Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

• Beside routine weekly visits of the family doctor and/or the nurse, the mediator
should check to see if a newborn is well and facilitate access to a family doctor
for both mother and child if necessary
• Visiting families with babies is an excellent opportunity for the mediator to
answer questions the mother may have about breastfeeding and about the baby’s
development, immunizations and/or other topics.
• Even if the mother has no questions, this is a proper time to inform her about the
importance of medical supervision, and to recommend that she contact the family
doctor to enroll the newborn on his list of patients.
• Another important aspect is the identification of potentially serious problems in
newborns and what to do in case they occur.
Explain that a newborn's life may be endangered by serious complications such
as:
o Poor condition of the baby (especially in pre-term, small for date babies).
Some signs of poor condition of the baby. The newborn:
• Has trouble in breathing
• Breathes faster than 60 breaths per minute
• Is limp and weak
• Ddoes not have normal color
• Is cold to the touch
o Jaundice. Normally babies may have signs of jaundice during the first two
weeks of life when their eyes and skin become yellowish. This resolves itself
without any medicines. However, if the jaundice does not resolve soon and the
baby looks ill and does not feed properly, it could be a serious complication.
o Sepsis. If the cord-stump is infected, the baby may develop sepsis (infection).
If the baby shows any of the following signs, he may have a blood infection
and he should be taken immediately at the nearest hospital. The baby:
• Does not feed as well as usual
• Sleeps most of the time
• Vomits or spits up a lot
• Has green watery stools
• Skin feels hot or cold
• Breathes too fast or too slow
Sometimes complications may occur rapidly; this is why is important to recognize alarm
signs and to take the baby to a hospital or call the family doctor immediately if they
occur.
Indicate the pages in the Roma Health Mediator Manual where these alarm signs are
described.
Make a very briefly presentation of the trainer/participant document Later Care of the
Infant. Ask participants if they have any question. Distribute the participant documents.
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 8: Newborn Care