In the moments immediately following the birth of your baby the emotional intensity of your baby's arrival will undoubtedly limit your awareness of what is happening, and what must be done for you and your child. But, fully informed of the potential sequence of events is better than unprepared, so here is our quick guide to what usually happens during those critical moments.
In the first few moments after the birth, whether you are in hospital or at home, and once the umbilical cord has been cut, your baby will most likely be rubbed dry, wrapped up (new-borns lose heat very easily) and passed to you. For babies born in a birthing pool, it will most likely be their mother who pulls them up to the surface, and the warm water will aid their heat retention, so wrapping up is less critical. Whatever the circumstance, achieving some skin-to-skin contact with your child is beneficial, while being mindful of maintaining their temperature.
What need to be done for your baby? He will most likely have his nose and throat suctioned, and given his Vitamin K injection (if you have agreed to it). He will also have antibiotic ointment applied to his eyes to prevent infection. If you are in a hospital, ID bands will be placed on his arm and leg. The medical team will, while being mindful of your wishes for bonding time, carry out a series of tests to gain your baby's Apgar score (a method of establishing your baby's general health in the minutes following birth.)
What needs to be done for you? First, there is just the small matter of delivering the placenta to be dealt with! Prior to your own labour, you may well hear a number of stories in relation to placental delivery, and indeed the ease with which this is achieved does vary from woman to woman. Happily, for most, with the aid of an oxytocin-based drug such as Pitocin, the placenta is expelled quickly and easily. This drug also helps your uterus contract, and reduces the possibility of internal bleeding. If you have any tears, or underwent an episiotomy, these will now be repaired through stitching with the aid of local anaesthesia. Hopefully, throughout these events, you will be holding your baby and enjoying valuable bonding time.
What if there are complications? For some babies, the shock of being expelled from the womb can make their first few moments more complex than it is for others. They may need a little extra observation or assistance to make the adjustment. If this is the case, they will be placed on a warmer naked so that the medical team can assist him more fully. If he needs further assistance, he may be taken to a neo-natal intensive care unit for more treatment. The team caring for you will keep you and your partner fully informed.
If your baby was born by caesarean section, then once he is delivered, the same procedures as described above are followed. When he is wrapped up, he is handed to your partner, who is seated at your head end. During this time you are being stitched. Approaching breastfeeding while managing the discomfort of a caesarean scar can be a little difficult, but the medical team will have helped many women before you in the same situation. For more on starting breastfeeding, see below.
What can dads do? It is often assumed that fathers feel rather redundant during all this activity, but we're not sure this is truly the case. While your baby undergoes the various tests and treatments described above, dads can watch, touch their child, and talk to mother and baby. They can cuddle the baby while mum is checked or stitched. And they usually get to be the one who shares the good news with family and friends.
If you are planning to breastfeed, don't panic that the very moment he arrives, he's hungry. This isn't the case. However, as soon as you feel able to get comfortable and try, putting your baby to the breast is a good idea. Get skin-to-skin with your child, and let the midwife support you in finding a good position. Over the next few hours and days you and he have a lot to learn about how to make this work, and it does not come easy to everyone. Your hormones will be dragging you up, down, sideways and inside out, but if this is what you want to do, stick at it, even if it seems at this moment a steep mountain to climb. Even for those who do not plan to feed long term, breastfeeding your baby for the first few days can be valuable, as colostrum, (the particular kind of milk new mothers produce) is especially beneficial to your child.
