When Should You Start Newborn Care After Birth?
Newborn care offers personalized support to help navigate your baby’s early days. From essential health check-ups to professional advice, Dr. Julia Barriga, MD, ensures your baby’s growth and well-being are in trusted hands. We are conveniently located at 5001 East Busch Blvd Tampa, FL 33617. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online.


Table of Contents:
When should you begin newborn care immediately after birth?
How soon after birth should you begin breastfeeding your newborn?
Should newborn care include skin-to-skin contact right away?
What are the first steps of newborn care after delivery?
At Julia Barriga, MD, we understand that the first moments of a newborn’s life are critical. Our practice is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate care to ensure the health and well-being of your newborn from the very start.
Under the guidance of Dr. Julia Barriga, an experienced and dedicated pediatrician, our team is equipped to deliver essential medical and supportive care immediately after birth. We prioritize clearing the airway to help the newborn breathe effectively and ensure they are dried promptly to prevent hypothermia, which is crucial given their susceptibility to rapid heat loss.
Indications for Immediate Medical Attention
Dr. Barriga’s practice is prepared to handle situations where immediate medical intervention is needed. We are vigilant in identifying signs of:
• Respiratory Distress: Gasping, cyanosis, or irregular breathing patterns.
• Cardiac Distress: Irregular heartbeats or weak pulses.
• Neurological Concerns: Seizures or decreased muscle tone.
• Infection: Fever or unusual discharge.
• Other Critical Conditions: Such as prematurity or complications from labor.
Swift Assessments and Interventions
Our protocols ensure that any signs of distress are met with immediate and appropriate action, including:
• Airway and Breathing Support: Providing oxygen or intubation if necessary.
• Cardiovascular Interventions: Administering chest compressions or medication.
• Neurological Care: Monitoring and stabilizing vital signs, and managing seizures.
• Infection Prevention and Management: Isolating the infant and administering antibiotics when needed.
Routine Newborn Care Practices
Dr. Barriga strongly advocates for skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, fostering mother-infant bonding and stabilizing the newborn’s physiological functions. We support and guide new mothers in initiating breastfeeding, recognizing its significant benefits.
Dr. Barriga strongly advocates for the timely initiation of breastfeeding, recognizing it as a vital component of maternal and infant health.
Benefits for the Newborn:
• Colostrum: Dr. Barriga emphasizes the importance of colostrum, often referred to as “liquid gold,” for its rich content of immunoglobulins and protective substances. Early breastfeeding ensures that your newborn receives this critical nourishment, setting the stage for a healthy immune system.
• Skin-to-skin contact: Our practice supports skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, which not only facilitates breastfeeding but also helps stabilize your baby’s vital signs and strengthens the mother-infant bond.
• Neurological development: Dr. Barriga highlights that sensory experiences during breastfeeding contribute significantly to your baby’s neurological growth and development.
Benefits for the Mother:
• Hormonal release: At Julia Barriga, MD, we recognize the role of oxytocin in promoting uterine contractions and reducing the risk of postpartum bleeding, enhancing maternal recovery.
• Reduced risk of breast congestion: By encouraging early breastfeeding, we help mothers establish milk production smoothly, minimizing the discomfort of engorgement.
• Long-term health benefits: Dr. Barriga educates mothers on the long-term health advantages of breastfeeding, which include a lowered risk of chronic diseases for both mother and child.
Skin-to-skin contact after birth involves placing the newborn on the parent’s chest and is a cornerstone of our approach to newborn care, supported by extensive research highlighting its benefits.
Benefits for Newborns:
• Vital Sign Stability: Skin-to-skin contact is instrumental in stabilizing a newborn’s heart rate, breathing, and body temperature, often more effectively than technological interventions.
• Blood Sugar Regulation: It helps maintain optimal blood sugar levels, crucial for a newborn’s immediate health.
• Breastfeeding Facilitation: Encouraging the natural rooting reflexes, this contact promotes successful breastfeeding initiation, ensuring the newborn receives vital colostrum.
• Stress Reduction: The parent’s heartbeat and warmth provide a soothing environment, reducing stress and crying in the newborn.
• Immune System and Bonding: Exposure to the parent’s beneficial bacteria enhances the newborn’s immune system and strengthens the emotional bond between parent and child.
Benefits for Parents:
• Maternal Instincts and Responsiveness: Immediate contact enhances a parent’s responsiveness and instinctive care for their newborn.
• Oxytocin Release: This hormone, released during skin-to-skin contact, aids in emotional bonding and postpartum recovery, reducing bleeding and fostering emotional stability.
• Postpartum Depression Reduction: The practice helps reduce the risk of postpartum depression by promoting relaxation and decreasing anxiety.
• Breastfeeding Encouragement: Early skin-to-skin contact supports successful breastfeeding, benefiting both parent and child.
Our practice embraces skin-to-skin contact as a vital component of newborn care, supporting a strong start in life and enhancing postpartum recovery and emotional well-being.
At Julia Barriga, MD, our experienced medical team is committed to supporting the baby’s smooth transition from the womb to the outside world with the following key steps:
Temperature Regulation:
• We place the newborn on the mother’s chest or under a radiant warmer to maintain optimal body temperature, critical for preventing hypothermia.
• Encouraging skin-to-skin contact is a priority, as it not only stabilizes the baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing but also enhances bonding and supports successful breastfeeding.
• Our team ensures the baby is wrapped in a warm blanket to further maintain their temperature.
Airway Management:
• To ensure clear breathing passages, we gently suction any fluid or mucus from the baby’s mouth and nose.
• If needed, gentle stimulation techniques are used to encourage the baby to begin breathing independently.
Cord Care:
• We practice delayed cord clamping, which is performed after the umbilical cord stops pulsating, benefiting the newborn’s blood volume and iron levels.
• Proper care of the umbilical stump includes cleansing and applying a sterile dressing to prevent infection.
Assessment of Apgar Score:
• Our healthcare providers assess the newborn’s Apgar score at one and five minutes after birth, evaluating critical factors such as appearance, pulse, grimace response, activity, and respiration.
• A score of 7 or above is considered normal, indicating a healthy adaptation to life outside the womb.
Feeding:
• We strongly encourage breastfeeding within the first hour of life.
Monitoring:
• Our team diligently monitors the baby’s vital signs, including heart rate, breathing, and temperature, while recording their weight and measurements.
At Julia Barriga, MD’s practice, we are dedicated to creating a calm and supportive environment for both mother and baby, laying the foundation for a healthy start in life. We are conveniently located at 5001 East Busch Blvd Tampa, FL 33617. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Tampa FL, Terrace FL, Thonotosassa FL, Lutz FL, Greater Carrollwood FL, Lake Magdalene FL, Westchase FL, and Town ‘N’ Country FL.

Additional Services We Offer
- Dental Fluoride Varnish
- Newborn Care
- Vaccines/Immunizations
- Health Education & Counseling
- Physical Examinations
- Hearing & Vision Screening
- Management of Chronic Conditions
- Comprehensive Well Visits
- Asthma Management
- Diabetes Management
- ADD/ADHD Management
- Diagnostic Services
- Ear Piercing
- Prenatal Consults
- In House Lab Testing
- Get Acquainted Consults
- Covid Testing
- Flu Testing
- RSV Testing