Newborn home care
The period from the birth of the fetus to the full moon is called the "neonatal period." Since newborns have just left the mother's body and are still relatively delicate and have low resistance to infection, they need careful care.
Newborns should be fed with water 6 hours after birth, and breastfeeding should be started at 9 to 12 hours, usually once every 3 hours, for 15 to 20 minutes each time, and can be reduced once in the second half of the night. Try your best to promote breastfeeding. If breast milk is insufficient, fresh milk or milk powder should be supplemented in time.
Observe whether there are any congenital abnormalities or birth injuries in the newborn's body and head, and whether there are any abnormalities in the facial features. Pay attention to the color of the newborn's skin to see whether there is jaundice, erythema, papules, pus, eczema, etc., and whether there is infection or erosion. Pay special attention to the armpits, buttocks, under the neck, behind the ears, groin and other areas prone to infection.
The umbilical cord usually falls off 1 to 7 days after birth. After the umbilical cord falls off, if the umbilical fossa is moist, you can apply some violet solution. If there are signs of infection such as purulent secretions and surrounding redness and swelling, you should see a doctor in time.
After the umbilical cord falls off, you can take a bath once a day if possible. When washing, do not use soap or use less irritating soap. Skin folds should be wiped clean. Change diapers frequently. Every time you change diapers, wipe your buttocks with warm water, wipe them dry and then apply sterile talcum powder on them. Newborns often defecate more often due to delayed diaper changes or improper feeding, which irritates the delicate skin and causes red buttocks, causing local ulcers and the baby crying due to pain. At this time, timely and effective treatment is required.
The ideal room temperature for newborns is around 24°C. They should keep warm in winter and pay attention to cooling in summer. In the first few days after delivery, the newborn eats less and excretes meconium, urine, and a certain amount of water from the skin and respiratory tract. Therefore, the weight decreases within a week and should rebound in about half a month, with a weight gain of about 30 grams per day. Gain 2~3 pounds at full moon.
Within 1 to 2 days after birth, newborns excrete a brown-green thick paste, which is meconium. After starting breastfeeding, the stool gradually became yellow, soft and not large in quantity. If artificially fed, the stool will be light in color, hard in texture, smelly, and contain more lumps.
In addition to feeding and changing babies, newborns should sleep for more than 20 hours on average day and night. Do not pick them up or feed them when they cry. Be careful not to suffocate children while sleeping.
Newborn shirts and diapers should be made of soft, absorbent cotton, and should not be made of fleece to avoid irritating the skin. Clothes should be roomy. Be careful not to make plastic diaper pads come into direct contact with your skin to avoid allergic rashes.
If the mother catches a cold, she should wear a mask when feeding and nursing, try to reduce the contact between outsiders and the newborn, and avoid going to public places to avoid contracting the disease.
Newborn health care
The period from when the fetus is separated from the mother to 28 days after birth is medically called the neonatal period. This is the first stage when a child starts to live independently. The body changes a lot, so health care is very important. The main methods of newborn care:
1. Navel care. A newborn's umbilical cord usually falls off after 1-7 days. Before the umbilical cord falls off, pay attention to check whether there is any bleeding in the gauze wrapping the umbilical cord. After the umbilical cord falls off, if there is blood or pus in the umbilicus, you can apply 75% alcohol on the umbilicus and keep it dry, and go to the hospital for treatment in time.
2. Insulation. Because newborns have poor body temperature regulation capabilities and are prone to colds that can cause pneumonia, colds and other diseases, they must maintain an ideal room temperature. Generally, 20-24 degrees Celsius is appropriate. The lower the weight of premature babies, the more attention should be paid to keeping them warm. Hot water bottles can be used, and air conditioning equipment can be used for heating if conditions permit.
3. Oral hygiene. The oral mucosa of newborns is soft, rich in blood vessels, and relatively dry. Yellow and white dots are often seen on both sides of the midline of the palate and on the incisal edge of the gums. This is caused by the accumulation of epithelial cells or the retention and swelling of mucus glands. These small spots are called epithelial beads, commonly known as horse teeth. Do not pick and rub them. Rubbing them may cause local ulcers in mild cases and septicemia in severe cases.
4. Respiratory tract care. The breathing of newborns is characterized by shallow and pleasant breathing, with different rhythms, so the respiratory tract of newborns must be kept open. If there is mucus in the nasal cavity, gently wipe it away with sterilized cotton. Colds often cause severe nasal congestion and affect breastfeeding. You can use 0.5% ephedrine solution before breastfeeding, one drop at a time. It is strictly forbidden to use adult nasal drops to avoid poisoning.
5. Skin care. Vernix has a protective effect on the skin and can be gradually absorbed within a few hours after birth. Do not wash it. The skin of newborns is tender and easy to scratch and cause infection, especially the neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks, which should be washed every day to prevent infection.
6. Take a bath. Newborns have a strong metabolism. Regular bathing can clean the skin and improve blood circulation. Take a shower, wash your head, face, neck, and then your whole body. Pay attention to the hygiene behind the ears, neck, armpits, elbows, groin and other folds. Wash the baby girl's vulva from front to back to prevent feces around the anus from contaminating the vagina and urethra. After bathing, dry your body with a dry towel and apply baby powder on the skin folds.
7. Sleep. During the newborn period, except for feeding and washing, almost all the time is spent sleeping. Direct light irritation to the eyes should be avoided during sleep. Sleeping position is closely related to the baby's health and body development. Research has confirmed that babies who have been sleeping on their backs for a long time will mostly have straight facial features and beautiful faces when they grow up.
8. Use medication in newborns with caution.
Diseases should be treated under the guidance of a doctor and do not give medication to children casually.
Newborn skin care
Do not take a full body bath before the umbilical cord has fallen off. Pay special attention not to let the umbilical cord get wet. You can wash in steps, wash your hair first, dry it and then wash your upper body and lower body respectively. The bath water temperature should not be too hot, generally at 40±3 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to use a baby water thermometer to measure the water temperature more accurately. Avoid using irritating soaps when bathing. Generally, special baby soap or baby bath liquid should be used. After bathing, you should apply moisturizer and apply prickly heat powder on the head and neck, armpits, leg joints, lower body and areas where the baby is prone to sweating.
Newborns are not very adaptable to changes in the external environment, so when bathing your baby, you should be quick and gentle. Dry your baby immediately after washing, and put on clothes to avoid getting cold. Baby's replacement clothes and diapers should be made of pure cotton with soft texture, strong water absorption and good breathability.
In addition, the baby’s buttocks should be cleaned promptly after defecation. After washing, apply vegetable oil (sesame oil can be used, heated and sterilized in advance and placed in a clean vessel for later use), Vaseline or tannic acid ointment around the anus to prevent buttocks redness and diaper rash caused by urine and feces irritation. The organs and body functions of newborns are not fully developed. The baby who has just left the mother's body is still not used to the outside world. The swaddling clothes are like the mother's body, providing protection for the baby, preventing the baby from being bumped and scratched, and providing a constant temperature for the baby. space. Therefore, mothers must pay attention to the little swaddling clothes and wrap them carefully and correctly.