I’m a midwife and these are the 8 rules you must follow to keep newborn babies safe
A MIDWIFE has revealed the non-negotiable rules of meeting a newborn baby while keeping them safe.
Newborns are adorable and everyone wants a hold. But they also have very little immunity and are very dependent on their mum.
Visitors are flowing in the first days and weeks of a baby’s life.
But this can also be quite stressful for the parents, and the midwife also has some tips on how to take the pressure off mum and dad.
Writing for , an education site for parents, the unnamed midwife advises the following…
1. No kisses
The midwife said: “I know you've got so much love for them, and it's only natural to express that through kisses. I know they have the chubbiest cheeks you've ever seen, the tiniest little hands, and the most beautiful little button nose.
“But I also know that it only takes one kiss for well-meaning adults and other kids to transmit illness to newborns.
“In adults, it might only present as a cold sore. But in newborns, the herpes simplex virus is life-threatening.
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“Even if you don't get cold sores, the safest way is not to kiss babies, especially if they're not yours.”
Neonatal herpes is very rare in the UK but can devastatingly lead to death if the virus spreads to the baby’s organs.
The NHS says: “A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first four weeks after birth.
“You should not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore to reduce the risk of spreading infection.”
2. Stay clean, and stay away if unwell
Everyone is used to keeping hygienic due to the Covid pandemic, so it shouldn’t be difficult to remember to clean your hands on a baby visit.
The midwife said: “Wash your hands before touching or holding bub.
“Germs are easily spread, so having clean hands is a great start to keeping bub safe.
“If you're unwell, even if it's just a sniffle, postpone your visit until you're symptom-free.
“What may be a just cold to you may have serious impacts on a newborn.
“If you're unwell, even if it's just a sniffle, postpone your visit until you're symptom-free.”
3. Wait to be offered a cuddle
It’s easy to assume that you’ll get immediate cuddles with the baby when you arrive.
But the midwife said: “A lot of parents don't like passing bub around in the early days, particularly while establishing breastfeeding, and it can make an uncomfortable situation if they feel they have to say no.
“To gauge the feel, you could suggest something like, 'would you like me to hold bub while you eat your lunch?'
“This will usually give you an indication of if they're open to you holding bub or not.”
4. Protect against whooping cough
Very young babies are most at risk of whooping cough because they can’t get their vaccine until eight weeks old.
The only way to protect them from the virus is for mum to get the jab while pregnant, and then pass antibodies to the baby in their breast milk.
But the midwife said: “Make sure you're aware of the parents' stance on the whooping cough vaccine prior to visiting.
“If they're asking all visitors to have it before meeting bub, make sure you've had it two weeks prior to meeting bub.
“If you're choosing not to receive the vaccine, be honest and work out another way to meet bub [such as Facetime], or another time after bub has received their 6-week vaccines, or once the parents feel comfortable.”
5. Give the baby back when they cry
“If bub cries, hand them back,” the midwife said.
“On one of the first visits I went to as a brand new midwife to visit a mama and her bub, the mama's mother-in-law was holding bub.
“Bub began showing feeding cues and eventually started crying. Instead of handing bub back to her mama, the mother-in-law walked away with bub and said, ‘she's just doing it for attention. If I give her back to you every time she cries, she'll become spoilt’.
“I was shocked, and the mama was devastated. Don't be that person; at least ask if they'd like bub back.”
6. The only time to give advice…
The midwife said you should never give your opinion on things like a messy home or how sleep-deprived parents look.
But she said: “In my opinion, the exception to this is if it impacts their or bub's safety. For example, you spot an unsafe sleep environment.
“In that case, I'd definitely encourage you to speak up but do it in an educational way and come from a place of love and concern, rather than using a judgemental approach.”
7. Keep the visit short
The midwife advised keeping visits brief as to not disrupt the routine of a newborn - or their parents' sanity.
She said: “Little ones need rest, and new parents do too.
“In my experience, after an hour is usually a good time to leave [unless you've otherwise collaboratively planned to stay for a longer period of time].”
8. Smokers - wash first
The midwife said if you smoke, “shower and wear clean clothes before visiting”.
She added: “Avoid smoking during your visit, but if you need a cigarette, throw a coat over the top while smoking, or change your shirt once coming back inside. Don't forget to wash your hands before returning.”
Tips to help parents
Having a new baby in the home, whether the first or fifth, is exhausting.
Add a constant stream of visitors and things can become overwhelming for parents.
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The midwife suggested the following to keep parents happy:
- Offer to care for siblings, so parents can get some rest when the baby sleeps
- Don’t post images on social media if the parents haven’t yet
- Pre-plan the visit - never drop in unannounced
- Don’t act like a “guest” - bring food yourself and offer to make tea
- Offer to help with stacking the dishwasher or hang out the washing, or hold baby while the parent gets time to do it
- Don’t push on hard topics, such as a difficult childbirth, if it is not offered, as this could be traumatic for the mum
- Ask the parents how they are first, rather than ignoring them as you dote on the baby