Your baby has just seen the light of day. What a relief for you and your labour companion! It's done, a new human being has been born. A little miracle taking its first breath! But the birth is not over yet. This is only the case when the Placenta and was born with the egg membrane as an afterbirth. This usually happens 10 to 30 minutes after the baby is born. With this "official" end of the birth, you have become a woman in labour and the puerperium begins for you.
But at the moment you are still in the birthing room. And there is still a lot to do here. Sometimes the new mum doesn't even notice much of what's going on. Most of them now only have eyes for their baby. Some are also too exhausted to notice anything else, others may still need medical care.
Baby's start in life
Not only for you, but also for your child, everything changes the moment the baby leaves the birth canal and sees the light of day. The midwife in attendance will of course make a note of this moment or the exact time.
On its way through the mother's pelvis, the baby's small ribcage was compressed. This is a good thing, because this way the amniotic fluid is squeezed out of the tiny lungs and there is room for the first independent breath. The baby does this almost reflexively shortly after birth. This also causes its small lungs to expand. From this moment on, baby's circulation works independently. The child is now independent of the supply from the placenta via the umbilical cord, which is why the accesses from the blood vessels in the child's abdomen to the umbilical cord are now also closed.
In principle, the newborn is now ready to be cut off. However, as the changeover is a process that takes several minutes, more and more delivery rooms are now waiting until the umbilical cord has pulsed out before cutting the cord. This means that the delivery process between mother and child is finally interrupted and the child gets all the oxygen it needs exclusively through its own breathing. When the umbilical cord is cut, the midwife or doctor clamps the umbilical cord at two points so that it can be cut in between. Most fathers are happy to take on this task. However, if the baby is not feeling well, it will be cut quickly so that it can be treated accordingly.
But independent breathing is not the only thing your child has to adapt to. Because it has to master even more challenges immediately after birth. For example, the baby experiences a temperature difference of around 20 degrees in its environment as soon as it is born. Yes - that's how much colder the new environment is compared to the temperature in the womb! In addition, the baby is initially wet and would quickly become hypothermic if it is not wrapped up and warmed immediately.
Further challenges for the little one: Suddenly it is also much brighter around the newborn and noises now reach his sensitive little ears without being muffled. In addition, the cosy confinement of his familiar, protected home in your womb is missing. As you can see, your baby has to adjust to an almost completely foreign world. But when it lies covered up, skin to skin with you on your chest, it can feel your warmth. And perceive your unique "mummy scent". Of course, it doesn't yet understand literally what you are saying to it tenderly - but it is already reacting to your voice, which is familiar to it from pregnancy, and thus feels a great deal more secure.
This process of getting to know each other for the first time with skin contact is known as 'bonding'. This first cuddle is an important foundation stone for your future relationship. In addition, physical contact significantly reduces baby's stress - and makes mum feel happy. However, some mothers are not able to experience these special moments with their child immediately after the birth, for example because they need medical treatment. But don't worry: you can also catch up on bonding later.
In its first hour of life, the baby should usually also drink from your breast for the first time. This first milk is particularly important for your child. Although you are probably still able to give very little milk at this point, it is enough for your baby. This is because colostrum is very nutritious and contains lots of immunoglobulins, which are important for your child's health.
In the first few minutes of life, your child has a natural sucking reflex. It can drink well from your breast. Nevertheless, it needs some help. The midwife in the delivery room almost always helps with the first latch-on. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different latch-on techniques before the birth. You are perfectly prepared if your birth companion has also familiarised herself with breastfeeding. Because then she can help you with the first latch-on when the midwife is busy tending to your labour wounds.
Midwife Katharina has created one for you Online breastfeeding course made. It will teach you what is important when breastfeeding before the birth and will help you practise the correct breastfeeding positions after the birth.
As soon as your baby sucks on your breast, it not only receives valuable breast milk from you, but also makes you happy at the same time: this is because you release the "happiness hormone" oxytocin. It is also known as the "cuddle hormone" because it promotes the mother-child bond enormously.
This hormone also helps you to have contractions, your uterus contracts and the placenta can detach from it. The afterbirth is then expelled during these contractions. It mainly consists of the placenta, the membranes of the amniotic sac and the umbilical cord.
The detachment of the placenta creates a bleeding wound on the inner wall of the uterus. The blood that drains from this is the so-called Lochia. It will be absorbed with appropriate pads, because initially you will bleed much more than you are used to from your period. Please don't be alarmed - this is completely normal in the first few days. However, the more your uterus gradually contracts, the weaker your menstrual flow will become. This means that the wound in your uterus will also close more and more.
Care for mother and child
Just one minute after its birth, the child goes through the first part of the Apgar tests. It provides information about how the baby is currently doing and whether it may need support, especially when breathing independently. To do this, the midwife or doctor checks the baby's breathing, pulse, muscle tension, skin colour and reflexes. The baby receives zero to two points for each of these vital functions. This "test" is repeated twice more: five and 10 minutes after birth. This results in three numerical values that provide information about the child's current state of health and its adaptation to this world after birth.
The Apgar test is part of the first check-up (U1), which your baby undergoes in the first 30 minutes of life. The midwife or doctor listens to the baby's heart and lungs and checks whether there are any visible malformations, swellings or newborn jaundice. The baby's body length and head circumference are measured and it is weighed. The child is also given vitamin K drops to prevent internal bleeding. All results are recorded in the yellow examination booklet, which is created for your child in the delivery room and will accompany them for all check-ups from then on.
Also very important: Your baby will be given a name ribbon in the delivery room to avoid any confusion.
If you have any birth injuries that need to be treated, this is usually done in the first hour after the birth. For example, a perineal tear or perineal incision is sutured under local anaesthetic during this time. The mother should not feel any pain.
Once mother and child have been fully cared for, the new family stays in the delivery room for a further two hours after the birth to get to know each other in peace. The new dad is also involved in the bonding process by being close to his child. During this time after the birth, the obstetric team withdraws. Only the midwife visits you regularly - because she has to make sure that mum and baby are doing well. The midwife will also check your circulation, whether the uterus has started to involute and the strength of your postpartum flow.
During the time in the delivery room, the mother is also mobilised here. This means that she should sit up and stand up for the first time in the presence of the midwife. This is beneficial for two reasons: firstly, it gets the mother's circulation going again. And secondly, the organs that were displaced during pregnancy can more easily take their place again in this way. In more and more clinics, midwives are also taking the time for the mother to go to the toilet for the first time. Many women are relieved afterwards that they have already overcome this "hurdle". Especially as the midwife knows many tricks and tips to alleviate any burning or pain when passing urine.
Then everything is done for now. Now many mums are feeling the strain of the birth after all and want some rest. They deserve it after such a great achievement! After their time in the delivery room, they usually move into their room in the clinic together with their child. Some parents are lucky enough to get a family room. If you and your baby are doing well, you can also go home with your child after this time. Starting the postpartum period in your own home is the best alternative for breastfeeding and recovery. It is important that you have prepared well for the postnatal period. Because the household will now have to manage without you. You need a paediatrician to carry out the second check-up. It's best if he does this examination at your home. It is perfect if you have a midwife who visits you at home every day during the first few days. In any case, it is important that you familiarise yourself with your baby's needs before the birth. To prepare for the time with your baby, the Online infant care course by midwife Katharina. You can use it to prepare for this special time with your baby. The individual, topic-specific videos are also available after the birth. You will then receive simple and uncomplicated answers to questions and uncertainties that are sure to arise in the early days with your baby.
Are you still looking for suitable products for your baby's delicate skin? You can find fragrance-free, vegan and climate-neutral products for baby care at Mabyen. Here to get to the products.
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