First day after birth

First days after birth - Better Health Channel

Most women have a healthy, safe and uncomplicated recovery after having a baby in hospital or at home. The first few days are a time for resting, looking after yourself and learning about your baby.

First hours after birth

Soon after your baby is delivered, your healthcare team will be busy with a number of tasks. These include:

performing an Apgar assessment (this evaluates your baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex response and colour, and provides an ‘Apgar score’ which describes your baby’s condition after birth)
putting on tags to identify your baby
clamping the umbilical cord
weighing your baby
keeping your baby warm.

Vaginal birth

With an uncomplicated vaginal birth, the placenta will usually pass shortly after the baby has been delivered. You can have an injection to speed up the delivery of the placenta. Sometimes your doctor may need to repair a tear or surgical cut (episiotomy) between the vagina and the anus with stitching under local anaesthetic.

Caesarean section

A Caesarean section is a procedure to deliver a baby by a surgical operation. If you have had a caesarean section, you will probably have some time with your baby before you are taken to the recovery room. Within a few hours, you will be moved to the maternity ward. You will be hooked up to an intravenous drip to stay hydrated, and to a catheter for urination.

For more information see the Caesarean section fact sheet.

Home birth

If you give birth at home, your midwife will stay with you until they are confident that you and your baby are stable. They will help you start breastfeeding and talk to you about support over the next six weeks.

For more information see the Homebirth fact sheet.

Complications and special care

Sometimes during labour and birth there are complications that mean that you or your baby will need more attention or intervention. In some situations, your baby may need to be transferred to a higher level of care – to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN) at hospital. Premature babies often need to stay longer at hospital.

After the physical and emotional challenges of a difficult birth, this can be a stressful time. Your healthcare team will keep you and your birth partner informed and up-to-date.

For more information see the Premature babies and the Specialised care for your baby fact sheets.

Skin-on-skin time is very comforting for your newborn. Your newborn baby will be placed on your belly straight after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery.

Newborns tend to be very alert after birth and will often seek out the breast by themselves. Breastfeeding within the first hour or so has many benefits because you are giving your baby a liquid rich in antibodies, called ‘colostrum’. But if skin contact and breastfeeding cannot happen straight away, there is time later to establish these bonds.

If you had a caesarean section, you can usually hold your baby in the operating room straight after birth. You will be given the opportunity to breastfeed as soon as possible after the operation. This may happen when you are being stitched up, in the recovery room or the maternity ward. For partners, the time apart while you recover from surgery is a special time for them to hold the baby and bond.

Healthcare teams at hospital and home

If you are in hospital, a doctor will come by the maternity ward to check on your recovery. Nurses will also regularly visit and provide advice on looking after yourself over the next few weeks, including:

urination and bowel movements
emotional health
perineal care (care of the area of skin and muscle between your vagina and your anus)
breast care
fatigue
head or back aches
pain relief
contraception.

A paediatrician (a doctor who specialises in treating children) will check your baby and let you know about any follow-up appointments that you need to book.

If you had a home birth, your midwife will visit regularly at first to check on your health and help with any questions. After that, they will organise follow-up visits that suit your needs.

Physical recovery after birth

Your body will start adjusting quickly after birth. Your doctor or midwife will talk to you about what is normal and when to ask for help. Each pregnancy and birth will be different, but there are some common changes that happen to your body after the baby is born.

Bleeding

Vaginal discharge, called lochia, is normal in the first days after giving birth. This tissue and blood from the uterus will be heavy and bright red to start and then become lighter in flow and colour. It will stop after a few weeks.

To manage this heavy bleeding it is best to use maternity sanitary pads. As the bleeding slows you will be able to use regular sanitary pads. Avoid using tampons for up to six weeks after birth as this can increase the likelihood of infection.

Cramps

Cramping is also a common symptom as your uterus contracts down to its normal size. Cramps can be more noticeable when your baby is breastfeeding.

Swelling

Swelling in the legs and feet can happen in some cases. Keeping your feet elevated can help.

Bowel motion and urination

Your first bowel movement may be a few days after delivery, especially after a caesarean section. Some women have haemorrhoids, sore muscles or an episiotomy that will make going to the toilet painful. Constipation can happen. Drinking plenty of water and eating fresh fruit and vegetables will help.

After pregnancy and birth, the muscles in your urinary tract are stretched. You may find some incontinence when you cough, laugh or strain, especially if there was a lengthy labour.

Sore breasts

Your breasts and nipples will be full and sometimes sore as the milk comes in three to six days after your baby arrives. Your midwife will show you how to self-express to relieve some of the tenderness and encourage milk supply.

Caesarean section recovery and wound care

If you had a caesarean section, you have had major abdominal surgery. It will take time for your body to recover and you will be given strong pain relief for the first few days. Your stitches will need dressings changed and monitoring for infection.

If you had a vaginal birth, sitting down can be uncomfortable, especially if you have stitches. Your doctor or midwife will advise you on remedies, pain relief and care of the wound.

Hospital staff will let you know when and how stitches need to be removed.

Emotional recovery after birth

It is normal to feel a rollercoaster of emotions after giving birth. There is often a dip in mood around the third or fourth day after your baby arrives, also known as the ‘baby blues’. These feelings are very common and can be due to changes in hormone levels, breastfeeding, lack of sleep and fatigue. They usually go away in the first few weeks after giving birth.

If you keep feeling anxious or depressed, make sure you get professional advice and the help that you need. Postnatal depression is common and treatable with the right support.

For more information see the Postnatal depression fact sheet.

Feeding your baby

Breastfeeding is best for newborn health. Premature babies or babies with special health needs often require extra support, for example expressing milk or formula feeding. Your midwife and doctor will talk through your options if breastfeeding is not possible.

It can be a challenge to breastfeed in the early days as you and your baby both get used to something new. Your baby may seem unsettled on day two or three while your colostrum changes to mature milk. It is normal for a newborn to feed every two hours, which will mean disrupted nights, even with help from nurses at hospital.

Advice on position and attachment can really make a difference when you are starting to breastfeed. As well as tips from midwives and breastfeeding support groups, private lactation consultants can help with breastfeeding problems.

If you need to bottle feed, you will be shown how to make up the feed, clean and sterilise bottles and teats, and store the expressed milk or formula.

Safe sleeping for your baby

Your midwife and maternal child health nurse will give you information on how to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby. There are a number of simple steps that will help minimise the rare but potential risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

If you want your baby to share your bed in hospital or at home, let your midwife know so they can help with safety advice.

For more information see the Sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI and SIDS) fact sheet.

Newborn care

It is natural to be nervous when looking after a small baby. Hospital nurses or a midwife will take you through daily care to prepare you for going home, including:

cues from your newborn when they are hungry or tired
bathing safely
skin care
holding a newborn
dressing for the weather
putting on a nappy
weight loss and gain
feeding and sleeping patterns
umbilical cord care
managing common health concerns such as jaundice, skin rashes, and changes in urine or bowel movements.

Health records and birth paperwork

Before you leave hospital, the following documents will be provided to you and explained:

My Health and Development Record child health record and guide to parenthood and child health for the first five years
Parent Pack resource kit with information on community services and programs
Family Assistance application forms
Medicare application forms
birth registration forms.

Tests, checks and vaccinations for newborns

Your midwife or doctor will talk to you about the following tests, screens or vaccinations for your baby. These are done before you leave hospital or in the first week:

newborn physical exam – an initial physical exam is done soon after birth to detect significant abnormalities, birth injuries or cardio-respiratory disorders; a more thorough exam is done during the hospital stay, usually more than 24 hours after birth
hepatitis B vaccination to start long-term protection against this disease – best given within 24 hours after birth
vitamin K injection or oral dose to help blood clotting and prevent serious bleeding – this is best given within a few hours after birth
universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) to detect permanent hearing impairment (PHI) – should be done within the first week
newborn screening test or ‘heel prick’ to screen for rare genetic conditions such as phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis – usually done between 48 and 72 hours after birth.

For more information see the Tests, scans and checks for newborns fact sheet.

Leaving hospital after birth

You are ready to leave hospital when you (and your baby) are medically fit, can confidently feed your baby and have enough home support in place. Make sure you car is fitted with an appropriate child restraint.

Some women choose to go home as early as six hours after birth. Others choose to spend a day or two in a maternity ward. If you decide to stay, let hospital staff know when you would like to go home. There are a number of things that need to be planned and organised before the morning of your discharge.

If your labour or birth was assisted, you will stay longer at hospital. After a caesarean section, women usually stay two to five days in hospital.

For more information see the Hospital birth fact sheet.

Your midwife will be able to tell you about healthcare support services that you can access when you get home. For example:

home-based postnatal care visit
breastfeeding support
lactation consultants
physiotherapists
maternal and child health services
where to go for your six week check-up
mental health and postnatal depression support.

Most hospitals will offer a home-based postnatal care visit from a midwife within the first week of being at home with your new baby. The midwife will check:

how you are coping
how you are managing with breastfeeding
how your wound is healing (if you have one)
that your uterus is contracting well – this is checked by examining your tummy
your baby’s health and weight.

When to call for help

Parenting helplines, your GP or your maternal and child health nurse can help if you have questions about your baby or your own health during the first few days at home.

For telephone support and information, call:

ParentLine telephone helpline on 13 22 89 (8 am to midnight, seven days a week)
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Line on 13 22 29 (24 hours per day, seven days a week).

Where to get help

Your doctor
Midwife
Maternal and child health nurse
ParentLine, Tel. 13 22 89
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Line, Tel. 13 22 29
Australian Breastfeeding Association – 1800 686 268

The First Day of Life (for Parents)

You've been waiting for this day for months: Now you finally get to meet your new baby. But like many new parents, you might not have a clear idea of what that meeting will be like.

Wondering how your baby will look and what he or she will do after arriving? Read on.

What Your Newborn Looks Like

You probably have visions of a robust bouncing baby, but in reality many newborns are tiny, wet creatures when they first arrive. Often their heads are slightly pointed as a result of passing through the birth canal. This is only temporary — the head will take on a rounded look within a few days. It may surprise you that a newborn's head is so big compared with the rest of the body.

Your baby also may look scrunched up since the legs and arms have been kept bent at the knees and elbows while in the womb. After months of growing in ever-tightening close quarters, this is perfectly normal. The limbs will straighten out as your baby grows.

Look at your baby's tiny fingers and toes. You'll notice the paper-thin — and sometimes long — nails.

Your baby's skin may look somewhat red, pink, or purple at first. Some babies are born with a white coating called vernix caseosa, which protects their skin from the constant exposure to amniotic fluid in the womb. The vernix is washed off with the baby's first bath. Other babies are born very wrinkled. And some, especially premature babies, have a soft, furry appearance because of lanugo, a fine hair that develops while in the womb. Lanugo usually comes off after a week or two.

Rashes, blotches, or tiny white spots also are common on newborns. These usually clear up over the first few days or weeks after birth. The doctor will examine your baby within the first 12–24 hours of birth and make sure that any rashes or spots are normal.

Remember, your baby's appearance will change a lot over the next weeks. The limbs will extend, the skin tone will probably change, and the blotches will disappear.

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Newborn Tests

Right after birth, an Apgar score will evaluate your baby's health. This routine test measures a baby's responsiveness and vital signs. Five factors are checked: heart rate, breathing, color, activity and muscle tone, and grimace reflex response.

Babies get a score of 0–2 in each category, and the five results are combined to get the Apgar score. The evaluation is done again at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes. This quick and easy test is given mainly to see if a baby needs help breathing. A score of 7–10 is generally considered normal. If your baby gets this score, no special actions are needed. A lower score means some extra help, such as giving the baby oxygen, may be needed.

Your newborn will go through a few other quick procedures, which may include:

clearing the nasal passages with a suction bulb
weight, head circumference, and length measured
eye ointment or drops given to prevent infection

The medical staff will dry your baby and place a blanket around him or her. All of this happens very quickly. Before you know it, your baby is in your arms for some special bonding time. After a first breastfeeding attempt, it's time for a few more procedures, usually after about 10–30 minutes.

While the mother rests in either the birthing or recovery room, the baby goes to the nursery for a thorough bath. Usually the father can come along. Your baby will get a vitamin K injection to help the blood clot properly and prevent a serious bleeding disorder. Your baby also may get a dose of hepatitis B vaccine, with your consent.

Other tests vary from one hospital to another. Your newborn may get a blood test to check blood sugar or bilirubin levels. If problems are found, the baby may need immediate medical attention.

Also, a newborn screening blood test is done before the baby leaves the hospital to look for PKU (phenylketonuria), congenital hypothyroidism, and other diseases that need to be diagnosed early in infancy to ensure successful treatment. All babies should have a hearing screen before leaving the hospital so that problems are found early.

With a vaginal birth, the average newborn stay is about 48 hours. With a cesarean delivery, it is about 96 hours.

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What Your Baby Does on the First Day

Many parents are surprised to see how alert a newborn really is. Right after birth, a newborn's eyes are open quite a bit and babies spend a lot of time studying faces — especially their parents'. Your baby may turn or react to the sound of your voices. Your baby is using all of the senses, including smell and touch, to further identify and become attached to you.

Your newborn will cry, sleep, and at times will look directly into your eyes. Although the vision is blurry, your baby can best see something (such as your face) that is about 8 to 15 inches away. Your baby will grab onto your finger if you place it in his or her palm. And of course, your baby will want to eat.

After initially being very awake, most newborns get sleepy for about the next 24 hours. It's important to wake them to feed every 2 to 3 hours so they get used to the process and start eating well. If a mother is breastfeeding, this is also the best way to encourage her milk to come in.

Feeding Your Baby

A woman who's breastfeeding can begin as soon as her newborn is placed in her arms. Her milk probably won't fully come in for another day or two, especially for a first-time mom, but babies do get nourishment from colostrum, a precursor to actual breast milk. For some women colostrum is thin and watery; for others it is thick and yellowish. As your baby sucks on your breast, this action triggers hormones to tell your body that it's time to make milk.

Some babies (especially premature and smaller babies) have a hard time latching on or getting enough suction to nurse from the breast. A nurse, breastfeeding counselor, or lactation consultant can help you and your baby overcome any hurdles. Even if breastfeeding is going smoothly from the start, it's still helpful to learn as much about it as you can from a breastfeeding specialist.

Initially, you will probably be feeding your baby about every 2 to 3 hours around the clock. If you bottle-feed your baby, you can usually begin within the first few hours of life.

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Your Feelings

Having a baby is a life-changing experience. Don't be surprised to find that you go through a broad range of feelings. You may feel everything from relief to concern to anxiety to pure joy. And your feelings may change suddenly and unpredictably. And a new mom has just been through quite a bit physically. There's a good chance you'll be exhausted, and both parents may start feeling the effects of sleep deprivation.

Every parent reacts differently. Some mothers "forget" the difficulties of labor as soon as they catch a glimpse of their newborns. Some feel high levels of energy driven by the excitement of finally having the baby. Still others feel sad and may have baby blues or the more serious postpartum depression.

A physician, nurse, or counselor can help parents understand their emotions after the baby arrives.

Friends and Family

Try to keep the first day simple. Contact close friends and family members, and ask them to pass the news along to other friends and relatives. This will free you to spend more time with your newborn.

It's fine to have your loved ones meet the baby the first day. Grandparents or siblings can meet the newest family member and start to bond right away. But avoid a parade of visitors in and out of the room to keep the baby's first day quiet and low-key. Parents and baby need plenty of rest and quiet bonding time.

It's also wise to limit visitors in the first few weeks to protect your baby from infections. Whenever visitors come, make sure they are not sick, and have everyone wash their hands before touching the baby.

If There's a Problem

If your baby is born with a problem or arrives prematurely, this can be a difficult time. The hospital's medical team is there to help. If you're not up to talking with a doctor yet, don't be afraid to ask your partner or another close relative to do so. The medical staff will be sensitive to your needs.

For many parents, talking with a counselor or clergy member brings some comfort. Many support groups are available to give you the emotional backing you'll need. Don't hesitate to ask for help.

When your baby is born, you'll begin an entirely new phase of your life. Take the time during your baby's first days to enjoy this new beginning.

The first days in the hospital - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Bogomolova Marina Vadimovna

Embryologist

Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

Immediately after childbirth

Immediately after the birth of the child is placed on the mother's stomach , then the umbilical cord is cut and the baby is applied to the mother's breast. Then the skin of the newborn is cleaned, its length and weight, head and chest circumference are measured. The doctor examines the birth canal, if necessary, sews up tears in the soft tissues of the birth canal, assesses the tone of the postpartum uterus, and helps the woman empty her bladder. But even after all these standard manipulations, the mother is not transferred to the postpartum ward, another for two to three hours, the puerperal stays in the maternity block . Why? In the first two hours after childbirth, some complications are possible, primarily uterine bleeding or an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, during these two hours, the mother lies on a stretcher or a bed in the maternity ward, since doctors and midwives are constantly there, and the operating room, in which case, is also located nearby. The child at this time is usually taken to the children's department, where he most often sleeps. And only two hours later, if everything is fine, the mother is transferred to the postpartum ward.

How does a woman feel at this time? Chills may occur, abdominal pain may occur, especially in multiparas.

What should a woman do at this time? Relax and unwind. Take shelter so as not to freeze, especially if chills appear. Place an ice pack on the uterus. If possible, ask the midwife to bring hot tea.

1st day after birth0009 postnatal midwife . She will tell you about the arrangement of the department (where the shower, toilet, dining room are), about the daily routine (the time for visiting doctors, eating) and will help the young mother, if necessary, to empty the bladder using a catheter. If a woman lies together with the baby, then immediately after the transfer to the postpartum ward, the child will be brought to her. The midwife will help the mother to properly attach the baby to the breast and start breastfeeding. Then nurse will come and show you how to swaddle your baby and explain how to take care of him. Do not be afraid that after childbirth there will not be enough strength for the child: most newborns sleep most of the day and wake up only for feeding. In addition, in the maternity hospital, the child is usually washed and dressed by nurses, so that the woman will have enough time to relax. If there is no joint stay of mother and child in the maternity hospital, then every three hours they will bring him to the ward for feeding, and then take him back to the children's department. Over time, the woman herself will pick up and carry the child.

How does a woman feel at this time? On the first day after giving birth, women feel differently. Some experience an incredible elation (this is due to the release of endorphins into the blood - the hormones of pleasure), while others, on the contrary, feel very tired. Some want to call all their friends and announce the birth of a child, they are inspired, full of energy and ready to take care of the baby on their own. Other mothers want to be alone and come to their senses, they still do not have the strength to constantly be with the child.

What should a woman do at this time? In any case, immediately after childbirth, as after any heavy load, you need to restore strength: first eat, and then go to bed or just relax. By the way, the following situation is possible: the birth occurred in the evening or at night, and dinner time has already expired; therefore, in order not to starve, you need to bring something light for a snack (cookies, bread rolls) with you to the hospital in advance.

6 hours after birth, the mother can usually get out of bed.

In general, if the childbirth went without complications, then you should start getting up as early as possible, first with the help of a midwife, and then on your own.

This helps to improve blood circulation, normalize the functioning of the urinary system and intestines, and accelerate healing processes. In addition, very soon the baby will require more attention.

Important point: After childbirth, the tone of the bladder decreases, so the urge to urinate may be absent or it may become painful and frequent. However, you should go to the toilet at least four times a day. Urination can be caused reflexively by opening a tap with water, this helps many people a lot. In the absence of the desired effect, urine is removed by a catheter. Most often there is no stool on the first day after birth.

Next days

Every day, the mother will be examined by an obstetrician-gynecologist : he will evaluate the contraction of the uterus, the condition of the sutures and the amount of discharge, see if colostrum is secreted. The midwife will regularly measure the temperature, pulse, blood pressure and treat the external stitches with disinfectant solutions several times a day. Also, every day the baby will be watched by a pediatrician, after which he will tell his mother about the condition of the child. After a normal birth, a woman, as a rule, is discharged on the 3rd-4th day (after a caesarean section - on the 5th-6th).

How does a woman feel at this time?

After childbirth, a woman may experience pain in the abdomen due to uterine contractions, as well as slight muscle pain in different parts of the body. On the face and on the whites of the eyes, a “rash” may appear - pinpoint hemorrhages that appear due to the fact that small capillaries burst during attempts from tension. Blood pressure can be lowered, so dizziness is possible (to avoid it, you should get up smoothly, without sudden movements). There may be pain in the perineum, even if there were no tears and its incision (pain appears because the perineum was severely stretched during childbirth). If the perineum is sutured, then it will not be possible to sit for at least the first two weeks. Sometimes after childbirth, varicose veins appear in the anus (hemorrhoids), which means discomfort in this place.

What should a woman do at this time? Mom needs to continue to rest and gain strength. And you should also follow the rules of personal hygiene: often change postpartum pads, do air baths for seams (if any), take a shower daily, wash yourself every time after a bowel movement. Well, the most important thing is to establish breastfeeding and learn how to take care of the baby in practice.

Time in the maternity hospital flies very quickly. Try to spend it usefully - restore your strength and acquire useful skills: at home, all this will be very useful to you!

REMINDER

Things to do at the maternity hospital

Have a good rest: sleep all your free time and eat well.
Get complete information about your child's condition: so ask your pediatrician all your questions.
Establish contact with the child: therefore, spend as much time with the baby as possible, ideally being with him all the time. Take the baby in your arms, unfold the diapers, carefully examine the baby without clothes.
Learn how to take care of your baby: so ask your baby nurse to show you how to wash your baby, change clothes, swaddle, change diapers, clean ears and nose, cut nails.
Establish breastfeeding: To do this, feed your baby on demand. Ask the midwife to show you how to properly hold the baby at the breast, how to give and take away the breast.

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to the doctor - Bogomolova Marina Vadimovna

Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

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Baby in the maternity hospital: the first days of life

Immediately after childbirth

As soon as the baby born, the midwife takes him in her arms and immediately begins to care for him. And there are no trifles here. Imagine: a baby is born wet, he has just been in his mother's body, where the temperature was 36.6 ° C, now he enters the maternity block, where the air temperature is about 24 ° C. This is a warm and comfortable environment for you and me, and for a baby, the difference of these 12 ° C is quite large. Thermoregulation in young children is still imperfect, they do not retain heat well and quickly cool down, and then there is also moist skin and a sharp temperature drop. Therefore, the first thing the midwife does is wipe the baby with a warm diaper and lay it on the mother's stomach. Several factors come into play here: firstly, physical contact with the mother will maintain the child’s body temperature and warm him. Secondly, it will strengthen the psychological bond between mother and baby. And, thirdly, the child's sterile organism will be populated with new maternal microorganisms that will protect it from conditionally pathogenic or pathogenic microflora of the environment.

The next important moment is that the umbilical cord is cut for the newborn, the neonatologist examines the baby and puts an Apgar score. This scale is needed in order to determine which children need more attention. According to this scale, the health status of each newborn is assessed on five indicators: heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color of the baby. During the examination, for each sign (heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color) give 0, 1 or 2 points. A score of 2 points in the delivery room is considered the highest and means that the sign is pronounced, 1 point - weakly expressed, 0 points - the sign is absent. The child is evaluated on the Apgar scale at the 1st and 5th minutes of life, so there are always two scores, for example 8/9points or 9/10 points. Children rarely score the maximum 10 points in the first minute of life, and usually the first score is always lower than the second. But the second assessment can just be equal to 10 points. Children who score between 7 and 10 are considered to be in good condition and generally require only routine care. Those who score between 4 and 6 are in fair condition and may only need some resuscitation procedures. Immediate life-saving assistance is necessary for those whose score is below 4. Apgar score - no matter what it will be (low or high) - this is not a diagnosis. This is a signal for the doctor about what measures are now needed or, conversely, the child does not need.

Next, the neonatologist continues to examine the newborn. The doctor looks at how the baby is formed, whether he has any developmental anomalies or any other problems. After that, the newborn is washed, measured, weighed, and a tag with the name of the mother and the time of birth is attached to the handles. Then the child is wrapped in a diaper and applied to the mother's breast. Almost always at this time (within 10–20 minutes after birth), the baby calms down and falls asleep. What happens next depends on the design of the maternity hospital. In some maternity hospitals, for the next two hours, the mother and the newborn are in the maternity ward, in others the child is taken to the children's ward. In any case, if there is an opportunity to be together, you must ask to leave the baby next to you, if the child feels well, this is quite possible.

With mother or in the children's department

Now almost everywhere you can be with a child both together and separately. But again, it all depends on the device of the maternity hospital. If a woman lies separately from the baby, then she will take him for feeding. The sisters of the children's department will take care of the child, wash, change diapers, change clothes. But you need to understand that they do this according to a schedule that is the same for all children in the department, and not according to the individual needs of the child.

If the child lies with his mother, then his regimen is already determined by her. Mom can feed the baby on demand, and not by the hour, as with a separate stay. And she also changes the diaper or changes it when it is really necessary (the child peed and the diaper is full), and not according to some schedule that is the same for everyone. It turns out that a connection is established between mother and child faster, it is easier for a woman to understand what the baby needs, why he is crying and what to do with him. If a mother already at the maternity hospital learns to wash and change a child, change his diaper, upon returning home, she will adapt much easier to a new life and a new daily routine. The second important plus of living together is that breastfeeding is established faster, and when feeding on demand, milk will come faster.

Some women believe that after giving birth they need to rest, be apart from the child, they say, they are taking care of him in the children's department, and for now I will come to my senses and get used to my new state. Yes, if the birth was difficult and the mother endured it hard, then you need to rest. But since childbirth is still a physiological process, a woman recovers very quickly and even after a difficult birth, on the second day, she may well take the child to her ward. After all, judge for yourself - she won’t have to do anything special: she doesn’t cook dinner (the maternity hospital provides food), then she doesn’t wash the dishes, she doesn’t clean or wash anything (the maternity hospital even gives out clean clothes daily). Almost all newborns do not cry in the first days after childbirth, but sleep all the time, and it turns out that the only concern of the mother is to breastfeed the baby several times a day and change the diaper. So a woman will have enough time to rest, and why not use it for business? And one more thing: those who gave the child to the children's department like to blame later that he was supplemented with formula there, although the woman asked not to do this. But imagine the situation: the child cried, his sister examined him - he was washed, changed clothes, that is, everything is in order with him, but he, nevertheless, cries. What will mom do - take the baby in her arms, shake, calm. But the sister of the children's department has many more children nearby, they also need to be looked after. What is the way out - either give a bottle with a mixture or wait for other children to “turn on” from the endless crying of the child.

First examinations, tests, vaccinations

While the newborn is in the hospital, he will be examined by a neonatologist every day. The doctor will either come to the ward to see the mother and the baby, or the child will be taken to the children's department. The doctor must coordinate all manipulations, appointments with the mother, and be sure to tell about all the results of the examination. But he himself will not be able to guess what exactly the woman is interested in, so doctors usually say the main thing, for example: "Everything is in order with the child, he has been examined, no pathology has been detected, he is gaining weight." If you need a more detailed answer, formulate your questions in advance, let's say again: the doctor does not know what interests you - how to care for the navel or why the child has a red spot on his face.

If necessary, the child will be examined by other specialists: an ophthalmologist or a neurologist. The newborn will be required to determine the blood type and Rh factor, and also take a blood test for severe congenital diseases (the so-called screening). The fact that these tests have been carried out will be indicated in the children's part of the exchange card (it will be issued upon discharge). The child may also be assigned some additional studies: a general and biochemical blood test, a general urine test. Also, if necessary, the newborn will undergo an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, brain (neurosonography), heart (echocardiography).

As for vaccinations, according to the national vaccination calendar, the first vaccinations are done at the maternity hospital. On the first day of life - from hepatitis B, on the full second day - from tuberculosis. If parents do not want to be vaccinated, then you must inform the doctor about this in advance and write a refusal to vaccinate.

Upon discharge from the maternity hospital, the mother will be given two parts of the exchange card. One of them will contain information about childbirth, and it will have to be taken to the antenatal clinic. The second part of the exchange card will contain data on the child, screening, vaccinations and examinations - it is given to the children's clinic. The next day after the mother and baby return home from the maternity hospital, they will be visited by the health visitor of the polyclinic, and the next day by the pediatrician. And now the specialists of the children's polyclinic will monitor the newborn.

As you can see, the child in the maternity hospital will be under control all the time. Mom, doctors, children's sisters - they will all give him the attention he needs. The main thing for a woman in a maternity hospital is to be active, ask doctors, nurses, learn how to care for a baby, and establish breastfeeding. And then she will return home as a confident and savvy mom!

Apgar score - no matter what it will be (low or high) - this is not a diagnosis. This is a signal for the doctor about what measures are now needed or, conversely, the child does not need
If a woman lies separately from the baby, then she will take him to feed. The sisters of the children's department will take care of the child, wash, change diapers, change clothes. But you need to understand that they do it according to a schedule that is the same for all children in the department, and not according to the individual needs of the child
Laying the baby on the stomach after childbirth will maintain his body temperature, strengthen the psychological bond between mother and baby. And the child’s sterile organism will be populated with new maternal microorganisms that will protect it from conditionally pathogenic or pathogenic microflora of the environment

Memo for mothers

While you are in the hospital

If possible, take the child to your room. So you will quickly get used to it, establish breastfeeding and learn how to care for the baby.
If you don't know how to wash, change or swaddle your baby, ask the Nursing Nurse to show you how to do it. Do it yourself at least a few times.
Ask your midwife in the puerperium to show you how to properly latch on to your baby.
Ask a neonatologist what examinations have been done for the child and what he would like to do in the future.
Be active - ask the doctor and nurses any questions about the baby.

Attention! Prices for services in different clinics may vary. To clarify the current cost, select a clinic

Clinical Hospital IDKChildren's Clinic "Mother and Child" Samara

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