The document discusses the essential care of newborns including immediate basic care at birth, daily routine care, harmful traditional practices to avoid, and the importance of family care and bonding. Immediate care involves receiving the baby on a warm towel, breastfeeding within 30 minutes, and maintaining warmth and temperature. Routine care consists of bathing, umbilical cord care, eye care, clothing, and observing the baby daily. Harmful practices that can introduce infection are also highlighted. The document stresses the significance of parental bonding, allowing grandparents and siblings to visit, and encouraging parents of infants with birth defects.

1. PRESENTED BY: Ms. SUKHRAJ KAUR
M.Sc. NURSING (PEDIATRICS)
ASHOKA INSTITUTE OF NURSING, PATIALA
CARE OF NEWBORN AND FAMILY

2. INTRODUCTION
Essential care of the normal healthy neonates can be the best
provided by mothers under the supervision of nursing personnel
or basic/primary health care providers.
About 80 percent of the newborn babies
require minimal care.

3. CONTI..
Mothers participates in the nursing care of the baby and develop
self confidence in her. This will also reduce the demand of
nursing personnel. Nursing care of healthy newborn baby after
birth should be provided as immediate care of the neonates and
daily routine care.

4. IMMEDIATE BASIC CARE OF
NEONATES

5. DAILY ROUTINE CARE OF NEONATES
The major goal of nursing care of the newborn infant is to
establish and maintain homeostasis, i.e. stability in the normal
physiological status. The daily
routine care of the neonates are
as follows:

6. RECEIVE THE BABY ON A WARM, CLEAN AND DRY
TOWEL
Warmth is provided by keeping the baby dry and wrapping
the baby with adequate clothing in the two layers.
Ensuring head and extremities are
well- covered.
Baby should be kept by the side of
mother, so that the mother’s body
temperature can keep the baby warm.

7. CONTI..
 Baby can be placed in skin to skin contact with mother
(kangarooing) to maintain temperature of infant and facilitate
breastfeeding.
 Bathing is avoided to prevent hypothermia
and infections.
 Ambient atmosphere temperature to be kept
warm adequately (28 – 32 oC)

8. CONTI..
 Temperature should be recorded (axillary, skin and human
touch method) frequently during initial postnatal period.
 Warmth to be maintained during transfer from hospital to home
on discharge or whenever needed.

9. Conti..
 Prevent the baby from heat loss.
 Convection :- The flow of heat from the body
surface to cooler surrounding air.
- Cover the baby with a blanket, wear a cap.
 Conduction :- The transfer of body heat to the
cooler solid object in contact with the baby.
- Place on mothers body skin to skin contact.

10. Conti..
 Radiation :- The transfer of heat to a cooler
object not in contact with the baby.
- Keep away from cold windows and cold
objects.
 Evaporation :- Loss of heat through
conversion of a liquid to a vapor.
- Dry the infant immediately.

11. BREASTFEEDING
 The baby should be put to the mother’s breast within half an
hour of birth or as soon as possible the mother has recovered
from the exertion of labor.
 No prelacteal feeds to be given
and the colostrum feeding must
be offered.
 Initially the feeding should be in short interval of 1 to 2 hours
and then every 2 to 3 hours.

12. Conti..
 Nurse should assist the mother to feed her baby adequately for
the maintenance of hydration and optimum nutrition.
 Exclusive breastfeeding procedure
should be explained to the mother
and family members.

13. Conti..
 All mothers should be informed about the importance and
technique of breastfeeding.

14. TECHNIQUES OF BREAST FEEDING

15. CRADLE HOLD
• Sit as straight as possible.
• Cradle the baby in the arm.
• The ear, shoulders and hip should be in
a straight line.
• Tuck the baby's lower arm out of the way,
with her mouth close to the breast.
• Support the breast with the free hand.

16. CROSS CRADLE HOLD
• This is similar to the previous method except that the baby is
cradled with the arm, the baby’s tummy
against the mother’s tummy and the hand
behind the baby’s head.
• The ear, shoulders and hips should be
in a straight line.

17. FOOTBALL OR CLUTCHHOLD
• Position the baby so her legs and body are under the arm, with
the hand holding her head.
• Allow the baby to latch-on while pulling the
baby close, holding the head tightly against the
breast.
• Keep the baby's body flexed at the hip with the
legs tucked under the arm.

18. SIDE-LYING POSITION
• First, the mother has to position herself and the baby on her
sides tummy-to-tummy.
• Bend the top leg and position with pillows.
• Place the fingers beneath the breast and lift
upward, then pull the baby in close as he/she
latches-on.

19. LATCHINGON
 Sit or lie tummy-to-tummy with the
baby.
 Bring the baby close to the breast.
 Touch the nipple to the baby's lower
Lip.

20. Conti..
 When his/her mouth opens wide, quickly pull your baby in to
latch on. Bring the baby towards the breast, not the breast to
his/her head.
 The baby will be able to breathe even
though his/her nose may press against
the breast.

21. SKIN CARE
 The baby must be clean off blood, mucus and meconium by
gentle wiping before he/she is presented to the mother.
 No bath, especially dip baths,
should be given till the umbilical
cord has fallen off.

22. Conti..
 In summer months, the baby can be
sponged using un-medicated soap and
clean with lukewarm water.
Each baby should have own separate
clothing and articles for care to prevent
cross – infection.

23. BABY BATH
 It can be given at the hospital or home following the
instructions for bathing.
 It should be given using warm water
in the warm room gently and quickly.

24. Conti..
• The baby should be dried thoroughly from head to toe and
wrapped in a dry warm towel or clothing.
• Bathing should be avoided in the open
place and unnecessary exposure should
be avoided.

25. Conti..
• During winter months the baby should have sponge bath rather
than dip bath to avoid cold stress or hypothermia.
• Use of olive oil or coconut oil can be
allowed after 3 to 4 weeks of age.
• Oil massage should be done before
the bathing, in a warm place.

26. Conti..
• During bathing the baby should be
observed for behavior and presence
of any abnormalities or infections.

27. CARE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD
• The umbilical cord is cut about 2 to 3 cm from the naval with
aseptic precautions during delivery and tied with disposable
plastic clip.

28. Conti..
• The cord must be inspected afterward for bleeding which
commonly occurs due to shrinkage of cord
• Normally it falls off after 5 to 10 days but may take longer
especially when infected.
• No dressing should be applied and the cord should be kept open
and dry and clean the cord.

29. Conti..
• Gently clean around the bellybutton stump, trying to keep it as
dry as possible. Note: Never pull the stump, as this may cause
permanent damage. The stump will take about a week to dry
out and fall off.
• Throw away each piece of cotton
wool as you use it.

30. CARE OF EYES
• Eyes should cleaned at birth and once every day using sterile
cotton swabs soaked in sterile water
or normal saline.
• Each eye should be cleaned using a
separate swab.

31. Conti..
• Application of ‘Kajal’ in the eyes must be avoided to prevent
infection or lead poisoning.
• The eyes should be observed for redness, sticky discharge or
excessive tearing for early detection
of problems and prompt management.

32. CLOTHING OF THE BABY
 The baby should be dressed with loose, soft and cotton cloths.
 The frock should be open on the front or back for easy
wearing. Soft absorbent cloth should be used.

33. Conti..
 The cloths should not be tight especially around the neck or
abdomen.
 In winter, woolen cloths should be used. Woolen cloths should
not be stored with moth balls

34. Conti..
 Baby clothing should always be cleaned with light detergent,
that will be washed properly and sun- dried to prevent skin
irritation.

35. DIAPER AREA CARE
• Preventing diaper dermatitis is a practice that parents need to
start from the very beginning with their newborns.
• With each diaper change, the area
should be washed with clear water
and dried well.

36. Conti..
• After cleaning, a mild ointment (e.g., petroleum jelly) may be
applied to the buttocks.
• The ointment keeps ammonia away from the skin and also
facilitates the removal of meconium,
which is sticky.

37. GENERAL CARE
• The newborn baby should be kept with the mother for
continuous mothering in hospital or in home in a well-
ventilated room.
• Baby should be handle with gentle
approach after proper hand washing.

38. Conti..
• No infected person should take care or touch the baby.
• General cleanliness to be maintained and surroundings to be
kept clean.
• Wet nappies should be changed immediately.

39. OBSERVATION
• The baby should be thoroughly observed twice daily for early
detection of any abnormalities.
• Temperature, pulse/heart rate, respiration, feeding behaviors,
stool, urine and sleeping pattern should be assessed
• Mouth, eyes, cord and skin should be looked for any infections.

40. IMMUNIZATION

41. HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES FOR THE CARE OF
NEONATES
• Not adopting measures for clean delivery at home and
conducting delivery in the dirty place and cutting cord with
dirty thing or blade.
• Use of unclean substance like cow dung,
Mud on umbilical cord

42. Conti..
• Neglecting newborn female baby emotionally and nutritionally.
• Immediate bathing of the baby after birth.
• Application of Kajal in the newborn.
• Instillation of oil drops into the ears
and nostrils during bathing the baby.

43. Conti..
• Use of un-hygienically prepared herbal preparation (Gutti).
• Giving opium and brandy to
the neonates.

44. CARE OF FAMILY

45. PARENTAL BONDING
• Bonding is the special emotional relationship that parents
develop with their infant. Bonding starts during early
pregnancy, especially after the mother first feels her fetus
move.

46. Conti..
• Bonding is often poor with preterm infants when the parents are
separated from their newborn infant. Anxiety about a sick infant
or an infant with a birth defect can also interfere with the
normal bonding process.

47. ENCOURAGE THE BONDINGPROCESS
• During pregnancy you should encourage the parents to speak
about their unborn fetus. They should think of possible names.
• When available, an antenatal ultrasound photograph of the fetus
strengthens bonding.

48. Conti..
• Allow the mother to hold her infant and put the infant to the
breast as soon as possible after birth. If possible, the father
should be present during the labour and delivery.
• Practising skin-to-skin care (kangaroo mother care) is a very
powerful way of promoting and strengthening bonding with
both parents.
• The infant should be given a name soon after delivery.

49. Conti..
• Take a photograph of the infant for the parents if the mother
and the infant cannot be together.
• If the infant is small or ill and has to be
cared for in the nursery, the parents
must be allowed to visit their infant
whenever they want.

50. GRANDPARENTS AND SIBLINGS BE ALLOWED TO VISIT A
NEWBORNINFANT
• Grandparents should be encouraged to visit the newborn infant,
especially if the grandmother is going to help care for the
infant.
• Brothers and sisters should also
be allowed to visit the infant.
They can even touch the infant if they first wash their hands.

51. PARENTS BE ENCOURAGED TO BOND WITHAN INFANT
WHO HAS A BIRTHDEFECT
• The sooner the parents are told of the abnormalities the better.
If possible, tell the parents together.
• Encourage them to handle the infant.
Point out the normal as well as the
abnormal features.

52. Conti..
• Handle the infant yourself as if you care and are not afraid to
touch the infant. If possible, try to be optimistic.
• Explain the implications of the
abnormalities.

53. • Tell the parents what the management will be, Where
applicable, show photographs of a corrected abnormality, e.g. a
repaired cleft lip and palate.
• Prepare the parents for having to break the news to any other
children and other family and friends.

54. SUMMARIZATION
• Introduce the Care of newborn.
• Immediate basic care of the newborn
at birth.
• Routine care of Neonates.
• Harmful traditional practices for the care
of neonates.
• Care of family.

55. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Dutta Parul Text book of pediatrics page Jaypee publishers. 6th
edition. Pp - 70-72
• Padamja. A. Text book of child health nursing. Jaypee
publishers. 1st edition. Pp - 31- 32
• Marlow R. Dorothy Text book of pediatric nursing. Elsevier
publisher. Sixth edition. Pp - 374-379