Teen Pregnancy: Your Questions Answered by Quinn Paul;

Author:Quinn, Paul;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, LLC

32. What medical care does the baby need after it’s born?

The baby’s medical care begins while the mother is still pregnant. Prenatal care not only monitors the health status of the mother but also checks that the baby is growing properly. Tests like laboratory blood work or ultrasound identify any conditions or defects in the baby to allow early intervention if possible or to create a management and treatment plan for the time of delivery.

Immediately after birth the delivery team works to rapidly assess the baby and provide any support a baby may need in the first minutes of life. The baby will be quickly dried and stimulated to cry. A member of the delivery team will assign an Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes of life. The Apgar score rates the baby’s heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to determine if the baby needs additional support (e.g., oxygen) or emergency care; a score of 7 to 10 is an ideal Apgar score. Once the baby is stabilized, it is kept warm either on the mother’s chest by skin-to-skin contact or wrapped in baby blankets. Babies are encouraged to initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth. Vitamin K is given as an injection to promote blood clotting and prevent bleeding. Antibiotic ointment is placed in the baby’s eyes to prevent any harmful microorganisms from the birth canal causing damage to the baby’s eyes or vision.

During the first days of life, the baby is regularly assessed in the nursery by the health care team. Weight, length, and head circumference measurements are recorded. The number and character of the baby’s bowel movements and the amount of urine passed are monitored. Feeding patterns and the amount taken at each feeding are closely monitored. The baby will have a full physical examination each day in the nursery by a health care practitioner to ensure the baby is adjusting well to extrauterine life.

Various screening tests occur during the immediate newborn period. Blood glucose levels may be monitored to ensure babies are being adequately fed to meet their metabolic needs. Bilirubin, a pigment formed in the baby’s liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in the bile, may be tested if the baby shows signs of jaundice or yellowing of the skin. Most states require a newborn screening test, which is a simple blood test from a heel stick that looks to identify conditions that can affect a child’s long-term health or survival. These conditions include genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders that are not apparent at birth like phenylketonuria (PKU), cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell disease. This newborn screening is performed regardless of insurance coverage and in some states may be repeated in 1 to 2 weeks after birth.

Babies will require regular follow-up from a pediatrician during their first year of life. Babies are typically reevaluated by a pediatrician or other health care practitioner within 5 to 7 days after discharge from the hospital. At each follow-up visit the baby’s weight, length, and head circumference will be checked.

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