Patient education: Routine treatments for newborn babies (The Basics)

What will happen to my baby after birth? — 

A doctor, nurse, or midwife will do a quick exam to check your baby's body and general health. Then, you can usually hold and start to bond with your baby.

What treatments does my baby need after birth? — 

Your baby will get some treatments soon after birth. They include:

●Eye ointment or drops – This helps prevent an eye infection. If you have certain bacteria in your vagina, these can spread to your baby during labor or birth. This can sometimes cause an eye infection, which can lead to blindness if it is not treated.

In the US, doctors give eye ointment to newborns within 2 hours after birth. Another way to prevent eye infections in newborns is to check all pregnant people for certain infections. This way, they can be treated before giving birth.

●A dose of vitamin K – The body needs vitamin K to help blood clot normally. Babies are born with very little vitamin K, and they do not get much vitamin K from breast milk or formula. Having too little vitamin K can lead to a problem called "vitamin K-deficient bleeding," or "VKDB." VKDB is serious and can lead to internal bleeding, brain damage, and even death.

Doctors give a dose of vitamin K to newborns to prevent VKDB. In the US, this is given as a shot within 6 hours after birth. In other places, it might be given as a liquid by mouth. Vitamin K is safe and works very well to prevent VKDB. It is also important for preventing bleeding in babies who will be circumcised after birth.

●A dose of the hepatitis B vaccine – Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections. Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection. The hepatitis B vaccine is given as a shot, usually within 12 hours of birth.

All these treatments are very quick.

Can I choose not to have these treatments? — 

In some places, the law requires doctors to give some of these treatments. You might have the option to refuse. But remember, experts recommend these treatments to protect your baby's health. There is good evidence they are safe and work well to prevent problems that can be serious.

If you have questions about any of the recommended treatments, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the reason for each treatment, and what to expect.

More on this topic

Patient education: Labor and childbirth (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for babies and children age 0 to 6 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Hepatitis B (The Basics)

Patient education: Vaccines for infants and children age 0 to 6 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hepatitis B (Beyond the Basics)