Caring of a Neonate

 

 

 

  

 

 

A neonate is a newborn baby aging up to 28 days. She needs special care for this particular period. Because of the ENVIRONMENTAL change and her adaptation.

Room: Her room should be as sterilized as an OT. She was in an environment where there was no bacteria, virus, or such thing, but after her birth she has already been exposed to such an environment. No one should touch her coming from outside even not the father!
The room should be dry and airy and sunlight should be sufficient. The ventilation should be good, and to make it so a windows at two sides should be kept open (slightly) even at night with thick screen. In no way the room should be completely closed.

Feeding: She should get absolute Breast feeding up to her 6 months of age. If the flow is good she doesn't need even a drop of water from out side. She should be feed either on demand or on a schedule which may be 30 minutes or even hourly. One breasts should be given at one time, because as soon as the breasts becomes completely empty it if filled quickly. After each feed she should be burrbed up. To determine the proper milk flow the simple tool is that while suckling one breast, there should be dropping from the other one.
If it doesn't happen, its for sure that the NEW mother is not having sufficient food. In that case she should take 1.5 liters of Milk every 24 hour along with plenty of vegetables and fruits, water and juices.
THERE IS NO RESTRICTION OF FOOD WHAT EVER SHE USUALLY TAKES OR TOOK AT OTHER TIMES, rather she should take twice the amount to produce sufficient milk for the kid.

Temperature: She should be kept in a moderately warm condition as the temperature of the womb is higher than out side. To determine it the simple measure is to touch her EAR LOBULE, if its cold put another piece of cloth, if hot take off one. NEVER ALLOW HER TO SWEAT, so frequently observe her throat.

Micturation: Most babies micturate 16-20 times a day. In any case NO MICTURATION in any 4 hours is a sign of dehydration due to less feeding and 6 hours is a BAD SIGN to call in a Doctor. So the New Mom should be alert about Micturation.

Motion: Usually Breast fed babies passes loose stool and of different forms and color, yellow, greenish, mixed, may be once may be 10 times, this has no significance unless there is blood, mucus, temp along with it. A BREAST FED BABY rarely suffers from any sort of such ailments.

Oiling: human being grow from inside. Even her beauty and glamour. So oiling from outside is best effective only to politicians, not to the baby. It always makes trouble!

Bathing: The neonate should be kept clean by towel socked in Luke warm water every day, if necessary more than once. But to do so 11 Am -12 mid day is the best time. The precaution is that she should be undressed gradually for her adaptation taking at least 5 minutes for each layer of cloths.

Supplementation with vit. B: Breast milk doesn't contain Vit B. So she should be supplemented with a drop of such kind, like Drop Tynisol,5 drops a day up to neonatal period then gradually dose should be increased.

Mom's Observation: Every new mom faces new problems every day, so she should note all she notices and should consult over telephone time to time. 

Crying: Cry is the only language a neonate has to express all her discomforts. It may be seeking food, seeking love, drawing attention, seeking security and everything a FULL human needs. It may also be for her physical ailments. A mom learns it by experience. A hunger cry will go off as soon as she is put on breast. Affection seeking cry will fade just if taken on lap and so on. A HIGH PITCH CRY IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN LOW PITCHED CRY, because only the very sick child cry at low pitch.
NO CRY IS WORST, if it happens the neonate doesn't cry at all pinch on her feet to make her cry.

Sleep: Usually neonates may sleep from 18 hours-22 hours, that's normal, if she suckles hourly. Babies for some unknown reason keep awake at night and sleep mostly at day time. May be she is sacred of darkness. She may cry when ever put on bed and again may be calm when taken on lap. This is normal. again if put on bed she may start crying. Thus she may keep the Mom whole night busy.

Child caring and rearing is a day to day affair. Here are some tips, never the whole.
New Moms are advised to contact a doctor whenever she feels.