Immediate Care of Mother and Baby

Immediate Care of Mother and Baby

The mother and the baby has to remain in the delivery room for an hour after delivery.

Immediate care of mother:

Give Ergometrine or pitocin, massage the uterus and expel the clot

The vulva is swabbed and a sterile pad placed in position Buttocks should be dray and any wet sheet is removed the sterile towel is lain over the lower abdomen and thighs and cover with warm blanket.

Careful observation

·                 Check the maternal purse /60-70/minute is the normal range

·                 Take body temperature – subnormal due to loss of body heat, as high as 37.2⁰C due to reactions of prolonged labour.

·                 Encourage her to pass urine

·                 Blood pressure is taken ½ hourly.

Immediate care of baby

Observe:

The general well being of the baby

Check the security of the cord clamp

Check APGAR score

Promote bonding and breast feeding

Put on ID (identification) band

Check weight, height, head circumference and any drug (s)

given to the baby

Record keeping

Record your observations during labour

·                  Method of delivery- spontaneous or accelerated, forceps, cesearian section or vacuum.

·                 Anaesthetic – General, epidural, local

·                 Blood loss- amount

·                 Placenta and membranes- complete, incomplete

·                 Perineum- laceration, episotomy

·                 Drugs given for the mother

·                 Baby – Sex, weight, APGAR score, alive or stillbirth. Date and time of delivery

N.B .The chart should present a clear, concise, reliablerecord.

The legal aspect of record keeping is also important during labour.