Newborn Care

Welcome to Parenthood: What Your Pediatric Team Wants You to Know

As you prepare to welcome your baby, our pediatric team wants to ensure you feel informed and confident. Below are key things to expect in the hospital and after birth.

Newborn Basics

• Your baby should feed about every 3 hours.  Listen to your baby’s feeding cues, like rooting, sucking on hands, smacking, stretching.  Place baby to breast every 2-3 hours.  Clean breast pump parts after each pumping session and air dry. Mix formula exactly to the directions recommended or use premixed bottles. 
• Expect 1 wet and 1 dirty diaper each for each day of life old, so by day 5 they should have 5 wet diapers/5 dirty diapers.
• Let the umbilical cord dry and fall off, no need to apply anything else, just don’t let the diaper catch on it.

Newborn Care in the Hospital

• Medications Given at Birth:
  •  Vitamin K Injection: Prevents bleeding disorders, including bleeding in the brain
  • Erythromycin Eye Ointment: Protects against infections.
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • RSV Prevention (Nirsevimab): Offered to eligible newborns to protect against respiratory syncytial virus seasonally.
    
• Normal Feeding and Poor Feeding Concerns: Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, we support you. Let your nurse or provider know if your baby is not waking to feed or feeding poorly.  We have a full-time lactation consultant on site.
• Vitamin D Supplement: All babies need vitamin D daily. Talk to us about the best option. Some moms may also need supplementation.
• Jaundice (Yellowing of the Skin): Common in newborns. We monitor bilirubin levels and may recommend light therapy if needed.
• The hospital will provide diapers, wipes, formula, and bottles for their stay.  Parents do need to bring baby clothes and a carseat.  Breastfeeding moms should also consider bringing their breast-pumps.

Sleep Safety

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
• Use a firm mattress with no loose blankets, pillows, or toys in the crib.
• Room-share (not bed-share) for at least the first 6 months.

Car Seat Safety

• Your baby must go home in a properly installed, rear-facing car seat.
• Consider visiting a certified car seat technician for a safety check before delivery (oftentimes, fire stations can help).

Circumcision (If Desired)

• This is typically done in the hospital and is optional.
• Your provider will review the risks, benefits, and care instructions.
• Baby will be observed for 2 hours after the procedure.  Baby should have a wet diaper within 24 hours of the procedure

Babies Who Come Early

• May need extra care in the hospital and help with breathing, staying warm and feeding
• Prepare that if your baby comes more than about 2-3 weeks early your baby may be in the hospital a little longer.

Special Considerations for Babies Born to Mothers on Methadone/Substance Use Treatment

• These babies will need to stay in the hospital longer for observation, usually 5 days.
• Our hospital uses “eat, sleep, console” to help with symptoms of withdrawal in babies.
• Our team provides supportive care and will guide you through what to expect.

Choosing Your Baby’s Doctor

• We recommend choosing a pediatrician before your delivery. Your newborn will be under the care of our newborn hospitalists and neonatal nurse practitioners in the hospital, but your baby will need pediatric care ongoing.
• Typically 1–3 days after hospital discharge, your baby will need follow up care.  The hospital will usually arrange this first visit for you.

We’re Here for You

Our pediatric providers are honored to care for your family. Please don’t hesitate to call with questions or concerns—no matter how small they may seem.

We can’t wait to meet your baby,

The pediatric physicians, neonatal nurse practitioners, postpartum nurses, and nursery nurses at Augusta Health Birthing Suite