Something to Remember 30 Greenslopes Maternity Your Journey Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. You will have the chance to spend some quiet moments with your baby, cuddling and enjoying skin to skin contact. Parents are often filled with wonder when they meet their new baby and find themselves counting fingers and toes and examining their baby for family resemblances. After pains You may experience contraction-like pains for the first couple of days after the birth, especially while breastfeeding and more so if this is not your first baby. This is quite normal. After pains can usually be relieved with ordinary pain relief tablets. After the birth Immediately after the birth your doctor will examine you and your baby to make sure you are both well. Your baby • Skin-to-skin contact is encouraged for the first hour after the birth to promote breastfeeding, bonding and to keep your baby warm. • The first breastfeed is initiated. • The umbilical cord is clamped and cut. This does not hurt your baby. Eventually the dried piece of cord dries up and usually falls off five to seven days later. • The Apgar score is recorded. This is an assessment of your baby’s overall condition including breathing, heart rate and colour. This is done at one minute and at five minutes after birth. The Apgar score simply tells us how well your baby has made the transition from intrauterine (inside the womb) life to extrauterine (outside the womb) life. • The weight is recorded. • Vitamin K and Hepatitis B injections are given with your consent. You may notice that your baby has some swelling or bruising, or your baby’s eyes may look a little puffy. Babies who have been born with the help of forceps or vacuum suction may also have a slightly misshapen head from the birth. This is all very normal and is only temporary. Other things you may notice, include: • the baby’s first faeces (called meconium) will be black and very sticky. After a few days it will turn yellow • there is a soft spot on top of the baby’s head (called the fontanelle) where the bones have not yet come together. It is safe to touch this spot gently • the genitals can sometimes be swollen in boys and girls. Girls may also have some white/blood vaginal discharge due to the mother’s hormones • a rash can appear on the face or body in the first hours and days after birth. These are common and fade away but your baby will be checked by a paediatrician. You • will frequently have your pulse and blood pressure taken • will have your uterus checked regularly by your midwife who will gently push on your abdomen to feel if it is firm and contracted • may need stitches in your perineum • will be offered icepacks if you have had stitches • can shower and use the toilet (when full sensation has returned if you have an epidural) • will be offered pain relief as required. You will be transferred to the Maternity Ward a few hours after the birth of your baby. You and your baby will stay together during your hospital stay. Our clinical staff will assist you with the practical aspects of caring for your baby. When you arrive in the ward you will be shown around and have explained to you what you might expect. How long you stay will vary according to your needs. All healthy term babies will be seen by a paediatrician within 24 hours of birth. Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. You will have the chance to spend some quiet moments with your baby, cuddling and enjoying skin to skin contact. You will be transferred to the Maternity Ward a few hours after the birth of your baby. You and your baby will stay together during your hospital stay. Our clinical staff will assist you with the practical aspects of caring for your baby.
GPH Materntiy Your Journey Book PI499 0216
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