Newborn Care: Managing normal and high-risk infants in the newborn nursery

“The use of [Newborn Care] has resulted in a significant improvement in the knowledge and skills in caring for the newborn among the midwives tested” – Dr David Greenfield, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town

“All clinical staff working with very low birth weight infants should study either the Newborn Care Manual, or the Primary Newborn Care Manual, of the Perinatal Education Programme.” Saving Babies 2003–2005: Fifth Perinatal Care Survey of South Africa (PDF)

Recommended by the Department of Health in A District Hospital Service Package for South A set of norms and standards, 2002

From the acclaimed Perinatal Education Programme, Newborn Care was written for health workers providing special care for newborn infants in level 2 hospitals. It

resuscitation at birth
assessing infant size and gestational age
routine care and feeding of both normal and high-risk infants
the prevention, diagnosis and management of hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, jaundice, respiratory distress, infection, trauma, bleeding and congenital abnormalities
communication with parents

The book includes practical skills chapters on resuscitation, size measurement, history, examination and clinical notes, nasogastric feeds, intravenous infusions, use of incubators, measuring blood glucose concentration, insertion of an umbilical vein catheter, phototherapy, apnoea monitors and oxygen therapy and CPAP.

This publication is part of the Bettercare series which addresses the need for continuing education by providing self-managed learning opportunities to health professionals. This balanced and up-to-date guide to common and important clinical conditions can be used as a training course or as a reference manual for professionals and students.