The first day after childbirth
How is the first day after childbirth? What you should be prepared for before it shows up first milk and we will proceed to first feeding toddler? Read on from the perspective of an experienced midwife looking after a newborn baby and a newly minted mother in the first hours after childbirth and which will make it easier for us to experience the joy of parenthood at this exceptional time.
The first days with your baby are the joy of getting to know him and of enjoying his new role as a parent. However, the first hours after giving birth are also a very difficult time for both of you. When getting to know their child, the parent should be aware of what is happening with the baby in the first hours and days of life, how the period of adaptation to new living conditions is going, and the awareness of the physiological transition states.
The first day after childbirth: contact with the newborn
Immediately after the baby is born, even before the umbilical cord is cut, it is placed on the mother's belly. The uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, coupled with the initiation of the first postpartum feed, is considered the gold standard - it benefits baby and mother in physiological, emotional and behavioral dimensions. The first contact prevents the newborn from cooling down, has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular and respiratory stabilization, on the blood glucose level and on the reduced perception of pain and stress by the child. The toddler on his mother's stomach is warmed by the heat of her body, hears the familiar heartbeat, feels safe. This is an important moment for a successful start of lactation, the period when the infant's sensitivity to the olfactory and taste stimuli derived from mother's milk is at its highest and helps initiate breastfeeding.
Caring for a newborn baby after delivery
Immediately after birth, the newborn is carefully examined by a midwife and then by a neonatologist, who assesses the baby on an Apgar scale. This includes breathing, heart rate, skin color, muscle tone, and reflexes. Each of these parameters is scored from 0 to 2. The Apgar score for a newborn born in good condition ranges from 8 to 10. After skin-to-skin contact, the newborn is measured and weighed. In addition to weighing and measuring the length of the child, the circumference of the head, chest and abdomen are also measured. The doctor also pays attention to the child's behavior, e.g. the nature of the screaming, muscle tension.
In the first day after delivery, the newborn's life is performed two preventive vaccinations - against tuberculosis (BCG) and against hepatitis B (hepatitis B). Necessary screening tests for newborns are also performed. More information on infant first immunization can be found here.
The first feeding after giving birth
The first breastfeeding should take place while still in the delivery room. Immediately after birth, the mother's breasts secrete colostrum. This thick, yellowish milk is secreted in the first few days after birth. The volume of colostrum is not very large, approximately 2-10 ml per feeding, and approximately 50-100 ml per day. This is a real bomb of nutrients that a child only gets once in their life. It contains, among others, large amounts of immunoglobulins and leukocytesthat provide your little one with immune protection.
Expert advises
It is very important for a newborn baby who leaves his "safe home" when he comes into the world, because not only his skin is sterile, but also the digestive tract. The immunoglobulin contained in the first breast milk after delivery covers the mucosa of the digestive tract, creating a unique protective barrier against infections.
While breastfeeding is one of the most natural things to do, it's the first feeding after childbirth may turn out to be a real challenge for a newly minted mother. In the first hours after birth, a newborn baby signals readiness to eat by opening its mouth and moving its head in search of a nipple. The baby may also be inactive, suck reluctantly and pour water with amniotic fluid.
What after feeding in the first XNUMX hours after childbirth?
The digestive tract is functional and morphologically ready to digest food from the very first moments of life. The newborn's intestines begin to function by expelling meconium. This should happen within the first 24 hours after giving birth. Meconium is ingested particles found in the amniotic fluid that, when not absorbed into the body, accumulate in the intestines to form a dark green mass. Initially, your baby may poop after each feed. While some newborns dirty three diapers a day, others dirty a dozen of them, and both cases are normal.
Care for an obstetrician in the first hours after childbirth
Immediately after the baby is born and the placenta (postpartum) is expelled, the fourth stage of labor, called the early postpartum period, begins. This is the time of the first 2 hours after giving birth when the mother is closely monitored by the midwife. The contraction of the uterus, the amount of bleeding, and the general, physical and mental condition of the patient are controlled. The midwife will check for any damage to the cervix and vagina, and if an incision is necessary, your perineum will be sutured.
It plays an important role in the first hours after childbirth early and correct activation of obstetricsIt aims to prevent thrombotic complications and pneumonia, accelerates uterine contraction and expulsion of feces, and improves intestinal peristalsis. An attempt to stand after delivery can be made 2-4 hours after vaginal delivery and approximately 6-8 hours after a cesarean delivery. It's important to remember that the first attempt to stand should be performed with the assistance of a midwife.
Expert advises
In the first XNUMX hours after giving birth, you may have problems sitting down and changing positions. We see them mainly in women who have had an incised perineum - after delivery it can be swollen and sore. The best way to quickly heal a wound is frequent changes of inserts, washing with intimate hygiene preparations and frequent airing of the perineum. In such situations, a special sit-down wheel can also be indispensable. Sometimes, as a result of strong pressure during childbirth, there may be redness around the eyes and ecchymosis on the conjunctiva. They are not a worrying symptom and will disappear within a few days after the baby is born. A few minutes of cool compresses, applied several times a day, will accelerate the absorption of the extravasated blood.
What affects the well-being of a new mom?
In the first hours after giving birth, a newly-minted mother may feel tired and sleepy. This is because giving birth is an enormous energy effort, often comparable to the effort during a marathon run. Immediately after the baby is born, the level of endorphins in the patient's body increases, causing almost complete relief of pain and the feeling of enormous joy and euphoria. There is also an elevated level of adrenaline, which caused the maximum mobilization of the body during the labor and may affect the inability to fall asleep, relax and rest after childbirth. Many women feel depressed and anxious after giving birth. Such a state is most often caused by a hormonal swing, fatigue, lack of sleep, and sometimes well-being is aggravated by fears of coping with the role of mother and the challenges of caring for the child. In this situation, it is very important to make the young mother aware that it is necessary to talk about problems and use the help and support of relatives or medical staff.
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