Caring For Your Newborn

Summary

This video script by Dr. Bonny Whalen, Medical Director of the Newborn Nursery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, offers an informative and comforting tour of the Birthing Pavilion. It covers essential newborn care, including skin-to-skin contact, vital screenings, and feeding tips. The script also addresses safety measures, such as infant security tags and car seat requirements, and provides guidance on handling common newborn concerns like Jaundice and SIDS prevention, ensuring parents feel supported throughout their baby's early days.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The Birthing Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is a safe and comfortable environment equipped with operating rooms and an intensive care nursery.
• 🤱 Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth is crucial for bonding and helps stabilize the baby's vital signs.
• 👶 Babies should be held skin-to-skin as much as possible in the first hours and days of life for their well-being and to promote a healthy start.
• 👁 Azithromycin ointment is applied to newborns' eyes to prevent eye infections, and vitamin K is administered to help with blood clotting and prevent bleeding.
• 🔖 Identification bands and security tags are used for the safety and security of the newborns to prevent mix-ups and abductions.
• 🩺 Newborns undergo various tests and screenings, including the Newborn Metabolic Screen (PKU test) and hearing tests, to detect and prevent potential health issues early.
• 🍼 Newborns need to eat frequently due to their small stomachs, and parents should respond to early hunger cues to prevent the baby from crying and to ensure proper nutrition.
• 🚫 It is advised against bed-sharing with newborns to prevent suffocation or falls, emphasizing the importance of safe sleep practices to prevent SIDS.
• 🚫 Shaking a baby is dangerous and can cause serious harm; it is important to find safe ways to soothe a crying baby.
• 🚗 Newborns must be transported in an approved car seat, and the hospital staff will ensure it is used correctly and safely.
• 📚 Parents are provided with educational materials and support to learn how to care for their newborn, including breastfeeding, feeding, and sleep guidelines.

Q & A

What is the role of Doctor Bonny Whalen in the Birthing Pavilion?

Doctor Bonny Whalen is the medical director of the Newborn Nursery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and she provides important information about the Birthing Pavilion and newborn care.

Why is the Birthing Pavilion considered a safe place for mothers and babies?

The Birthing Pavilion is considered safe because it has its own operating rooms and the intensive care nursery is right next door, ensuring immediate access to special care if needed after delivery.

What is the significance of skin-to-skin contact for newborns and their mothers?

Skin-to-skin contact helps stabilize the baby's blood sugars, body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It's calming for the baby and beneficial for the mother's uterus contraction and milk hormone stimulation if breastfeeding.

Why is it important for a newborn to have their eyes treated with azithromycin ointment after birth?

Azithromycin ointment is applied to prevent eye infections that can be caused by bacteria in the birth canal, ensuring the baby's eye health.

What is the purpose of the vitamin K shot given to newborns after birth?

The vitamin K shot is administered to help with blood clotting and prevent bleeding, as newborns are born with low levels of vitamin K and their liver needs time to start producing enough to prevent bleeding issues.

How does the Birthing Pavilion ensure the safety and security of newborns?

The Birthing Pavilion uses identification bands for the baby and parents, an infant security tag attached to the baby's ankle, and strict protocols for checking bands before any procedure, as well as monitoring exits to prevent unauthorized removal of the baby.

What is the Newborn Metabolic Screen, and why is it important?

The Newborn Metabolic Screen, also known as the PKU test, is a blood test that detects certain medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, PKU, and Galactosemia. Early detection allows for treatment to prevent health problems.

How can Jaundice be identified and managed in newborns?

Jaundice is identified through a bilirubin blood test, and if a baby shows signs of severe Jaundice, they may require additional treatment to help get rid of the bilirubin buildup causing the yellowing of the skin.

Why is the Hepatitis B Vaccine recommended for all newborns before leaving the hospital?

The Hepatitis B Vaccine is recommended to prevent serious liver infections that can result from exposure to the Hepatitis B virus, even if the mother tested negative for the virus during pregnancy.

How can parents ensure their baby is getting enough to eat?

Parents can monitor the number of wet and dirty diapers, which should increase by one for each day of the baby's life. Additionally, observing the baby's hunger cues and feeding on demand can ensure they are getting enough nutrition.

What are some tips for calming a crying baby?

Tips include skin-to-skin contact, swaddling, gentle swaying, rocking, or jiggling, and providing a shushing sound. It's also recommended to wait on introducing a pacifier until breastfeeding is established.

What is the importance of proper car seat usage for newborns?

Proper car seat usage is crucial for safety, ensuring the baby's breathing and heart rate remain healthy during car rides. The car seat must be approved, and the baby should ride in the back middle seat facing to the rear for the first year.