Get familiar with the common newborn procedures, their pros and cons, benefits and risks.
Parents will need to decide about vitamin k, eye ointment, bathing, delayed cord clamping and more.
It’s best to know in advance the choices about newborn procedures you will face on birth day. Give out this information sheet as a handout during birth class or prenatal appointments.
You can also print and laminate it and keep it in your doula bag or in the birth rooms. Whip it out postpartum when the family is making their decision.
Covers the following topics:
Vitamin K Shot
Newborns don’t make their own vitamin K, and are born with low levels. The shot protects them from dangerous, spontaneous bleeding from lack of clotting ability due to these low levels of vitamin K.
Erythromycin Eye Ointment
Babies’ eyes can pick up STIs from the birth canal. The antibacterial eye ointment lessens the chance that baby will develop an infection in the eyes.
Bathing
Bathing the baby can be pleasant, but also may put baby at risk.
Delayed Cord Clamping
Clamping and cutting the cord can be delayed to ensure baby has made a smooth transition.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
The only vaccine given at birth. According to the CDC, three doses protects baby from Hep B for life.
Male Circumcision
Removal of the foreskin of the penis comes with multiple risks. It’s typically done for cosmetic reasons, in some cases as a religious rite.
