Commentary by Jillian Connors, MD, FAAP
Published November 2022

Although the newborn hospitalization is generally very short, typically 1 to 4 days depending on mode of delivery, much has to be done to ensure a safe discharge home. For this module, we have selected resources that provide guidance on the many varied aspects of well-newborn care. We have also provided resources on special populations of patients who may be cared for in the newborn nursery, including late-preterm and low birth weight newborns, neonates born to mothers with HIV infection, and newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. These resources include review articles, book chapters, and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statements and clinical reports.

This chapter from Neonatology for Primary Care provides an overview of all the components of care required during the birth hospitalization of a well newborn. It is a reminder that even well neonates born to healthy mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies need prophylaxis, vaccination, and multiple newborn screenings: Care of the Newborn After Delivery | Neonatology for Primary Care

Keywords: delivery; Vitamin K; hyperbilirubinemia; skin-to-skin care; newborn hypoglycemia; circumcision; first feeding; immunizations