Sindhu sebastian
Lecturer
FMCON

Essential newborn care is a
comprehensive strategy to
reduce the death of newborn
through cost effective
interventions before
conception, during
pregnancy, immediately after
birth and postnatal period

1. To make sure baby is thriving
2. Early detection of problems or danger signs
3. Helping the mother to meet the baby’s basic needs
–warmth, feeding, infection prevention
4. Baby breast feed within 1st hour
5. Advising and encouraging mother rot breast feed
exclusively
6. Advising mother and family Members about
danger signs and baby care
7. Treatment of key problems such as asphyxia and
sepsis
8. Making plans for continuing care immunizations
and growth monitoring

1. Prepare for baby’s birth
2. Immediate newborn care
3. Newborn care during the first day
4. Newborn history and physical
examination
5. Care of newborn during the first 28
days
6. Teach and counsel mother and
family about the newborn care

a. Prevent infection
 WHO-32% newborn death due to infection
 Wash hands
 Personal contact infection
 Use the three infection prevention steps before
the baby is born-equipment, supplies and linen
and surface
 Decontamination
 Cleaning
 High level of disinfection and sterilization

 Wear gloves
 Protect yourself from splashes or spills of blood
amniotic fluids –wear eye protection, shoes ,face
mask and apron
b. Prepare the birth room
Make sure that the room is
 Clean
 Warm
 Light
 Private

C. Keep records
Newborn record cards
Immunization cards
Mothers records of AN, labor and delivery
d. Collect the equipment supplies
medicines for the birth room and immediate
postnatal care

Immediate newborn care is
based on the knowledge of
midwife of his transitional
requirement and capabilities.

Chance of heat loss by
convection ,conduction radiation
and evaporation- so optimal
thermal environment in delivery
room.eg switch of the fan –
convection
Closing curtains-radiation

A. INITIAL CARE
As the baby ‘s head is born wipe or
suction out the excess mucus from the
nose /mouth
Note the time of birth and sex of the
baby

b. clearing the airway
Hold the baby’s head lower than the
body and turn to side for drainage
Wipe off baby’s face and fluids from
the nose and mouth
Suction the nasal and oral passage with
soft rubber bulb syringe or mucus
sucker
If necessary mechanical suction

c. Decide if baby needs resuscitation
A baby who is not breathing ,breathing is
less than 30 breaths per minutes or is
gasping needs resuscitation
Quickly clamp and tie and cut the cord
leaving stump at least 10 cm long
Put baby on flat warm surface and start
resuscitation

d. Clamping and cutting the cord
 Tie the cord securely on two place
 Tie the first one 2 fingers away from the baby’s abdomen
and second one from 4 fingers away from the baby’s
abdomen
 Use a small gauze piece to cover the part of the cord to
prevent splashing of blood while cutting the cord
 Cut the cord between the ties
 Do not put anything on the cord stump

e.dry and stimulate the baby
 Rub up and down the baby’s back using clean warm
cloth
f. Assess the baby’s breathing and colour
 Face and chest –pink not gray or blue –pink
indicate good sign of adequate breathing and
circulation
 Blue colour of tongue, lips and trunk –sign of lack
of oxygen in blood
 Bluish colour only on hands and feet –present for
1-2 days after the birth normal

g. Preventing infection
Aseptic technique
h. Maintaining the body
temperature
Keep the baby's body warm
Wipe of dry the baby
Bodily contact with mother
Radiant warmer -200 watt bulb
Warmed blankets

Prevention of heat loss
Remove the wet towel and cover with
warm blankets
Skin to skin contact with mother
Keep the baby mothers chest as soon the
baby is born
Breast feeding with in the first hour

i. Preventing the injury
Handle gently
j. Assessing the baby’s condition
APGAR
k. Weight
l. Clothing
m. Eye care

n. Identification
Name bands
Remain until gets discharge
Skin to skin contact with the mother
Have the mother to start breast feeding

Close observation at least for 4-8
hours
Any excess mucus from mouth
Any bleeding from umbilical cord
Hourly temperature until it
stabilize and remain above 36
degree

o. Administer inj. vit k

a. Assess the baby
b. Breathing
c. Warmth
d. Colour
e. Bleeding
f. Give normal newborn care
Keep warm
Support breast feeding
Eye cre cord care ,skin care ,

g. other care for any problems or
needs
Newborn physical examination
Common newborn problems
h. Immunizations
BCG and polio

a. Take history
b. Objectives of physical
examination
To detect congenital anomalies
To detect illness and birth injuries
To record body measurement and vital
signs
c. Identify needs or problems

 Observation
 General care
 Warmth
 Sleep
 Vital signs check
 Loving care
 Weight

 Protection from infection
 Skin care
 The head
 The mouth
 Eye care
 Care of umbilical cord

 Genital care
 Bath
 Early and exclusive breast
feeding
 Elimination
 Stool

 Immunization
 Safety and security
 Newborn danger signs
 Plan for follow up visits