Nurturing care starts before birth, when mothers and other caregivers can start talking and singing to the foetus.
After birth, the baby can recognize the mother’s voice. Early bonding is facilitated by skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and the presence of a companion to support the baby mother. These also build the foundations for optimal nutrition, quality interactions and care.
For all neonates it is recommended topical ocular prophylaxis for the prevention of gonococcal (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and chlamydial (Chlamydia trachomatis) ophthalmia neonatorum.
After birth, breastfeeding is initiated by the newborn if he/she is in direct and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with the mother for at least one hour after birth.
Immediately after birth, it is recommended to dry the baby with a clean, dry compress, check that he/she is breathing or crying and place him/her on the skin of the mother's abdomen while waiting for the delayed clamping of the umbilical cord.
Routine nasal or oral suction should not be done for newborns who start breathing on their own after birth, unless secretions are observed. Suctioning of mouth or nose is not recommended in neonates born through liquor with meconium who start breathing on their own, nor tracheal suctioning
Prolonged skin-to-skin contact of newborns with their mother during the first postnatal hour favours the initiation of breastfeeding and subsequent support.
Early skin-to-skin contact, without interruptions, immediately after birth, favors the initiation and subsequent support of breastfeeding.
During the first hour after birth, babies have the ability to initiate suckling at the breast on their own. This is possible if, at their reception, after gently drying their skin and evaluating their breathing, they are placed in prone position directly on the skin of the mother's abdomen and chest, without interfering with contact. To achieve this, newborns require time, around 45 minutes to 2 hours after birth.