Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Figure 8.2. De Lee mucous aspirator. (WHO: Safe Motherhood:
Basic Newborn Resuscitation-A Practical Guide)
• Suction machine (electrical/foot operated) used with single-use simple catheters 8F and
10F may be better than an aspirator, as there is no risk of secretions contaminating the
oral mucosa of the care provider. Notes on use:
o In newborn infants, the negative pressure used for the suction should not be more
than 100 mm/Hg or 130 cm of water. Most suction machines may attain pressures
often ranging from 400-600 mm/Hg and at times going up to 700 mm/Hg (when
being used for adults). Suction at a high negative pressure may result in bradycardia
and/or apnea in the baby due to vagal stimulation.
o Since the same aspirator may be used for the mother and the newborn, care should
be taken to change the level of the negative pressure of the suction. A clearly visible
sticker should be attached permanently to the equipment with the following message:
“Adjust the pressure to 100 mm/Hg or 130 cm of water for the newborn infant.”
o The suction tubes/catheters used with the machine should also be the pre-sterilized
single use variety and should not be reused.
o In the absence of a suction machine, a 10 mL syringe attached to the suction
catheter can also be used to remove the secretions but may not be so effective.
o In many centers in advanced countries, a rubber bulb is used for suction, but it
should be used only for one baby. The bulb is also readily available in many
countries in Africa, but it is commonly used repeatedly on several babies. It is not
possible to clean this properly or to even verify that it is clean, as the bulb is opaque.
Hence, the rubber bulb is not recommended in developing countries. If no other
item is available for suctioning, a new bulb may be washed, boiled, and used for only
one baby and then discarded.
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Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course