Editing Midwifery (section)

===Care of the newborn===
{{Further|Newborn}}

At birth, the baby receives an [[Apgar score]] at, at the least, one minute and five minutes of age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Apgar Score |url=https://www.acog.org/en/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2015/10/the-apgar-score |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=www.acog.org |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005171736/https://www.acog.org/en/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2015/10/the-apgar-score |url-status=live }}</ref> This is a score out of 10 that assesses the baby on five different areas—each worth between 0 and 2 points. These areas are: colour, respiratory effort, tone, heart rate, and response to stimuli.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Simon |first1=Leslie V. |title=APGAR Score |date=2022 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470569/ |work=StatPearls |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=29262097 |access-date=2022-10-05 |last2=Hashmi |first2=Muhammad F. |last3=Bragg |first3=Bradley N. |archive-date=2022-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726062107/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470569/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[midwife]] checks the baby for any obvious problems, weighs the baby, and measure head circumference. The midwife ensures the cord has been clamped securely and the baby has the appropriate name tags on (if in hospital). Babies lengths are not routinely measured. The midwife performs these checks as close to the mother as possible and returns the baby to the mother quickly. Skin-to-skin is encouraged, as this regulates the baby's heart rate, breathing, oxygen saturation, and temperature—and promotes bonding and breastfeeding.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In some countries, such as [[Chile]], the midwife is the professional who can direct neonatal intensive care units. This is an advantage for these professionals, who can use the knowledge of [[perinatology]] to bring a high quality care of the newborn, with medical or surgical conditions.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 2016 |title=Midwifery in Chile - A Successful Experience to Improve Women ́s Sexual and Reproductive Health: Facilitators & Challenges |url=https://ecommons.aku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=jam |journal=Journal of Asian Midwives  |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=63–69 |access-date=2022-10-05 |archive-date=2023-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029185626/https://ecommons.aku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=jam |url-status=live }}</ref>