Medical care for newborn babies
Initial medical care
The initial medical care provided by the midwife and gynaecologist when a baby is born is crucially important. They will make sure that your baby's heart and lungs are working properly.
As soon as your baby is born, the midwife will wrap them in a blanket to keep them warm, and lay them on your tummy.
Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord is clamped, and the birthing partner will be asked if they would like to cut the umbilical cord. The stump will fall off at the age of around 10 days.
The gynaecologist or midwife will check that your baby's airways are clear. Sometimes, aspiration is needed to clear any mucous clogging the airways. For this purpose, a small probe is inserted into your baby's mouth and nostrils.
Your baby will be given a few drops of vitamin K into the mouth. Vitamin K aids blood coagulation and prevents haemorrhages. Your baby will be given a second dose of vitamin K on the 5th day after they are born.
Sometimes, they will be administered eyedrops to prevent an infection.
APGAR test
The midwife will assess your baby's health using the APGAR test: this covers their heart rate, respiration, reflexes, muscle tone and skin colour. The test is carried out one, five and ten minutes after your baby is born.
This test looks at the baby's:
- Appearance: skin colour,
- Pulse: heart rate,
- Grimace: reflexes when irritated,
- Activity: muscle tone,
- and Respiration: breathing.
A score of between 0 and 2 points is awarded for each of the five categories. Thus, the maximum score is 10 points.
| Points | Appearance (skin colour) |
Pulse (heart rate) |
Grimace (reflexes when irritated) |
Activity (muscle tone) |
Respiration
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 |
cyanosis |
<80 |
none |
hypotonia |
none |
1 |
bluish extremities |
between 80 and 100> |
grimace when stimulated |
tone of extremities |
weak cry |
2 |
pink |
>100 |
lively |
normal tone |
vigorous cry |
Routine measures
After prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother, your baby will be put to the breast if you wish to breastfeed. The midwife will then examine your baby to:
- measure their length,
- measure their head circumference,
- weigh them.
Depending on the customs of each maternity unit and your wishes, the baby may or may not be bathed and then dressed.
They will then be given an identification bracelet, worn around their wrist.
Your baby will be examined by a paediatrician within 48 hours of birth.
Guthrie test
On the third day after birth, the midwife will perform a blood test, known as the Guthrie test. A few drops of blood are taken from your baby's heel. The purpose of this blood test is to detect rare diseases that are not apparent at birth.
Going-home check
A going-home check-up of the baby is a medical consultation to check that your baby is well. It will be carried out before you leave the maternity unit. It will take place between the 5th and 10th day of age.
If you choose to leave the maternity unit early, you must schedule appointments with a paediatrician of your choice.
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