Instruction to parents of newborn babies
These simple suggestions are intended to help you in caring and bonding of your newborn baby. Each child is an individual and no two babies are alike, even in the same family. So never compare babies. Give lots of love, warmth, food and cleanliness and your baby will grow to be happy and healthy.
 

Arrival of Newborn Baby
The arrival of a newborn baby is always a happy moment for parents. We believe in bonding of your family and hence strongly recommend the father to be available to witness the birth of the baby.


Vaccination
Vaccines are very important for your child; it protects your child against various diseases like tetanus, diphteria, pertussis, polio, measles, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b (which causes some meningitis and pneumonia) yellow fever and tuberculosis etc. please ensure that your child gets immunized as per the extended program of immunization of W.H.O protocols (EPI). To know the new born vaccination schedule, please consult your pediatrician or contact the Mother & Child Unit on level 1.


Clothing
Dress the baby accordingly to the temperature. Do not over wrap the baby in hot weather. Dress the baby in comfortable in clothes, which are easy to dress and undress.
 

Skin Care
Bathe every alternate day using warm water.


Care of the navel
Keep the navel clean and dry


Care of the Breasts of the nursing mother
Wash the Breast each morning with warm water.


Feeding
Sit in a comfortable posture and hold the baby in a comfortable position. Feed the baby upon demand. Do not wake up the baby to feed.


Bowel movements
A baby can be expected to have several stools a day and breast-fed infants will usually have bowel movements with each feed. If the stools become more frequent and loose (watery) please inform your doctor for advice. The use of buttocks cream during the first few weeks will help protect your baby’s skin from irritation. There are many good preparations available. Be certain not to use Boric Acid Powder.


Strange Noises-including crying
Every baby sneezes, yawns, has hiccough , passes gas, and cries. Occasionally look cross eyed, their chin may quiver and their legs and arms may tremble. They cannot clear their throats, so coughing does it for them. He cannot blow his nose, so sneezing gets rid of mucus and dust . Crying does not hurt them.
 

Safety First Never leave the baby alone on a bed,sofa or table. The baby is a wriggler and can roll off in less than a second. Please alert your nurse if you are unable to supervise the baby. Please speak to your Midwife about any concerns and support or advice you need.
 

Review
A baby needs to be reviewed by a pediatrician at birth and at (SUGGESTION) 2-3 weeks of age. First visit is very important as your baby will be checked for growth and development, congenital heart diseases (as many congenital heart diseases could be detected only at the second and third week of life) and congenital dislocation of the hip.
 

Pain management
Your nurse will assess your pain daily While it may not be possible to completely eliminate pain, with treatment, most pain can be controlled .Pain treatments work differently for different people. Your nurse and doctor will work with you to find the right pain medicine and treatment for you. You can help in the following way:

• Talk to your doctor about pain control methods that have worked well for you before and discuss any concerns.
• Tell your doctor about any allergies or current medications.
• Ask about side effects that may occur with treatment.
• Tell your doctor what medicines you take for other health problems since certain drugs, when taken with some pain medicines, can cause problems.

There are several methods to give pain relief medications
• Most pain medicines are taken by mouth either in tablet or liquid form.
• Injections into muscles or skin are medicines which are often slightly stronger and will work quicker.
• Injections into a vein are medicines through a small tube, which is called an intra venous (IV) catheter.
• Injections into spine are medicines through a small tube in your back are called an intrathecal catheter.
• Rectal suppositories are medicines that dissolve in the rectum and are absorbed by the body.
• Patches are medicines that are placed on a patch.
 
The patch is placed on the skin so that medicines can be absorbed into the body (transdermal patches).

What can be done to relieve pain?
There are several non-drug methods to get relief from pain:
• Relaxation Technique – get in as comfortable a position as possible and breath in and out slowly while counting to three. Continue breathing in and out in the same pattern. Relaxation tape may be helpful.
• Imagery – get in as comfortable a position as possible and imagine you are in a place you have found to be relaxing in the past, such as beach or mountains. Breathing in and out slowly while picturing this in your mind.
• Music – get in as comfortable a position as possible and listen to your favorite music with closed eyes.
• Other therapies include – Acupuncture, Heat/Cold massage, Distraction, Psychotherapy, Counselling, Prayer, Biofeedback, Exercise, Support Groups, Hypnosis or Positioning.

For information about these therapies please consult your physician.

Bed Sores Management
Your nurse will assess your risk for a pressure sore on admission BED SORES…Prevention is better than cure. Anyone who stays in a bed, chair, or wheelchair for a long time can get pressure sores – pressure ulcers or bed sores. Fortunately, most can be prevented or becoming worse.


Are pressure sores serious?
Pressure sores can be serious, depending on how much the skin and skin tissues have been damaged. You should call your nurse if you think a sore is forming. Pressure sores usually develop over bony parts of the body that do not have much fat to pad them. Pressure sores are most common on the heels or on the hips. Other areas at risk for pressure sores include the base of the spine, the shoulder blades, the back and side of the knees, and the back of the head.


How are pressure sores treated?
Three things help heal pressure sores: Relieving the pressure that caused the sore – avoid lying on the pressure sores. Use foam pads of pillows to take pressure off the sores. Special mattresses, mattress covers, foam wedges or seat cushions can help support you in bed or in a chair to reduce or relieve pressure. Treating the sore itself – in order to heal, pressure sores must be kept clean and free of dead tissue. The nursing team will assess the sore daily and apply any treatment required.
 
For further information on pressure sores please speak to your nurse. Improving the nutrition and other conditions to help the sore heal- Good nutrition is very important because it helps your body heal the sore.

If you do not get enough calories , protein and other nutrients , your body would not be able to heal, no matter how carefully you care for the pressure sore.
 

Safe Medication…be an Informed Patient
Unfortunately, medication errors happen. They happen in hospitals, in pharmacies, or even at home. And sometimes people get hurt because of these errors.

At home:
• Make a list of medication you are taking now. Include the dose and how often you take them.
• Any time your medication changes, list it.
• Keep medication in their original containers.
• Never take someone else’s medication 
• Read the label every time you take a dose to make sure you have the right drug and that you are following the instruction.
• Turn on the lights when taking your medication.
• Do not store medication cabinet in the bathroom or humid conditions or under direct sunlight.
• Store medication where children cannot see or reach them.
• Do not chew, crush or break any capsules or tablets unless instructed.
• To take liquid medication, use only the cup or other measuring device that comes with it. Dosing errors can happen if you use a different cup or if you use the cup with other liquids, because the cups are often of different sizes or have different markings.


In the hospital:
• Bring your medication list with you when you visit the hospital.
• Tell your doctor you want to know the name of each medication o and the reason you are taking them.
• Look at all medications before you take them.
• Do not let anyone give you medication without checking your hospital ID wristband every time.

This helps prevent you from getting someone else’s medications.


Physical Activity
Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing a serious illness and we advise at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on most days of the week. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart diseases, risk of developing diabetes, the risk of developing high blood pressure, reduces the feeling of depression and anxiety, helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, and promotes psychological well-being.

Remember a moderate amount of physical activity can be achieved in a variety of ways. Benefits are based on the duration, intensity and frequency. Believe it or not washing and waxing a car or washing the floor and windows for 45 – 60 minutes can equal bicycling 4 miles in 15 minutes.
 

Safety Tips to prevent falls
Falls are the leading cause of injury of people 65 and older. Your nurse will assess your risk for falls on admission Falls can happen at any time at any place to people of any age, but most falls occur to people aged 65 and older in the home during everyday activities. However, many falls can be prevented.

Here are prevention tips:

Stairs
• Provide enough light to clearly see steps
• Keep stairs free of clutter
• Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairway


Bathroom
• Keep a light switched on in the bathroom 
• Place a rubber mat or non-skid steps on the bathtub/shower floor
• Leave the bathroom door unlocked, so it can be opened from both sides.


Footwear
• Wear low-healed or flat shoes with non-skid soles
• The shoes with a fairly snug fit are preferred and keep laces tight
• Avoid shoes with thick, heavy soles

 
What to do if you fall
• Do not panic. Assess the situation and determine if you are hurt
• Slide or crawl along the floor to the nearest couch or chair and try to get up
• If you cannot get up, call for help.
• If you are alone, crawl slowly to the telephone and call someone for help.