What happens at the hospital after your little one is born? (Newborn Care)

The most beautiful and precious day of your life has arrived. A little girl or a boy has come into your arms. The joy you feel at this moment cannot be expressed in words, right? At the same time, there is a little fear and anxiety in one corner of your heart. Questions like "What will happen now?", "Is the baby okay?", "What will they do at the hospital?" are probably running through your head. This is very normal. So today, let's talk about what happens at the hospital after your little one comes into this world, in a very simple way, in a way that you can understand.

Things that happen right after a baby is born

After you give birth, the medical staff will start caring for your baby very quickly. This is a very important time.

First of all, they do these things:

• Dry the baby well: The baby has been in the warmth of the mother's womb for so long. Once it comes out, the temperature of the environment changes. Therefore, it is very important to dry the baby quickly and keep it warm.
• Clearing the airway: The baby's nose and mouth are carefully cleared of mucus using a small tube or piece of cloth. This is done to help the baby breathe better without any obstruction.
• Wrapping in a warm cloth: After drying and cleaning the baby, wrap him or her tightly in a warm, clean cloth.

Then, a pediatrician or a trained nurse will come and quickly check the baby's health. If the baby has these symptoms, emergency medical care is usually not needed:

• If the pregnancy has been completed and the baby has been born (37 weeks have been completed).
• If there is good muscle function (if the arms and legs move well).
• If there is no difficulty breathing.
• If the Apgar score is at a satisfactory level.

If all of this is in order, you can quickly hold your baby. This is called skin-to-skin contact, or Kangaroo Care . The benefits of this are many.

• It helps the baby get used to the new environment after coming out of the womb.
• The bond between mother and baby becomes very strong.
• This also helps increase the mother's milk production.

Whether you had your baby through normal delivery or a Caesarean section, you can request this skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible.

What is the Apgar Score?

At one minute and five minutes after birth, a doctor or nurse will perform the Apgar test. This is a simple test that gives a quick idea of ​​the baby's health. The 5 things it looks at are very easy to remember. It comes from the word APGAR.

Each of these areas is given a score of 0, 1, or 2. Then, all 5 scores are added up. From the total score (maximum 10), the doctors decide what kind of attention the baby needs at that moment. A score of 7 or more means the baby is in very good condition. But don't worry if the score is low. It just means that the doctors need to do something, like give the baby a little help breathing.

Important treatments given to babies in the hospital

To protect the baby from diseases, several essential treatments are given immediately after birth.

Eye drops

When a baby is born, various bacteria can enter the eyes as they pass through the birth canal. These can cause serious eye infections, sometimes even causing vision loss. To prevent this, antibiotic drops or ointment are applied to the baby's eyes.

Vitamin K shot

Newborn babies have very low levels of vitamin K in their bodies. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting. So, to prevent severe bleeding (hemorrhage) that can occur due to vitamin K deficiency, all babies are given a vitamin K injection immediately after birth. If this bleeding occurs in the brain, it can cause permanent brain damage. That's why this injection is so important.

Vaccinations for newborn babies

The vaccination program to protect a baby's life begins immediately after birth.

• Hepatitis B vaccine: This protects the baby from the hepatitis B virus. This virus can cause chronic liver disease. Whether the mother or father has the disease or not, the baby can get it through other means, so the World Health Organization recommends that all babies be given this vaccine at birth. This is a three-dose vaccine. The first is given at birth, and the other two are given before the baby is one year old.
• RSV vaccine: Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a monoclonal antibody called Nirsevimab to protect your baby from the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) . This is necessary to:
• If the baby is born during a time when the RSV virus is prevalent (usually during the monsoon season in Sri Lanka).
• If the mother did not receive the appropriate RSV vaccine during pregnancy.

Routine Newborn Screening

There are several conditions that are not visible at birth, but can be easily treated and cured if detected early. To detect these, every baby is given a series of tests. This is done by taking a small drop of blood from the baby's heel .

Some of the main medical conditions tested with this blood sample are:

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Sickle cell disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Other metabolic diseases (Inborn errors of metabolism)

In addition, several other tests are performed:

• Hearing test: To prevent future speech and language problems, the baby's hearing is checked.
• Pulse Oximeter test: A small clip-like device is placed on the baby's finger to measure the oxygen level in the blood. This can help detect the presence of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD), a rare condition that can be difficult to diagnose.
• Test for jaundice:The baby's blood bilirubin level is checked to see if it has increased. Many babies have a slight yellowing of the skin, but this test is important to determine if it is at a dangerous level.

Other things that happen while you're in the hospital

Aside from looking pretty in the little clothes you packed neatly in your hospital bag, your baby is going to face a few other things.

Feeding

To prevent dehydration, your newborn needs to be fed frequently. If you are breastfeeding, the staff will keep track of how long and how often you are feeding. If you are formula feeding, they will be aware of the amount of milk you are giving. Don't be shy about seeking help from a lactation consultant at the hospital who will give you advice on breastfeeding. Whether you are a first-time mother, a second-time mother, or a third-time mother, you will likely learn something new.

First Bath

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends waiting at least 24 hours before bathing a baby. In the past, babies were bathed immediately after birth. But delaying bathing:

• Helps regulate the baby's body temperature.
• Prevents skin from drying out.
• It has been found that this also affects the success of breastfeeding.

Since it takes a week or two for the baby's umbilical cord stump to dry out, it's best to give it a sponge bath to keep it from getting wet.

Meconium

Doctors pay close attention to whether a baby has a bowel movement within the first 24-48 hours after birth. This first stool is called meconium . It is black, thick, and sticky . It turns back to its normal yellow color after two to three days.

Circumcision

If a baby boy is born, with the parents' consent, circumcision can be performed within a day or two of birth. This involves surgically removing the foreskin of the penis. To do this, the baby must have been given a vitamin K injection.

When are you going home from the hospital?

Usually, a healthy baby can go home in two to three days. However, if there are any complications for the mother or baby, the hospital stay may be longer.

Even though you may be in a hurry to go home and start your new life, the doctors want to make sure everything is going well before sending you and your baby home. They always have your and your baby's best interests at heart. Don't be afraid to ask them any questions you have, no matter how small.