Prenatal Care & Newborn Care in Las Vegas, NV
It’s important you and your child receive the highest standard of medical care right after your baby is born. At Southern Nevada Pediatric Center in Las Vegas, the expert pediatricians know the busy road to parenthood can be challenging and overwhelming. The hard-working professionals provide prenatal and newborn care to help you and your family prepare for, care for, protect, and welcome your newest family member. Call Southern Nevada Pediatric Center to book an appointment or request an appointment online today.
Newborn Care Q & A
What is prenatal care?
Prenatal care refers to personalized medical care and support throughout pregnancy, and can involve:
- Checkups
- Ultrasounds
- Physical exams
- Routine diagnostic testing
- Medical history evaluations
These appointments are performed by your Obstetrician and give you valuable time to ask questions and share your concerns related to your pregnancy. You’ll also undergo an in-depth medical history evaluation.
These visits are important through each trimester. Your first prenatal visit usually happens when you’re around eight weeks pregnant. Prenatal visits typically occur monthly until the third trimester, when prenatal visits should be scheduled on a biweekly basis.
It is encouraged that during your prenatal care you look for a pediatrician and make an appointment for a prenatal visit. The prenatal visit with your pediatrician helps you learn more about what to expect after your baby is born and for you to familiarize yourself with your baby’s future doctor. This will make you more informed and comfortable when your new family member arrives.
What is newborn care?
Your baby is finally here! However, if you’re a first-time parent you may have a ton of questions about caring for your newborn. We know that dressing, changing, and even handling your little newborn may make you feel more than a little nervous, but trust us when we say, “You got this!” From providing your child with wellness checkups to offering parents recommendations and support, the pediatric team at Southern Nevada Pediatric Center is here to help your family the moment you bring your newborn home.
Newborn care is pediatric medical care and support for you and your newborn following childbirth. Newborn care can involve a variety of services, testing, and treatments, depending on the individual needs of your baby.
It’s important that before you leave the hospital with your new family member, you have clear and realistic expectations, and you feel comfortable with newborn care basics, such as handling a newborn, bathing and dressing your baby, and taking your newborn’s temperature.
Newborn care also involves your baby’s first doctor visit and recurring visits during this important initial phase of life. This is a great time to ask any infant care questions you might have and discuss important services, such as what vaccines your baby needs and when. Vaccines can protect them from a range of viruses and serious infectious diseases.
Your baby will develop rapidly, experiencing many changes during the first year of life. Working with a qualified pediatrician can help you gain a better understanding of infancy and childhood development, and the best ways to protect your child’s health.
Caring for Your Newborn
Care for your newborn involves many different topics. You should feel comfortable asking a pediatrician for advice and turning to them about any concerns that you might have. The most important thing is that your newborn is healthy, and any issues are avoided. This means making sure that they are fed and getting the sleep that they need. Since their immune systems have not yet built up, they also need to be protected from certain illnesses and issues.
If you’re looking to breastfeed, you might want to talk to your pediatrician about any advice during the process. You’ll also start to learn what your child’s cues might be and when they’re hungry or tired. The process can be difficult, but it’s crucial that you are doing everything possible to care for your newborn so that they can grow up and live their best life.
Handling
We know how tiny your newborn is but there are some basic ways to handle and support them safely. Make sure to:
- Always wash your hands before holding or handling your baby
- Always provide ample support for their head and neck
- Always be gentle with your newborn
- Never shake your baby, even to wake them
Bathing
You will sponge bathe your newborn until the umbilical cord falls off and the area heals (if your baby has been circumcised you will want to wait for the area to heal completely, as well). Once you can start bathing your baby, you will only need to bathe them about 2-3 times a week (any more than that, and you risk drying out their skin). Use mild, fragrance-free shampoos and soaps designed for babies, as well as soft washcloths and towels. Once your child upgrades from sponge baths you’ll want to purchase an infant tub.
Breastfeeding
If you’re planning to breastfeed, you must start immediately in the hospital after your baby is born. Don’t worry, if it takes a little while to get the hang of it. That’s completely natural. Of course, if you do find yourself dealing with breastfeeding problems, we can recommend a lactation consultant to help make breastfeeding easier.
It’s important to create a feeding schedule. Newborns will need to nurse about every three hours. Create a comfortable space for you and the baby when you nurse, as it may take quite a bit of time in the very beginning and you both want to be comfortable. Most women need to maintain anywhere from 2,200-2,400 calories a day to keep up with the demands of nursing.
Know When to See Your Pediatrician
Along with wellness checkups, our pediatric team is here for you and your baby whenever you need it. There will certainly come a time when your newborn may be sick or displaying symptoms that have you nervous. Give us a call anytime if your newborn:
- Is under 2 months and has a fever over 100.4 degrees F
- Won’t eat or refuses to eat
- Has watery stools
- Is unresponsive or extremely sleepy
- Won’t stop crying and can’t be consoled
- Has a red rash all over the body
- Has any signs of infection around the umbilical cord (redness; swelling)
- Has a swollen stomach
What is a premature infant?
A premature newborn refers to a baby delivered before 37 weeks. Premature newborns can have a number of health conditions and problems, such as underdeveloped organs that might not be ready to function properly outside of the womb.
Premature newborns might have more difficulty feeding and breathing, and are prone to infections, bleeding in the brain, and other complications.
With the right medical care, most premature newborns grow to be healthy and normal.