Chapter 14
The first few hours after the birth
In this chapter:
What to do for the mother.......................................................................................... 247
Check the mother’s physical signs . . . 247 Help the mother eat and drink . . . . . . 250
Clean the mother’s genitals, belly,
Watch the mother’s feelings
and legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
about her baby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Prevent heavy bleeding . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Watch the mother for infection . . . . . . 251
Check the mother’s genitals
for tears and other problems . . . . . . 248
Help the mother urinate . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Help with breastfeeding . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Give the family some time alone . . . . 252
What to do for the baby............................................................................................... 252
General appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Chest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Physical signs: breathing,
heartbeat, temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 254
The baby’s body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Nose and mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Neck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Shoulders, arms, and hands . . . . . . . . 262
Belly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Genitals and anus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Hips and legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Baby has birth defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Immunizations given at birth . . . . . . . 267
Clean up and answer the family’s questions................................................... 267
246