The first 24 hours of a baby's life
The first day of your new baby's life is exciting and stressful for both of you. This page explains what your newborn might feel, and how to manage the umbilical cord and placenta. It also contains general information for you if you have a healthy, full-term pregnancy—37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.
What will my newborn look like?
When your baby is born, his or her skin may be blue and mottled. It's likely to be covered with amniotic fluid, blood, and vernix, a white, cheesy substance. This is normal.
Their skin will start to turn pink when they start breathing—about a minute after birth. Your baby's hands and feet may remain blue for several hours.
Amniotic fluid and vernix are present because they were present in the womb. They are important for your baby to be able to smell and taste after birth. These familiar things help your baby feel safe outside the womb.
Placenta delivery and umbilical cord severance
After your baby is born, you'll have more contractions that will help deliver the placenta. Once this happens, the umbilical cord, which is attached to the placenta, is clamped in two places and cut. A support person may be invited to cut the umbilical cord.
skin to skin contact
After a vaginal delivery, your newborn will be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact. Your baby needs to sleep and eat, and needs to feel safe and warm, so he or she needs the feel of your skin.
Do this simple thing:
- Reduces crying in newborns
- Helps initiate and maintain breastfeeding
- Helps maintain your baby's body temperature
- After this first contact, they will be weighed, measured, and monitored to ensure they are healthy.
If you have a cesarean section, ask your midwife to ensure your baby has skin-to-skin contact with you as soon as possible. It may be possible for you or your partner to hold your baby skin-to-skin in the operating room and during recovery.
feeding
Babies begin to show signs of wanting to breastfeed soon after birth and usually latch on and suck at the breast about 50 minutes after birth. They may then nurse for an hour or more. Place your baby on your breast, and he or she will likely find your breast and begin to breastfeed. If this doesn't happen, you can ask your midwife or lactation consultant for help.
The first milk you produce is called "colostrum." It's thick and often yellow, rather than pure white. It's the perfect milk for your baby. Usually, only a small amount is produced—your baby's belly is only the size of a marble.
If your baby doesn't feed within an hour or so of birth, try again after two hours. You can also express some colostrum to spoon-feed your baby.
Weight and measurement
After skin-to-skin contact and the first feeding, your midwife may offer to weigh your baby and measure his or her length and head circumference. Your baby does not need to be washed for at least 24 hours.
Vitamin K
At the weighing time, your midwife will also offer to give your baby a vitamin K injection to prevent bleeding from vitamin K deficiency.
Umbilical cord blood collection if you are Rh negative
If your blood type is Rh negative, some blood will be taken from your umbilical cord to determine if your baby's blood type is compatible.
sleeping
Your baby will stay with you so you can bond and respond easily to their needs. They will likely fall asleep shortly after their first feeding, which may last for 6 hours or so. They will likely sleep for more than half of their first day in the world.
Apgar scores
One of the key observations made after birth is called the Apgar score. It assesses your baby's adjustment to life outside the womb. The Apgar score is measured at one minute and five minutes after birth when the baby is on your chest. Sometimes it's measured again 10 minutes after birth.
It records your child's heart rate, breathing, color, muscle tone, and reflexes. The maximum score is 10. A score of 7 or higher means your child is in good condition. It is not a test of ability or intelligence, and it does not predict your child's health later in life.
What will my newborn see, hear, smell, taste and feel?
Your baby has been listening to your voice in the latter half of pregnancy and will recognize it when you speak to him or her after birth. Your partner or support person's voice may also be familiar if they speak near your baby. Your baby will feel secure when they hear your voices and may respond by turning their head toward you. Your baby will also be able to hear your heartbeat, just as they did in the womb.
Your baby's vision is blurry at birth, but they will be able to focus on your face from about 30 cm away. This is called the "lap distance." It's roughly the distance from your breast to your face. Your baby will make the connection between what they hear and what they see.
Your baby will smell and taste amniotic fluid and colostrum, which has a similar flavor.
Urine and meconium
Within the first 24 hours, your baby will likely pass urine and meconium (newborn stool) at least once. Meconium is black and sticky. Your baby's stool color and consistency will change over the next few days.