A New Beginning

Northside Hospital Circumcision Process

Newborn Pain Management

Your Baby’s Hospitalization

It can be difficult to tell if a baby is in pain. Crying may or may not be a sign of pain. Some important health screenings or lab work may require your baby’s heel to be pricked to obtain blood, which will cause some pain. Our staff uses a specialized pain scale designed for babies to measure their pain throughout their hospital stay. Sucrose is a sugar used to provide short-term pain prevention and relief for procedures such as heel sticks, laboratory draws or a circumcision. A few drops of sucrose on the baby’s tongue or with a pacifier before, during, and after the procedure can provide effective pain control.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO CIRCUMCISE YOUR BABY BOY Discuss the risks and benefits of circumcision with your obstetrical

provider to make an informed choice that is best for your baby. Prior to the procedure being performed by your obstetrical provider, several steps must be completed. • Medical clearance from your baby’s pediatric provider. This includes normal findings from a complete pediatric medical exam, administration of vitamin K at birth, voiding and stooling normally, eating well, and normal vital signs/ temperature within 2 hours of the procedure. The circumcision may be delayed if clearance criteria are not met. • Sign a circumcision consent after discussing it with your obstetrical provider covering for the practice. If you have no questions, your nurse can witness your signature. The obstetrical provider will perform the procedure in the circumcision room in the nursery. A local anesthetic will be given at the beginning of the procedure. A nurse will assist during the procedure and monitor your baby in the nursery for 15 minutes afterwards. During this time, your baby will be given Tylenol for pain. When your baby returns to your room, the nurse will teach you how to change their diaper, how to care for the circumcision and what issues should prompt a call to the baby’s health care provider. Your baby will be monitored for at least 4 hours after the procedure to make sure there are no complications or excessive bleeding before discharge. If he does not have a wet diaper before he is discharged, you will go home with specific instructions about when to expect the next wet diaper. If there is no wet diaper by that time, call your baby’s health care provider right away. For more information on circumcision care, please reference page 93.

How You Can Comfort Baby There are many ways to comfort and soothe your baby. As you bond and get to know their behaviors, you will learn the most effective comfort measures for your baby. The following often work well:

• Skin-to-skin contact • Breastfeeding • Holding • Swaddling

• Pacifier if not breastfeeding • Rocking or gentle swaying • Speaking softly or singing • Make shushing noises

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Chapter 6: Your Baby’s Hospitalization