Congrats! You are now a Mum.
Immediately your baby is born, You may feel a whole range of emotions – from being exhausted, to shock to total joy. Your body has just done something amazing, so to feel this way is completely normal.
Also, skin-to-skin contact really helps with bonding. It’s a good idea to have your baby lifted onto you as soon as they’re born and before the cord is cut so you can be close to each other straight away. When the cord is clamped, your baby is dried and then covered with a towel to stop him/her from getting cold.
Also, when you are allowed back home will depend on the type of birth you’ve had. If you’ve had a vaginal birth you could be back home hours after having your baby. If you’ve had a caesrean, your experience may be different and you can expect to stay in hospital a bit longer
You will most likely experience bleeding, known as lochia and you may pass large clots and is similar to a very heavy period which can happen for a number of weeks. If they are very large, contact your doctor.
You may also experience after-birth pains as your uterus starts to shrink to its pre-pregnancy size. These can feel like period pains or even like labor pains. You can use a hot water bottle or ask your midwife for pain relief.
Your perineum (the area around your vagina) may be swollen after birth, but here are a few tips that can help:
- Apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours
- Use firm-fitting underwear and maternity pads – change every hour or two
- Pelvic floor exercises or Kegels increases the blood flow to the damaged tissue that helps to speed up the healing process.
- You should wash this area after every visit to the toilet with plain warm water and gently pat dry using toilet paper.
- Also help soften your stools by eating plenty of fibre, drinking water and avoiding straining on the toilet.
- As well as this, ensure you’re replenishing your energy with fruit and vegetables and vitamins.
Your breasts will start to produce colostrum to feed your baby or you may have started producing it before birth. Breastfeeding straight away will stimulate the production of milk and help you to bond with your baby. Just be aware that it can take a few days for you produce breast milk and you will need to do this every two to three hours
If you have had a Cesarean, you will be recovering from major abdominal surgery and you will need help physically for around a week. In the 24 hours after giving birth, your scar dressing will be checked for signs of infection and you will be encouraged to move around a little.
Also, many new mums find that they may be constipated after delivery. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating plenty of fibre-rich foods can make the process easier.
When your baby is born
When your baby is born, health checks will be done in the hospital, including a head to toe examination.
Within the first 24 hours, your baby will probably pass urine and meconium (newborn faeces). This is black and sticky but your baby’s poo will change colour and consistency over the next few days. Your baby will be weighed again before you are discharged from hospital. It is normal for some babies to lose a little weight days after being born so do not panic.
You may find that your baby’s skin or eyes looks a bit yellow. This may be jaundice but its usually nothing to worry about as its quite common in newborn babies. If there are suspected high levels in your baby’s system and treatment is required, it usually happens within 24 to 48 hours, otherwise just frequent feeding and monitoring is advised.
