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Argyle is a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. The town, like any other, has babies being born every day. For this reason, the city has a state-of-the-art hospital to handle medical emergencies and offer all types of care for expectant mothers. Argyle newborn care is highly specialized and the kind of care provided to newborns. Newborn care comprises many things, including:
Table of Contents
Health Assessment
Health assessment is a process of observing and measuring body functions, vital signs, developmental assessments, and psychological status to determine whether the infant meets established standards for health. A health assessment should be done at each visit. The health assessment aims to identify problems to provide treatment if possible or refer the newborn to a specialist if necessary.
Medical History
A complete medical and family history of the mother is also obtained. It includes information about allergies, medications, type of anesthesia, during delivery, illness or infections that the mother experienced during pregnancy, and family history. This information is important because some diseases can be inherited. For example: If a mother has diabetes, she may have a baby who also develops diabetes.
Dietary Issues
The mother is advised to follow a nutritious diet of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Diarrhea during pregnancy can cause malabsorption of nutrients which may lead to low birth weight babies. A healthy diet will help the fetus usually grow, making it less likely for problems to occur later on in life. A newborn’s diet should also include a minimum of 22 calories per 1 ounce of body weight.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are given during the first few days after birth because antibodies from the mother do not last long. The two critical vaccinations include hepatitis B and Hemophilus Influenza type b (Hib). A baby needs vaccinations within the first two months of life.
Infections
The mother is encouraged to have breastfed her baby on demand, even if this means waking up in the middle of the night. Research shows that breastfed infants for at least four months have a lower risk of ear infections, diarrhea, and stomach upset. In addition, babies who are not breastfed have a higher chance of developing allergies and diabetes than those who are breastfed.
The infant’s mother is also urged to ensure her baby gets plenty of rest and is not exposed to illness such as a cold or skin infection. Doing so will protect the baby and enable the mother to recover from her pregnancy more quickly.
Sucking Reflex
A newborn baby has a ‘sucking reflex’ that develops naturally and assists the milk to flow from the mother’s breast. The sucking response of a newborn occurs typically on their own within the first 4 hours after birth. Babies who cannot suckle, drink or swallow may need help with feeding for a few days. If this should occur, the infant should be referred to an appropriate healthcare professional.
Newborn care is more than just sticking a needle into the leg to administer vaccinations. It involves ensuring that every step of the way, not just at birth but after each day and each week of life, is accounted for to monitor progress. Each thing has an impact on the baby’s health.
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