During the first month your baby will sleep most of the time. During this period of adjustment and rapid growth, he/she will need plenty of uninterrupted, quiet rest. Excessive handling, jostling, and stimulation of the baby will result in his/her getting overly tired, cranky, fussy, and “colicky”. Remember, he/she is not a doll that can be passed from person to person so that “everybody gets to hold the baby.” Excessive stimulation by a variety of people will cause your child to develop exhaustion and a “nervous” fatigue that will result in him/her crying, screaming, drawing his/her legs up, and sleeping poorly (see the section on colic under “Common Causes of Concern in the First Month”).

Your baby should have his/her bed (either a crib or a bassinet) in a quiet, well-ventilated area where he/she can sleep undisturbed by others. This may be in his/her own room or in the parents’ room. Room temperatures between 72 degrees and 78 degrees are generally the most comfortable. Dressing your baby should be appropriate for the room temperature. Your best guide to this is to feel his/her hands and feet, and his/her chest or stomach. The hands and feet should always feel cool, and the chest and stomach should always feel warm, but never moist or sticky.

You can take your infant outdoors whenever the weather is pleasant. You need not wait any particular length of time following birth. However, since infants have very sensitive skin, direct exposure to sunlight should be limited to a few minutes at first.

There are a number of metabolic or inherited diseases that can cause mental retardation if undetected in the newborn. Fortunately these illnesses can be treated if identified early enough, and will not result in mental retardation.

We have requested that the hospital draw a blood sample for a newborn metabolic screening test (sometimes called PKU) on your infant prior to discharge. We also recommend a repeat blood test around seven days of age.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal infections. This particular infection, if it occurs in your infant, can cause serious problems such as apnea, breathing difficulties, meningitis, seizures, and even death.

It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for this bacteria at 35 to 37 weeks gestation. Based upon the results of this culture, your infant may be at increased risk of acquiring GBS infection during delivery.

The majority of GBS infections in newborns occur within the first week of life. It may also occur after one week and as late as 3 months of age. Illnesses caused by GBS include sepsis (infection in the bloodstream), pneumonia, bone infections, and meningitis. It is critical that your pediatrician know whether you tested positive or negative for GBS. If you were not tested because you were positive during a previous pregnancy, it is important that you inform your pediatrician.

If you are having, or have just had, a Cesarean delivery (C-section), it is important to realize that GBS disease can still occur. However, the risk is much lower as long as you have not also had fever during delivery or prolonged ruptured membranes. Therefore, you may or may not receive antibiotics despite testing GBS positive. Regardless, you should discuss GBS testing with your pediatrician.

If you have received antibiotics during delivery, and/or if you tested positive for GBS during your pregnancy, your infant may be required to remain in the hospital for at least 48 hours of observation. Some infants will require specific blood tests shortly after delivery to help screen for GBS disease. If you have questions about Group B Strep, please ask your pediatrician.