The baby stays by his mother during the day, according to the department chosen by the mother. In the "flexible rooming-in", the baby will be with his mother from 06:00 am till 23:00 at night, when he will be moved to the nursery and be taken care of by a certified nurse.
In the "complete rooming-in" department the baby is not separated from his mother until leaving the hospital.
Weighing of the baby is done every day. There is great importance in performing the weighing process with the same scales and when the baby is naked. In almost all babies, a small decrease in weight is expected (up to 8% of the weight at birth) during the first days after the birth. If there is a bigger decrease in weight the baby will be examined by a doctor. We will recommend frequent breastfeeding, consider giving extracted breast milk or additives to breastfeeding and then perform a repeat weighing. In the complete rooming-in department the weighing is done during the morning before the doctor's visit. In the flexible rooming-in, the weighing is performed in the nurseries during the night shift.
Bathing the baby is done every morning, usually in the following fasion: First time is done by a nurse, the second time by the mother with instruction by the nurse, and on the last day by the mother independently or in presence of a nurse during the day or evening of discharge.
Umbilical chord care: There is great importance in sterilizing and drying the remaining part of the umbilical chord to prevent a local infection. The recommended treatment is sterilizing with alcohol in 70% concentration at least 6 times a day during diaper changing. It is important to clean as close as possible to the baby's skin over and under the stump. The remaining part of the umbilical chord is taken out by the discharging nurse on the last day.
Dressing the baby: In the hospital we have white baby cloths made of cotton, usually a top and a pair of pants with leggings. A mother who chooses to cloth her baby with cloths she brought from home is more than welcome to do so. Clothing the baby is done according to the season and room temperature. Before being released to go home, the baby will be clothed with season-appropriate clothing brought from home, in addition to a hat and a blanket.
The mother will recieve instruction and support as necessary regarding breastfeeding, taking care of the baby and the baby's safety during hospitalization and at home.
Mostly, Bilirubin levels will stay in a range that does not cause any damage or cause danger to the baby, and the baby only needs medical supervision, without treatment. The decision to begin treatment to lower Bilirubin levels depends on the age of the baby, his weight and physical maturity, and other medical factors. If Bilirubin values reach the treatment threshold, it can be treated with light therapy: The baby lays under the blue light with only a diaper and an eye shielder. With this treatment, following the jaundice and the baby's body temperature continues.
In the "flexible rooming-in" departments, the phototherapy is performed in the nurseries, and in the "complete rooming-in" department it is done next to the mother's bed in the hospitalization room.
Fever supervision
In cases of continuous water breaking before the birth, if the mother has a fever around the time of birth, if there is suspicion of infection in the amniotic fluid, or if the mother is a carrier of the Strep B bacteria (a type of bacteria which resides in the woman's cervix and the lower digestive tract), the baby is put on fever supervision. His fever will be checked every few hours, and according to the baby's status and the medical data collected, the baby might recieve treatment.
Tongue-tie
Tongue-tie is a congenital condition in which the bottom of the tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth by a gentle membrane string. This can cause the baby problems with his tongue movement, sometimes to the point of interrupting breastfeeding. This can be identified by the nurses, the breastfeeding consultants, and the neonatologists.
When it is meaningful, the breastfeeding mothers will usually feel pain in the nipple during breastfeeding and the nipples will become chafed and injured. The breasts will also be swolen because since the baby has trouble feeding, there will be of excess milk. This can also cause a decrease in milk production in the mother. Situations in which there is a disturbance to breastfeeding, the baby will be referred to a pediatric surgeon or a mouth and jaw surgeon to undergo cutting of the frenulum. This is a quick procedure without any need for anesthesia. A light bleeding is possible and you can immediately breastfeed the baby in the presence of a nurse or a breastfeeding consultant.
Torticollis ("Wry Neck")
Torticollis is a condition in which we will see the baby's neck tilted to one side involuntarily, while the chin faces the other way. This phenomenon is usually related to the position of the head and the neck when the baby was inside the womb during pregnancy or birth. In most cases Torticollis passes on it's own and it can also be treated by practicing turning the baby's head to the opposite side.