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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE NEWBORN

I. NORMAL DELIVERY
Newborn by Normal Delivery and Minimal Resuscitation
(drying and/or suctioning)
1. Keep baby warm: place baby skin to skin with mother,
cover baby with dry cloth
2. Continue to assess baby’s breathing – breathing easily
or crying
3. Encourage breastfeeding in the first hour after birth
4. Clean the baby, weigh and give Vitamin K
5. Cloth the baby and nurse with mother, encouraging
breastfeeding on demand
6. Monitor vital signs 6 hourly

Newborn by Normal delivery and Extensive

Resuscitation (positive pressure ventilation)
1. Get a helper (doctor or nurse) to assist until baby is
breathing spontaneously
2. Admit SCBU
3. Give oxygen
4. NPO
5. IV 10% dextrose in water
6. Monitor input and output
7. Monitor vital signs 2 hourly including SpO2
8. Monitor random blood sugar 6 hourly

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II. CAESARIAN SECTION

Newborn by Caesarian section and Minimal
Resuscitation (drying and/or suctioning)
1. Clean baby, weigh and give Vitamin K
2. Nurse baby in cot at the nurse bay until mother arrives
from theatre
3. Continue to assess baby’s breathing – breathing easily
or crying
4. As soon as mother is in the ward and in bed, support
her to establish lactation/breastfeed
5. Monitor vital signs 6 hourly
6. Monitor random blood sugar 6 hourly
7. Admit SCBU if vital signs or blood sugar are abnormal

Newborn by Caesarian section and Extensive

Resuscitation (positive pressure ventilation)
1. Admit SCBU
2. Give oxygen
3. NPO
4. IV 10% dextrose in water
5. Monitor input and output
6. Monitor vital signs 2 hourly including SpO2
7. Monitor random blood sugar 6 hourly

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PLEASE NOTE:
1. For babies who are perinatally exposed to HIV, formula
milk may be substituted for breast milk if the mother has
chosen formula infant feeding.
2. Babies whose birth weight are less than 2.5kg or
greater than 3.99kg should be reviewed by a member
of the pediatric team within 30 minutes of delivery, in
addition to the above protocol

AUTHOR: Dr. E IGBAFE

CONSULTANT PEDIATRICIAN

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