The Postnatal Period Chpt 6.3

 Emotional ties happen immediately  Mothers go through emotional changes and it is important that they get the support that they need  Neonatal period bring significant adjustments for the mother and the baby  50% of newborns are born jaundice because the liver cannot remove bilirubin.  Needs to be treated or can result in damage to the nervous system. After the Birth

 Immediately, after birth, nurses may place the baby on the mother’s stomach.  Baby feels warmth of mom’s skin, and can hear her voice and heartbeat.  Both parents being touching and talking to the baby, looking into the baby’s eyes and stroking the baby’s cheeks.  Bonding help brain development  Builds connections in the brain Bonding

 Nursing – if breastfeeding, the mother may begin to nurse immediately  Each breastfeeding session tells the mother’s body to make more milk  It also helps the mother’s uterus contract after birth, to help stop bleeding  First breast milk – colostrum  Satisfies the baby’s appetite and provides protection from illnesses

 Use a baby carrier – A carrier strapped to the parent’s body  Sing or read to the baby  Allow dad time with the baby  Let the baby handle you – Allow the baby to touch your hair, face, etc.  Just be careful – they have a strong grip! Ideas to Promote Bonding

 Parents get help with feeding from the lactation consultant at the hospital  Nurses may also help  Babies may seem too tired to eat in the first few days  Mom can wake them up by unwrapping them and exposing them to the air temperature  Light massage can also help Helping with Feeding

 Full rooming-in – The baby remains in the room with the mother the entire hospital stay  Still gets help from the nurses  Partial rooming-in – The baby remains in the nursery part of the time (such as, overnight) to let the mother get rest after birth  Mothers can still ask for the baby to be brought to their room for nighttime feedings Rooming-in

 Birth Certificate – required to start school  Completed by filling out paperwork in the hospital  Social Security Number – Hospitals give parents the necessary forms to get the baby a SSN.  Needed for health coverage on insurance for the baby Legal Documents

 Born before 37 weeks of development  Many premature babies spend time in the NICU  Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit  Not all hospitals have these – baby may need to be transferred  3 Levels of the NICU  Level 1 – Routine Care  Level 2 – Monitoring closely  Level 3 – Intensive care for very premature babies born before 34 weeks development or for any babies that may have life-threatening conditions. Caring for Premature Babies

 Premature babies do not have enough body fat to stay warm, so often put in an incubator or special warmer to keep their body up to temperature  Decreases the chance of infection and surrounds the baby with warm air  Preemies also need special types of nourishment because they will grow more quickly than full-term babies  Can be fed breast milk through a feeding tube  Help protect against infection and disease  Once they show signs of being able to suck, they may be breastfed.  Premature babies stay in the hospital until their organs are developed enough to function without help NICU –Special Needs

 Care for preemie babies has improved over the years  Still have an increased risk of medical and developmental problems  Premature babies need constant monitoring which can interrupt parent bonding  As the babies grow, parents can hold, sing, talk to, and bathe them  Contact will help them develop faster Improved Care

 Postnatal Period – the time following the baby’s birth  New mother has special needs  Nurses will help teach the new mother how to care for the new baby Mother’s Postnatal Care

 Recovery from the pregnancy and childbirth takes time  The new mother’s hormone levels have changed  Sleep is interrupted by the baby’s feeding patterns  Breastfeeding mothers experience additional changes related to producing milk  Women who have had a C-section require additional care  Stay in the hospital longer and will be more fatigued Mother’s Postnatal Physical Needs

 Rest  New mother will be tired during the first few weeks  She should sleep whenever the baby does  Relatives can help by preparing meals, doing chores, or watching the baby for a few hours  Exercise  With doctor’s approval – she can usually begin gently exercising  Stretching and walking short distances can help her loose weight and feel more energetic

 Good Nutrition  Should continue to follow the MyPlate guidelines  Breastfeeding mothers need additional nutrition, usually about 300 extra calories a day  New mothers should also consume plenty of water  Medical Check-Up  4-6 weeks after birth, a mother should have her first postnatal checkup  Doctor checks to make sure uterus is returning to normal and there are no other problems

 Confusion the first few days after birth  Mood swings  “Baby blues” – crying for no reason  May feel irritable, lonely, anxious, or sad  May join a support group for new mothers, or talk to other mothers for support  A small percentage of women experience these symptoms to a greater degree  Postpartum depression New Mother’s Emotional Needs

 Postpartum depression – a condition in which new mothers feel very sad, cry a lot, have little energy, feel overly anxious about the baby or have little interest in the baby, and in extreme cases think of harming the baby  Treatment is available for women going through postpartum depression  It is very important for women going through these symptoms to talk to their doctor and getting help  A therapist may also help