A New Beginning

Routine Newborn Procedures and Medications

HEPATITIS B The Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine that is

recommended by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent newborns from becoming infected with Hepatitis B, which can cause serious liver damage. This vaccine requires a series of shots that your baby will receive during the well-child visits with their health care provider over the next several months.

APGAR SCORE Apgar is a quick and simple evaluation that is used to evaluate your baby’s well-being at birth. It is done at both 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. Scoring is done by adding points (0, 1, 2) for heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimulus, and skin color. Scores of 7 to 10 are considered normal, although a 10 is rare. Babies born with scores lower than 7 may need special observation or care for a short time after birth.

Other Newborn Medications

DEXTROSE GEL Dextrose gel is a sugar gel that is given to newborns if their blood sugar becomes too low. Low blood sugar can cause long-term complications if not treated promptly. This gel is massaged inside of your baby’s cheeks for quick absorption into their blood. TYLENOL If you choose to circumcise your newborn son, a local anesthetic at the beginning of the procedure and acetaminophen (Tylenol) after the procedure will be given to reduce pain. Tylenol is given as liquid drops once by the nurse. If your baby is prescribed any medicines make sure you have answers to the questions below and are comfortable with baby receiving the medicine.

POINTS GIVEN FOR APGAR SCORE

FIVE AREAS EVALUATED

0 points

1 point

2 points

Body pink, feet and hands blue Under 100 beats/ minute

Baby is pink all over

Color

Blue

More than 100 beats/ minute

Heart Rate

Absent

Slow or not regular

Good or crying

Breathing

None

Moving around

Muscle Tone

Limp

Some tone

Sneezing or coughing

Reflexes

None

Frown

Questions to ask about medications your baby may receive

ERYTHROMYCIN EYE OINTMENT The State of Georgia requires by law that all newborns receive prophylactic eye care at birth to prevent an eye infection or a sexually transmitted infection they may have been exposed to during labor and delivery. Erythromycin ointment is the only medicine approved by the AAP to prevent these infections. VITAMIN K Newborns have low levels of Vitamin K, which can lead to dangerous bleeding into their brain, causing brain damage, or even death. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns receive a dose of Vitamin K at birth. It’s given in a single injection in their thigh. If your baby does not receive Vitamin K they may not be circumcised due to the increased risk of bleeding.

• What is the name of the medicine and what is it for? • How and when do they take it? • How long do they take it? • Will this work safely with other medicines that they may be taking? • When should I expect this medicine to begin to work, and how will I know if it is working? • Are there any side effects, what are they, and what do I do if they occur? • What symptoms should I be sure to report? • What is the most important thing I should know about this medication? • Where can I get written information about this medication?

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A New Beginning