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The Postnatal Period

The Postnatal Period . Chapter 6.3 . After the Birth . The neonatal period is the first month after the baby is born. Jaundice : causes the baby’s skin and eyes to look slightly yellow. This condition occurs in more than 50% of newborns because the liver cannot remove bilirubin.

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The Postnatal Period

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  1. The Postnatal Period Chapter 6.3

  2. After the Birth • The neonatal period is the first month after the baby is born. • Jaundice: causes the baby’s skin and eyes to look slightly yellow. • This condition occurs in more than 50% of newborns because the liver cannot remove bilirubin. • Bilirubin: is a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. • In the hospital, doctors may prescribe phototherapy to help the liver do its job. • Phototherapy is treatment using ultraviolet light.

  3. Jaundice Photo-Therapy

  4. Bonding • Bonding: is forming emotional ties between parents and child. • Knowing how important bonding is, hospitals now delay some of the routine procedures after birth as long as there were no complications. • Immediately after birth, nurses place the baby on the mother’s stomach. • This allows the baby to feel the warmth of the mother’s skin, voice, and heartbeat. • Bonding helps brain development. • During the first year, a baby’s brain cells are making millions of connections. • Through simple interaction, such as hold or singing to the baby, parents help strengthen the baby’s brain development.

  5. Being Breast-Fed • If the baby will be breast-fed, the mother may begin nursing right away. • Newborns are born with a strong sucking reflex • They are alert right after delivery • Breast-feeding helps the mothers uterus contract after birth, and therefore helps stop bleeding. • Colostrum: is a high-calorie, high-protein EARLY breast milk. • It satisfies the baby’s appetite and provides protection from illnesses.

  6. Help with Feeding • All babies lose weight during the first few days of life, but will gain it back later. • By the fourth day, breast-feeding mothers begin to produce more milk. • Some mothers have trouble with breast or bottle feeling. • Can get help while they are still at the hospital. • Lactation Consultant: is a professional breastfeeding specialist who knows how to encourage adequate milk production and how to position babies properly so they can nurse.

  7. Rooming-In • Full rooming-in means that the baby remains with the mother in her room during the entire hospital stay. • Partial rooming-in means that the baby stays in the nursery for part of the time. • Have advantages for the entire family. • Tend to have one main caregiver, and nurses attending to their needs. • Tend to cry less, and parents get the experience they need to leave the hospital.

  8. Legal Documents • Birth Certificate is the most important document of personal identification anyone has. • Parents fill out a form provided by the hospital birthing center. • Parents keep a copy and another copy is sent to a government office where it is filed. • Federal government recommends that a baby receive a social security number in their first year. • Hospitals provide family with necessary forms.

  9. Caring for Premature Babies • Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of development. • Many spend time in the hospital neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) • Not all hospitals have a NICU and the baby may have to be transferred to a larger hospital. • NICU has 3 levels. • Level 1: provide routine care for preemies. • Level 2: care for preemies who need to be monitored closely. • Level 3: these provide care for very premature babies (less than 34 weeks)

  10. Caring for Premature Babies • Special Needs: • Premature babies do not have enough body fat to maintain their temperature, even with blankets. • NICO provides incubators and special warmers • Decrease the risk of infection and surround the baby with warm air. • Need special nourishment • Fed breast-milk through feeding tubes • Frequently tested for infections • Their blood cell and blood sugar levels are checked often • Improved Care • Has improved greatly over the years

  11. Mothers Postnatal Care • Postnatal Period: is the time following the baby’s birth. • Mother is physically exhausted & now responsible for caring for a new born. • Mothers who have a C-Section have a longer recovery time • Physical Needs: • Recovery from pregnancy and childbirth takes time • Needs Include: • Rest • Exercise- stretching and walking short distances (doctor approval) • Nutrition • Check-ups

  12. Emotional Needs • Many women feel confused a few days after birth and experience mood swings. • The “baby blues” are very common. • The mother may cry for no reason, feel irritable, lonely, anxious, or sad • A small percentage of new mothers experience these symptoms to a greater degree. • These are considered blues that DO NOT go away. • Postpartum Depression: is a condition in which new mothers feel very sad, cry a lot, have little energy, fell overly anxious about the baby or have little interest in the baby, and in extreme cases, think of harming the baby. • Treatment is available and they should talk to their doctors about it

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