and arms so that the baby will avoid
contact with any blood or waste material on the bed.

If there is still a membrane from the water sac over the baby's head
and face at delivery, it should immediately be taken between the
fingers and torn so that the water inside will run out and the baby can
breathe.

If, as sometimes happens, the cord, which attaches the child from its
navel to the placenta in the mother's womb, should be wrapped around
the baby's neck when his head and neck appear, try to slip it quickly
over his head so that he will not strangle.

After the baby is born, wrap a fold of towel around his ankles to
prevent slipping and hold him up by the heels with one hand, taking
care that the cord is slack. To get a good safe grip, insert one finger
between the baby's ankles. Do not swing or spank the baby. Hold him
over the bed so that he cannot fall far if he should slip from your
grasp. The baby's body will be very slippery. Place your other hand
under the baby's forehead and bend its head back slightly so that the
fluid and mucus can run out of its mouth. When the baby begins to cry,
lay him on his side on the bed close enough to the mother to keep the
cord slack.

The baby will usually cry within the first minute. If he does not cry
or breathe within 2 or 3 minutes, use mouth-to-mouth artificial
respiration.

_Very little force should be used in blowing air into the baby's
mouth_. A short puff of breath about every 5 seconds is enough. As soon
as the baby starts to breathe or cry, mouth-to-mouth breathing should
be stopped.

CUTTING THE CORD

There should be no hurry to cut the cord. Take as much time as
necessary to prepare the ties and sharp instruments.

You will need two pieces of sterile white cotton tape or two pieces of
1-inch-wide sterile gauze bandage about 9 inches long to use to tie the
cord. (If you do not have sterile material for tying the cord but do
have facilities for boiling water, strips of sheeting--boiled for 15 to
20 minutes to make them sterile--can be used.) Tie the umbilical cord
with the sterile tape in two places, one about 4 inches from the baby
and the other 2 inches farther along the cord toward the mother, making
two or more simple knots at each place. Cut the cord between these two
ties with a clean sharp instrument such as a knife, razor blade, or
scissors.

A sterile dressing about 4 inches square should be placed over the cut
end of the cord at the baby's n