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Suctioning baby's nose and mouth with a bulb syringe, which should be suctioned first?

a. Mouth
b. Nose
c. Either one, as there is no specific order
d. Ear

User Marshally
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1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

When suctioning a newborn, it is best practice to first suction the mouth and then the nose to prevent the baby from inhaling any secretions. The ear should not be suctioned as it is connected to the upper respiratory tract but can be harmed by suctioning.

Step-by-step explanation:

When suctioning a newborn's upper respiratory tract, it is important to start with the mouth before the nose. The reason for this sequence is to prevent the baby from inhaling any secretions back into the airway during the process since clearing the mouth minimizes the risk of aspirating these contents. According to best practices, once the mouth is cleared, you can then proceed to gently suction the nose if necessary.

To more specifically answer the review question you presented, the ear should not be suctioned using a bulb syringe during the newborn care process. The ear is connected to the upper respiratory tract by the eustachian tube, which opens into the nasopharynx. However, suctioning is not appropriate for the ears and can cause harm.

User Alamin
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