Babies have exceptional abilities. They start adapting to life outside the womb from the moment they are born. Until now, they were dependent on your placenta for nutrition and oxygen supply. After birth, their lungs start exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
You may have attended maternity sessions or read articles about how to care for your newborn. However, there are a few essential things that a child specialist in Navi Mumbai recommends for babies shortly after birth. Knowing these care tips can help you stay prepared. Let’s see what care a newborn needs after birth.
1. Provide Warmth
Babies remain in the amniotic fluid in their mother’s womb and are hence born wet. The first thing the healthcare team does at a maternity hospital is to prevent heat loss in the babies. They put a cap on them, wrap them up in a towel, and use heat lamps. Mothers are encouraged to have immediate skin-to-skin contact with the baby to provide them warmth. This contact also strengthens the bond between the mother and the baby and helps mothers initiate breastfeeding.
2. Monitoring Vitals
A pediatrician checks your baby’s vitals, such as pulse rate, skin color, breathing, activity, and reflex response, within a few minutes after birth. Additionally, their weight, head circumference, and length are checked. Underweight or overweight babies might require extra care at a pediatric hospital in Navi Mumbai. This evaluation gives your pediatrician a better idea of whether a baby is healthy or if they need special care at the NICU.
3. Initiate Breastfeeding
It’s advisable to start breastfeeding in the first few hours of your delivery (if you have had a vaginal birth). C-section moms can start breastfeeding as soon as they feel comfortable. Your gynecologist will explain the benefits of breastfeeding, especially in the initial hours after delivery. The first milk is called colostrum, which is rich in antibodies and offers all the nutrients your baby needs to grow. Feeding them shortly after birth also stimulates milk production in mothers.
4. Umbilical Cord Care
Your gynecologist will clamp and cut the cord near the navel. Rest assured, the baby won’t feel any pain. The rest of the stump will fall off on its own within a week. Do not try to pull it. Avoid ointments and powders. Just keep the area clean and dry. When using a diaper, make sure it’s folded or taped below the stump. Visit a pediatrician if you notice pus, redness, swelling, or a foul odor near the stump, as these are signs of infection.
5. Give them Doctor-Prescribed Medications
Babies do not have enough vitamin K. They need a vitamin K shot after birth to prevent serious bleeding. It’s administered within an hour of birth. They are also given eye drops that protect their eyes from infections. Additionally, your pediatrician may prescribe vitamin D drops (which are given for up to a year).
Your doctor will explain the newborn care tips for when you take your baby home. Focus on feeding them every 2-3 hours, keeping them warm and dry, watching for jaundice, and ensuring they sleep on their back.