Birth Practices And Early Infant Feeding Flashcards
What four actions happen immediately after a baby is born?
1) baby is handled by midwife
2) baby is dried and stimulated
3) baby transitions to extra-uterine by breathing and crying
4) baby is placed on mothers abdomen
What is apgar scoring used for?
A rapid assessment of clinical status of the newborn at 1 minute of age and the need for prompt to establish breathing
What are the 5 signs that are looked out for in the apgar scoring assessment?
Colour
HR
Reflex irritability
Muscle tone
Respiration
When positioning a baby for skin to skin contact with the mother what are the things you need to do?
Check mother is alert and well
Ensure baby is dried except palms of their hands
Place baby so chest and abdomen is against mums chest and abdomen
Ensure baby’s head is turned slightly so nose and mouth are free
Cover with warm, dry towels to prevent heat loss
Check both mother and baby is well supported
Allow maternal behaviour to adjust dyad’s position
What are the benefits of skin to skin contact?
Stimulates prolactin and oxytocin release
Calms and relaxes baby and mum
Regulates baby’s HR and breathing
Regulates baby’s temp
Stimulates breast-seeking behaviour and interest in feeding
Protects baby from infection - colonises microbiome
Stimulates endorphin release
What does skin to skin contact in the first hour encourage?
Physiology of skin to skin
Thermal regulation avoiding hypothermia
An early first feed and higher blood glucose that counteract physiological drop in blood glucose after birth
The baby familiarises itself with mothers chest and learn to locate and teach to breast
More stable HR, resps, and o2 sats
What are the 9 stages of neonatal behaviour?
Birth cry
Relaxation
Awakening
Activity
Rest
Crawling
Familiarisation
Suckling
Sleep
What happens to the hormone oxytocin post-birth?
Peak during labour and birth
Elicits feelings of love, attachment and contentment
Plays a key role in mother-infant bonding and feelings of protectiveness
Stimulated by tough, feeding, and skin to skin contact
How is an environment which is conducive to oxytocin release created?
Low lights
Quiet
No random people
Warmth
What happens to the hormone prolactin post birth?
No longer suppressed by the progesterone being excreted by the placenta, prolactin receptors are activated
Stimulates milk production
Production is stimulated by baby suckling
When baby suckles, prolactin is released from the anterior pituitary gland
How is an environment that is conducive to prolactin release created?
Pump
Massage
Skin to skin
Hand expression
What is the values of colostrum?
Colostrum is conc. version of breast milk
- packed with protective factors
-Conc. nutrition
-Small volumes
-Laxative effect - to clear meconium
