OK, the baby is out (congratulations!), but now what happens?
This is an interesting one. My partner (who, incidentally, had a caesarean) remembers the first 24 hours as being amongst the worst. After receiving bucket loads of attention for the 9 months of her pregnancy – and then even more throughout a 70 hour labour! – it came as a huge shock when her daughter was pulled out, whisked off and poor mum was left all alone for the next several hours wondering “what next”.
So, realistically, what should you expect for you and your baby just after the birth? You’ve attended the pre-natal yoga classes and antenatal classes, had your massages, learnt breathing techniques in preparation for the birth of your child, but what happens after that? To help you understand what happens in this critical point of time, we have gathered thoughts from some of the leading obstetricians to hear what they think mum (and baby) should be prepared for.
What happens immediately after the baby is born?
Upon delivery, attendant staff will wrap the newborn in warm towels after the umbilical cord is cut. They then assess the newborn for breathing and colour, and clear the baby’s airway and provide stimulation or assistance for breathing if needed. Once babies are determined to be warm, pink and breathing comfortably, they are usually presented to their mothers for cuddling and even initiation of breast-feeding. The mother will quickly monitored for any excessive bleeding and her blood pressure should be taken.
What happens when the pain relief wears off?
Many mothers will be administered some form of pain relief when going through labour and subsequently, they should be prepared for the time when that wears off and they start feeling the pain (yes, sorry, you can’t get away from the pain). After a caesarean section delivery, mothers will feel pain at the area of the wound immediately after surgery. Those under epidural anaesthesia will feel the pain gradually increase, but this pain can be anticipated and adequate pain killers can be given. The location of the pain is also different; one is in front of the tummy and the other, on the bum. If you have had a C-section delivery, your movements are rather restricted. With a normal delivery, sitting can pose a challenge.
When should you start breastfeeding?
You may or may not be aware that breast milk production in new mums can actually take over two days before it is available to the child. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t breast feed immediately, you just need to be aware that some babies may need supplemental milk in the first 24 to 48 hours. Generally speaking, most babies born at full term do quite well without any supplemental milk while waiting for mother’s milk to be produced. Whatever the case, doctors believe it is good to let babies breast feed soon after delivery to a) stimulate production of the milk, as well as to b) allow early bonding.
What health checks will be done in the first 24 hours?
When your baby is born the paediatrician will perform the first examination him/her in hospital. This will involve a head-to-toe physical assessment of your baby’s health. A hearing screen will typically be included as will an injection of vitamin K, to prevent deficiency and easy bruising. Vaccinations against Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis are given before your baby goes home. Another test you can expect is the newborn metabolic screen, which uses a few drops of baby’s blood to screen for a panel of severe, genetic metabolic diseases. That’s why you may see the paediatrician taking some early blood samples.
What should mum eat and drink after the birth?
Don’t worry, I not going to say the placenta! We’ll leave that stuff to folk lore and cult behaviour, thank you very much! For mothers who have had a natural birth, try light but wholesome foods. You will need to replenish your natural energy supplies so lots fruit and vegetables with plenty of fluids and vitamins. For mums who have gone under general anaesthesia, they are always advised to go slow on the food and take fluids for the first 12 hours (for fear of vomiting). Those that have had a caesarean under epidural do much better in this aspect and they are able to eat around 12 hours after surgery. But they still should not eat too much too quickly as the intestines will complain and cause the tummy to become bloated.
When does post-natal depression take hold?
The first thing that may upset the mother is their lack of milk supply. As we’ve already pointed out above, it can take a few days for the milk to arrive so straight away this can make mum feel depressed and unable to properly care for their child. Often, relatives make it worse by contributing more ridiculous solutions to confuse the new mothers rather than recognising that this is quite natural and will rectify itself in due course.
My baby looks discoloured! Why?
Jaundice is a common occurrence in newborn babies, especially those of Asian descent. It manifests as a yellow tinge in the skin or whites of the eyes, and typically reaches its peak on the third to fifth day. It is generally monitored and is not harmful to babies unless very high levels are reached. Treatment usually leads to improvement within 24 to 48 hours. If the baby is red, with bruising discolouration, that’s perfectly normal… you’d look battered if you’d just gone through the same exercise! In any case, the paediatrician will be closely monitoring baby’s health so unless he sees anything abnormal, don’t worry.
How do I handle visitors?
OK, you know there will be plenty of visitors. For you and baby, it is best to try and limit these to smaller parties and for short periods. Here’s a good tip that my mum shared with me; if there are chores that need doing, get your visitors doing them; it will help you and will also make them feel important and needed. It’s a good way to keep everyone engaged and happy. It probably goes without saying, but adults and children with colds and illnesses should not be visiting.
