Essential Care For Every Baby (ECEB)

HBB training focuses on helping babies stay alive for the first five minutes of life.  ECEB starts at minute six and focuses on the care needed during the first 24 hours of life.  Current data shows that 2.9 million babies die during the first month of life.  ECEB hopes to change that.

Newborn infants are at risk of infection, sepsis, pneumonia, and tetanus.  Good assessment and early intervention can prevent these problems from becoming severe and life-threatening.

Thermal care is extremely important.  Clean, dry cloths may be rare in resource limited areas so ECEB focuses on skin-to-skin contact with the mother.  This alone can help the newly born infant and prevent cold stress.

Early breastfeeding and good observation of the newborn is key in both preventing problems and recognizing potential problems.  ECEB teaches birth attendants to do a full assessment of the infant within 90 minutes of birth so that potential problems can be recognized and treated.

Education for the parents is also included:  hand washing, cord care, recognition of breathing difficulties, feeding issues.

From the AAP website:
Essential Care for Every Baby (ECEB) is a training program on essential newborn care based on latest WHO guidelines. Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the curriculum begins after birth throughout the first day of the newborn’s life, until the time of discharge.