From the Start  From birth to age one month, the baby is medically known as a neonate Parents can enjoy this time of adjustment if they do the following :  Plan Carefully  Live one day at a time  Love and communicate with each other

Medical Care and Testing  Healthy and un healthy babies all receive medical care when they first arrive.  They are often held head downward and the doctors then suction fluid out of the nose and mouth  After the umbilical cord is cut, the baby is taken to a special table with a light and is dried with a warm towel

Care for Premature Babies  Some babies may have heart, digestive, spine or other issues at birth. In this case The babies are often placed in the Intensive Care Nursery. The (ICN) can save newborn’s lives or just prevent future damage. The Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) are heated enclosed beds for newborns who need intensive care.

NICU’s and the Apgar Test  NICU’s are equipped with devices for giving oxygen and monitoring heart and breathing rates  Neonatology : The branch of medicine concerned with care, development and diseases of newborn’s  Apgar Test : A test that checks for the baby’s chance of survival

Apgar Test Scores Sign :0 12 Heart RateAbsent Slow, fewer than 100 beats per minute More than 100 beats Respiratory Effort Absent Weak Cry,Strong cry Muscle Tone Limp Some flexing and bending of extremities Well flexed Reflex Irritability No Response Some motionCry ColorBlue,Pale Body pink, extremities Blue Completely pink Brazelton Scale : Helps doctors spot any problems as early as possible

Other Hospital Care  Pediatrician : Doctor who cares for infants and children.  Anemia : Low level of oxygen carrying substances in the blood test.  Phenylketonuria: Disease that can cause mental retardation if untreated by diet.  Jaundice : Condition that occurs in newborns that makes their skin, tissues and body fluids look yellow  Well baby Check up : Routine medical visit in which the doctor examines baby for good health patterns

Reflexes  Reflexes : Automatic, unlearned behaviors  Rooting Reflex : Reflex that helps baby find food by turning head and move in the mouth in response to a touch on the cheeks or mouth

Feeding  Breast feeding or formula are the two options for feeding a newborn  Breast feeding is preferred because this option has benefits for the child, mom and family Why Breast feeding is beneficial :  Breast milk is always sterile and is ready immediately  Babies rarely choke because they can control the flow of milk  Breast fed babies have low rates of rashes, allergies, ear and respiratory infections, cancer and bacterial infections

Formula feeding  Although most mothers breast feed, some mom’s can’t produce milk or chose not to breast feed.If formula is used the mother should :  Consult doctor about the type of formula to use  Keep utensils, nipples sterile  Keep milk refrigerated

Burping  Whether breast feeding or using formula, all babies should be burped. This is because babies swallow air while sucking or crying

Clothes  Babies Clothes should be comfortable, easy to put on and take off, suitable for weather and temperature. Clothes should be loose-fitting, easy to move and comfortable.  Newborns are easier to dress than older babies because they don’t squirm as much.  It’s not necessary to buy to many clothes or spend too much money on baby clothes because they do out grow them quickly

Diapering  Parents can use disposable diapers or cloth diapers for babies however disposable are usually the ones parents use. They are more convenient  It’s important that babies are changed when needed to prevent diaper rashes.  Almost all babies develop a diaper rash at one point or another. It’s important to allow the rash to get air and ointment should be applied.

Sleeping  Newborns sleep on average about 17 hrs of sleep per day because their bodies are growing so quickly.  The baby should be placed on a firm mattress in a bed with sides.  Pillows and toys should not be In the crib unless the baby is a year of age because these items can cause suffocation

Sudden infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)  SIDS: A syndrome in which a baby dies without warning in his or her sleep.  Babies should be placed on their back to prevent the baby from having a hear time breathing.  Side posistions are not good either because the child can easily roll over.

Exercise  Exercise is important for muscle development, coordination and even relaxation  The baby should be spoken or sang to during exercise  The baby should be monitored while on their stomach and non restrictive clothing should be warn so that the kid isn’t having a hard time to move.

Bathing  Newborns don’t get too dirty except for their faces, necks and diaper areas.  Sponge baths are recommended until the belly button has completely healed up. The cord should be left alone until it falls off

What can newborns do ?  Newborns can tell the difference between human speech and different sounds  At just 12 to 24 hours old they can move rhythmically to human speech  From birth babies turn to a parents voice over a strangers voice

How can parents help their babies learn ?  Parents need to take the time to stimulate their newborns  Newborns enjoy looking at objects and faces  Colorful crib bumpers can be used or perhaps a music box or crib mobile to stimulate the newborn  Parents should provide toys for the infant to grasp with

Newborn Toys  Designs and Patterns  Objects that move  Circular shaped objects  Other objects

Soothing a fussy baby  Newborns usually cry because they are tired, hungry, lonely or uncomfortable  Babies also cry to relax from tension  Colic is a major reason why babies cry. Thos is a condition in which a baby has intense abdominal pain and cries inconsolably

Meeting the parents needs :  The need for rest is always important, and it’s even more important for new parents  Without rest parents may mess up their physical health  Parents should take turns getting up with the baby during the night  Parents need to be mentally and physically organized  Spending time with other adults is vital  And Parents need to get out the house without hteir new born