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Right after birth


What Happens Right After Baby Is Born?

You know all about contractions. You’ve wrapped your head around dilation. You have your deep breathing down pat. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be to push. But what happens immediately after you deliver baby? There’s the much-anticipated first snuggle, baby’s official weigh-in and lots of checks to make sure both of you are doing just fine. “The post-birth period is a really important time for bonding with your baby, while the nursing team is also monitoring your baby closely to make sure they’re adjusting as expected to life outside the womb,” says Monica Svets, MD, an ob-gyn at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Here’s a rundown of what happens immediately after baby is born.

Baby Will Take That First Breath

Your baby’s lungs will typically fill with air a few moments after delivery, allowing for the all-important first breath! But don’t freak out if you don’t hear a cry right away. “Some babies may cry right away, some may not,” explains Svets. “We like when babies cry, as it helps to clear fluid from their respiratory tract, so nurses will encourage the baby to cry/breathe by vigorously drying the baby and rubbing the baby’s body.”

One exception: If there is meconium (a green, sticky substance that’s baby fecal matter in-utero) in the amniotic fluid, often the doctor will want to suction baby’s mouth before the first breath so it isn’t inhaled into the lungs, says Jaqueline Worth, MD, co-author of The New Rules of Pregnancy and co-founder and co-physician at Village Obstetrics and Village Maternity. If your baby does inhale meconium, they may need to be on antibiotics and monitored in the NICU for a few days.

The Umbilical Cord Will Be Cut

Your OB will clamp the cord within seconds or minutes after birth. Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend delayed cord-clamping, meaning doctors wait anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds or until the cord stops pulsating, which usually happens within five minutes, says Worth. That’s because in full-term infants it boosts hemoglobin levels and iron stores, and increases circulation and red blood cells in preterm infants.

Once the clamp is in place, the cord is cut by either your doctor or birthing partner, leaving behind a stump that will dry up and fall off on its own after a couple weeks. If you’re choosing to bank your child’s cord blood, the doctor will collect that at this point as well, Worth says.

You’ll Have Skin-to-Skin Contact

If you delivered vaginally, baby is healthy and you want immediate skin-to-skin contact (also known as kangaroo care), your OB will lay baby on your bare chest or tummy right after delivery and drape a blanket over the two of you to keep baby warm. If your little one’s vitals remain steady, they can stay there for most of the post-delivery routine that follows. Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to regulate baby’s heart rate, breathing and body temperature, stimulate baby’s interest in feeding and help to calm both of you and boost the mother-child bond.

If you have a c-section, that skin-to-skin connection may be delayed, but only briefly. Once the baby is delivered, they’ll get a quick physical assessment and bundled up before being handed back to your partner or birth support person while the surgery is completed. You can then cuddle with baby at the head of the bed until it’s time to enter the recovery room for full skin-to-skin contact. “This delay is usually insignificant, typically less than one hour,” Svets says.

Baby Will Get Their First Nursing Session

Along with skin-to-skin comes your first chance at breastfeeding, if your plan is to nurse. Bringing baby to your breast as soon as you can will start sending messages to your brain to begin milk production and letdown, Svets explains. Baby will initially receive colostrum, a thick fluid that’s rich in immunoglobulins and amino acids, which helps baby build their immune system—it’s the only food your newborn will need for the next few days until your milk fully comes in, usually two to five days after birth. Be sure to ask for help if you’re having trouble getting baby to latch: Your hospital will have lactation consultants on staff for just this reason!

You’ll Deliver the Placenta

Most placentas deliver spontaneously within the first few minutes after birth, Worth says. You may not even notice it happening! But if it takes longer than 30 minutes, or if you’re bleeding heavily, your doctor will remove it manually.

Doctors Will Conduct Apgar Tests

One minute and then five minutes after your child is born, your OB will assess baby’s post-delivery condition using the Apgar test. Your doctor will look at baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color, and will give each category a value of 0, 1 or 2, and then all scores are totaled. “The five-minute score is the most important because it takes a baby a few minutes to get acclimated and start breathing,” explains Judith Lothian, PhD, RN, a maternal-child nurse and childbirth educator and associate professor at Seton Hall University College of Nursing.

The highest total score possible is a 10, although babies rarely score a 10, Lothian says—7 to 9 is considered a high score and is given to newborns who appear healthy and don’t require additional assistance, while a score below 7 can indicate that baby needs pediatric or NICU attention. But try not to read too much into the scores. “A lower score does not necessarily mean that a newborn is unhealthy or that something is seriously wrong,” Svets cautions. “Perfectly healthy babies can sometimes have a lower-than-usual score, especially in the first few minutes after birth.” It might also just indicate that baby needs suctioning or oxygen to help them breathe better or closer monitoring in the nursery or NICU. The Apgar test is a simple assessment of baby’s wellbeing in the moment and definitely doesn’t predict baby’s future health.

Baby’s Vitals Will Be Checked

Soon after birth, the nurses or pediatrics team will also do a detailed physical exam of baby in the delivery suite, Svets adds. They’ll measure your child’s temperature, heart rate, weight, length and head circumference. Plus, they’ll double-check that there aren’t any birth injuries or obvious issues. If there’s anything they need to check further, they may decide to bring baby to the NICU. Otherwise, if all looks good, then back to Mom the baby goes!

Baby Will Receive Preventative Medicine

Within an hour of arrival, baby will be given a Vitamin K injection to help with blood coagulation. “Newborns can be deficient in Vitamin K, which puts them at risk for internal bleeding,” Worth explains. A nurse will also put antibiotic drops in baby’s eyes to help prevent infections. Most states require vitamin K shots and eye drops by law. The hepatitis B vaccine usually comes a little later, within 12 hours of delivery or at an in-office appointment with your child’s pediatrician.

About the experts:

Monica Svets, MD, is an ob-gyn at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. She earned her medical degree from Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, and is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Medical Women’s Association and the American Medical Association.

Jaqueline Worth, MD, is a New York City-based ob-gyn, co-author of The New Rules of Pregnancy and co-founder and co-physician at Village Obstetrics and Village Maternity. She graduated from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and has nearly 20 years of experience delivering thousands of babies.

Judith Lothian, PhD, RN, LCCE, FAAN, is a maternal-child nurse and childbirth educator and associate professor at Seton Hall University College of Nursing with more than 40 years of experience. She is also a member of Lamaze International’s board of directors and a nationally recognized speaker on birth and breastfeeding.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

What Happens at the Hospital When You Deliver

8 Surprising Things That Happen After Birth

The Newborn Screening Tests You Can Expect Baby to Get

Mum's first 24 hours after birth

Mum's first 24 hours after birth | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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If you are pregnant with your first baby, you might be wondering what to expect after you have your baby and what changes may occur in your body during the first 24 hours after you give birth.

This page explains what to expect after a vaginal birth in hospital.

If you have a caesarean section, your experience will be a little different. You can read more about what to expect after a caesarean section.

What happens in the birth room immediately after I give birth?

The birth of a baby is a different experience for everyone. Although there are some things that may be similar for most new mothers.

At the time of birth, your baby will likely be lifted up onto your chest for skin-to-skin contact. You will then need to deliver the placenta. Whilst you are cuddling your baby, your midwife or doctor will look at your perineum and vagina to see if you have any tears that need repairing with stitches.

Your midwife will check your baby and your pulse and blood pressure, and will check for vaginal blood loss and the firmness of your fundus (the top of the uterus). They will also do a thorough check of your baby from head to toe. If your baby is healthy at birth, this doesn’t need to happen straight away.

If you choose to breastfeed your midwife can help you feed your baby.

Find out more about your baby's first 24 hours.

How long will I be in the birth room after giving birth to my baby?

After a normal vaginal birth, you will probably stay in the birth room with your baby for about 2 hours. You may have a meal and a shower before transferring to the postnatal ward or going home. If you are going home 4 to 6 hours after birth, you might be able to stay in the birth room until discharge.

What should I expect physically in the first 24 hours after birth?

How you might feel after the birth varies. You might feel elated, exhausted, emotionally drained or all of them at once. This is normal, you have just been through a big and life changing event.

You will have bleeding from the vagina — this bleeding is known as 'lochia'. For the first 24 hours, lochia is similar to a heavy period and you might also pass some lochia clots. If clots are bigger, such as the size of a 50 cent piece, tell your midwife. You may continue losing blood from your vagina for around 4 to 6 weeks.

Some women have after-birth pains as the uterus starts to contract to its pre-pregnancy size. After-birth pains can feel like labour pains or mild to moderate period pain. If you’re having your second or third baby, they’ll probably be stronger than the after-birth pains from your first baby. A warm pack on your back or belly may help. You can also ask your doctor or midwife for pain relief.

Your perineum may be swollen in the first 24 hours after giving birth. You can manage this with the RICE program.

  • Rest — lie down to help reduce pain and swelling
  • Ice — apply an ice pack for 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours to reduce the swelling
  • Compression — wear firm-fitting underwear and 2 to 3 maternity pads for extra support
  • Exercise — start pelvic floor exercises as soon as you comfortably can, but certainly within the first few days

If your perineum is painful, ask your midwife for pain relief. If you have stitches in your perineum, they will dissolve in 1 to 2 weeks. Wash the area normally in the shower and gently pat dry. Eat plenty of fibre and drink a lot of water so your stools are soft. Avoid straining on the toilet and ask for laxatives if you become constipated. Your midwife or doctor will look at your perineum regularly after birth and prior to you going home, to observe for blood loss, bruising and to make sure there are no signs of worsening bruising or trauma to the area.

Your breasts will produce colostrum to feed your baby. Normally a small amount is produced. Remember that your baby’s tummy is just the size of a marble.

If you have a straightforward vaginal birth in a public hospital or birthing centre, you’ll probably go home within 24 hours. A midwife might visit you at home. If you have your baby in a private hospital, you might be able to stay longer, if you want to. Ask your hospital what to expect for your length of stay.

If I have a home birth, what care will my midwife provide after the birth?

If you give birth at home, your midwife will stay with you for some time then return later to check on you and your baby. Talk to your midwife before the birth about what happens after.

What if things didn’t go to plan?

Sometimes birth isn’t straight forward, and it can be difficult to plan for this. You may find attending labour and birth classes during your pregnancy can help give you a better understanding of what to expect.

If you have had a difficult birth or complications after birth, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider in the immediate recovery period whilst you are still in hospital. Although, for some new parents these feeling may not arise immediately. If you are concerned or having ongoing physical or psychological issues in the weeks or months following birth, seeking help early is recommended.

Who can I talk to for advice and support

There are a number of organisations that you can talk to for advice and support:

  • Australasian Birth Trauma Association
  • ForWhen — Perinatal Depression & Anxiety Helpline
  • PANDA

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Sources:
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (Third and fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery), Raising Children Network (New Mums: Your body after birth), Raising Children Network (Recovery after birth: in pictures), Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) (Recovery from birth), The Royal Women's Hospital (What to expect)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022


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Related pages

  • Your baby in the first few days
  • Baby's first 24 hours
  • Mum's first few days after giving birth
  • Birth trauma (emotional)
  • Birth injury (to the mother)

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