Baby Care

·      Immediate check for breathing, temperature, blood sugar and blood group. Prompt medical attention is required for birth injuries, breathing problems, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), fever, poor feeding or infections. Take care of warning signs like difficulty waking to feed, worsening yellow skin, fast breathing or persistent crying.

·      Vitamin K: A routine injection prevents rare but serious bleeding disorders.

·      Place baby naked on your chest (skin to skin) to stabilize temperature, breathing, heart rate and promote bonding. Initiate breastfeeding soon after birth. Provide only breast milk (or formula if necessary) for the first days/weeks.

·      Dry the baby thoroughly and keep them warm with blankets and a hat; newborns lose heat easily.

·      Wash hands or use sanitizer before touching the baby to prevent infection.

·      Always support the head and neck; never shake the baby. Always place baby on their back to sleep.

·      Skin care: do not remove vernix (white, waxy coating on newborn's skin) and delay first bath for at least 24 hours. Vernix is made of water, lipids, and proteins that protect them in the womb, easing passage through the birth canal and after birth moisturizing skin, preventing infection, and helping regulate temperature.

·      Milia and heat rash are common and usually resolve naturally. Keep clean and dry to avoid diaper rash.

·      Umbilical Cord Care: Keep the stump clean and dry; it falls off in 1-4 weeks; call doctor if it smells bad or looks infected.

·      Gentle Bathing: Sponge baths are best until the cord falls off; use plain water only for the first month to protect delicate skin.

·      Jaundice: Yellowing skin or eyes due to immature livers resulting in high level of bilirubin which usually resolves naturally but needs monitoring, sunlight exposure and even phototherapy (if required) to prevent rare brain damage.

·      Take care of reflux, spitting up, gas, diarrhea, constipation, poor weight gain and colic (intense, inconsolable crying for no clear reason). Persistent vomiting or diarrhea may cause dehydration resulting in fewer wet diapers.

·      Hiccups: Very common; can often be helped by upright feeding/burping.

·      Poor Feeding/Lethargy: Inability to wake to feed, weak sucking or poor appetite requires medical attention.

·      Startle Reflex (Moro): Sudden jerking/throwing out arms; usually normal, unless very strong or persistent.

·      Monitor body temperature: over 100.4°F (38°C) is high and below 96.8°F (36°C) is low.

·      Remain alert for infection signs like colds, fever, diarrhea, poor color or drainage from the umbilical cord. Oral thrush (white patches in mouth), ear infections and respiratory tract infection by RSV is very common in babies. Early stage treatment is required to avoid complicacy.

·      Notice for breathing difficulties, fast breathing (over 60/min), pauses >10 sec, grunting, wheezing or bluish skin.

·      A bluish tint/shade on skin, lips or tongue in a newborn (called cyanosis), signals low oxygen and needs immediate medical attention. Problems with the heart preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the body or breathing difficulties can reduce oxygen levels, leading to blueness.

·      A temporary normal blueness of hands and feet due to cool temperature and poor circulation is usually resolved with warmth and activity.