Your baby's first 24 hours

You've waited nine months to meet your new baby. You've got through labour and childbirth. But what can you expect in your first day together?

How he or she will behave

Most babies go through a wakeful phase during the first few hours after birth and during this time your baby will probably gaze at you intently as you speak to her.

Dr Marion Crouchman, consultant paediatrician at King’s College Hospital, London, says, ‘Her hearing is almost as acute as an adult’s and she will recognise your voice from being in the uterus (womb).’

After this wakeful period, your baby will probably spend most of her first 24 hours sleeping - she needs time to recover from the exertion of birth and the shock of emerging into a strange new world.

What will he or she will look like?

Don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t look like the pretty little babies you see in photographs. Birth is hard work for your baby as well as you and it may take time for her to adjust.

* Skin

She may be blue-grey in colour immediately after birth. Says Dr Crouchman, ‘This is because she hasn’t yet taken the first breath that will oxygenate her blood, turning her skin pink.’

She may also be covered, particularly if she’s premature, in a greasy white substance called vernix, which protected her skin in the uterus. Her skin may be wrinkly, thanks to spending nine months suspended in amniotic fluid. Both her skin colour and wrinkles will improve within the first hour of birth.

* Head

Your baby’s head may appear misshapen, depending on the method of delivery. Dr Crouchman says, ‘If she is born vaginally, the four plates of her skull will have to mould to the shape of the birth canal, giving her head an elongated appearance. This will be even more pronounced if you have a ventouse (suction cup) delivery.’

* Hair

Many babies are born with a shock of dark hair, although some are born with none at all. This usually falls out during the first days, to be replaced by stronger hair, which is often a different colour.

* Eyes

Your newborn’s eyes will probably look grey-blue at birth, although they may change colour during the first few months.

* Face

This may look swollen and puffy, but should settle in a few days. You may also notice stork marks, which are small red blemishes. They should disappear quickly.

* Genitals

Babies’ genitals are often enlarged at birth; some babies appear to have breasts, and some baby girls bleed from the vagina. ‘All this is due to the hormones your body produces before birth. As the hormones leave your baby’s body, her genitals will normalise,’ says Dr Crouchman.

How you will feel

* Physically

Even if you feel you had a relatively easy or short birth, you will still probably feel uncomfortable and exhausted. And if you had a tear or an episiotomy (a cut in the skin between your vagina and anus) then having stitches after birth can prolong the discomfort. Says midwife Chris Salvage, ‘Giving birth is aptly named “labour”. It can be the hardest work that you have ever done.’

* Emotionally

You may feel elated even though you are exhausted in the first 24 hours after giving birth. Some mothers find they can’t sleep, while others find it hard to stay awake. The massive amount of hormones that have built up in your body during pregnancy are already beginning to decrease, leaving you feeling emotional.

Don’t worry too much if you feel your emotions are all over the place straight after the birth, especially if you feel you haven’t bonded with your baby. Your emotions will be on a much more even keel after a week or so.

Feeding, changing and dressing

It can be daunting feeding, changing and dressing your baby for the first time. But your midwives and, later, health visitors will be able to help.

* Feeding Soon after she is born you may see your baby ‘rooting’ - when she turns her head from side to side and makes sucking noises as she searches for your breast. Put your baby to your breast as soon as possible. Babies who are fed immediately often settle more quickly. Ask your midwife to help you with positioning. She may want to constantly feed in these first hours.

If you are bottlefeeding, your midwives will give you bottles of ready-made milk, which come with screw caps and sterile teats, which are free of charge.

* Changing Newborns can get through up to 12 nappies every 24 hours, so it won’t take long for you to get the hang of changing her! The midwives will assist you in caring for your baby and will show you how to clean away the meconium (first stools, which look like black sticky tar) with warm water and cotton wool. Always clean from front to back to avoid transferring germs from her anus to her genitals.