Our seamless continuum of care begins at birth with the collaboration of our medical providers and maternity staff. This page offers detailed information about the warm welcome and careful attention your baby will receive during your hospital stay.

If you have not chosen a pediatrician in advance, one of our experienced pediatricians or family practitioners will ensure that your child receives the thorough examination and care he or she needs during those precious early hours of life. You may choose later to continue to see this same physician for your child’s care, or you may find a doctor who is closer to home.

Getting your baby off to a safe and healthy start is our number one priority.

Choosing a Doctor for Your Baby
About the Nursery
Tests for Newborns
Circumcision
Infant Sleep and Reducing the Risk of SIDS
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Infant Security
Infant Safety

Choosing a Doctor for Your Baby

You can choose a pediatrician or a family practitioner to care for your new baby, but you do not need to make these arrangements with the doctor before your delivery. However, if you would like to meet with your baby’s doctor prior to birth, please call the doctor’s office directly to schedule an appointment. If you have not chosen a doctor in advance, your baby will be assigned to the on-call pediatrician. For detailed information about our pediatric medical staff, please visit the Doctors section of this Web site.

About the Nursery

Portsmouth Regional Hospital is fully equipped to provide both well baby and special care in our nursery. This level of medical sophistication is reflected in our Special Care Nursery (also known as Level II Care). We have the high tech and monitoring capabilities to care for your baby’s special needs, including phototherapy for jaundice, IV therapy, antibiotics, oxygen support, and heart and respiratory monitoring.

Occasionally, a baby will become ill and require a higher level of care that is best provided in a neonatal intensive care nursery. If this becomes necessary for your baby, the pediatrician will talk with you and make arrangements to transfer your baby to an appropriate facility.

Tests for Newborns

There are several tests and procedures routinely given to newborns:

Hearing Tests

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a hearing test for all babies prior to discharge from the hospital. This is a routine and painless test performed to rule out the possibility that your baby could have a hearing impairment. Hearing loss affects 3 out of every 1000 newborns. If not detected and treated early, hearing impairment can contribute to language delays, as well as academic, social and emotional delays. The results of your baby’s hearing screen will be given to you by the nurse caring for you and your baby while you are in the hospital.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

Your baby’s doctor will talk with you about starting the Hepatitis B vaccination series for your baby. Many parents choose to have the first dose given in the hospital, with the remaining doses to be given with your baby’s follow-up care in the doctor’s office. Click here for further information on Hepatitus B vaccine.

Newborn Screenings (PKU Blood Test)

In New Hampshire, the Newborn Screening Program provides important information about the health of newborns. Babies are screened for several rare but potentially harmful disorders with a simple blood test. A few drops of blood are taken from a tiny pin prick in the heel of your baby’s foot. This test well be done prior to discharge from the hospital. Examples of illnesses that are screened for are hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis.

Circumcision

Whether or not to have your infant son circumcised is a personal decision. Prior to your baby’s birth, you should talk with your doctor about this procedure if you are not sure what to do.

Infant Sleep and Reducing the Risk of SIDS

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. It is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age. Here are some facts about SIDS:

• SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age.
• Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 and 4 months of age.
• African American babies are more than 2 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.
• American Indian/Alaskan Native babies are nearly 3 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.

We do not know the exact reason that SIDS happens. Here is what we do know:

• Babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.
• Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on or under soft bedding are more likely to die of SIDS.
• Every sleep time counts. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at a very high risk for SIDS. So it’s important for EVERYONE who cares for your baby to use the back sleep position for naps and at night.
• SIDS deaths have decreased by 50 percent since the Back to Sleep Campaign started in 1994!

Click here to see ways in which you can lower your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Infant/Child Safety at Home

Once you leave the hospital you have many questions about how to “child proof” your home for the safety of your baby. Click here for detailed information on infant and child safety at home. Click here for general infant/child safety information.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) occurs when adults become frustrated or angry, lose control and violently shake a baby. This violent shaking causes brain damage.

Babies necks are too weak to support their heavy heads and their brains and blood vessels in the skull are very fragile and immature. When they are shaken, their heads flop back and forth causing the serious injury to the brain.

Many times parents or other adults become frustrated and angry because of the baby’s crying. Crying is a baby’s way of communication. When a baby cries check the basic needs of the baby first:

• Feed the baby
• Burp the baby
• Change the baby’s diaper
• Make sure his/her clothes are not too tight
• Make sure the baby is not too hot or cold

Here are some ways to soothe a crying baby if nothing else seems to be working:

• Take the baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a ride in the car seat.
• Hold the baby against your chest and gently massage the baby.
• Rock, walk, or dance with the baby.
• Be patient; take a deep breath and count to ten.
• Call a friend or relative that you can trust to take over for awhile, then get away, get some rest, take care of yourself.
• Offer a pacifier.
• Lower any surrounding noise and lights.
  Offer the baby a noisy toy; shake or rattle it.
• Hold the baby and breathe slowly and calmly; the baby may feel your calmness and become quiet.
• Sing or talk to the baby using soothing tones.
• Record a sound, like a vacuum cleaner or a hair dryer.

If all else fails and you suspect the baby is sick call your baby’s doctor.

Remember, it is NEVER okay to shake a baby!