Care of the newborn infant
The baby will be wet and slippery and at this stage will cool down rapidly. It is essential you retain the baby's body heat by wrapping it in a warm cover. Give it to its mother to hold, taking care not to interfere with the cord.
After one minute, if the baby appears not to be breathing, clear the airway and begin resuscitation immediately! After 2-3 minutes, the cord will stop pulsating. At this point, the baby is no longer dependent on the mother's circulatory system and is ready to go it alone.
Use the linen or string ties to tie the cord firmly in three places: 10cm, 15cm and 20cm from the baby's navel. Tie the cords firmly enough to prevent any flow of blood through it which may allow the baby to bleed.
You need not cut the cord if medical help is on the way, but if you are required to do so, cut the cord leaving TWO ties on the baby's side of the separation.
As soon as possible after the delivery, quickly assess the baby, noting the time it was delivered, its colour at birth (blue? dusky? pale?), any deformities or skin is colouration, strength of cry (loud and lusty or weak) and whether the baby moves spontaneously or just lies still. This is important information for the baby's subsequent medical examination.
Repeat the examination after 5-10 minutes and note any changes. Keep the baby under constant observation.
Third stage: delivery of the afterbirth (placenta)
The afterbirth or placenta was the source of the baby's blood supply in the uterus. With no further use, it will be expelled through the birth canal by contractions, similar to the birth of the baby.
This usually occurs 15-60 minutes after the baby's birth. During this time it is essential you DO NOT apply pressure, or strain, on the cord or touch the mother's abdomen.
To encourage delivery of the placenta, ensure the mother raises and parts her legs slightly.
Put the baby on the mother's breast, as this will stimulate the uterus to contract and slow any bleeding. The placenta will be delivered by successive contractions.
After delivery, it is important the placenta is retained for examination by a medical professional.
Care of the mother
Wash the mother and place dressing combines or sanitary pads in place. Take her pulse, assess her colour and check carefully for any further bleeding and what you may consider to be excessive blood loss. Provided she is conscious and not ill or drowsy, give her warm, sweet drinks and encourage her to rest. Keep her under constant observation.
Retain all bloodstained towels and pads for medical examination. If requested by the mother, assist her with cleaning herself up and in changing her clothing.
Childhood illnesses and conditions
This section is not meant to be the definitive answer for the treatment and care of childhood illnesses. It is meant to be an informative guide to recognising the common signs and symptoms associated with the medical conditions.
There is no substitute for a doctor (GP), so if any child you are involved with becomes unwell and exhibits unfamiliar signs and symptoms, contact the family GP or the ambulance service immediately.
Most common childhood diseases are preventable and prophylactic measures in the form of immunisation are readily available. Unfortunately, incidents of some of the more serious diseases such as whooping cough and measles/rubella are on the increase because some children in the 'at risk' age group are not being inoculated against the diseases.
There are many social reasons why some children are not immunised, but few 'reasons' provide comfort to a child infected with a potentially fatal disease. It is true there is a risk of a tiny percentage of children having an adverse reaction to certain inoculations.
However, the risk of serious illness by not immunising children against diseases is far greater.
If you are unsure about immunisation and have any misgivings, contact your GP or your local children's medical health facility for advice.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a chest condition caused by a viral infection triggering a persistent inflammation of the bronchial tree (air passages) of the lungs and often occurs in infants in the first year of life and usually happens in winter.
Bronchiolitis gets better in a week to ten days. While not life-threatening, some children develop asthma after having bronchiolitis.
Signs and symptoms
- Dry cough
- Slight fever (approx. 38ºC)
- Mild chest discomfort
- Wheezing
- Uncomfortable respirations
Care and treatment
- Give lots of fluids, such as an extra bottle or two per day or give more frequent
- breastfeeding. Feeding may be difficult, so try offering smaller feeds more often
- Medication is not very effective, so consult your doctor if your child has difficulty with breathing, feeding or sleeping