NEONATAL RESUSCITATION PROGRAM- NRP 5 INITIAL STEPS OF NEWBORN CARE

5 INITIAL STEPS OF NEWBORN CARE 1. Provide warmth 2. Position head and neck to open airway 3. Clear secretions if necessary 4. Dry baby 5. Stimulate **Establishing Effective Ventilation of the baby’s lungs is the MOST IMPORTANT and effective action during resuscitation 4 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE EVERY BIRTH 1. What is expected gestational age 2. Is the amniotic fluid clear 3. How many babies are expected 4. Are there any additional risk factors RAPID EVALUATION FOR ALL NEWBORNS IS REQUIRED—ASK IF THE BABY IS: 1. Term? 2. Tone? (Healthy babies should be active and flex extremities) 3. Breathing/Crying? (Gasping is a sign of severely impaired gas exchange) . **If the answer is NO to any of these, the newborn should be brought to the radiant warmer for the initial steps of newborn care Fetal lungs do not participate in gas exchange but are expanded—alveoli is filled with fluid, NOT air but are still expanded—pulmonary vessels are tightly constricted Oxygenated fetal blood leaves placenta through umbilical vein—there is 1 vein, 2 arteries in the umbilicus Opening in atrium is a Patent Foramen Ovale-most blood bypasses lungs through the foramen OR flows from pulmonary artery into aorta through ductus arteriosis Right to left shunting is when blood follows a circulation path and bypasses the lungs Oligohydramnios- deficiency of amniotic fluid Polyhydramnios- excessive amniotic fluid Fetal hydrops- serious condition defined as abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more compartments including ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and skin edem