DAY 1
The first 24 hours of life with a baby are
a momentous and magical time. All you
want to do is gaze at and touch this little
being, drinking in every detail, watching
in fascination as she “unfolds”, and her
skin becomes perfect and unmottled.
Your baby will open her eyes and gaze
right back at you if the lights are not
too bright. You might well feel on a
hormonal high, unable to sleep, even
though that’s all you thought you’d be
able to do after the birth. Take each
moment as it comes, rest with your
baby tucked up close and congratulate
yourself on a task well done.
● Your baby will either sleep a lot
or look around in puzzlement at
the big, wide world today.
● Meconium is best cleaned using
baby oil first and then washing your
baby’s buttocks with soapy water.
● Unless you or your baby aren’t
well, rooming in from the first
moment helps you understand
your baby far better.
● Put your baby to your breast
as soon as possible after birth
to ensure the best possible
start to breastfeeding – if this is
done in the first two hours, all
future feeds will be easier.
● Express a drop or two of
milk so your baby can
smell where to latch.
● The first few sucks may be painful,
but should soon pass. If sucking
remains painful, place your finger
in the corner of your baby’s mouth
and twist to break the suction
before repositioning your baby.
● Don’t time feeds, but allow your
baby to suck as long as there is
no pain and you notice strong,
rhythmic movements of the jaws
and hear swallowing sounds.
● Offer no bottles of water or formula,
unless medically necessary.DAY 2
Your baby will still be quiet today
and you’ll feel tired, but deep sleep
might continue to elude you. If you
had your baby in a maternity clinic
and are feeling well, you might
even go home today. Daunting as
this prospect may be, you’re likely
to feel more relaxed at home.
Wherever you are, take things slowly
today. Your baby focuses at about 25cm
to 30cm, the perfect distance between
your breast and your face. Your baby will
still lie tightly curled and feel one with
her environment, not sure where she
ends and her mom or the world begins.
● Clean your baby’s navel at each
nappy change to prevent infection.
● Your baby may become a bit
jaundiced today or tomorrow. If the
bilirubin (yellow pigment) levels are
very high, you might be advised
to have phototherapy treatment,
in which your baby’s eyes are
closed and her body is exposed to
ultraviolet light, which breaks down
the bilirubin faster. Feed your baby
more frequently from the breast,
as she will tire under the heat and
suck less. Babies need lots of fluid
to help wash out the bilirubin.
Exposing your baby to sunlight for
five to 10 minutes while protecting
her eyes also works very well. This
type of jaundice is not dangerous
and can be treated at home, either
under hired lights (with the help of a
private midwife) or in the sun. Some
clinics use wrap-around, body light
devices, which are far more suitable.
● If your baby is in need of special
care, you’ll feel quite sad today.
Spend as much time as you can
in the nursery or high-care unit,
and massage her feet and hands28 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | L&L
What to expect - the first week
Of course, no matter what you think you know, most parents still end up wishing
their baby had come with a manual! To fill in some of the gaps, here are some
perspectives and tips for that all-important first week of life with your baby.