Its been a little while but I think that the most recent NRP teaching  
materials may show initial assessment taking place on the mothers  
abdomen.  This does not show vital signs being done.  It should show  
initial assessment and drying of baby taking place on the mother.  If  
they are worried about low light levels, they could turn on a  
light.  :-P

I worked in LDR and an SRMC unit for quite a few years.  It is  
possible to do vital signs and simple assessments without disturbing  
the baby.  Anything else can be done later when baby is measured and  
weighed.  We have pediatricians and GPs who do their assessments with  
baby on mom.  Believe it or not the baby will be more likely to  
breastfeed and be less likely to get cold if left with mom.  This will  
decrease workload for staff in the next hours and days because the  
baby will not need to be rewarmed, necessitating more vitial signs to  
be taken during the rewarming process and they will likely have to  
spend less time helping mom to get her baby to feed.

I can elaborate more on my experience of this and the process of being  
assessed for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, if you would like.

Cordelia Merritt RN BSN IBCLC

Date:    Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:53:41 -0700
From:    Jeanette Panchula <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Video of newborn assessment?

In doing the trainings to nursing staff in hospitals, some have  
questioned
HOW they could do an infant assessment on the mother - these are staff  
that
have "always" moved the baby to the bassinette, under lights, used the
heated warmer, heated blankets, etc...

Just as we use videos to show hand expression and have found the  
videos of
self-attachment very effective in communicating what we want them to  
learn,
we would like to know if there are any videos that show those first few
minutes after birth with staff doing the required assessments in U.S.
Hospitals (Apgars, vital signs - NOT eye drops or Vit. K treatment)  
without
separating mother and baby.

Jeanette Panchula
California USA

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