Newborn physical exam

If you are interested in the topic "newborn physical exam", the following paragraphs might contain some useful information for you.

After birth, the first newborn physical exam is carried out, which is normally fulfilled by the obstetrician or the midwife. The rest of the umbilical cord is shortened and is secured with a clamp. The child is measured (length) and weighed. Apart from the fontanelle, the auditory canals, and the palate, the collarbone, the back, the skin, toes and nails as well as the genitals are checked. Furthermore, the heart and the lungs are sounded, the belly (liver and spleen) are palpated and the reflexes are checked.

During the first thorough inspection of the child, obvious birth injuries and deformities should be excluded.

If the parents agree, eye drops will be given to the children in order to prevent eye infections by clamydia or other germs.

Furthermore, vitamin K drops are given to the child which support the clotting of the blood which is not very well developed in newborns. Thus, bleedings in the brain, the intestines or the lungs shall be prevented (which only occur very rarely anyway). As the vitamin K level is very low in the blood of newborns or breastfed children, these drops should be given three times from the date of birth until 6 weeks after birth. As soon as the child gets additional food, bacteria which develop vitamin K will be in the intestines and the drops are not necessary anymore.

The baby is put to the breast of its mother approximately 20 - 30 minutes after being born. If the mother had a caesarean, as soon as her condition permits it.

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