<h1>Antibiotics for newborn baby</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Baby-antibiotics-300x200.jpg" alt="Glycemia test being performed on newborn baby" width="300" height="200" class="size-medium wp-image-17910" />
<h2>Known risk of an infection</h2>

<span>If you received antibiotics in labour only because of the known risk of GBS infection, this will be stopped at the time of the birth. For 12-24 hours after the birth, your team will monitor you and the baby for anything concerning, including signs of infection. The monitoring aims to identify early warning symptoms and signs. For the baby, this will include overall assessment and regular measurement of heart rate, respiratory rate, colour, temperature and feeding. The baby will stay with their mothers on the postnatal ward.</span>

<h2>Signs of a possible infection</h2>

<span>At birth, a baby doctor will review your baby’s risk of infection based on factors including your own signs infection, the course of your labour and an assessment of your baby. Your baby will be observed closely and have regular measurement of heart rate, respiratory rate, colour, temperature and feeding for at least 12 hours.</span>

<span>Depending on the risk of infection, your baby may need to have some blood tests to look for infection and be started on antibiotics. In this case, the neonatal doctors will put a tiny cannula in your baby’s hand or foot so that they can take some blood to test and give the antibiotics directly into a vein (intravenous). If antibiotics are required, your baby will receive these twice a day through the cannula and the ward staff will continue to monitor your baby closely as before.</span>

<span>Your baby can stay with you on the postnatal ward during this time. Should there be further concerns your baby may need to be admitted to the neonatal unit to enable close monitoring, further tests and necessary treatment. You’ll be able to visit your baby in the neonatal unit.</span>

<h2>Why does my baby need antibiotics?</h2>

<span>Antibiotics are started in babies assessed as being at significantly increased risk of infection. This is because infection in babies can be very serious if left untreated and even if your baby looks very well, they can become sick very quickly. The good news is that antibiotics can help keep your baby well.</span>

<span>The antibiotics must be given directly into their blood stream as babies are not able to absorb sufficient amount of antibiotics from their gut. You will be able to breastfeed your baby and the ward staff will support your feeding choices.</span>

<span>We want you to know that there are normally no side effects or allergic reactions with use of antibiotics in newborn babies. If you are unsure why your baby needs antibiotics, please ask the medical team to explain this to you.</span>

<span>Whilst you will have to be careful with the cannula when holding your baby, you will be able to do skin-to-skin and breast feed your baby.</span>

<h2>What tests will my baby have?</h2>

<span>If your baby requires investigation for infection, a number of blood tests will be performed, including:</span>
<ul>
<li>1)	CRP (C-reactive protein), which is produced by our bodies in response to an infection or inflammation. A high CRP can indicate the presence of an infection in the body.</li>

<li>2)	Blood cultures to identify if any bacteria are growing in the blood. This result may be available within 36-48 hours of the test.</li>
</ul>

<span>After 18-24 hours from birth, the CRP test will usually be repeated by collecting a small amount of blood from a heel prick.</span>

<span>If at any stage your baby’s health or any of the results are a concern, they may need more tests like a chest x-ray and/or a lumbar puncture to work out the site of infection and will require a longer course of antibiotics. The neonatal doctors will discuss this with you.</span>

<h2>How long will my baby need antibiotics?</h2>

<span>The length of time your baby needs antibiotics will depend on how your baby is doing and what the results show.</span>

<span>If your baby remains well, the CRP is not high and the blood cultures do not grow any bacteria, the antibiotics can usually be stopped after 36-48 hours. A longer course of antibiotics may be indicated should there be any concerns.</span>

<h2>When can we go home?</h2>

<span>At the time of birth, it is difficult to know when you and your baby will be able to go home. After 36-48 hours, the doctors will have a better idea of the duration of treatment required. Your team will continue to review you and your baby on the ward daily until they feel sure that you are both well enough to go home.</span>

<span>On discharge from the hospital, you will receive written information about the medical treatment delivered on the ward. You can share this with your community midwife and health visitor. Your GP will be sent this information.</span>

<h2>Guidance for next pregnancy if you or your baby was identified as having GBS</h2>

<span>If you become pregnant again, please inform the maternity care team looking after you that about the positive GBS result, so that they can offer antibiotics in labour to reduce the risk of early onset GBS infection in the baby.</span>

<h2>What should I do if I have worries?</h2>

<span>Ongoing maternity care is provided by community midwife, who are local to where you will be based after discharge from the hospital. The community midwife will make contact with you within 24-48 hours of being at home. They will support you and your baby’s care.</span>

<span>Should you have any urgent concerns regarding the health of you or your baby, please seek medical advice from your GP, NHS 111, 999 or attend your local Accident and Emergency department. For baby, these concerns may include baby showing abnormal behavior (for example, inconsolable crying or listlessness), being unusually floppy, has an abnormal temperature unexplained by environmental factors (lower than 36 or higher than 38 Degree centigrade), abnormal breathing (rapid breathing, difficulty in breathing or grunting) or change in skin colour (for example baby becomes very pale, blue/grey or dark yellow) or has developed new difficulties with feeding.</span>



Antibiotics for newborn baby

<h1>Babies and sleep</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3.3.1.jpg" alt="Close up of young baby sleeping on their back" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1184" />
<div data-cat="submenu" class="submenu">

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/730/">What is normal sleep?</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/reducing-the-risk-of-cot-death-sids/">Safe sleeping and reducing the risk of cot death</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/sharing-a-bed-with-your-baby/">Sharing a bed with your baby</a>

</div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Explore this video from AIMH UK to learn more about your babies sleeping patterns.</span>

<div data-cat="video" class="videoplayer">
Sleeping and Soothing
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sHzjaKVo70o" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>


Babies and sleep

<h1>Baby care basics</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3.3.2.2.jpg" alt="Mother sits on sofa holding up her new baby so it is level with her face" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1186" />
<div data-cat="submenu" class="submenu">

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/740/">Soothing a crying baby</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/caring-for-the-umbilical-cord/">Caring for the umbilical cord</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/09/26/nappy-know-how/">Nappy know-how</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/bathing-your-baby-and-your-babys-skin/">Bathing your baby and your baby’s skin</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/dressing-your-baby/">Dressing your baby</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2020/04/27/handling-your-newborn-baby/">Handling your newborn baby</a>

</div>

Baby care basics

<h1>Caring for twins</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3.3.4.jpg" alt="Twin babies lie next to each other under a baby blanket" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1192" />

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are some unique challenges to looking after your twins (or more babies). Twins Trust and MBF (Multiple Birth Foundation) both offer advice and support for parents.   </span>
<div data-cat="relatedlinks" class="relatedlinks">

<a type="nhs" href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/newborn-twins/">Newborn twins</a>

<a href="https://twinstrust.org/let-us-help/pregnancy-and-birth/coming-home.html">Twins Trust: Coming home with twins</a>

</div>

Caring for twins

<h1>Common baby concerns</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3.3.5.jpg" alt="Sleeping baby" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1200" />
<div data-cat="submenu" class="submenu">

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/eye-care/">Eye care</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/neonatal-jaundice/">Newborn jaundice</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/skin-rash/">Skin rash</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/reflux/">Reflux (possetting)</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/761/">Bumps and bruises</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/nappy-contents/">Nappy content</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/breasts-and-genitals/">Breasts and genitals</a>
<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2021/02/11/mouth-oral-thrush/">Mouth (oral) thrush</a>

</div>

Common baby concerns

<h1>Getting to know your baby after birth</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Getting-to-know-your-baby_650x406.jpg" alt="Mother holding baby bends from the waist to kiss the baby's head" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12278" />
<span>As with any relationship, it takes time to get to know your new baby. Loving feelings can take time to develop. Feelings of inadequacy are common and completely normal.</span>

<div data-cat="video" class="videoplayer">

Best beginnings - Fathers
	
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/170979298" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

</div>

Getting to know your baby after birth

<h1>Helping your premature baby to develop</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Helping-your-premature-baby-develop-300x201.jpg" alt="Premature baby in an incubator" width="300" height="201" class="size-medium wp-image-17531" />
<span>Having a premature baby is the beginning of a long and emotional journey towards going home. It can be a very stressful time for your whole family. A premature baby’s development happens in the same order as it would have happened in your womb. When your baby reaches certain health, growth and development milestones, you’ll be able to take them.</span>

<span>All babies are different, and their behaviour and development are different too. In premature babies, the differences have to do with how premature they were when they were born.</span>

<span>Below are some changes that you can expect and watch out for in your premature baby and what you can do to help their development.</span>

<table style="width: 100%;">
<tr background-color="#fff3b8" padding="10">
<td>
<p data-color="#644d45" text-align="left"><b>23 to 27 weeks gestation</b></p>
</td>
<tr>
<th><span><b>Weeks of gestation/Cues</b></span></th>
<th><span text-align="left"><b>What you can do to help</b></span></th>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>23 weeks:</b> Eyes are closed. Little movement.</span>
<td>
<span>Ask your baby’s nurse to show you how you can touch your baby. Familiarise yourself with the BLISS family handbook.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>24 weeks:</b> Your baby’s skin is very thin and transparent.</span>
<td>
<span>Talk quietly to your baby as they can hear you.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>25 weeks:</b> Your baby’s body is lean with no fat. His/hers arms and legs are limp. Your baby doesn’t yet have good muscle tone.</span>
<td>
<span>Ask your baby’s nurse about how to hold and position your baby.
Leave a small piece of cloth that smells of you with your baby.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>26 weeks:</b> Your baby’s eyes will start to open but they can’t focus yet. Your baby will sleep a lot. The breath triggering part of your baby’s brain hasn’t fully developed yet, so pauses between breaths are common.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Keep the lights as dim as possible. Shield your baby’s eyes from bright light to enable your baby to try and open their eyes.
</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr><tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>27 weeks:</b> Your baby may startle at loud noises.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Avoid sudden noises. Remember positioning.
</span>
</td>
</tr>
</table>


<table style="width: 100%;">
<tr background-color="#fff3b8" padding="10">
<td>
<p data-color="#644d45" text-align="left"><b>28 to 32 weeks gestation</b></p>
</td>

<tr>
<th><span>Weeks of gestation/Cues</span></th>
<th><span text-align="left">What you can do to help</span></th>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>28 weeks:</b> Your baby’s movements may be jerky and jittery.
 Their hand grasp and sucking reflexes appear but these will be weak.
</span>
<td>
<span>Ask the nurse about skin to skin contact (kangaroo mother care).
Let your baby gently hold your finger. Your baby may take a non-nutritive tool.
</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>29 weeks:</b> The ability to hear and smell will allow your baby to recognise you.</span>
<td>
<span>Talk softly to your baby when you visit. You may like to read short stories, nursery rhymes or sing to your baby.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>30 weeks:</b> Your baby has periods of alertness and sleep
Your baby may recognise your face now.</span>
<td>
<span>Try to observe the periods of alertness in your baby, to allow them to look at you and interact</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>31 weeks:</b> Your baby may be able to keep his/hers eyes open wide for a time.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Move your face back and forth slowly and your baby may follow you and your eyes.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>32 weeks:</b> Your baby will be more interested in sucking and may appear to suck the feeding tube.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Offer a non-nutritive feed with tube feeds. Speak to your baby’s nurse about cup feeds if appropriate.</span>
</td>
</tr>
</table>


<table style="width: 100%;">
<tr background-color="#fff3b8" padding="10">
<td>
<p data-color="#644d45" text-align="left"><b>33 to 37 weeks gestation</b></p>
</td>

<tr>
<th><span><b>Weeks of gestation/Cues</b></span></th>
<th><span text-align="left"><b>What you can do to help</b></span></th>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>33 weeks:</b> There are clear sleep and awake cycles.
Your baby will be moving around in the cot and incubator a lot.</span>
<td>
<span>Provide a calm environment around feeding time to enable your baby to focus on sucking, swallowing and breathing.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>34 weeks:</b> Your baby may be sucking on hands and non-nutritive tools.</span>
<td>
<span>Offer the breast, or start using your own bottles and teats. Hold your baby still rather than rocking them to enable them to gradually become accustomed to position changes.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>35 weeks:</b> Your baby may wake up when hungry, may cry with a wet or dirty nappy.</span>
<td>
<span>Allow your baby to gaze at your face. Talk or sing in a soft voice whilst your baby is in light sleep.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr background-color="#fff" padding-left="5" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>36 weeks:</b> Your baby may have a more consistent sleep/wake cycle. Your baby may want to be held and cuddled more.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Parents’ voices, smells and faces are very important.</span>
</td>
</tr>

<tr><tr background-color="#fdf5e3" border-bottom-width="2" border-color="#fff3b8" padding="5">
<td>
<span><b>37 weeks:</b> Your baby should be gaining more weight and has fuller cheeks.</span>
</td>
<td>
<span>Spend as much time as you can with your baby. If you haven’t talked about or arranged an overnight stay, this is a good time to book it.  Ask the team about resuscitation training.</span>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

<h2>37 weeks onwards</h2>
<span>As long as your baby is well, now is the time to start building on what you and your baby have been doing from 35 weeks.</span>
<span>Your baby should be gaining weight well, maintaining their temperature in an open cot and breast or bottle feeding.</span>
<ul>
<li>Take short walks with your baby and try short periods of time with your baby in a bouncy chair.</li>
<li>Use more interactive and visually stimulating toys.</li>
<li>Talk to the neonatal team about structuring your baby’s day i.e. day/night/bath time/playtime.</li>
<li>Make sure your home is ready for discharge.</li>
<li>Make sure the baby’s Red Book (Personal Child Health Record Book) is completed before discharge from hospital.</li>
</ul>

Helping your premature baby to develop

<h1>Keeping your baby warm after birth</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/newborn-for-keeping-baby-warm.jpg" alt="Baby wearing a sleep suit and a baby beanie hat" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11410" />
<h2>Why is this important?</h2>

<span>If a baby becomes cold after the birth, the baby can be at risk of developing hypothermia.</span>

<span>Hypothermia is a condition where the body temperature drops to a dangerously low level. In a newborn, this occurs when the baby's temperature drops below 36.5°C.</span>

<span>A baby with hypothermia may have problems breathing regularly and maintaining their blood sugar and may result in admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for treatment.</span>

<span>Leaving the warmth of the womb at birth, the wet newborn baby comes into a much colder environment and immediately starts to lose heat. Most of this heat loss occurs within the first few minutes after birth and if not kept warm in the first 10-20 minutes, the baby may lose enough heat for their body temperature to fall to a very low level.</span>

<span>Some babies are more at risk of getting cold, these include:</span>
<ul>
<li>Preterm babies born at less than 37 weeks' gestation</li>
<li>Babies with low birth weight</li>
<li>Babies of mothers who are diabetic</li>
<li>Babies who need to be resuscitated at birth</li>
<li>Babies where the mother has an infection in labour</li>
</ul>
<span>However, all babies are susceptible to hypothermia in the first few hours after the birth, so it is important to take simple measures after the birth to keep your baby warm.</span>

<h2>What will my maternity team do to ensure that my baby is keep warm?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Ensure the temperature of the birth room is at least 24°C</li>
<li>Check the air conditioning and fans in the birth room are turned off or facing away from the baby</li>
<li>Keep windows closed</li>
<li>Turn on heaters if appropriate</li>
<li>After the birth, your baby will be dried immediately and a hat will be put on your baby's head.</li>
</ul>

<span>If there are additional risk factors, then a hat will be placed on your baby's head to alert all team members that your baby is more at risk of getting cold.</span>
<span>Once your baby is dried, the wet towel used to dry your baby will be removed and replaced with a blanket.</span>
<span>During skin to skin contact, your baby will be covered with blankets.</span>
<span>You will be encouraged to feed your baby or express your breast milk and give your baby within an hour of birth.</span>
<span>Bathing your baby should wait until the baby has adjusted to the environment and maintains its temperature.</span>
<span>The baby's temperature will be checked shortly after the birth to ensure that this is within the normal range.</span>

<h2>How can you help your baby?</h2>
<span>As parents, you can help the maternity team in ensuring that your baby is kept warm. There are many things you can do to help:</span>
<ul>
<li>Tell a midwife or support worker if the birth room is not warm enough. This is very important just before and in the hours after the birth.</li>
<li>This may mean reminding a midwife or support worker to close windows and turn off the air conditioning/fans, or turn up the heaters.</li>
<li>Ensure that during skin-to-skin contact your baby is covered with blankets.</li>
<li>Ensure tht your baby keeps the hat on for the first 12 hours; as much as 25% of heat loss will be from the baby's head if it is not covered.</li>
<li>If a hat has been put on your baby's head then please keep this in place for 12 hours. You can usually then remove the hat and replace it with one of your own baby hats.</li>
<li>When dressing your baby for the time, warm the clothes and blankets beforehand. You can do this by placing the baby clothes against your skin or under your clothes.</li>
<li>When in the cot, ensure that your baby is adequately covered. Babies usually need one or two more layers of clothing or bedding than adults.</li>
<li>Tell a midwife or support worker if you think your baby's breathing is not normal.</li>
<li>If you notice that your baby is breathing very fast for a continuous period (more than 60 breaths per minute), or seems to be struggling to breathe, with nostrils flaring or making noises wih each breath, then please tell a member of your maternity team.</li>
<li>Babies use up energy to keep themselves warm, there you will be encouraged to feed your baby regularly and will be supported in doing so. Some babies may need more frequent feeds. However, a well baby will need to have feeds at least every three hours for the first few days of life.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How long should I take these measures for?</h2>
<span>If kept warm, once the baby is around six hours old, then will then usually be able to maintain their temperature at a normal level. The observation of your baby's temperature will continue for at least 12 hours. Some babies that are unwell or vulnerable at the time of birth (for example, a baby with a low birth weight) may need support to keep warm for a longer period of time.</span>
<span>If you have any questions, please ask one of the midwives or support workers.</span>

Keeping your baby warm after birth

<h1>Knowing your baby is well</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/3.3.3.jpg" alt="Close up of smiling mother holding her baby close to her face" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2897" />

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are concerned about your baby's health at any time, please contact NHS 111 service for advice, call 999 or take your newborn to your local A&amp;E or urgent care centre as soon as possible. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Abnormal symptoms can be:</span>
<ul>
 	<li>your baby is pale, floppy or unresponsive</li>
 	<li>your baby is grunting and/or breathing fast and the breathing appears laboured, with the chest sucked in or nostrils flaring</li>
	<li>bulging soft spot (fontanelle)</li>
	<li>stiff neck</li>
	<li>seizures (convulsions)</li>
	<li>projectile vomiting</li>
	<li>non-blanching rash (a rash which does not disappear with pressure)</li>
	<li>jaundice (yellow colour of skin or whites of eyes) in the first 24 hours after birth. See:</li>
	</ul>
<div data-cat="goto" class="goto">
<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/neonatal-jaundice/" internal="true">Newborn jaundice</a>
</div>
<ul>
 	<li>your baby’s jaundice appears to be worsening in combination with any of the following: severe lethargy, reluctance to feed, minimal wet/dry nappies or pale/white stools. See:</li>
</ul>
<div data-cat="goto" class="goto">
<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/nappy-contents/" internal="true">Nappy content</a>
</div>
<ul>
 	<li>your baby is not feeding as well as before</li>
 	<li>your baby has a continued high pitched or weak cry which cannot be settled with normal measures such as feeding, cuddling, nappy change etc.</li>
 	<li>your baby feels hot or cold (if you have a thermometer your baby's temperature should be between 36.5°C and 37.5°C).</li>
 	<li>your baby has a rash or blisters on the skin.</li>
	<li>green-coloured vomit</li>
</ul>

<h2>Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)</h2>
<span>RSV is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. Babies born prematurely and young children may be at greater risk of becoming unwell.</span>

<span>RSV infection causes symptoms similar to a cold, including runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion, cough, and fever. Ear infections and croup (a barking cough caused by inflammation of the upper airways) can also occur in children. RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis, an infection of the small airways in the lung, which makes breathing harder and causes difficulty feeding. You should seek medical help whenever you are concerned about your baby's wellbeing.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Download The Lullaby Trust Baby check app to support you in identifying if your baby is unwell.</span>


<div data-cat="relatedlinks" class="relatedlinks">

<a href="https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app/">The Lullaby Trust Baby check app</a>

<a type="nhs" href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/is-your-baby-or-toddler-seriously-ill/">Is your baby or toddler seriously ill?</a>

<a type="nhs" href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/04/Coronavirus-Parent-information-for-newborn-babies-leaflet-FINAL-070420.pdf">Illness in newborn babies</a>

<a href="https://www.redcross.org.uk/babyandchildapp">British Red Cross: First aid skills and techniques</a>

</div>

Knowing your baby is well

<h1>Smoking in the home</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/smokingafterpregnacyimage-300x187.jpg" alt="Close up of baby's hand clasping adult forefinger" width="300" height="187" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10080" />
<span>It may be tempting to start smoking again after the birth of your baby. However, second-hand smoke can still cause great harm to you, your family, and especially your new-born baby. Studies show that smoking during and after pregnancy can put your baby at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Here are some benefits of keeping your home smoke-free:</span>
<ul>
 	<li>babies and children from smoke-free homes are less likely to get illnesses such as asthma and meningitis.</li>
 	<li>children that grow up in smoke-free homes are less likely to become smokers themselves.</li>
 	<li>you are less likely to experience accidents caused by smoking, such as fire and injuries.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Support</h2>
<span>You are much more likely to quit for good with the help of a trained stop smoking advisor. Your midwife or GP can refer you to local smoking cessation services or you can self-refer via the NHS Smoking Helpline on <a href="tel://0300 123 1044">0300 123 1044</a>.</span>
<span>The type of stop smoking support you receive will depend on where you live and your personal preferences. Stop smoking services usually offer:</span>
<ul>
 	<li>Weekly support either face-to-face, over the phone or online</li>
 	<li>Free medication or medication on prescription to help you stop smoking</li>
</ul>
<span>All nicotine replacement therapies are safe to use during breastfeeding.</span>
<h2>E-cigarettes</h2>
<span>Although not risk free, e-cigarettes carry a small fraction of the risk of smoking. If using an e-cigarette or ‘vaping’ helps you stay smoke free, it is far safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke. If you want to use an e-cigarette, you can still get free expert help from a specialist stop smoking advisor.</span>

<div data-cat="relatedlinks" class="relatedlinks">

<a type="nhs" href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding-and-lifestyle/smoking/">Smoking and breastfeeding</a>

<a href="http://www.smokefreefamilies.co.uk/">Smoke-free homes</a>

<a href="https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/smoking/">Safer sleep</a>

</div>

Smoking in the home

<h1>What if my baby needs additional support?</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Neonatal-baby-650x406.jpg" alt="Baby viewed through the porthole of an incubator" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12385" alt="baby in care TEST" />
<span>Transitional care is when you and your baby stay together in hospital with support from the hospital staff. It means that your baby is well enough to stay with you either on the postnatal ward or a room near the neonatal unit. You will be in hospital with your baby. Common reasons for a baby requiring transitional care include:</span>
<ul>
 	<li>babies born early between 33 and 35 weeks</li>
 	<li>babies with jaundice requiring treatment</li>
 	<li>babies needing antibiotic treatment</li>
 	<li>babies requiring extra support with their feeding.</li>
</ul>
<span>Your baby will be reviewed regularly by one of the neonatal doctors or nurses whilst they are in transitional care and the treatment plan will be discussed with you.</span>

<span>Some babies may need more care than can be provided on the postnatal ward or in transitional care and they are admitted to the neonatal unit. The main reasons for a baby to be admitted are that they are born prematurely, have a low birth weight or have a specific medical condition which needs treatment in hospital. When your baby is admitted one of the neonatal team will be able to update you on your baby’s condition and progress. You will be able to visit your baby at any time on the neonatal unit.</span>

<span>Neonatal care is organised across the country in regional networks of neonatal units. The units provide different levels of care to babies depending on how early or unwell they are.</span>

<span>If there is a suspicion that your baby will need a higher level of care than the hospital you are in can provide, you may be moved to a different hospital before your baby is born. This is called "In-utero transfer" (your baby is still in your uterus). If the move happens after your baby is born because they have arrived earlier than expected or are unwell, this is called "ex-utero transfer". The neonatal team will always ensure that you and your baby are not separated for any longer than is necessary.</span>

<span>There are three types of neonatal unit, which provide different levels of care depending on what your baby needs. These are:</span>

<span>Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): the care provided here is usually for babies born after 32 weeks gestation, or babies who only require a low level of support, such as some oxygen or a drip for a short time.</span>

<span>Local neonatal unit (LNU): the level of care provided here is for babies who need more support than those in a SCBU, as they are born betwen 28 and 32 weeks gestation or are unwell and may require a short period of intensi ve care or high dependency care, including help with breathing.</span>

<span>Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): this is for babies born earlier than 28 weeks gestation or those who are very unwell for other reasons. The NICU can look after babies of all gestations and is sometime called a "tertiary" unit. Some of these units specialise in surgery for baby or other types of highly specialised care. If your baby needs to be in a NICU, they will usually need to be on a breathing machine (ventilator).</span>

<span>If your baby needs to be transferred to another hospital after birth, the Neonatal Transport Service will come and look after your baby and transfer them to the new hospital. If you are well enough to be discharged you will be able to meet your baby at the new hospital. If you are not well enough suitable arrangements will be made for your ongoing care.</span>

<span>When your baby is well enough they will be moved back to the hospital that is closer to your home. This allows you and your baby to get to know the team who will be looking after them once they are discharged home.</span>

What if my baby needs additional support?

<h1>Caring for your baby</h1>
<img src="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3.3.jpg" alt="Mother craddles her baby to her chest" width="650" height="406" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1208" />
<div data-cat="submenu" class="submenu">

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/babies-and-sleep/">Babies and sleep</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/09/13/baby-care-basics/">Baby care basics</a>
	
<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/knowing-your-baby-is-well/">Knowing your baby is well</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2021/09/03/antibiotics-for-newborn-baby/">Antibiotics for newborn baby</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2021/08/26/helping-your-premature-baby-to-develop/">Helping your premature baby to develop</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/08/20/caring-for-twins/">Caring for twins</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2018/09/13/common-baby-concerns/">Common baby concerns</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2020/04/01/smoking-in-the-home/">Smoking in the home</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2020/04/29/keeping-your-baby-warm-after-birth/">Keeping your baby warm after birth</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2020/06/01/getting-to-know-your-baby-2/">Getting to know your baby after birth</a>

<a href="https://admin.mumandbaby.uk/2020/06/10/what-if-my-baby-needs-additional-support/">What if my baby needs additional support?</a>
</div>

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Caring for your baby