The document outlines the 4 core steps of Essential Newborn Care (ENC) which are: 1) Immediate drying of the newborn, 2) Skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn, 3) Properly timed cord clamping and cutting between 1 to 3 minutes after birth, and 4) Non-separation of newborn and mother for early breastfeeding initiation and rooming-in. These simple steps can prevent at least half of newborn deaths without additional costs to families or hospitals.

1. Essential Newborn Care:
Protocol for New Life
Reynel Dan L. Galicinao, RN
Jurmaida H. Pagayao, RN
Marnelle Joy S. Pulmano, RN
Aries Glenn B. Galao, RN
Mary Margaret A. Erana, RN
Students, Master in Nursing
Misamis University

2. Outline
Overview
4 Core Steps of ENC
1. Immediate Drying
2. Skin-to-Skin Contact
3. Proper Cord Clamping & Cutting
4. Non-separation of Newborn & Mother

3. Overview
• The Philippines is one of the 42 nations that
account for 90% of global under-five mortality
• An estimated 82,000 Filipino children die
annually before their 5th birthday
• 37% of these children are newborns less than
28 days old

4. Measles, 4
Diarrhea, 1
% Malaria, 8%
7%
HIV/AIDS, 3
% Pneumonia
, 19%
Injuries, 3%
Neonatal, 3
7%
Other, 10%
They die mostly of preventable causes.

5. Essential Newborn Care
• A simple, concise, straightforward protocol
that is backed by solid research evidence
• Can prevent at least ½ of newborn deaths
without additional cost to both families and
hospitals

6. 4 Core Steps of ENC
Immediate Skin-to-skin
drying contact
Proper cord Non-separation
clamping & of newborn &
cutting mother

7. Immediate and thorough
drying of the newborn

8. • Immediate and thorough drying for 30
seconds to one minute warms the newborn
and stimulates breathing

9. Early skin-to-skin contact
between mother and
newborn

10. • Early skin-to-skin contact between mother and
newborn and delayed washing for at least 6 hours
• This prevents:
• Hypothermia
• Infection
• Hypoglycemia

11. Properly-timed cord clamping
and cutting

12. • Waiting for the cord pulsations to stop
(between 1 to 3 minutes)
• Prevents anemia and protects against brain
hemorrhage in premature newborns

13. Non-separation of the
newborn from the mother for
early breastfeeding initiation
and rooming-in

14. • Continuous non-separation of newborn and
mother for early breastfeeding protects
infants from dying from infection
• The first feed provides colostrum