Care of A Newborn
Care of A Newborn
Care of A Newborn
B.M. MOYO
9th FEBRUARY 2015
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end, student midwives should be able to:
Define a Newborn
Maintenance of Maintenance of
warmth safety for the
baby
Prevention of
infection Administer ARV
prophylaxis if
EBF mother is HIV
positive
TEACH & COUNSEL THE MOTHER &
FAMILY ABOUT NEWBORN CARE
An important part of the help given to
the newborn, mother, & family is
teaching & counselling about newborn
care.
Explain:
What care to give
Why to give the care
Even if a woman has had a baby before,
there may be new information that can
help her.
Teach & counsel cont...
When speaking with her, include other
family members such as the
grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt,
sister, and/or husband:
This gives everyone a chance to hear the
same things the mother hears.
It also gives the mother and family time to
ask questions.
Teach & counsel cont...
The mother & family may have other
baby care questions not included below.
Detection of Importance of
infection & other immunisation
health problems that
may occur in the Danger signs
baby
Parental education
a. Warmth
A newborn needs to be warm especially
for the 1st few weeks of life because
newborns:
cannot adjust their temperature like adults,
they get cool or warm much more quickly.
Have small bodies & not able to stay warm
on its own.
If the newborn gets too cold, s/he can die.
Parental education...Warmth cont...
Keep the Newborn in close contact
with his/her mother. Skin-to-skin is
best, as in the “Kangaroo Mother Care”
position.
A study conducted in the United States
showed that immediate, continuous skin-
to-skin contact between mother &
newborn keeps newborns warmer than
using a radiant warmer.
Parental education...Warmth cont...
The mother is the best incubator
because she keeps the baby at the right
temperature. Also, skin-to-skin with the
mother is the best way to transport a
sick baby.
If for some reason the newborn &
mother must be separated, be sure the
baby is well wrapped in a dry cloth & has
his/her head covered.
Parental education...Warmth cont...
How the family can keep the newborn warm: