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Midwife Licensure Exam Midwifery Pharmacology & Newborn ProceduresMandated Newborn Procedures by the MidwifeMemory Anchors

Under the clock, Mandated Newborn Procedures by the Midwife facts fade unless they have a hook. Mnemonics are the hook. This page collects the memory anchors that reliably work for Filipino Midwife Licensure Exam candidates on Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Midwifery's Midwifery Pharmacology & Newborn Procedures items — acronyms, visual pairings, and short rhymes you can rehearse on your commute.

Exam context

On the Midwife Licensure Exam 2026, the Midwifery Pharmacology & Newborn Procedures subtest carries a "Core" weight in Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Midwifery's pattern. Mandated Newborn Procedures by the Midwife lands at position 2nd out of 4 in the standard review order. Target score is 75% weighted average, and roughly a meaningful share of items come from Midwifery Pharmacology & Newborn Procedures on a typical Midwife Licensure Exam paper.

Mandated Newborn Procedures by the Midwife - Memory Anchors

Memory techniques can increase recall by up to 70% compared to simple re-reading. For the PRC Midwifery Board Exam, you need to remember exact doses, timing windows, legal references, and sequences — all under pressure. This collection uses mnemonics, vivid analogies, micro-stories, and visual associations to wire these facts permanently into long-term memory. The brain remembers stories, emotions, images, and humor far better than plain lists. Every anchor here is designed to trigger instant recall during the exam. Use these tools actively: say them aloud, draw them, teach them to a classmate, and your pass rate will soar.

Anchors

Tags

  • sequence
  • process
  • EINC

Topic

EINC / Unang Yakap

Concept

EINC / Unang Yakap Four Core Steps in Order

Anchor Id

A1

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Remember: 'DESK' — D = Dry (30 seconds), E = Embrace (skin-to-skin), S = Snip the cord (delayed, 1–3 min after pulsations stop), K = Keep together for breastfeeding (within 90 min). Imagine a midwife at her DESK organizing the four most important things she must do for every newborn.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

Acronyms compress a 4-step sequence into a single, instantly retrievable word. DESK is a familiar, concrete object every student knows.

Example Usage

Exam question: 'What is the correct sequence of EINC core steps?' Think DESK — Dry, Embrace, Snip cord, Keep together. List them in order.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'What does the midwife do at her DESK right after birth?'

Tags

  • process
  • EINC
  • contraindication

Topic

EINC / Unang Yakap

Concept

EINC 'Do Not Do' List — no routine suctioning, no early bathing, no separation, do not wipe vernix

Anchor Id

A2

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Remember: 'No SSBS' — No Suction (routine), No Separation, No Bath (early), No Scrubbing off vernix. Say it as 'NO S-S-B-S' (no sister bothers the skin). Picture a strict lola (grandmother) guarding the baby: 'Huwag! No SSBS!'

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

Negative mnemonics are powerful because exam questions often test what NOT to do. Associating it with a memorable Filipino grandmother figure creates an emotional hook.

Example Usage

If the question asks 'Which action violates EINC protocol?' — run through SSBS: suctioning routinely, separating mother and baby, bathing early, scrubbing off vernix. The answer will match one of these.

Recall Trigger

Imagine a strict lola blocking the door and saying 'No SSBS!'

Tags

  • classification
  • assessment
  • formula

Topic

APGAR Score

Concept

APGAR Score — five signs and their scoring (0, 1, 2)

Anchor Id

A3

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

A = Appearance (color), P = Pulse (heart rate), G = Grimace (reflex), A = Activity (muscle tone), R = Respiration. Remember the scores with: 'APGAR checks if a baby is ALIVE' — 0 = nothing, 1 = something, 2 = perfect. Visualize a doctor named 'Dr. APGAR' checking five baby features on a clipboard.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The APGAR acronym is well-known but students often mix up what each letter stands for. Anchoring each letter to a clinical image reinforces both the letter and the meaning simultaneously.

Example Usage

Question: 'A newborn has: body pink extremities blue, HR 90, grimace only, some flexion, slow irregular cry. What is the APGAR?' Score: A=1, P=1, G=1, A=1, R=1 = APGAR 5. Moderately depressed.

Recall Trigger

Think 'Dr. APGAR checks the baby' and list the five features.

Tags

  • classification
  • assessment

Topic

APGAR Score

Concept

APGAR Score Interpretation: 7–10 normal, 4–6 moderate, 0–3 severe

Anchor Id

A4

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Think of a Filipino school grading system: 75 and above = passing (normal baby, score 7–10). Below 75 but not failing = needs tutoring (moderately depressed, score 4–6). Failed = needs intervention now (severely depressed, score 0–3). Just like a student's grade tells the teacher how to respond, APGAR tells the midwife how to respond.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Anchoring clinical scores to a familiar Filipino school grading experience makes abstract numbers meaningful and personally relevant.

Example Usage

Exam: 'An APGAR of 3 at 1 minute means?' Think: 3 = failing = severely depressed = needs active resuscitation and referral.

Recall Trigger

Think 'APGAR is like a school grade — passing, needs help, or failing?'

Tags

  • formula
  • drug
  • dose

Topic

Vitamin K Prophylaxis

Concept

Vitamin K1 Dose: 1 mg IM for term, 0.5 mg IM for preterm/LBW under 1.5 kg

Anchor Id

A5

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Remember: '1 for TERM, half for SMALL' — or rhyme it: 'One for the BIG, half for the small, vastus lateralis for them all!' The number 1 looks like a full-term big healthy baby standing straight up. The 0.5 is like a half-sized baby — preterm and small.

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

Rhymes encode information through rhythm and music-like patterns, making them sticky. The visual image of the numbers as baby sizes reinforces the dose-size relationship.

Example Usage

Exam: 'A preterm baby weighing 1.3 kg is born. What Vitamin K dose?' Think: small baby under 1.5 kg = 0.5 mg IM. Site = vastus lateralis.

Recall Trigger

Rhyme: 'One for the big, half for the small, vastus lateralis for them all!'

Tags

  • law
  • sequence
  • timing

Topic

Newborn Screening RA 9288

Concept

Newborn Screening — RA 9288, heel-prick, ideal timing 24–72 hours

Anchor Id

A6

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Story: 'Si Baby Nena was born at the RHU lying-in. Her midwife, Ate Rosa, told the family: RA 9-2-8-8 means we check EIGHT disorders from NENA's heel. But we wait until she is at least 24 hours old — her first full day of life — so the results are accurate. We have until 72 hours (3 days). Ate Rosa is LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE to make sure this is done.' The name NENA = 9288 sounds like the law number rhythmically.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Micro-stories create a narrative with characters, making abstract legal numbers and timeframes emotionally memorable. Filipino names make it culturally resonant.

Example Usage

Exam: 'When is the ideal time for newborn screening?' Think of Baby Nena — the midwife waits for her 24th hour but no later than 72 hours. Answer: 24–72 hours after birth.

Recall Trigger

Think 'Baby Nena's heel, 24–72 hours, RA 9288'

Tags

  • classification
  • law
  • definition

Topic

Newborn Screening RA 9288

Concept

Newborn Screening Disorders Panel — key disorders to remember

Anchor Id

A7

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Remember: 'CH CAG PM' (sounds like 'cha-chag pem') = Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Galactosemia (GAL), Phenylketonuria (PKU), Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), G6PD deficiency. Or use the phrase: 'Can Happy Children Get Perfect Marks?' — C=CH, H=hypothyroidism (Congenital), C=CAH, G=Galactosemia, P=PKU, M=MSUD and G6PD.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

Acronyms and memorable phrases reduce a list of six complex disorder names into a simple phrase. The positive Filipino parental aspiration (children getting perfect marks) adds emotional relevance.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Which disorder screened under RA 9288 causes irreversible intellectual disability if untreated?' Answer: Congenital Hypothyroidism — C, the first letter of 'Can.'

Recall Trigger

Think: 'Can Happy Children Get Perfect Marks?'

Tags

  • definition
  • process
  • clinical

Topic

Newborn Screening RA 9288

Concept

Congenital Hypothyroidism — most important screened disorder, causes intellectual disability, treated with thyroxine

Anchor Id

A8

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Imagine a baby's brain is like a newly planted rice seedling (palay). Thyroid hormone is like the fertilizer (pataba). Without pataba, the palay will never grow tall — it stays small and stunted PERMANENTLY. If you give pataba early enough (early thyroxine), the palay grows normally. Congenital hypothyroidism = no fertilizer from birth. Newborn screening = checking the soil before the crop is ruined.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Rice farming is a deeply familiar Filipino metaphor. The irreversibility of stunted growth maps perfectly onto the irreversibility of intellectual disability from untreated CH.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Why is newborn screening especially important for congenital hypothyroidism?' Because if untreated, it causes permanent intellectual disability; early thyroxine (pataba) prevents it entirely.

Recall Trigger

Think 'Brain palay needs thyroid pataba — screen early or it's too late.'

Tags

  • law
  • timing
  • definition

Topic

Newborn Hearing Screening RA 9709

Concept

Newborn Hearing Screening — RA 9709, OAE/AABR, before discharge or within 1 month, 3 months latest

Anchor Id

A9

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Story: 'Si Kuya RA 9-7-0-9 (nine-seven-oh-nine) invented a tiny EAR machine (OAE/AABR) and said: EVERY baby must be tested before going home or within their first MONTH of life (3 months at the very latest). If I catch hearing loss at 6 months, we can still save their speech!' Remember: 9709 → 9 + 7 = 16 → think of the ear canal. Or simply: RA 97-09 = hearing (97 rhymes with 'ear bye' in Filipino slang).

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Personifying the law as a character (Kuya RA) makes the legal number and its requirements into a narrative. The 6-month intervention window becomes a plot detail the student remembers.

Example Usage

Exam: 'What law mandates newborn hearing screening?' RA 9709. 'When?' Before discharge or within 1 month, 3 months latest. 'What method?' OAE or AABR.

Recall Trigger

Think 'Kuya RA 9709 and his tiny ear machine — test before discharge!'

Tags

  • drug
  • process
  • sequence

Topic

Eye Prophylaxis

Concept

Eye Prophylaxis — erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment, both eyes, inner to outer canthus, do not irrigate

Anchor Id

A10

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Visualize squeezing a tiny red toothpaste tube (erythromycin = red/rosy color, like 'erythro' which means RED in Greek) from the INNER corner (near the nose) sweeping OUT to the outer corner of each eye. Then imagine a 'NO WATER' sign on the baby's face — do NOT wash it out. The red toothpaste stays. Red = erythromycin. Sweep in, don't rinse.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Visual association links the drug name to a color image (erythro = red) and a physical gesture (sweeping motion). The 'No Water' sign prevents the common error of irrigating the eyes afterward.

Example Usage

Exam: 'After applying eye prophylaxis, the midwife should?' Do NOT irrigate the eyes. The ointment remains in the conjunctival sac.

Recall Trigger

Visualize red toothpaste from inner to outer corner — no rinsing.

Tags

  • process
  • definition
  • drug

Topic

Cord Care

Concept

Dry Cord Care — keep clean and dry, apply nothing, diaper below cord stump

Anchor Id

A11

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Rhyme: 'The cord must be DRY, never apply — no alcohol, no rub, no dye! Fold the diaper LOW and let air flow. In 5 to 15 days, away it goes!' This covers: dry cord care, no topical applications, diaper positioning, and normal separation time.

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

Rhymes leverage phonological memory — the rhythmic pattern encodes multiple facts simultaneously and is easy to recall under stress.

Example Usage

Exam: 'What is the correct cord care after delivery?' Dry cord care — clean and dry, apply nothing, fold diaper below the stump, separates in 5–15 days.

Recall Trigger

Sing the cord rhyme: 'The cord must be DRY, never apply...'

Tags

  • clinical
  • definition
  • referral

Topic

Cord Care

Concept

Omphalitis Danger Signs — redness, foul discharge, swelling around cord

Anchor Id

A12

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Remember: 'RFS Alert!' — R = Redness around the cord base, F = Foul-smelling discharge, S = Swelling of the periumbilical area. If you see RFS, it's an alarm — REFER! 'RFS = Return Fast, Susmariosep! (Holy cow, this is serious!)'

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The Filipino exclamation 'Susmariosep' (a cultural expression of shock) adds emotional weight to the danger sign, making it memorable and emphasizing the urgency to refer.

Example Usage

Exam: 'A mother calls about her 5-day-old baby's cord. What findings would prompt immediate referral?' RFS — Redness, Foul discharge, Swelling = omphalitis → refer immediately.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'RFS — Return Fast, Susmariosep!'

Tags

  • formula
  • classification
  • assessment

Topic

Newborn Assessment

Concept

Normal Newborn Vital Signs — RR 40–60/min, HR 120–160/min, Temp 36.5–37.5°C, Weight 2,500–4,000 g

Anchor Id

A13

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Chunk it as '40-60 / 120-160 / 36.5-37.5 / 2500-4000' and remember the phrase: 'Forty to sixty breaths, One-twenty to one-sixty beats, Thirty-six point five to thirty-seven point five degrees, Two-point-five to four kilos.' Note the PATTERN: RR doubles to get lower HR limit (40 x 3 = 120). Or think: RR is in the 'forties and fifties' like a slow commuter bus; HR is 'highway speed' (120–160).

Anchor Type

chunking

Why It Works

Chunking groups related numbers together. The bus/highway analogy creates a familiar Filipino transport image that links the two most commonly confused values.

Example Usage

Exam: 'A newborn has RR of 35/min. Is this normal?' Recall: normal RR = 40–60. 35 is below the slow bus range = tachypnea or bradypnea? 35 is bradypnea (slow) → note and monitor, possible referral.

Recall Trigger

Think 'slow bus (RR) vs highway (HR)' — forties/fifties vs hundreds.

Tags

  • timing
  • process
  • EINC

Topic

EINC / Cord Clamping

Concept

Delayed Cord Clamping — 1 to 3 minutes, after cord pulsations stop, improves iron stores

Anchor Id

A14

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Imagine the umbilical cord as a SIPHON tube pumping the last drops of premium gasoline (iron-rich blood) from the placenta tank into the baby's gas tank (body). If you cut the tube too early, the baby's tank is only half full. Wait 1–3 minutes — let every last drop of 'premium iron fuel' flow in before clamping. A baby with full iron stores won't get anemia at 4–6 months.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

The gasoline/fuel analogy makes the physiological benefit of delayed cord clamping tangible and logical. The 'premium fuel' image emphasizes the value of iron-rich placental blood.

Example Usage

Exam: 'When should the cord be clamped under EINC protocol?' After pulsations stop, at 1–3 minutes. Reason: maximizes transfer of iron-rich blood to the newborn.

Recall Trigger

Think 'let the fuel flow — 1 to 3 minutes before clamping.'

Tags

  • sequence
  • process
  • clinical
  • referral

Topic

Newborn Resuscitation

Concept

The Golden Minute — first 60 seconds priority: establish breathing, resuscitate if not breathing

Anchor Id

A15

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Story: 'In a barangay lying-in, Midwife Tessie delivered a baby who wasn't crying. She felt her heart race — she had only ONE GOLDEN MINUTE. No time for APGAR scores, no time for Vitamin K, no time for eye drops. She immediately dried, positioned, cleared the airway, and started bag-mask ventilation while shouting for help and arranging emergency transfer. The golden coin was ticking — 60 seconds to save a life.' The lesson: breathing FIRST, everything else SECOND.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

A dramatic narrative with a named Filipino midwife character in a realistic setting creates vivid emotional memory. The urgency of the story reinforces the time-sensitive priority.

Example Usage

Exam: 'A newborn is delivered and is not breathing. What is the midwife's first action?' Dry, position, clear airway, stimulate — if still not breathing, bag-mask ventilation within the golden minute (first 60 seconds). Arrange referral.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'Midwife Tessie's Golden Minute — breathing first, everything else second.'

Tags

  • classification
  • process
  • definition

Topic

Thermoregulation

Concept

Thermoregulation — four mechanisms of heat loss: evaporation, conduction, convection, radiation

Anchor Id

A16

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Remember: 'ECCE' (Latin for 'behold', also used in Filipino Catholic culture as 'Ecce Homo') — E = Evaporation (wet body), C = Conduction (cold surface), C = Convection (cold air drafts), E = Radiation (heat radiating to cold walls/objects). Picture the Ecce Homo image of a suffering exposed baby losing heat four ways — a powerful Filipino religious memory hook.

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

Using a culturally significant Filipino Catholic image (Ecce Homo) creates an emotionally charged visual anchor. The acronym ECCE matches the four heat loss mechanisms perfectly.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Placing a newborn on a cold metal surface causes heat loss by which mechanism?' C = Conduction. 'A wet newborn loses heat by?' E = Evaporation.

Recall Trigger

Think 'ECCE — four ways a newborn loses heat.'

Tags

  • classification
  • formula
  • clinical

Topic

Thermoregulation

Concept

Normal axillary temperature 36.5–37.5°C; hypothermia below 36.5°C

Anchor Id

A17

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Visualize a Filipino comfort food thermometer: 36.5 is the perfect 'malamig-mainit' (just right, like samalamig drink at the right temperature). Below 36.5 = too cold, baby is like ice candy — that's hypothermia. Above 37.5 = too hot, like burning arroz caldo — that's fever. The safe zone is between 36.5 and 37.5 — the 'masarap na temperatura.'

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Food-based analogies are deeply familiar in Filipino culture. Mapping temperature to beloved Filipino food experiences creates personal, emotionally resonant memory tags.

Example Usage

Exam: 'A newborn has an axillary temperature of 36.2°C. How do you classify this?' Below 36.5°C = hypothermia. Intervene with skin-to-skin (Kangaroo Mother Care), recheck, and refer if it doesn't correct.

Recall Trigger

Think 'samalamig at 36.5, arroz caldo at 37.5 — baby's safe zone in between.'

Tags

  • drug
  • timing
  • sequence

Topic

Newborn Immunization

Concept

BCG and Hepatitis B birth dose — given within 24 hours of birth

Anchor Id

A18

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Rhyme: 'BCG and Hep B, before the first day ends — twenty-four hours max, on these two the health of baby depends!' Or simply: 'BCG-HepB in 24 — they're the first shots at the door.' Picture a security guard at the birth room door giving two shots to every baby leaving — the door is 24 hours.

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

Rhymes and visual metaphors compress a timing rule and two drug names into a memorable, rhythmic unit. The 'door' image anchors the 24-hour deadline spatially.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Which vaccines are given as part of the mandated newborn package within 24 hours?' BCG and Hepatitis B birth dose.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'BCG-HepB — two shots at the 24-hour door.'

Tags

  • clinical
  • process
  • decision

Topic

Newborn Resuscitation

Concept

Meconium — vigorous baby = proceed with EINC; non-vigorous = do not wait, resuscitate

Anchor Id

A19

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Think of a meconium-stained baby as a student who took a messy exam. If the student is AWAKE AND ANSWERING (vigorous — crying, good tone, HR ≥ 100), the teacher just wipes the pen marks off and continues the exam (proceed with EINC, no suctioning). But if the student COLLAPSES (not breathing, limp), you don't care about the mess — you call the nurse and do CPR NOW. The mess (meconium) is secondary to the emergency.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

The student/exam analogy maps the clinical decision perfectly onto a familiar academic scenario. The emotional shift from 'normal messy day' to 'emergency' reinforces when to act vs. proceed normally.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Meconium-stained amniotic fluid, baby is crying and has good tone. What does the midwife do?' Vigorous = proceed with EINC. No routine suctioning.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'Messy student — awake = proceed, collapsed = resuscitate NOW.'

Tags

  • law
  • definition
  • clinical

Topic

Newborn Screening RA 9288

Concept

Midwife's Legal Responsibility under RA 9288 — attendant is legally responsible for ensuring newborn screening is done and parents are informed

Anchor Id

A20

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Story: 'Midwife Lorna delivered Baby Jose at the BHS. She forgot to tell the parents about newborn screening and the baby was never tested. At age 2, Baby Jose was diagnosed with untreated congenital hypothyroidism — severe intellectual disability. Lorna faced a PRC complaint. RA 9288 is clear: the BIRTH ATTENDANT is legally responsible. Lorna learned the hard way: INFORM and ENSURE, always.' This is a cautionary story every midwife must remember.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Stories with consequences (legal, ethical, patient harm) are powerfully memorable because they activate emotional and moral reasoning centers of the brain, not just rote memory.

Example Usage

Exam: 'Under RA 9288, who is responsible for ensuring newborn screening is performed?' The birth attendant (in community settings, the midwife). The midwife must inform parents and ensure the sample is taken.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'Baby Jose, Midwife Lorna, RA 9288 — the attendant is legally responsible.'

Revision Game

Immediate and thorough drying of the newborn

Clue

I am the first step of EINC. I happen in the first 30 seconds. I prevent hypothermia and stimulate breathing. What am I?

Memory Link

A1 — DESK acronym: D = Dry

APGAR score 7–10 = good/normal newborn adaptation

Clue

I am a number between 7 and 10 on a famous scale. I mean the baby is doing great. Which scale and what does my range mean?

Memory Link

A4 — APGAR Filipino school grading analogy

RA 9288 — Newborn Screening Act of 2004

Clue

I am the RA number that makes newborn screening mandatory in the Philippines. I was passed in 2004. What number am I?

Memory Link

A6 — Baby Nena micro-story

Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment for eye prophylaxis

Clue

I am a red ophthalmic ointment applied from inner to outer corner of the eyes. The midwife must never wash me off. What am I?

Memory Link

A10 — Red toothpaste visual association

The Golden Minute — the first 60 seconds for newborn resuscitation

Clue

I am a 60-second window after birth that determines whether a non-breathing baby survives. What am I called?

Memory Link

A15 — Midwife Tessie Golden Minute micro-story

RA 9709 — Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009

Clue

I am the law that says every newborn must have their ears tested before leaving the hospital or within their first month of life. What RA am I?

Memory Link

A9 — Kuya RA 9709 micro-story

Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)

Clue

I am the screened disorder that causes permanent intellectual disability if untreated, but early thyroxine prevents this entirely. What disorder am I?

Memory Link

A8 — brain palay and thyroid pataba analogy

RFS — signs of Omphalitis

Clue

I stand for Redness, Foul discharge, and Swelling around the umbilical cord stump. I am a danger sign that means the midwife must refer. What am I?

Memory Link

A12 — RFS Alert mnemonic

Formula Mnemonics

Formula

Vitamin K1 dose: 1 mg IM (term) / 0.5 mg IM (preterm or LBW < 1.5 kg), site = vastus lateralis

Mnemonic

'One for TERM, HALF for small, vastus lateralis for them ALL!' — 1 = term baby (big), 0.5 = half dose for half-sized preterm baby

When To Use

Every newborn immediately after birth (after drying and skin-to-skin) to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB)

What Each Part Means

1 mg = full dose for normal term newborn; 0.5 mg = half dose for preterm or low birth weight under 1.5 kg; IM = intramuscular injection; vastus lateralis = anterolateral thigh, the safest IM site in newborns

Formula

Newborn Screening Timing: Ideal = 24–72 hours; earliest = 24 hours; if before 24 h = repeat at 2 weeks

Mnemonic

'24 to 72 — that's the window true! Before 24 is too early, after 72 you'll have to redo!' The 24 is the FLOOR and 72 is the CEILING of the ideal window.

When To Use

For all newborns under RA 9288; particularly important when deciding timing at BHS/lying-in with early discharge

What Each Part Means

24 hours = minimum age for accurate results (avoids false positives especially for CAH/17-OHP); 72 hours = upper limit of ideal window; if done before 24 h = results may be inaccurate, mandatory repeat by 2 weeks

Formula

APGAR Score: each of 5 signs scored 0–2; total = 0–10; assess at 1 min and 5 min

Mnemonic

APGAR = Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. 'All Perfect Gives All Right' (each word = A, P, G, A, R). Max = 10 (5 signs x 2 each). '7-10 Go, 4-6 Slow, 0-3 No-Go' (Go=normal, Slow=moderate, No-Go=severe)

When To Use

At 1 minute and 5 minutes after every birth; repeat every 5 min up to 20 min if depressed. NOTE: Do not wait for APGAR to begin resuscitation — resuscitate based on breathing and HR.

What Each Part Means

A=Appearance/color (0=blue-pale, 1=body pink extremities blue, 2=all pink); P=Pulse/HR (0=absent, 1=<100, 2=≥100); G=Grimace/reflex (0=none, 1=grimace, 2=cry); A=Activity/tone (0=limp, 1=some flexion, 2=active); R=Respiration (0=absent, 1=slow irregular, 2=good cry)

Formula

Normal Newborn Vitals: RR = 40–60/min; HR = 120–160/min; Temp = 36.5–37.5°C; Weight = 2,500–4,000 g; LBW = < 2,500 g

Mnemonic

'40-60 breaths, 120-160 beats, 36.5-37.5 heat, 2500-4000 baby neat.' LBW is any baby under 2.5 kg = Less than BIG Weight.

When To Use

During initial newborn assessment and every subsequent check; deviation from normal range = note, monitor, and refer as appropriate

What Each Part Means

RR = respiratory rate, counted for full minute; HR = heart rate/pulse; Temp = axillary (armpit) temperature; Weight = birth weight; LBW = low birth weight threshold for special care

Quick Recall Chains

Chain Title

EINC Four Core Steps in Order (Unang Yakap)

Recall Test

Without looking: Name the 4 EINC core steps in order. What does each letter of DESK stand for? What is the timing for cord clamping? When must the first breastfeed begin?

Memory Chain

Use DESK: 'The midwife sits at her DESK: Dry the baby, Embrace skin-to-skin, Snip the cord (after 1–3 min), Keep together for feeding.' Imagine the midwife arriving at work, sitting at her DESK, and going through D-E-S-K in order. Each letter is one action she does for every newborn.

Items To Remember

  • 1. Immediate and thorough drying (first 30 seconds)
  • 2. Early skin-to-skin contact
  • 3. Properly timed cord clamping (1–3 minutes, after pulsations stop)
  • 4. Non-separation for early breastfeeding (within 90 minutes)

Chain Title

Complete Mandated Newborn Procedures — Sequence from Birth to Discharge

Recall Test

Without looking: List all 10 steps in order. What two injections are given within 24 hours? When is the heel-prick done? What is done LAST before discharge?

Memory Chain

Story chain: 'Dry and check (APGAR) → Skin-to-skin hug → Wait for cord, then cut → Baby crawls to breast → Inject the K → Paint the eyes red (erythromycin) → Weigh and measure → Two shots at the 24-hour door (BCG + HepB) → Prick the heel at sunrise (24 h) → Listen to the ears before going home.' Think of it as 10 steps of a baby's first day — from birth cry to homecoming.

Items To Remember

  • 1. Dry and assess (APGAR, breathing)
  • 2. Skin-to-skin and warmth (bonnet, warm cloth)
  • 3. Delayed cord clamping (1–3 min) and cord care
  • 4. Support first breastfeed (within 90 min)
  • 5. Vitamin K1 IM (vastus lateralis)
  • 6. Eye prophylaxis (erythromycin 0.5%)
  • 7. Weigh, measure, full head-to-toe exam
  • 8. BCG + Hepatitis B birth dose (within 24 h)
  • 9. Newborn screening heel-prick (24–72 h)
  • 10. Hearing screening (before discharge or within 1 month)

Chain Title

APGAR Score — Five Signs in Order with Scoring

Recall Test

Cover the list. What does each letter of APGAR stand for? What score = normal? What score = severely depressed? Should you wait for the 1-min APGAR before starting resuscitation? (Answer: NO)

Memory Chain

Use 'All Perfect Gives All Right' for A-P-G-A-R. Then for scoring: 0 = NOTHING, 1 = SOMETHING, 2 = PERFECT. So for each sign: 0=nothing there, 1=half there, 2=perfect. 'Nothing, Something, Perfect — for all five signs of Dr. APGAR's clipboard.'

Items To Remember

  • A = Appearance/Color: 0=all blue/pale, 1=body pink extremities blue, 2=all pink
  • P = Pulse/Heart Rate: 0=absent, 1=<100/min, 2=≥100/min
  • G = Grimace/Reflex: 0=none, 1=grimace, 2=cry/cough/sneeze
  • A = Activity/Tone: 0=limp, 1=some flexion, 2=active motion
  • R = Respiration: 0=absent, 1=slow/irregular/weak cry, 2=good strong cry

Chain Title

Newborn Screening Panel — Six Core Disorders (RA 9288)

Recall Test

Without looking: Name all 6 core disorders screened under RA 9288. Which one causes intellectual disability if untreated? What is the treatment? (Thyroxine for CH)

Memory Chain

Phrase: 'Can Happy Children Get Perfect Marks?' C=CH (Congenital Hypothyroidism), H=CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia — 'happy' because adrenals make you energetic), C=CAH wait no — use: 'CHarming Children GALlop PKU-tting G6PD-riving MSUD-enly' → CH, CAH, GAL, PKU, G6PD, MSUD. Or simpler memory hook: 'CH-CAH-GAL PKU-G6PD-MSUD' said as 'cha-chag-gal pee-koo-jee-em-sud' — a nonsense word you repeat aloud until it sticks.

Items To Remember

  • 1. Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)
  • 2. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
  • 3. Galactosemia (GAL)
  • 4. Phenylketonuria (PKU)
  • 5. G6PD Deficiency
  • 6. Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)

Chain Title

EINC Do-Not-Do List (What the Midwife Must AVOID)

Recall Test

Without looking: List 5 things the midwife should NOT do under EINC. Which of these is most commonly tested in the MLE? (Routine suctioning and early bathing are most common distractors.)

Memory Chain

Remember 'No SSBS + no V' (No Suction, no Separation, no Bath early, no Scrubbing off vernix, no foot-print before Skin-to-skin). Or use the strict lola image: 'Lola blocks the door and shouts NO SSBS!' — the V (vernix) is the white coating on the baby that Lola says is 'gatas ng langit' (heavenly milk) — don't wipe it off!

Items To Remember

  • Do NOT suction routinely (only if airway obstructed or not breathing)
  • Do NOT bathe early (delay bath at least 6 hours, ideally 24 hours)
  • Do NOT separate mother and baby
  • Do NOT wipe off vernix
  • Do NOT do foot-printing before skin-to-skin
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