Tender Care for Your Newborn

Comprehensive Care for Newborns and Infants

For all of the differing opinions you can read, the basics are pretty straightforward: keep them warm, maintain scheduled feedings (ideally with breast milk), change diapers immediately, and hold them a lot!

At TVP, we provide complete care for your newborn. One of our most frequently asked questions is how you use us with your new baby. All you have to do is tell your OB and your hospital when you go in to deliver.

If you deliver at the Women's Center at Helen Keller Hospital, we will evaluate your baby in the nursery. Otherwise, we look forward to meeting your infant at their first newborn visit.

We like to see our breastfed babies at 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. We like to see our formula fed babies at one week from the date of birth. You call our office once your baby is born to schedule this appointment. This first visit will typically be with a nurse practitioner just to check the babies weight and go over any feed problems or other questions you may have.

Common Newborn Concerns



If your newborn runs fever, this is considered an emergency. Please call our office immediately. A fever is a temperature greater than 100.4.

Babies can be a little fussy. It is fine to use gas drops for this; however, grunting, straining and drawing legs are normal newborn behavior. If their belly is hurting, they will be crying also. This leads us into poop. We probably get the most questions about newborn poop. It doesn't really matter what it looks like. It can be firm or loose or brown or green. Constipation is also a common concern. Formula fed babies can go 2-3 days without a bowel movement and breastfed babies even longer. So things to remember-As long as there is no blood in baby's poop and it is not liquid like water then your baby should be fine. Remember that is normal to strain. This, in itself, does not mean they are constipated.

Parents frequently have questions about cord care. Current recommendations are to leave it alone. However, it is okay to dab it with alcohol a couple of times a day to make it dry up quicker. It’s normal for it to bleed a small amount. Call our office if the bleeding seems excessive.

Congestion is pretty normal for newborns. That bulb syringe is your best friend. You can use it with saline drops to suction little noses.

We have a provider available 24 hours per day. Please try to avoid going to the emergency room if at all possible.

Sleeping

Co-sleeping (letting the baby sleep with you) is so easy with a newborn but it is very dangerous. Co-sleeping has been associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy including sudden infant death (SIDS). It is better for baby to sleep in a cot, playpen, or bassinet beside your bed.

Remove any heavy blankets or bumper pads. Dress baby in a warm sleeper and avoid blankets in their sleeping space. Baby should be placed on their back to sleep. Placing baby on their stomach can also increase the risk of SIDS.

Breastfeeding Support

While we know not every mama can breastfeed and fed is best, we encourage breastfeeding. The formula shortage is another good reason to breastfeed. It protects against allergies, sickness and obesity. It also protects against diseases like diabetes and cancer. Breastfed babies tend to have less ear infections and stomach problems. It important that you don’t give your baby a pacifier or a bottle during the first two weeks of nursing to help with latching. We can weigh the baby at any time at any clinic for free if you would like to see how much weight they are gaining.

Alicia Nix, CRNP has been helping mamas breastfeed for over 20 years. If you are breastfeeding, we try to make sure she sees your baby at the first visit if you come to the main office. You can request her at any time. Brittany Newton, Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, can also help you be successful. She has worked in our office for 17 years. She had a baby with a terrible lip tie and successfully breastfed so she can help you work through this. You can call Brittany and ask her questions via phone and you can also ask for Brittany to come in at any appointment no matter who you are seeing (she is normally at the main office unless she knows in advance) or schedule an appointment with her at the main office.