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Day-one decisions shape a newborn’s first week, and small changes can prevent big problems. In this episode, Cara and Missi dig into what’s truly evidence-based now—delayed bathing to protect vernix and temperature, uninterrupted skin-to-skin to reduce energy burn, and clear thresholds for when to check and treat low blood sugar. Along the way, we unpack how updated NRP guidance simplifies early care: extend cord clamping to at least 60 seconds when possible, start term babies on room air, broaden ventilation rates to 30–60 per minute, and skip routine suctioning unless the airway needs clearing. Less fuss means warmer babies, steadier vitals, and fewer glucose crashes.

Cara and Missi clear the fog around GBS prophylaxis. Penicillin remains the standard, with cefazolin for low-risk penicillin allergy and vancomycin when high-risk reactions are present or clindamycin sensitivity isn’t confirmed. That clarity matters for maternal safety and newborn outcomes, especially in units where ampicillin lingers from past shortages. If your patients report a penicillin allergy early in pregnancy, consider formal evaluation to avoid unnecessary second-line antibiotics later.

Finally, we connect physiology to practice. Newborns lose the maternal glucose “buffet” at birth and lean on glycogen and brown fat to bridge the gap; cold stress accelerates that burn, making hypothermia and hypoglycemia frequent partners. We outline who needs screening—IDMs, SGA, LGA, late preterm, and resuscitated infants—and how to manage lows with a calm, stepwise approach: warm the baby, feed early and often, use donor milk or glucose gel when indicated, and escalate to IV dextrose for symptomatic cases. It’s a practical, exam-friendly, and family-centered guide to safer newborn care. #Baby #Newborn #BabyBabyAreYouOkay #Resuscitation #EatingAtThePlacentaBuffet #BloodSugar #NRP #SkinToSkin #GBSProphylaxis