I am relatively new to a special care nursery (6 mos). At times, we need to be the baby nurse in deliveries. Under NRP(and our hospital policy), babies that have good term, tone, and are breathing or crying stay with mother on abdomen for drying, stimulating, AGPAR and initial assessment. My problem is that I have a difficult time auscultating heart rate and assessing breathing when the baby is belly-to-belly with mother. Obviously, a crying baby is breathing - but what about the quiet ones? How do others deal with this? Put baby on its back or side while on mother? Any tips are appreciated!
Kgpayne
7 Posts
I am relatively new to a special care nursery (6 mos). At times, we need to be the baby nurse in deliveries. Under NRP(and our hospital policy), babies that have good term, tone, and are breathing or crying stay with mother on abdomen for drying, stimulating, AGPAR and initial assessment. My problem is that I have a difficult time auscultating heart rate and assessing breathing when the baby is belly-to-belly with mother. Obviously, a crying baby is breathing - but what about the quiet ones? How do others deal with this? Put baby on its back or side while on mother? Any tips are appreciated!