What to expect when my baby is born?

Serene Birth

Birthing a baby is both exciting, hard and stressful process. The most frequently asked question from (especially our first time ) mothers and partners is “What to expect when my baby is born?” The internet and social media is overflowing with information, often untested, and contradictory, leading to confused, scared parents to be. However, mothers and partners benefit immensely by factual knowledge about what happens during, and after birth, and baby’s reactions after birth, so that they are prepared to handle and internalize events after birth more smoothly and openly.

In a Midwife-led center like The Sanctum, except for the rate emergency, babies are welcomed into an environment which is calm and serene, assisted by her midwives and partner, in a loving atmosphere. In contrast, in typical hospitals, this is replaced by bright lights, lot of noise, absence of loved ones, in a clinical environment, which is just the opposite of what most women want.

Typically if the mother is actively participating in the birth, she will reach down and touch the baby’s head, and as the baby emerges, they make eye contact and mother is helped by her midwives to lift the baby and bring him to her chest. At that stage, the baby will typically turn on his right side and on the mother’s left side. The environment is typically warm so that Oxytocin is produced in both mother and baby, which speeds up birthing of the placenta and decreases stress in the baby.

CIRCLE OF LOVE

Her midwives are busy checking for baby’s well being while he is still on his mother’s chest. This includes gentle drying of baby’s head, and “dabbing” his body, while taking care not to remove the Vernix (the outer protective covering all around the baby’s skin).

• Baby will initially have a high respiratory rate which will eventually come down to a regular 100 to 120 beats per minute at the end of 30 mins. Some babies exhibit some rasping sounds in their breath which ultimately goes away, once the full respiratory process takes over. Babies cry immediately after birth – a physiological reflex gifted by nature to clear his respiratory passage on its own!!
• Baby’s muscle tone can initially be somewhat “floppy” but as he starts breathing regularly muscle tone improves
• Healthy babies upon birth show a “lavender pink” color, which gives way to “rose pink” after about 2 – 3 minutes.
• As mammals, the deep rooted reflex of “fright or flight” is also embedded in the baby’s DNA – immediately after birth, healthy babies are very alert, and take in their surrounding with great interest. At that point they zero in, curiously, on the mother’s voice, face and where present also the father’s voice. Mother’s calm, loving and welcoming talk goes a long way in calming the baby which is stressed from the process of birth.
• Baby will exhibit rooting symptoms, and if offered the mother’s breast, attempt to latch on and try nursing, as part of his reflex mechanism.

A healthy baby, after the initial 30 mins of birth, relaxes into a deep sleep for about 6 hours, give or take a few. The initial moments of birth are a sort of “whirlwind” for the baby (as it is for the mother). Adrenalin levels are highest for a few minutes, as both mother and baby (and father and midwives 🙂 ) take in the exciting and stressful process of birth. Once the baby settles down and all his “extra utero” functions take over he tends to relax and allow for the next phase of his life to continue.

• In this phase, baby sleeps for a good 4 to 6 hours, with shallow, but regular and fast heart rate. This is normal.
• There may be twitches and jerks intermittently, when the baby wakes up momentarily, but if he is with his mother, her warmth and familiar smells and sounds will lull him to sleep again. That is why we advocate mother and baby to be together, even skin to skin.
• Baby’s abdomen may produce some bowel sounds
• There may be some fluids coming out of the baby’s mouth

It is relevant to note that this period is also ideal for mother to be tended to, if there is a tear, or any other issue. Placenta may also be born during this time. Mother can use this time to rest up, take in the experience of birth. She is also encouraged to take a shower, and freshen up and eat or drink if she can, and be ready to take on the responsibility of caring for this baby for the first time.

Your baby will most likely pass meconium and urine within a few hours of birth. Sometimes this takes nearly 4 hours, and usually there is no need to panic. Urination will usually be steady and forceful in boys and less so in girls. Sometimes babies pass urine when they cry forcefully. However, a good sign is to pass urine independent of crying.

During active stage of pushing, mothers body undergoes mind-boggling changes to prepare her for her baby’s arrival. An uninterrupted labor process will cause mother’s breasts to start formation of Cholestrum, or the “First Milk”, which is so essential for the baby. It is power packed with so many immune giving substances for the baby, and enough fat that will allow baby to rest contently even for 4 hours after birth. Some cultures throw the Cholestrum away, thinking it is not useful. Nothing can be further than that !!

Additionally, when baby is brought close to the mothers breast after birth, it shows a natural inclination to seek out the breast, because of the close similarity in smells of the Amniotic Fluid and mother’s Cholestrum. A baby who has his full share of Cholestrum immediately after birth is a satisfied baby. Preterm babies, small babies, and those with minor issues also benefit from nursing within the first hour of birth. After the baby wakes up from its first sleep, he should be nurse at a minimum of every two hours. If mother feels sleepy or has any other problems, her midwives will help her feed her baby every four hours, or help her express her milk and feed the baby with a special spoon.

It is important to note that the above holds good if baby is born in good health, and mother is able to care for her baby immediately after birth. However, rare emergencies do occur, despite best efforts to keep both mother and baby safe. In case of emergency and where there is need for medical intervention, our #CollaborativeModelOfCare at The Sanctum ensures mother and baby are cared for immediately by our backup Obstetric team within the same premises, and if further required, be transferred to specialist care at our partner specialty hospitals.

We conduct regular workshops on the “4th Trimester”, for new mothers and dads, on various topics in newborn care. These workshops also benefit extended families (grandparents) who often have to help the mother cope with the new baby. Here is a link to topics covered in the “4th Trimester” workshop held sometime ago. We also conduct online workshops from time to time. Feel free to write to us to know about the next workshop by filling in the form on the right.

For more information on various other topics surrounding Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery and Post Partum or Newborn Care, please visit our FAQ Section. In case you have any other questions, please write to us for a one-on-one Skype Consultation with Dr Vijaya.