Newborns are incredibly fragile and require complete attention from their parents, nurses, doctors, and other caregivers. The tiny tots are totally dependable on others; hence, nothing can go wrong with newborn baby care. Their early years are crucial in developing a robust immune system for surviving the harsh environment outside the warm cocoon of their mothers’ womb. The first few weeks are highly critical to their overall development and well-being. Proper care at the early stage can only lay the foundation for a lifetime of good health. This newborn baby’s healthcare includes feeding, diapering, bathing, and soothing the infant when they are crying for whatever reasons. Another important aspect of nurturing a newborn is understanding the reason behind why they are crying. Since the infant is incapable of voicing any discomfort through words, crying becomes their sole medium of communication. Therefore, newborn baby care requires experience, patience, and a lot of empathy – it’s a round-the-clock, full-time job. 

Underlying the Importance of Newborn Baby Care

Newborn baby care stands as a fundamental aspect of parenting, especially in the crucial initial weeks of a baby’s life. Adequate care during this phase can lay the groundwork for a healthy lifetime. It involves addressing feeding, diapering, bathing, and comforting a crying infant. As newborns are susceptible to illnesses and infections, maintaining a clean and healthy environment is crucial. Regular Pediatrician visits are essential for monitoring growth and development and ensuring necessary vaccinations. 

This care extends beyond the basics to creating a safe and nurturing environment that supports the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of an infant. Therefore, providing affection, attention, and engagement through activities like tummy time and reading aloud are other essential aspects of newborn care. It is pivotal in offering infants the best possible start in life – a period of learning and bonding that sets the stage for a lifetime of well-being and contentment. 

 A Few Essentials of Newborn Baby Care

Here’s a glaring fact about newborns – neonatal deaths accounted for nearly 41% of all child deaths, equivalent to a death rate of 2.7 per 1000 live births. 

The neonatal period, or the first 28 days of life, is the most vital period for a newborn’s survival. This is the period when the infants face the highest risk of dying. Constant care is pivotal to increasing their chances of survival. New parents should be educated on the importance of newborn baby care, so their child survives the vulnerable first 28 days and continues being healthy and sound. 

A few essentials of nursing a newborn baby would typically cover the following responsibilities:

• Prompt care at birth – cord clamping, complete drying, breathing assessment, skin-to-skin contact, early breastfeeding. 
• Temperature regulation 
• Resuscitation to stimulate breathing. 
• Breastfeeding with breast milk support 
• Embracing support 
• Preventing infection 
• Evaluating health issues 
• Identifying and addressing warning signs 
• Appropriate and secure referrals when required. 

These are initial newborn baby care tips undertaken by doctors, nurses, and midwives at the hospital/nursing home. But the journey of parenthood is a long-haul one and begins after the child is discharged with the new mother from the hospital. 

Common Health Problems for Newborns

Specific ailments are predominant for newborns primarily because their bodies are not accustomed to the outside environment yet. That’s the purpose medical professionals serve immediately after childbirth. The former, being vulnerable to contracting infections if they are exposed or are inadequately protected, require the expertise and general knowledge of their caretakers for prompt remediation. Here, the caretakers are parents, guardians, doctors, and other healthcare professionals, like pediatricians, taking care of the newborn collectively. 

A few common newborn baby health problems, as witnessed, are stated below: 

Random Fever

A fever can be a random health problem for adults, arising from a stomach bug to catching a cold. For them, a change in daily diet and exposure to sudden changes in weather can bring the body temperature to normal. For infants with a fragile immune system, a regular fever should concern you. It can be a symptom of viral or bacterial infection. Children are more susceptible to these infections than the elders; imagine how an infant’s body would react. 

Fever can also be a reaction to a vaccination. So, the best way to protect your newborn is to track and monitor their body temperatures accurately and consult an expert immediately. 

Abdominal Distension

Who said newborn baby care is a one-time job? A newborn’s body can easily react to any subtle changes in its surroundings or daily timetables. Besides fever, irregular bowel movements or abdominal swelling because of excess gas are some other frequently seen health problems. Their body is still adjusting to the sudden change in their dietary so abdominal distension is common.  

Abdominal distension is a condition where the newborn’s abdomen feels swollen and hard. However, if the baby did not have any bowel movement for more than two days, you need to consult a doctor without fail. This condition can also increase the chances of vomiting.  

One health tip: do not ignore abdominal distension in a newborn. 

Blue Baby

Watching your child turn blue is the worst nightmare for young parents. However, experts say that a mild coloration of their face, hands, or feet could be a reason for their excessive crying or simply feeling cold. The tongue and lips also turn blue sometimes if they are crying non-stop. The critical point is the coloration should change back to normal once the crying stops. 

A persistent blue skin color, however, should not be taken lightly, especially when the infant is facing breathing or feeding difficulties. It could be a sign of the child not getting enough oxygen in the blood due to improper functioning of the heart or lungs. 

Coughing

Again, coughing is a regular health disorder, especially when the newborn is learning to breastfeed for the very first time. They might cough or splutter a bit when suckling fast, but this kind of cough should stop as soon as the child adjusts to a familiar feeding routine. But if the coughs are persistent, followed by frequent gaging during breastfeeding, then consult a pediatrician immediately. The persistent coughs might suggest an underlying problem in the lungs or digestive tract. 

Excessive Crying

Newborns communicate primarily through crying. They cry when hungry, needing comfort, or a diaper change. Sometimes, their crying might not have an apparent reason. The key is to adapt and try various methods to soothe them, like holding, talking, or singing. 

As you spend time with your baby, you’ll learn their crying patterns, making it easier to understand their needs. However, be alert for unusual sounds like pain cries or prolonged crying, as these could signal a medical issue. Contacting your child’s healthcare provider becomes paramount when crying continues incessantly. 

Jaundice

Jaundice appears as a yellowish hue on a newborn’s skin due to an accumulation of bilirubin in their bloodstream. This buildup occurs because the baby’s developing liver isn’t yet proficient at eliminating bilirubin, which forms from the regular breakdown of red blood cells. While jaundice in infants is commonly mild and harmless, it can become a severe concern if bilirubin levels reach a point deemed very high by the Pediatrician. Opting for newborn baby care in a hospital is the safest option. 

Lethargy and Sleepiness

Newborns typically spend the majority of their time sleeping, waking up intermittently for feedings, diaper changes, or periods of alertness. However, if your baby seems consistently drowsy, fails to awaken naturally for feedings, or displays disinterest or excessive fatigue during meals, it’s essential to seek advice from the Pediatrician. This unusual lethargy, mainly if it’s a sudden departure from their typical behavior, could potentially indicate a severe illness. 

Respiratory Distress

Typically, newborns establish a regular breathing pattern in the days following birth without encountering any breathing issues. However, if your baby exhibits unusual breathing patterns, it’s often due to nasal passage blockage, which can be addressed using saline nasal drops followed by a bulb syringe. Both items are readily available over the counter at pharmacies. 

Consult your baby’s healthcare provider if:

• Their breathing rate exceeds sixty breaths per minute. 
• They show retractions, where the muscles between the ribs retract with each breath, causing visible rib protrusion. 
• Nose flaring is noticeable. 
• Grunting occurs during breathing. 
• Persistent blue skin coloring is observed. 

How to Take Care of a Newborn – A Few Effective Tips

Caring for a newborn need not be a nightmarish experience as wannabe mothers might feel – staying awake late at night and repeating the cycle of feeding, cleaning, and back to feeding. The journey itself is a life-changer and should be enjoyed with your partner and the rest of the family. The innocent smile and the doleful eyes are worth living for. Even though it is no rocket science, a few newborn baby care tips might help give you a heads-up! 

Tips to care for a newborn:

• Dry and clean the baby gently, postponing the first bath for at least 24 hours after birth. 
• Ensure the baby stays warm with an extra layer or two of clothing compared to adults and cover their head with a hat. 
• Arrange for the baby to undergo tests for eye and hearing issues as well as jaundice. 
• Leave the umbilical cord untouched, allowing it to dry naturally without applying any ointments. 
• Encourage the baby and mother to stay together in the same room, allowing the baby to feed whenever needed. 
• For young infants, maximize skin-to-skin contact daily. 
• Before handling the baby, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. 
• Familiarize yourself with warning signs and where to seek assistance, such as if the baby struggles to feed, has rapid breathing, or develops a high temperature. 

The Final Takeaway 

Newborns need your constant support, care, warmth, and love so they can unfurl into beautiful human beings. It’s always helpful to seek advice from expert medical professionals and also rely on the experience of your mother and grandmother who raised you, too! Understand the fundamentals of newborn baby care and consult our top Pediatricians from Parvathi Hospital in case your infant is unable to adjust to the sudden change after birth.