Skin to skin/ random post birth questions?

[scoutfinch1]

Hi, I'm nearly 37 weeks with DC1 and have some random questions about what exactly happens after the birth. Really want to get off to the best start with skin to skin and breastfeeding and have been thinking of all of the little details. So here are my questions sorry if they seem a little silly.

1. When baby is born how long do you do the initial skin to skin before baby is taken off you for tests, drying etc?
   
   
2. When does dad get his first cuddle?
   
   
3. When does baby normally get first feed?
   
   
4. Is it instinctive or does the baby need to be put to the breast?
   
   
5. How is any of this different if you have a water birth?
   
   
6. When do you normally get a shower, cleaned up etc?
   
   
7. When is the baby dressed? Who does this? Do they get bathed?
   
   
8. Does most of this happen before you get transfered to the post- natal ward?
   
   
9. How common is it to be allowed straight home from the delivery room?
   
   I know these must seem like silly questions but really want everything sorted in my mind so I can try and get off to the best start with LO. It's the silly little details I am worrying about. Any help would be very greatly appreciated.

[sugarandspite]

Sorry can't answer all if your question but when I had DS (very straightforward easy birth with no interventions but not allowed a water birth) the following happenned:

• baby born and put striaght onto my chest, midwife put a towel over us and helped me out of my top so we had skin to skin.
  
• after a few minutes of adoring gazing, I offerred him a feed and he latched on. The midwife was helpful in guiding us and making suggestions but actually for us it was pretty straightforward.
  
• he fed for about 10mins and then was full up. Still quite awake and alert though.
  
• at this point, the midwife took him to look at him for her checks and DH put a nappy on him but kept him naked.
  
• DH kept him and had skin to skin with him himself while I delivered the placenta and had a couple of stitches done.
  
• then I had more cuddles before giving him back to DH while I had a shower.
  
• DH dressed him (he never got properly cleaned, wasn't yucky at all and think the midwife probably have him a quick rub with a towel when she checked him) and I got dressed and had tea and toast and more feeds and cuddles.
  
• we had to go up to the postnatal ward as they wanted to so observations on me for 12hours in case of infection (not standard). So we went up there about 3 hours after delivery. If we hadn't had to go up, they'd have let us go straight home.
  

Think that's fairly accurate but the timescales are a bit hazy, sorry! I think we had quite a good long time on our own with him just after the first feed - or maybe the MW was there but just unobtrusively in the background?

[sugarandspite]

Oh and I had thought he might be yucky when he was delivered but actually he smelled utterly gorgeous! Bizarre but the amniotic fluid smells quite sweet so the baby just smells sweet and new and lovely, not if blood or anything.

We didn't really know what to expect other than that skin to skin was important to us as was breastfeeding. The MW just led us through in a very natural way and I think they're careful not to rush you about. Or at least our ace MW was!

Good luck! It's such a special time, try not to overthink it, just let it happen. You'll have done your (enormous!) job and everyone else will be there to look after you and baby.

[bigkidsdidit]

I gave birth to DS2 five days ago but both my births have been similar. We did:

Baby born onto my chest, find out sex. Cuddle while covering him with towels and wiping face etc
Placenta delivered (I had injection)
Try first feed which went well
Then DH took off his top and did skin to skin while I was stitched up

I had a quick shower and put on pyjamas while mw checked DS, weighed, etc. then DH dressed him

Back on my chest skin to skin for about 90 mins in the labour room. More feeding and cuddles. Mw brought us toast and tea and I had biscuits from my bag

About 2.5 hours post birth DH left and I went up to the ward.

[bigkidsdidit]

Btw by 'dressed him' I mean nappy and vest. I put on babygro and hat to go up to the ward.

[Startail]

DD1 Never got any skin to skin, DH got a cuddle before me while they stitched me up.

DD2 was born at home, can't remember who got first cuddle, know I did enjoy having a bath in my own bath while MWs changed the bed.

[scoutfinch1]

Thank you, that's all really helpful. That's turned me from anxious to excited. Congratulations on your new DS bigkidsdidit!

[bigkidsdidit]

Thanks :)

Remember at any point you can stop and ask things. Post birth is very relaxed and slow.

[sugarandspite]

Also, its worth knowing that they tend to be very alert and awake for an hour or so after they're born and then zonk out and sleep almost solidly (apart from feeds) for the next 24 hours or so.

So you'll probably have the 'do we wake the baby to feed it?' discussion on the first night, then be quietly smug about your fabulously sleeping baby the next day, and then you'll find they get into a normal groove which is unlikely to feature fabulous sleeping!

[LaLaLeni]

I had a water birth - I picked DS up from underwater straight away and held him for about 15 mins - he rooted but no BF (unsure why really, just too overwhelmed!). Then he was wrapped up and given to OH whilst I delivered placenta unaided. Then both OH and I had cuddle time on a bed whilst MWs cleaned the pool etc, before DS was weighed and checked over, then I was shown my tear and asked if I wanted stitches (I said no). MW put a nappy on but he was still swaddled. We moved into the recovery room and put DS in a vest and sleepsuit about an hour later and I had a shower (i was absolutely covered in blood, but it wasn't a big deal). Then we all slept on and off until MW came and we tried to BF.

They really do sleep for the first 24 hours! I felt all full of adrenaline and didn't sleep much, but I wish i had...

[sugarandspite]

lalaleni me too!

I pretty much spent the first 24 hours just watching baby DS. Just as he started waking up and wanting to feed all the sodding time I was shattered!

[delasi]

Thought I'd contribute despite already getting responses...

1. DS is 6mo, born onto tummy (I was totally naked by that point), held for 10-20mins (I was so out of it, only gas and air but went totally spaced!), then had to be stitched. Was dried then and given to DH. Tests weren't done till next day (stayed overnight).
   
   
2. As soon as I was to be stitched, felt like ages and I think they were doing stuff for anywhere between 30-60mins, DH held him the whole time plus for a bit after (...still very out of it!).
   
   
3. After stitches, 'sobered up', probably within a couple hours after birth. Fwiw, did not go smoothly... but I received lots of help, primary lactation failure due to things out of my/MW control!
   
   
4. MW put DS to breast initially to show me and get started, then said to follow baby - offer when he cries, don't wake to feed.
   
   
5. N/A so don't know.
   
   
6. Stumbled out of bed about 4-5hrs after birth... no shower, too dizzy, flannel washed and poured water over downstairs. Clean night clothes. Pleeenty maternity pads.
   
    7) MWs did first nappy, basic clean (some bits still in his hair!) And vest plus blankets. DH changed nappy and added sleepsuit later. No bathing till he was a couple weeks. Just cotton wool spot washes.
   
   
7. N/A - stayed in same room for pushing/delivery and overnight stay.
   
   9)N/A so not sure, but MWs said it was very common.

[delasi]

PS weighed and measured and vit K injection after stitches, was newborn hearing and paediatrician check the following day

[MummytoKatie]

Had ds a month ago. Got the full skin to skin experience. (Had an EMCS and a massive haemorrhage with dd so missed out.) It was probably the best 90 mins of my life - despite the fact that I was being stitched at the same time.

Re your questions:-

1. About 90 minutes.
   
   
2. After the midwife had then checked him over and we'd put a napyy on him. So maybe 100 minutes old. But he'd been stroking him during the skin to skin with me so he didn't feel he lost out.
   
   
3. During this time. He sort of crawled up and helped himself!
   
   
4. Pretty instinctive. He got himself in the right place-ish and I helped guide it in.
   
   
5. N/A
   
   
6. Was taken for a bath when he was about 2 hours old.
   
   
7. Not quite sure! Think just before I went for a bath. Think dh and I did it.
   
   
8. Yes. Was transferred when he was about 3.5 hours old.
   
   
9. Don't know. I had a small haemorrhage so had to stay overnight.

[MrsSpagBol]

Really sorry to hijack thread but can anyone tell me about these "vests" that you mean ie "baby was put into nappy and vest, sleepsuit later".

Do you mean short sleeved suits?

Or are they actual vests as in a tank top for babies? I have looked everywhere and not seen any?

Thanks!

[Thumbwitch]

MrsSpagbol, I think they're mostly referring to the short sleeved/sleeveless popper suits/vests, yes.
But here in Australia they're talking about singlets.

[MrsSpagBol]

Thank you Thumbwitch!

[Thumbwitch]

tesco range of vests and sleepsuits

[Thumbwitch]

I linked to those because I know that Tesco also stock long sleeved and sleeveless vests, whereas some other places only do short sleeved.

Can't find any singlets in the UK though - they're common as anything over here (but sodding expensive, as all things baby are here :( )

[MrsSpagBol]

Thanks Thumbwitch!!! I actually found the tank top like ones too :-)