How to give first aid to your baby

Remember it is always you as a parent who knows your baby best. Therefore, your observations of your baby are very important. You should be aware of the following:

• Changed behaviour
• Fewer or shorter periods of being awake
• Lethargy
• Temperature too high or too low
• Cold arms and legs
• Nasal congestion
• Pus in the eyes
• Regurgitation or vomiting
• Stomachache.

Contact us if you are worried about your baby

If you are worried about your baby, please contact the department. In cases of acute illness, you must always contact us. The problem may be able to be solved over the phone, and if this is not the case, we will ask you to come into the ward with your baby.

Call 1-1-2 if you deem it necessary

In rare cases, it may be necessary to call an ambulance. In that case, ring 1-1-2 and ask for Ride 1 to Aalborg University Hospital, North, Neonatal Unit 12-13.

It is normal for a baby to breathe irregularly and with pauses of up to 20 seconds. If your baby takes a longer break, or if their body or face turns blue, they require a quick intervention.

If your baby isn't breathing or if they turn blue, follow these guidelines:

• Remove the naso/orogastric (feeding) tube if your baby has one.
• Stimulate the baby. Lift them up and stimulate them by rubbing along the spine or sternum. This is usually enough to make your baby breathe again. Do not shake your baby. When they start breathing again, it will initially be with shallow breaths and then follow with deep, normal breaths. After this, the baby's colour will also return to normal.

Call 1-1-2 if the baby does not respond to stimulation

If your baby does not respond to stimulation, do the following:

• Call 1-1-2 and ask for an ambulance.
• • Make sure that the baby's airway is clear.
  If you see a foreign object in your baby’s mouth or throat, try removing it with your finger, or turn your baby over on their stomach with their head down and tap between their shoulder blades.

Provide artificial respiration

If your baby is still not breathing, give them artificial respiration as follows:

• Lay the baby on their back.
• Do not bend the baby 's head backwards.
• Take a breath and place your wide-open mouth over your baby's nose and mouth and gently blow into the nose and mouth.
• Give 5 breaths. Whilst giving the breaths, watch for the baby's chest rising.

Give CPR if the baby does not show signs of life

If after 5 breaths there are no signs of life such as movement, breathing or crying, there is a risk of your baby having a cardiac arrest. In this case, give CPR as follows:

• Hold your hands around your baby's chest and place both thumbs over the lower part of the sternum.
• Press so hard that you push the sternum down about 1/3, and then press 15 times.
• Follow this by giving 2 breaths.
• Continue alternating with 15 chest compressions and 2 breaths. Carry on with this rotation until the ambulance arrives or until the baby shows signs of life. If there are signs of life, but not breathing, continue to give artificial respiration.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.