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Newborn Care Specialist

Northeast Pediatric Associates PA

A Private Pediatric Practice located in Northeast San Antonio, TX, Northcentral San Antonio, TX, Schertz, TX & Castroville, TX

Giving birth is a wonderful but exhausting experience. So when you have a newborn baby, it helps to know you’ve got support from the experienced Northeast Pediatric Associates PA team. They offer seamless newborn care from the hospital to your home, ensuring that your baby has the best start in life. Call one of the Castroville, Schertz, or San Antonio offices in Texas today to discuss your newborn care needs or book an appointment online.

Newborn Care Q & A

What is newborn care?

Newborn care gives your baby everything they need for a great start in life. The Northeast Pediatric Associates PA team provides newborn care at the hospital and follow-up visits after your discharge.

The first steps in newborn care are routine health checks of your baby’s breathing, heart function, and other vital signs. They look for common newborn issues like:

  • Umbilical cord problems
  • Rapid, distressed breathing
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • ​Jaundice (yellow skin)
  • Continual crying
  • Recurring cough
  • Blood in the stool
  • Blue skin coloring
  • Birth injuries
  • Swollen, hard abdomen

Your provider weighs and measures your baby and records the information. They also administer the initial vaccination against hepatitis B.

The newborn care team gives you all the information and support you need in these early days and can help with issues like lactation.

When should a newborn have their first exam after leaving the hospital?

Healthy, full-term infants usually have their first exam at Northeast Pediatric Associates PA 3-5 days after birth.

You might need to visit your pediatrician sooner if your baby was premature or there were complications, for example, if you had gestational diabetes. If this is the case, your newborn care team will advise you before going home when you need to see the pediatrician.

Newborns usually have a second checkup after two weeks and a third when they’re 2 months old.

What happens at my baby’s first newborn care exam?

Your newborn’s first exam is a comprehensive health check. Your provider at Northeast Pediatric Associates PA measures your baby’s length and around their head. They also weigh your newborn and compare the result to your baby’s birth weight. Sometimes newborns lose weight in the first days after birth, but significant weight loss usually indicates a problem.

Your provider listens to your newborn’s heart and breathing, checks their sight and hearing, and tests their reflexes. You can raise any issues or concerns and get help if you’re having problems breastfeeding or getting your baby to sleep. The first newborn care exam is also where you arrange your baby’s vaccination schedule.

For more information about newborn care, call Northeast Pediatric Associates PA today or book an appointment online.