The first day of your baby’s life, the new little person and essential family member, is exciting and exhausting for both of you.
What happens in the first 24 hours of taking a breath?
Learn with us:
What will my newborn baby look like?
When your baby is born, his skin may be blue and mottled. It will likely be covered with amniotic fluid, blood, and vernix.
His skin will start to turn pink when he starts breathing. Your baby’s arms and legs may still look bluish for several hours. The amniotic fluid and vernix are there because they were there in your womb.
Skin-to-skin contact
After a normal vaginal delivery, your newborn baby will be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact. Your baby needs sleep and food and needs to feel secure, so he needs to touch your skin.
This simple thing:
- reduces the crying of the newborn;
- helps to initiate and maintain breastfeeding;
- helps maintain your baby’s body temperature.
After this first contact, the baby will be weighed, measured, and monitored to make sure the healthcare providers are healthy.
The first milk your body produces is called colostrum. It is very thick and often yellowish, not pure white. This is the perfect milk for your baby. A small amount is usually produced – your baby’s tummy is about the size of a small ball. If the baby hasn’t been fed about an hour after birth, try again a few hours later.
Apgar scores
One of the main observations made shortly after birth is called the Apgar score. The Apgar score comprises five components: 1) color, 2) heart rate, 3) reflexes, 4) muscle tone, and 5) respiration, each of which is given a score of 0, 1, or 2. This test records your baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, and reflexes.
The dream
If the birth is normal and you feel well, your baby can stay with you so you can connect and respond to his needs easily. He will likely fall asleep soon after his first feeding, and this may last for about 6 hours. It is very likely that your baby will sleep more than half of his first day in the world.
Urine and meconium
Within the first 24 hours, your baby will likely pass urine and meconium at least once. Meconium is black and sticky. Your baby’s stools will change color and consistency over the next few days.
