The
first hour of your baby’s life is the most crucial and critical to determine
that he has been keeping well during the nine months while he was inside you. There
will be a number of procedures to ensure the wellness, safety and future health
of your child.
The APGAR Test
This
is the first procedure and is meant to assess your baby's health and condition
in five areas:
- Muscle Tone
- Heart Rate
- Reflex Irritability
- Skin Color
- Breathing
ID Tags
Once your baby has been through the initial
assessment, an ID tag will be attached to their wrist or ankle. This
identification procedure is performed while the baby is still in the labor
room, before he is taken to the nursery.
Most parents fear that their child might be
“switched” with another, but rest assured, modern hospital procedures are well
planned out to prevent any of those “movie like” scenarios. Once your child has
left the labor room, he will be safely taken to the nursery bearing proper identification.
Weight, Height and Head Measurements at birth
The baby is soon
measured for weight, height and head circumference, which is a good indicator
of his health. From your baby's first day, his weight,
length, and head size will be tracked frequently by his doctor to determine his
growth progress.
The crib card
The “pink” or
“blue” tag dangling from your baby’s hospital crib is much more than identification.
It carries important information regarding your child. The tag will mention basics
like time and date of birth, weight and height. It might also mention specific
details such as blood group, type of delivery and name of your doctor. This information
is handy for the rotating hospital staff to know the status of your delivery.
First
“well baby” exam
From
your baby’s reflexes to hips to skin, head, hands, feet and muscles; your baby’s
well being will be evaluated from every angle by the doctor during the course
of this exam.
Immunizations right after birth
The
minute your little bundle is out in this world, his immunization schedule comes
into force. If you dreaded those endless waits at the gynecologist, you are in
for a surprise. Your next round of regular follow-ups to your baby’s doctor is
underway for his immunizations and regular growth progress.
Beginning
with Breastfeeding
Most
often, healthy babies are alert and ready for being breastfeeding in the first
hour after birth. You will be given your baby within this time, all bathed,
attired in the special clothing you preselected with lots of love, with the
nurse to help you and your baby figure out how to “latch,” so that he can get
as much colostrum to help boost his immune system.
Don’t
worry too much if he doesn’t latch on immediately, there is a lot of trial and
error before the two of you to art this milestone. It takes time to reach a
point that you can comfortably breastfeed and start developing the bond you
will share with your bundle through nursing.
Submitted on: 23/05/2011 03:01:16