ABSTRACT

We have already considered the various risks that the developing fetus may encounter during the antenatal period and how these have relevance for the examination of the newborn baby (Chapter 3). However, it should be acknowledged that the perfectly healthy term baby may be affected by how the labour and delivery progressed and were managed. Practitioners should therefore possess a thorough knowledge of labour and delivery, the difficulties that can arise in childbirth and their possible consequences for the health of the newborn. The events surrounding the birth will be carefully documented in the

mother’s records, and these should be scrutinised in advance so that the examination takes into account any increased risk factors associated with a particular birth. It is important that practitioners are fully aware of the events surrounding each labour and delivery in order to respond appropriately to parents who may, for a number of reasons, have concerns relating to the birth of their child. Although it is acknowledged that midwives and neonatal nurses often care for neonates requiring additional care, such as premature infants or those with feeding difficulties, it should be noted that only healthy, full-term neonates should be clinically examined by the midwife. All other cases should be referred to a medical practitioner, in line with local policy (see Chapter 7) and professional guidance (UKCC 1998).