Medication in the Delivery Room and Newborn Care (Nursing)

00:01 So let's talk about two medications that may be given in the labor suite or in the OR, in case of a cesarean birth.

00:08 Now, I want to stress this one point that both of these medications can be delayed for a couple of hours.

00:14 So we don't want to interfere with breastfeeding or with bonding, if we don't have to.

00:19 So even though, we might feel the pull of getting these medications done, recognize that if it gets in the way of the bonding of the parents and the baby that we can delay it.

00:28 There's not a half two on this, but let's talk about what they are.

00:32 The first medication is Vitamin K. This is given via injection.

00:37 So, Vitamin K is produced in the gut.

00:40 Now, when you're born, your gut is sterile.

00:42 It takes about 7 to 8 days to build up enough bacteria in order to produce vitamin K.

00:49 So Vitamin K is given to the baby in that interim.

00:52 It actually activates the clotting factors in the liver.

00:55 This is going to be especially important for babies that will ultimately have a circumcision.

01:01 They have to have their Vitamin K or they could have serious bleeding after that.

01:05 Also for a baby that may have an accident going home or any other kind of trauma, having that vitamin K on board will help provide some protection.

01:14 So Vitamin K is a pretty important medication.

01:17 The second medication is erythromycin.

01:20 And this is actually a medication that sort of looks like petroleum jelly or Vaseline.

01:25 And it's a very small slither of medication that's placed in both of the baby's eyes.

01:30 And this protects them from any sort of infection they may have received as they made their way through the vaginal vault.

01:37 Now, you don't have to give this medication right away.

01:40 So, if we wait a couple of hours and then we then do the erythromycin ointment, that's fine, which would be great because this is the time when the baby and the parents are bonding and who wants goop in their eyes when you're looking at someone you love? Right? Okay.