth, the parents are encouraged to hold their newborn. Some experts believe that early physical contact with the newborn helps establish bonding. However, parents can bond well with their newborn even when the first hours are not spent together. The mother and newborn usually recover together in the delivery room. If the delivery is in a birth center, the mother, father or mother's partner,
and newborn remain together in the same room. Mothers who are breastfeeding put their newborn to their breast within the first 30 minutes after delivery. Breastfeeding stimulates oxytocin, a hormone that helps the mother's womb to heal and promotes development of the milk supply. Once transported to the nursery, newborns are placed on their back in a small crib and kept warm. Because all babies are born with low levels of vitamin K, a doctor or nurse gives
an injection of vitamin K to prevent bleeding (hemorrhagic disease of the newborn). About 6 hours or more after birth, newborns are bathed. The nurse tries not to wash off the whitish greasy material (vernix caseosa) that covers most of the newborn's skin because this material helps protect against infection. CLICK HERE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL VERSION Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. What are the priorities in newborn assessment?A full newborn nursing assessment should include measurements such as weight, length, head circumference, and vital signs. The assessment should start by generalizing the infant's appearance, including position, movement, color, and breathing (Overview, 2020).
What is the highest priority in the newborn assessment?With every newborn contact, respiratory evaluation is necessary because this is the highest priority in newborn care. The Silverman and Andersen index can assess respiratory distress and its varying degrees.
What should be done immediately after birth as a quick evaluation of the newborn's physical condition?Apgar scoring
The Apgar score helps find breathing problems and other health issues. It is part of the special attention given to a baby in the first few minutes after birth. The baby is checked at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth for heart and respiratory rates, muscle tone, reflexes, and color.
What care will you give a baby immediately after birth?If your baby is breathing well, baby can be placed naked, skin to skin, on your chest or belly straight after birth. Skin-to-skin contact keeps your baby warm, helps to steady your baby's breathing and heart rate, and lets you and baby bond physically straight away. It's also a trigger for breastfeeding.
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