Each woman in labor is looking forward to the appearance of her baby, because a tense nine months internally exhausted her. Therefore, the first days of living with a child for mom are a kind of liberation. But, on the other hand, now a woman is experiencing pain that gives her even more excitement.
APGAR Test
The woman perfectly understands that the child is too fragile, and how his body works is not easy to understand right away, but neonatologists will help assess the physical condition of the child by conducting a professional APGAR test. The assessment itself is carried out according to several main factors:
- the strength and nature of the cry of the newborn - makes it clear the lungs, their state of disclosure;
- heartbeat and its frequency - shows the state of the circulatory system and blood circulation throughout the body;
- skin, its color and uniformity - it also allows you to determine the work of the circulatory system, small vessels and damage during childbirth;
- muscle tone - helps to assess the physical component, how much the child is ready for an independent life;
- reflexes - one of the most important factors, the readings of which depend on how full the newborn is.
It is the neonatologist who conducts a thorough examination of the newborn, checking all reflexes, damage and the presence of bruises or abrasions, which can significantly affect its further development. After the child passes into the hands of a skilled obstetrician who weighs the child, measures his height, the size of the head and chest. Then, in order to prevent conjunctivitis, the eyes of the newborn are treated with a solution (30%) of sodium sulfacyl.
First day
The first day after birth is the most responsible and requiring maximum attention from the medical staff and mom herself. In the maternity room, the child who has been examined must be tied to a bracelet with the exact data and date of birth, after the baby is wrapped in a blanket, an identical medallion with the same data is tied, it is for them that the nurse of the newborn ward will take the baby. Before the transfer, a repeated thorough examination of the baby is carried out, if necessary, the umbilical cord is processed and the baby is weighed.
Baby Care Rules
On the first day after birth, the obstetrician explains in more detail the main principles of caring for the baby, gives vivid examples and shows how to take the baby and what should not be done at all. Consider the basic rules:
- It is necessary to rinse the eyes very carefully, because the condition of the mucosa depends on the cleanliness of the motherâs hands, the sterility of the tampons and water. Therefore, you need to prepare. Wash your hands very thoroughly with good soap, boil the water, take tampons only sterile.
- Only flush eyes along one path. Starting from the outer corner, slowly move to the bridge of the nose, not in the opposite direction, as many adults do.
- For each eye, it is necessary to take a clean swab every time, because washing one with one can lead to conjunctivitis.
- Cutting the nails should be done with special scissors rounded at the tips. This is necessary so as not to damage or injure the fragile skin of the child.
- On the first day of the baby, difficulty breathing may be observed, since the nasal passages are too small and postpartum mucus can accumulate in them. Rinsing should be carried out with a carefully twisted flagellum made of sterile quality cotton wool.
- Ear shells should be cleaned with special convenient chopsticks. For each, you must use a new one.
The first days of the newborn are quite saturated for the whole family, everyone tries to fill the world of the child with comfort and goodness as much as possible, so the organization of life is divided into several people. But experts advise many couples to paint the responsibilities of parents and relatives in advance so that there are fewer conflicts in the family and negative emotions do not spoil the atmosphere of the children's room.
Inspection
In the first days of life, the baby should examine the condition of the skin of the head, because during the passage through the birth canal (especially in the fragile physique of women in labor), the baby may slightly deform the shape of the skull. Such changes are temporary, over time (three to four months) everything will be restored and will take a natural look. Also, all babies have unprotected places on the skull, which are popularly referred to as fontanelles (the largest is located just above the forehead) - their full restoration takes place until the baby is 1.5 years old.
The first two days for the child are the most important. During this short period by human standards, the baby's work is fully regulated by all organs, so the child and her mother are under constant supervision. Immediately after birth, in the case of a normal state of the baby, he is neatly placed on the woman in labor. This is the process of reunion, which is very important for the psychological peace of both. At such moments, the motherâs brain reveals the necessary instincts, and the child feels peace, similar to sensations in the womb.
Measurement of weight, height and temperature
After all the necessary procedures, the baby is transferred with the mother to the newbornâs ward assigned to them. Healthy children are already examined by a pediatrician and a nurse, after which the baby is carefully washed in clean warm running water using soap, then it is scrubbed thoroughly to completely remove moisture and at the same time bring the skin to life. In the first days of a newborn, weight measurements are taken only in the morning, but temperature measurements are taken two to three times (in the morning and in the evening, they can be taken in the afternoon, if the condition of the child raises questions). All data obtained is recorded in the development history and transmitted to the head physician.
Washing
Before each feeding, the baby is washed in a stream of warm water. The washing procedure consists of several stages:
- gentle washing of the face - so the childâs body is easily cleaned and gets used to the environment;
- careful washing of the eye (if the mucus channels have not fully opened, they are also massaged), the auricles and, if necessary, the nose (the body can be cleaned of water);
- umbilical cord treatment.
Necessary things
To fully and evenly spend the first days in the maternity ward, mother and child will need not so little. To begin with, each family is required to find out the necessary standard list in the hospital, where the process of childbirth and postpartum care will take place. A sufficient number of diapers, drinking clean water and diapers can be advised by both obstetricians and doctors, as well as familiar mothers. All components of a newbornâs first-aid kit are also recorded by an obstetrician or nurse.
clothing
The babyâs clothes, especially in the first days after birth, should be spacious and super-soft, seams, decorative elements should not press or pull the babyâs body. The material should be high-quality, breathable and maintain an even microclimate (do not allow the baby to overheat or cool down). If the room is kept at a constant temperature within 20-23 Âș, you can not cover the childâs head with a hat, in other cases, the hat is simply vital.
Place for baby
When the child successfully passed the period of postpartum care in the maternity ward and arrived home with his mother, he needs no less scrupulous care. First of all, newly made parents should worry about the children's room where the baby will live. The room should be protected as much as possible from dust accumulators, such as sound carpets, because in the first days the baby can react sharply to stale air, which can subsequently lead to allergies. The room should be prepared in advance so that the furniture and other items move easily and do not block the space for washing and daily wet cleaning.
Temperature and humidity
Many doctors talk about the need to maintain an even temperature, because your baby is already in the womb used to exist in a monophonic environment, and sudden changes will give freedom to microbes and viruses. Therefore, the optimal conditions are 20-22 Âș. Do not forget about the humidity and possible ventilation of the room without the presence of the baby (at the time of walking).
Each mother tries in the first days to be as close as possible to her babyâs bed, so this option should also be considered. The crib should not adjoin the heating radiator, as many of inexperienced parents bake. Too much air will lead to the babyâs disease, the mucous membranes of the body are just beginning to adapt to life, and dry air will cause them to crack and become infected with bacteria. Close proximity to the window is also not an option, especially for Soviet houses without insulated facades.
Advice
Of course, mother selects all furniture and home children's equipment. The first day in home penates takes place in adaptation to the chosen things and the arsenal of everyday use (baths, jars, clothes). Many people choose a mattress for a crib too soft, worrying about the comfort of the child. But you should still give preference to denser species, so the spinal vertebrae will develop correctly in the child. The pillow is still an extra sleeping place. A soft, high-quality bed sheet and a folded diaper a couple of times are better.
Also in the room it is worth equipping a changing table, as standard in the maternity ward. This manipulation helped at a time when the child was one day old, why refuse this method of care in his home? On the table you can place a stack of necessary diapers, dusting powder and other small things. The basis should be a dense blanket so that the child does not crush anything and he is completely safe.