Question

The initial bathing of the neonate should occur ____________.

1) within 30 minutes of the birth
2) before applying eye ointment
3) after temperature has stabilized
4) 3 hours after the birth

Answer 1

The initial bathing of the neonate should occur within 30 minutes of birth to remove any blood, amniotic fluid, or meconium from the baby's skin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial bathing of the neonate should occur within 30 minutes of the birth. This helps to remove any blood, amniotic fluid, or meconium from the baby's skin. It also helps to regulate the baby's body temperature and stimulate their respiratory system.

Bathing the neonate before applying eye ointment is not necessary as the ointment can be applied after the bath. Bathing after the temperature has stabilized helps to prevent the baby from getting cold during the bath. Waiting for 3 hours after the birth may delay the necessary cleaning and bonding processes.