Antenatal Class 5/5

About bringing the newborn home...

- heel prick test - screens for metabolic absorption diseases;

First 6 weeks:
- cotton wool and water (to top-and-tail);
- organic olive oil OR grape seed oil (avoiding nappy rash);
- do not bath the baby too much, allow the vernix (vernix caseosa, waxy coating)
to be absorbed;
- cord falls of about a week;
- first soiled nappies: brown (meconium), green, then yellow;
- babies are back to birth-weight after 2 weeks;
- vitamin K helps to build blood-clotting factors (orally?);
- public health nurse visit - around day 5;

To ease tender breast and sore nipples - keep a savoy cabbage in the fridge and
use the cooled leaves as breast pads;

Breastfeeding support:
• Friends of Breastfeeding;
• La Leche League;