Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: - IAWG

NEWBORN CARE PRINCIPLES C-77When a baby is born to a mother being treated for complications, themanagement of the newborn will depend on:• whether the baby has a condition or problem requiring rapidtreatment;• whether the mother’s condition permits her to care for her newborncompletely, partially or not at all.NEWBORNS WITH PROBLEMS• If the newborn has an acute problem that requires treatmentwithin 1 hour of delivery, health care providers in the labour wardwill be required to give the care (page S-141). Problems orconditions of the newborn requiring urgent interventions include:- not breathing;- breathing with difficulty;- central cyanosis (blueness of skin);- low birth weight (less than 2 500 g);- lethargy;- hypothermia/cold stress (axillary temperature less than36.5°C);- convulsions.• The following conditions require early treatment:- possible bacterial infection in an apparently normal babywhose mother had prelabour or prolonged rupture ofmembranes;- possible syphilis (mother has positive serologic test or issymptomatic).• If the newborn has a malformation or other problem that does notrequire urgent (labour ward) care:- Provide routine initial newborn care (page C-76);- Transfer the baby to the appropriate service to care for sicknewborns as quickly as possible (page C-78).