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The Postnatal Period

Chapter 6 Section 2. The Postnatal Period. Objectives. Describe common hospital procedures following birth Give recommendations for the postnatal care of the mother Explain the special needs of a premature baby. Examining the Newborn.

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The Postnatal Period

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  1. Chapter 6 Section 2 The Postnatal Period

  2. Objectives • Describe common hospital procedures following birth • Give recommendations for the postnatal care of the mother • Explain the special needs of a premature baby

  3. Examining the Newborn • Apgar Scale: a method of evaluating a newborn’s physical condition • Rate scale of 0-2 in each of the 5 areas • Pulse • Breathing • Muscle tone • Reflex to stimulation • Skin color

  4. APGAR Rating • 6-10 is considered normal • Lower score= needs medical attention • Usually given 1 minute after birth& 5 minutes after

  5. APGAR Test • A look at the APGAR test

  6. After Birth • Within 60 minutes: • Drops of silver nitrate or antiseptic are given as eye drops • Weighed, measured, cleaned • Permanent copy of footprint is made • Two bands: family name on wrist or ankles • Given to baby & mother

  7. What happens immediately after birth?

  8. Bonding and Attachment • Bonding: the process of forming lifelong emotional ties • Important to begin forming soon after birth • How? • Focus on kangaroo care • Nurse within minutes of delivery • Initial supply of breast milk= colostrum • Thick, clear-yellowish • Rich in antibodies & nutrients

  9. Hospital Stay • Mother needs rest: has undergone huge physical change • Constantly monitored • Length of stay? • Minimum- chance to rest, eat, and bathe • As soon as 12 hours after birth • Average: 2-3 days

  10. Rooming-In • Arrangement in which baby stays in the mother’s room • Father may visit whenever • Advantages: • Homelike atmosphere • Family may visit • Couple may practice before going home • Fed whenever

  11. Not rooming-in? • In the nursery

  12. Birth Certificate • Issued soon after baby is born • Process • Parents fill out form • Temp certificate is issued • Most important form of ID • Required for entrance into school

  13. Postnatal Care of Mother • Attention is focused on baby; however mother needs just as much care to meet physical & emotional needs

  14. Physical Needs • Rest: try to sleep whenever baby does • May need another relative staying with couple for several days • Exercise: as soon as doctor approves • Simple stretches, mild exercise • Helps mother return to normal figure & correct posture

  15. Continued… • Nutrition: especially important if breast-feeding • If not- still need to eat healthy to regain energy • Medical checkups: 4-6 weeks after birth • Postnatal checkup • Make sure uterus is returning back to original size • Mother can discuss any questions

  16. Emotional Needs • Joyous but stressfultime • Possible post-partum depression • Some fathers experience these feelings as well • Communication with each other, family members, or friends • Arrange time together as a couple

  17. Caring for Premature Babies • Requires special care • Less than 5 ½ lbs or born before 36 weeks • Not ready to live outside mother’s body • Reflexes, systems, breathing, sucking are not mature • Placed in an incubator • Special enclosed crib in which oxygen, temp, and humidity are controlled

  18. Incubator • Baby’s heart and lungs are monitored • Special procedures or meds may be needed • Advanced technology has improved survival rates • Babies weighing as little as 1lb can survive and grow to be healthy • Once healthy, they are moved to a bassinet • Must be able to achieve ability to control temp and gain weight

  19. Chapter 6 Section 3 A New Family Member

  20. The Amazing Newborn • Able to: • Focus their eyes • Hear • Smell • Vocalize • Less than a day old can focus on a pattern • Prefer human faces • Hearing is present at birth but days a few days for fluid to clear

  21. Sounds • Respond particularly well to female voice • Differentiate between pitches • Cochlear Implant

  22. Reflexes • Must be able to respond involuntarily until they learn • Reflexes: instinctive, automatic responses • Ex: sneezing, yawning • Help the baby function • i.e. sneezing helps clear nose, swallowing prevents choking

  23. Temporary Reflexes • Most continue throughout lifetime • Some are only temporary • Rooting reflex • Grasp reflex • Startle reflex

  24. Rooting Reflex • Automatic response • When touched on the lips or cheek, newborn will turn towards the touch and begin to suck • Helps baby find food • Around 4 months the reflex stops • Baby is able to turn head and see bottle or breast

  25. Rooting reflex

  26. Grasp Reflex • Automatic response of hand to close over anything that is comes in contact with the palm • Often so strong that the newborn can be lifted off the bed • Lets go without warning • 3 months begins to reach= reflex weakens • Gone by 1 year

  27. Grasp Reflex • grasp reflex

  28. Startle Reflex • Automatic physical response • Legs thrown up, fingers spread, arms extended, and then brought back to the midline with the fingers close in a grasping • Response to loud noise or touch on the stomach • Disappears around 5 months

  29. Startle Reflex • startle to touch • startle to sound

  30. Tie it together… • Neonatal Reflexes

  31. Learning to Care for the Newborn • Parents quickly gain confidence • Routines • Recognize baby’s needs • Adapt responses to individual

  32. What Do Babies Need?? • Food: whole body communication • Squirms, mouth open • Crying • Important to feed right away • Builds trust

  33. Babies Need: • Sleep • Most take short naps around the clock • Wake at night 1-3 times for feeding • Sleeps avg 15 hrs • 6-8 sleep intervals • Every baby is different

  34. Babies Need: • Kept safe, clean, and warm • Diapers • Bathing • Baby-proofed home • Medical care • Periodic baby checkups throughout 1st year

  35. Babies Need: • Things to look at, touch, listen to, and play with • Stimulating surroundings help babies learn • Favorite thing: human face & gentle voice

  36. Babies Need: 6. Exercise: moving arms and legs develop the baby’s nervous system • 7. LOVE • Babies feel secure • One of the strongest forces

  37. What Do Parents Need? • Knowledge • Resources • Time for many roles • Emotional support • Financial planning • Reassurance & confidence • Agreement on parenting • Health, rest, nutrition • Privacy and time alone

  38. Ask the Experts…Sudden Infant Death Syndrome • SIDS • Crib death • Usually affect healthy infants between ages of 2 weeks and 6 months • No warning, no cry, and no evidence of pain • No cause has been discovered • Extremely difficult time for parents

  39. Adjusting to New Routines • Baby needs several weeks before settling in to a pattern • Parents must adjust schedule to baby’s needs • Cannot “spoil” a newborn, parents are meeting their needs • After a month, a fairly predictable pattern occurs

  40. Understanding the Baby’s Language • CRYING • Hunger is most common • Hot or cold • Uncomfortable • Fatigue • Loneliness • Parents learn to distinguish between cries

  41. Early Temperament • Style of reacting to the world and relating to others • All babies are different • Some are calm • Some are loud • Research shows • Babies as early as 2 weeks adjust to parents reactions • Gentle= soft cooing & motions • Playful= grunts & active

  42. Understanding Your Baby's Cues

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