Pregnancy and Childbirth Emergencies

Caring for the Mother and Newborn

After the delivery of the baby, take steps to care for the mother and the newborn. Remember that birth is a natural process. Remain calm, caring, and alert to possible complications.

Mother

Control bleeding from the vagina. Delivery of a baby may tear the skin that connects the vaginal opening to the anus (perineum), which will result in bleeding, or may cause bleeding from the vagina itself.

To control bleeding of the tissue around the vagina, place dressings and apply pressure as you would any other open wound. If the bleeding is from inside the vagina, do not place anything inside the vagina.

Note that a mother can lose up to 500 ml of blood from a birth without complications.

Newborn

Care for a newborn, once breathing has been established, focuses on keeping the baby warm and protected until transportation to the hospital can occur. Ensure the breathing remains effective by observing the baby’s colour and amount of movement.