What is the knowledge of neonatal care?

The growth of a newborn is directly related to the knowledge of newborn care. Many parents have a thorough understanding in this regard, so they do a particularly good job in newborn care, allowing their children to reach a better standard in growth. The following content introduces the knowledge of newborn care to many mothers, so you can have a comprehensive understanding of it.

1. Irregular breathing

The breathing of a newborn is not only shallow, but also irregular, with uneven speeds. Because the intercostal muscles of newborns are weak, the nasopharynx and trachea are narrow, and the alveolar adaptability is poor, abdominal breathing is the main method. Abdominal breathing itself is weak and shallow, reaching 40-50 times per minute, which is a normal physiological phenomenon.

2. Meconium

Most normal newborns begin to excrete thick, dark green stools within 12 hours after birth. The stools are usually completed within 2-3 days after birth, and then turn brown, and soon normal yellow stools will be excreted.

3. Weight loss

Newborns often lose weight in the first week after birth. This is because babies cannot eat immediately after birth or eat very little, and the invisible water excreted through urination, feces, breathing and skin every day causes temporary weight loss. Generally, recovery can be achieved within 10 days.

4. Sneezing

The nasal cavity of a newborn is rich in capillaries, the nasal cavity is narrow, and the nasal passage is short. Tiny external substances, such as cotton wool, fluff, dust, etc., can irritate the nasal mucosa and cause sneezing. Children may also sneeze when stimulated by cold air after taking a bath, so mothers don't need to worry.

5. Breast enlargement

After a mother becomes pregnant, the level of progesterone in her body gradually increases until it reaches a peak before delivery. These hormones can promote the secretion of maternal milk and also affect the fetus through the placenta. Some newborns may have enlarged breasts as a result. After birth, the hormones from the mother disappear and the enlarged breasts gradually disappear. Do not squeeze the nipples to avoid infection.

6. Vaginal bleeding in baby girls

It is normal for a baby girl to have a small amount of bloody discharge or mucus in her vagina about a week after birth. The reason is that the fetus is affected by the mother's estrogen level in the body. After birth, the estrogen level drops rapidly, causing the uterine and vaginal epithelial tissue to fall off. This is medically called "false menstruation" and is a normal physiological phenomenon.

7. Horse Teeth

Newborns often have milky white particles on the gingival edge or near the midline of the upper palate, which at first glance look like growing teeth. They are commonly known as "molar teeth" or "horse teeth". They are formed by the accumulation of epithelial cells. Generally, it can be absorbed or fall off on its own after about two weeks, and no treatment is needed. Do not pick it with a needle or rub it with a cloth to avoid damaging the mucous membrane and causing infection.

8. Startle

Babies under 3 months old will startle physiologically. Any loud noise, strong light, vibration or change of body position will cause the child to startle. This is a normal phenomenon caused by the immature development of the brain and does not require treatment. When a newborn baby starts, the mother can calm the baby down by gently pressing any part of the baby's body with her hand.

9. Neonatal erythema

The stratum corneum of the newborn's skin is thin and tender, and is easily affected by external stimuli such as clothes, hands, saliva and impurities in the air, resulting in the frequent appearance of erythema of varying sizes on the face, eyelids, chest and other parts. These erythema will disappear on their own after a period of time, so there is no need to worry too much. If the erythema persists for a long time, becomes more widespread, and rashes and pustules appear, you should seek medical treatment promptly.

10. Crying and making a fuss

The crying of a normal baby is loud, powerful, and rhythmic, with no expression of pain on the face. If the crying becomes louder and louder, and the baby will look for food when his mouth is touched, and the crying will stop once he is fed, it means the baby is hungry. If the crying is loud but soft, rhythmic, and stops from time to time, it may be because the diaper is wet or he is uncomfortable after defecation. The crying will stop as long as the buttocks are washed or the diaper is changed. Warning: After excluding the above possibilities, check whether there are any abnormal conditions such as fever, pain, etc.

11. Hiccups

Because the newborn baby's nervous system is not yet fully developed and cannot coordinate the movement of the diaphragm well, they will hiccup when they are slightly stimulated. In a way, hiccups can exercise the diaphragm and help with breathing movements. After 3-4 months, the baby's hiccups will be significantly reduced.

12. Yellowing of the skin

The skin of a newborn baby will gradually turn yellow 2-3 days after birth, but after 7-10 days, the yellow color will gradually fade and disappear. This phenomenon is called physiological jaundice. If yellowing of the skin occurs within 24 hours after birth and quickly worsens, or if jaundice does not subside after two weeks, pathological jaundice should be considered and requires treatment.

What is the knowledge of neonatal care? I believe that after reading the above introduction, you have already understood the knowledge of neonatal care. The above introduced neonatal care knowledge is particularly important for mothers to care for their children, so you must fully understand and master it. Only through comprehensive understanding and mastery can you achieve higher standards when caring for your children in daily life.