First hours with your baby
Within moments of being born, your baby will announce their arrival with their very first sounds. The care team will place your newborn on you, dry them off and make sure all is well. If needed, they will clear the secretions out of your baby’s nose and mouth.
If all is well with both of you, your baby will stay on your chest, skin to skin. Ideally they will remain there for at least two hours without interruption. With both of you under a warm blanket, you can cuddle your baby as you get acquainted for the first time. At last you can marvel at your child’s tiny face, fists, and feet, and meet their gaze.
All of this helps ease the transition to life outside the uterus; skin-to-skin contact allows your baby to maintain their body heat and regularize their breathing and heartbeat.
In addition, it makes your newborn feel safe and makes breastfeeding easier. At some point, your baby’s instinct will be to nurse for both food and comfort. The care team assisting with your delivery can help you get started with breastfeeding. For more information, you can consult Starting milk production: the first few days.
If your condition does not allow it, skin-to-skin contact can be with the other parent or another significant person. If skin-to-skin contact can’t be made right away, don’t worry, you will have the opportunity later on and your baby will be just fine.
Your baby will enjoy the warmth of your body or the comfort of being held by their other parent or someone else significant. They will recognize the voices of their family members.
Your baby will stick out their tongue, blink their eyes, breathe more quickly, move their lips, turn their head— it’s time to get to know one another! This is a wonderful and emotional time of discovery for all, one that marks a special period of bonding as a family.