The Postnatal Period Chapter 6.3

After the Birth The neonatal period is the first month after the baby is born. Jaundice: causes the baby’s skin and eyes to look slightly yellow. This condition occurs in more than 50% of newborns because the liver cannot remove bilirubin. Bilirubin: is a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. In the hospital, doctors may prescribe phototherapy to help the liver do its job. Phototherapy is treatment using ultraviolet light.

Jaundice Photo-Therapy

Bonding Bonding: is forming emotional ties between parents and child. Knowing how important bonding is, hospitals now delay some of the routine procedures after birth as long as there were no complications. Immediately after birth, nurses place the baby on the mother’s stomach. This allows the baby to feel the warmth of the mother’s skin, voice, and heartbeat. Bonding helps brain development. During the first year, a baby’s brain cells are making millions of connections. Through simple interaction, such as hold or singing to the baby, parents help strengthen the baby’s brain development.

Being Breast-Fed If the baby will be breast-fed, the mother may begin nursing right away. Newborns are born with a strong sucking reflex They are alert right after delivery Breast-feeding helps the mothers uterus contract after birth, and therefore helps stop bleeding. Colostrum: is a high-calorie, high-protein EARLY breast milk. It satisfies the baby’s appetite and provides protection from illnesses.

Help with Feeding All babies lose weight during the first few days of life, but will gain it back later. By the fourth day, breast-feeding mothers begin to produce more milk. Some mothers have trouble with breast or bottle feeling. Can get help while they are still at the hospital. Lactation Consultant: is a professional breastfeeding specialist who knows how to encourage adequate milk production and how to position babies properly so they can nurse.

Rooming-In Full rooming-in means that the baby remains with the mother in her room during the entire hospital stay. Partial rooming-in means that the baby stays in the nursery for part of the time. Have advantages for the entire family. Tend to have one main caregiver, and nurses attending to their needs. Tend to cry less, and parents get the experience they need to leave the hospital.

Legal Documents Birth Certificate is the most important document of personal identification anyone has. Parents fill out a form provided by the hospital birthing center. Parents keep a copy and another copy is sent to a government office where it is filed. Federal government recommends that a baby receive a social security number in their first year. Hospitals provide family with necessary forms.

Caring for Premature Babies Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of development. Many spend time in the hospital neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) Not all hospitals have a NICU and the baby may have to be transferred to a larger hospital. NICU has 3 levels. Level 1: provide routine care for preemies. Level 2: care for preemies who need to be monitored closely. Level 3: these provide care for very premature babies (less than 34 weeks)

Caring for Premature Babies Special Needs: Premature babies do not have enough body fat to maintain their temperature, even with blankets. NICO provides incubators and special warmers Decrease the risk of infection and surround the baby with warm air. Need special nourishment Fed breast-milk through feeding tubes Frequently tested for infections Their blood cell and blood sugar levels are checked often Improved Care Has improved greatly over the years

Mothers Postnatal Care Postnatal Period: is the time following the baby’s birth. Mother is physically exhausted & now responsible for caring for a new born. Mothers who have a C-Section have a longer recovery time Physical Needs: Recovery from pregnancy and childbirth takes time Needs Include: Rest Exercise- stretching and walking short distances (doctor approval) Nutrition Check-ups

Emotional Needs Many women feel confused a few days after birth and experience mood swings. The “baby blues” are very common. The mother may cry for no reason, feel irritable, lonely, anxious, or sad A small percentage of new mothers experience these symptoms to a greater degree. These are considered blues that DO NOT go away. Postpartum Depression: is a condition in which new mothers feel very sad, cry a lot, have little energy, fell overly anxious about the baby or have little interest in the baby, and in extreme cases, think of harming the baby. Treatment is available and they should talk to their doctors about it