The Postnatal

Period

Chapter 6.3

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.

After the Birth

Jaundice

Photo-Therapy

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.

Bonding

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.

Being Breast-Fed

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.

Help with Feeding

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.

Rooming-In

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.

Legal Documents

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

Caring for Premature Babies

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

Mothers Postnatal Care

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

Emotional Needs