At birth baby should be received in a sterile sheet, dressed in a frock with open-back and covered adequetly. It is desirable to keep the baby with the mother rather than in a separate nursery. The health and survival of the newborn baby depends upon the health status of the mother and her awareness, education and skils in mothercraft. Early involvement of the mother in the care of her baby is the best way to promote and encourage breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding :
- All mother must be emotionally and physically prepared and motivated for breastfeeding during pregnancy.
- Breastmilk is best and complete food for a newborn baby.
- Maintenance of body temprature :
- The body temperature in newborn babies is usually unstable and they are particularly vulnerable to develop hypothermia in winter.
- The baby bath should not be given at birth and delayed till next day when his temperature has stabilized.
- The baby should be nursed in close proximity to the mother so that the baby gains heat from maternal warmth.
- In winter the linen and clothes of the baby should be prewarmed.
- He should be provided with a cap, socks and mittens.
- When the trunk of the baby is warm to touch and extremities are warm and pink it is reassuring that baby is not having any cold stress.
- The cultural practice of keeping the mother-baby dyad isolated for 40 days is useful and needs to be promoted. It prevents the exposure of the baby to cold and safeguards against infections.
- Body Massage :
- The oil massage is culturally and scientifically acceptable as it provides insulation against heat and insensible water loss.
- Oil massage of the baby should be postponed till baby is 3 to 4 weeks old and his body weight is more than 3 kg.
- Body massage improves the blood circulation and tone of the muscles, gives comfort to the baby, strengthens infant maternal bonding and provides additional energy to the baby.
- It prevents dryness of the skin, reduces water loss and improves thermoregulation.
- For body massage use a non-irritating vegetable oil like olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil or sesame oil but avoid mustard oil in young infants because it is pungent to the eyes and can irritate the delicate skin of the baby.
- The baby should be massaged before the bath in a room which is comfortably kept warm.
- In winters, massage can be best given by placing the baby in front of a closed window through which sunrays are peeping in the room.
- Place the baby supine and start fron head, face, chest, abdomen, upper limbs, palms, lower limbs and soles from above downward.
- Provide gentle but firm rhythmic strokes from above downward.
- After placing the baby in prone position the procedure should be repeated.
- The massage is followed by alternate flexion and extension movements of major joints of upper and lower limbs.
- Average duration of a massage session should last for about 15- 20 minutes.
- Mother must actively interact and talk with the baby during the massage.
- Skin care and baby bath:
- The baby must be cleaned off blood, mucus and meconium.
- The baby should be bathed or sponging next morning of the delievery by using unmedicated soap and lukewarm water.
- The skin pH of a newborn baby is 7. After few weeks to 3 months pH of the skin becomes 5.5. It is best to use a mildly acidic (pH – 5.5) liquid baby wash or mild cleanser.
- The soap bar should not contain any alkaline detergent.
- During summer months the baby can be given a bath in a reasonably warm room.
- Avoid dip baths till the umbilical cord has fallen.
- Eyes should be cleaned with the help of a sterile water soaked swab.
- The bottom of the baby should be washed in the end to avoid the contamination of healthy skin areas.
- The baby should be promptly dried with a soft towel.
- To rub off the vernix caseosa no vigorous attempts should be made because it provides protection to the delicate skin.
- During winter months the baby should be sponged rather than bathed.
- After the bath baby should be breastfed. After the ritual of a bath and breastfeed,
- most of the babies go to a sleep. They wake up after 2-3 hours fully refreshed and ready for the next feed.
