Essential Medical Care for Your Newborn

Every parent prioritizes their baby’s health and wellbeing; however, knowing what medical care their newborn requires can be overwhelming. First-time parents can find this especially daunting as the uncertainty around various health checks and medical procedures, such as screenings, vaccinations, and routine checkups, can create anxiety about ensuring their newborn receives the best possible care.

To help make the transition into parenthood less stress-inducing, this article has outlined the essential aspects of newborn care that parents can expect, allowing them to take on their new role with greater ease and confidence.

Essential Medical Care for Your Newborn

Medical Checks at Birth

A newborn baby is first examined by doctors or nurses upon delivery. This medical check is known as the Apgar test and takes place in the first few minutes of the baby’s birth. It measures the baby’s weight, muscle tone, skin color, muscle tone and reflexes.

Their temperature, heart rate and breathing is also recorded, with each category being scored with 0, 1, or 2, depending on the baby’s condition. The higher the Apgar score, from 1 to 10, the healthier the baby is after birth, with no urgent concerns or complications. Other medical procedures at birth may include:

• Vitamin K shots: Newborns have low levels of this vitamin. To prevent the risk of bleeding, the baby is given a vitamin K shot.

• Eye drops: An ointment or eye drops are applied to the baby’s eyes to prevent eye infections caused by bacteria that can be present during delivery.

• Umbilical cord clamped: After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, leaving a short stump that naturally falls off two to three weeks after birth.

These prompt health checks can reassure parents that their newborn is healthy and doing well.

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening tests newborns for potential diseases and health disorders in the first days of their birth, before the baby leaves the hospital. A blood sample can allow doctors to check for various metabolic, hormone, and genetic conditions that can lead to significant health challenges. Early screening ensures that newborns receive the treatment they need as soon as possible. Some of the health conditions newborn screening tests for include:

• Metabolic problems: Phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), methylmalonic acidemia, citrullinemia and tyrosinemia.

• Hormone problems: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and congenital hypothyroidism.

• Genetic conditions: Cystic fibrosis (CF), sickle cell disease, and galactosemia.

The test results from newborn screening are usually ready within a week of the baby’s birth. It is worth noting that often, parents will not be contacted if the results are all normal, and instead, only if the baby tests positive for a medical condition. However, this does not necessarily mean the baby has the condition.

First Doctor’s Visit

Parents need to schedule a doctor’s visit after their baby is born and this usually takes place within the first week of the baby’s life. At the visit, the doctor will carry out a full examination of the baby, checking their weight gain, feeding, sleeping and general development. They will also examine the baby’s hearing and vision to ensure there are no problems.

A reflex check will also be carried out to check the baby’s muscle movements and responsiveness, helping to identify any potential nerve or movement disorders such as Erb’s palsy, which is caused by nerve damage, often during childbirth.

Note: If you believe your child’s Erb’s palsy was caused by a preventable medical mistake during childbirth, an experienced Erb’s palsy lawyer can help your family seek compensation for medical expenses and financial support for your child’s care.

Vaccines

While babies are born with natural immunity against some infectious diseases, their immunity is usually temporary. Vaccines help protect newborns from serious diseases. Shortly after their birth, newborns are given their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and in the months following their birth they will typically receive vaccinations, as follows:

• 2 months: DTaP, Hib, IPV, Hepatitis B, PCV, and Rotavirus

• 4 months: DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, and Rotavirus

• 6 months: DTaP, Hib, IPV, Hepatitis B, PCV, and Rotavirus

• 12 months: Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A, PCV

Vaccination schedules can vary between healthcare providers, so it is best to check the timeline with your own provider.

Related » Six Huge Myths About Caring for Your Newborn

Summing Up

With an understanding of the primary health procedures, screening, and vaccinations a newborn requires, parents can navigate the early stages of their child’s life with greater confidence and peace of mind.