Neonatal care in the initial hours: weighing, examination, and breastfeeding
THE CONTEXT
Initial neonatal care includes appropriately timed weighing, a thorough examination, temperature recording, and support for early breastfeeding.
Recording weight
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Weigh the neonate after stabilization and one hour of early skin-to-skin contact.
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Use a weighing machine with 10 g sensitivity; electronic scales are ideal.
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Place a sterile preheated sheet or a single-use paper towel on the machine, zero the device, and then gently place the neonate on it to record the weight.
First examination
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Perform a thorough head-to-toe examination at birth and document findings in the neonatal sheet.
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Examine midline structures for malformations, including cleft lip, neck masses, chest abnormalities, omphalocele, meningocele, and cloacal abnormalities.
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Check anal patency and examine for birth injuries.
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Routine passage of catheters into the stomach, nostrils, and rectum to detect esophageal atresia, choanal atresia, and anorectal malformation, respectively, is unnecessary.
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Record the axillary temperature before transferring the neonate out of the birthing place.
Establishing breastfeeding
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Initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth and assist the mother with putting the neonate to the breast irrespective of delivery mode.
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Proactive support improves successful breastfeeding. Primipara mothers, small neonates, and multiple births require extra help.