How your pediatrician in Holly Springs, NC, can help your newborn thrive
Your pediatrician provides many excellent services for you and your baby, and one of them is the newborn exam, performed right after your baby is born. It’s a wonderful opportunity for you to ask questions and learn about caring for your precious newborn.
Dr. Maria Castro at StarLight Pediatrics in Holly Springs, NC, provides a full range of children’s medical services, including a newborn exam, to help your baby thrive.
During your baby’s newborn exam, your pediatrician will:
- Check and record vital signs including temperature, heartbeat, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level.
- Examine your newborn’s overall appearance, including muscle tone, posture, level of consciousness, and how alert and awake your newborn is.
- Examine your newborn’s skin color, texture, finger and toenails, and whether a rash is present.
- Examine your newborn’s head and neck areas, assessing head shape and appearance, and the fontanels or soft spots on the baby’s skull.
- Examine your newborn’s face, eyes, ears, nose, checks, and eye reflexes.
- Examine your newborn’s mouth, including the palate, tongue, and throat.
- Examine your newborn’s abdomen for evidence of hernias or masses
Your pediatrician may also take a blood and stool sample if necessary, and give the first dose of recommended vaccines.
The newborn exam is a great time for you and your newborn to get to know your baby’s pediatrician. Taking care of a newborn requires skill and nurturing, and you probably have some questions. Your pediatrician has the answers.
Taking care of your newborn can seem overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to ask for help from family and friends when you need it. Your pediatrician can help too.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself, along with your newborn. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps. Try to get outside for walks with your newborn. It’s a great bonding time and good exercise too.
To learn more about the newborn exam and what to expect, call Dr. Maria Castro at StarLight Pediatrics in Holly Springs, NC. You can reach her in the office by calling (919) 762-5113, so call now.