The Early Days of the Newborn Infant

Bringing home and caring for a newborn can be overwhelming for a new caregiver, but proper guidance and education in the newborn nursery can alleviate many worries… and be lifesaving! Dr. Nirupma Sharma, a Pediatric Hospitalist, is joined by fourth year medical student, and future pediatrician, Grace Porter to discuss key educational areas of newborn care essential for pediatricians and caregivers to know upon discharge from the hospital. Specifically, they will:

• Review key environmental safety factors for the newborn including safe sleep practices, smoke avoidance, caregiver awareness, infectious exposures, and car safety.
• Discuss normal feeding, voiding, stooling, and spitting up patterns for newborns with anticipatory guidelines for caregivers if infants deviate from those patterns.
• Special thanks to Dr. Alice Little Caldwell and Dr. Rebecca Yang for peer reviewing this episode.

FREE CME Credit (requires free sign-up): https://mcg.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=19508

References: 

1. Rachel Y. Moon, Rebecca F. Carlin, Ivan Hand, THE TASK FORCE ON SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME AND THE COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN; Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics July 2022; 150 (1): e2022057990. 10.1542/peds.2022-057990
2. Johanna B. Warren, Carrie A. Phillipi; Care of the Well Newborn. Pediatr Rev January 2012; 33 (1): 4–18. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.33-1-4
3. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022, March 16). Shaken baby syndrome: Protect your infant from abusive head trauma. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Abusive-Head-Trauma-Shaken-Baby-Syndrome.aspx
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 21). Data and statistics for SIDS and SUID. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm
5. Dangers of Secondhand Smoke . Pediatric Patient Education 2021; 10.1542/peo_document025
6. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021, August 5). Baby's first days: Bowel movements & urination. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Babys-First-Days-Bowel-Movements-and-Urination.aspx
7. Jennifer, K. (2022, May 9). How often, how much, what color: Your newborn poop and pee questions answered. Lurie Children's. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/what-to-know-about-newborn-poop-and-pee/
8. Pediatric Care Advice; Spitting Up (Normal Reflux). Pediatric Patient Education 2022; 10.1542/ppe_schmitt_225
9. Robert H. Pantell, Kenneth B. Roberts, William G. Adams, Benard P. Dreyer, Nathan Kuppermann, Sean T. O’Leary, Kymika Okechukwu, Charles R. Woods, SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEBRILE INFANTS; Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation and Management of Well-Appearing Febrile Infants 8 to 60 Days Old. Pediatrics August 2021; 148 (2): e2021052228. 10.1542/peds.2021-052228
10. Natasha, S. K. (2022, June 30). Depression during & after pregnancy: You are not alone. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/delivery-beyond/Pages/understanding-motherhood-and-mood-baby-blues-and-beyond.aspx
11. Dennis R. Durbin, Benjamin D. Hoffman, COUNCIL ON INJURY, VIOLENCE, AND POISON PREVENTION, Phyllis F. Agran, Sarah A. Denny, Michael Hirsh, Brian Johnston, Lois K. Lee, Kathy Monroe, Judy Schaechter, Milton Tenenbein, Mark R. Zonfrillo, Kyran Quinlan; Child Passenger Safety. Pediatrics November 2018; 142 (5): e20182460. 10.1542/peds.2018-2460