Obstetrics/Maternity:

Safety Concerns

Having a baby can incite anxieties and fears about safety. Here are a few safety tips to help new parents.

Sleeping
Newborn babies should always be positioned on their backs for sleeping.

Stuffy Nose, Wet Burp, Choking
Use a bulb syringe if the baby has a wet burp, stuffy nose or starts to choke. The syringe works by vacuum suction. Compress it first to squeeze the air out then gently insert the tip into the corner of the infant’s mouth or into the baby’s nose to suction. Remove the syringe and expel contents. Repeat the process as needed. Suction gently to avoid irritating baby’s delicate mucous linings.

If the baby is choking or turning blue and unable to breathe, get them off their back, preferably holding them in a downward angle. Give the baby several, gentle but firm, “whomps” with the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades. Then use the bulb syringe as needed to clear their mouth and nose of secretions. Before leaving Saint John’s, ask a nurse to demonstrate use of a bulb syringe.

Irene Dunne Guild Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Should a newborn require extra medical attention, the Irene Dunne Guild Level II NICU offers clinically advanced care in a warm, supportive environment.
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Maternity Services

Saint John’s maternity floor houses Labor and Delivery, the Mother-Baby Unit, the NICU and more.
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For New Mothers

Is there any way to truly be prepared for motherhood? Doing research and being educated can help, which is why the health professionals at Saint John’s have put together a "New Mother" guide.
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