Cute baby born by C-section or Caesarean (HD) - First physical exam (2020)

Babies born by C-section are usually checked by a nursery nurse or healthcare provider right after the delivery. Because babies born by C-section may have trouble clearing some of the lung fluid and mucus, they often need extra suctioning of the nose, mouth, and throat. In some cases, they may need deeper suctioning in the windpipe.

Physical exam of the newborn in the delivery room

A brief, physical exam is done to check for obvious signs that the baby is healthy. Some of these procedures include:

Measurement of the temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate

Measurement of weight, length, and head circumference. These measurements help find out if a baby's weight and measurements are normal for the number of weeks of pregnancy. Small or underweight babies and very large babies may need special attention and care.

Cord care. The baby's umbilical cord stump will have a clamp. It needs to be kept clean and dry.

Bath. Once a baby's temperature has stabilized, the first bath can be given.

Eye care. Bacteria in the birth canal can infect a baby's eyes. Your baby will be given antibiotic or antiseptic eye drops or ointment either right after delivery or later in the nursery to prevent eye infection.

Footprints. These are often taken and recorded in the medical record.