What to do for the baby
Antibiotics for infections in a newborn
such as pneumonia, meningitis, infections of the blood (sepsis) and others
• inject ampicillin ����������������������������������������������������������������in the outside of the baby’s thigh muscle,
2 times a day for a baby up to 6 days old
3 times a time for a baby 1 week old or more
for a 2 kg or smaller baby: inject 80 mg
for a 3 kg baby:
inject 150 mg
for a 4 kg or bigger baby: inject 200 mg
and
• inject gentamicin ������������������������������������������������������������in the outside of the baby’s thigh muscle,
once a day
for a 2 kg or smaller baby: inject 8 mg
for a 3 kg baby:
inject 12 mg
for a 4 kg or bigger baby: inject 16 mg
Take the baby to a hospital. If this is not possible, give ampicillin and gentamicin
for at least 5 days.
Watch the color of the baby’s skin and eyes
Many babies have a yellow color to their skin or eyes a few days after birth. This is
called jaundice. Jaundice is caused when a yellow substance called bilirubin builds
up in the baby’s body. Normally, a new baby’s body breaks the bilirubin down in a
few days, and the yellow color goes away.
Rarely, the baby can have severe jaundice, which is dangerous. Signs are:
• The yellow color starts on the first day of the baby’s life.
• The yellow color lasts for more than 2 weeks.
• The yellow color extends to the baby’s hands or feet.
• The baby seems very sleepy or does not wake up to breastfeed.
• The baby does not stay warm.
If the baby shows any of these signs, get
medical help immediately.
Otherwise, help the baby breastfeed often,
and give the baby some sun. The sun helps
break down the bilirubin. If it is warm enough,
take off the baby’s clothes, cover her eyes, and
put her in the sun for 5 minutes once or twice a
day. (Too long will burn the baby’s skin.)
Put a yellow baby in the sun
for a few minutes every day.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
279