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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What happens to my baby once labour is over?

58 replies

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 20:08

I have tried to search this on Google but not had much luck. What I wonder is once the baby is out what procedures do they go through and when?

I want skin to skin immediately but wondered - they suck gunge from nostrils, weigh, clamp etc(assuming baby is not in any distress) When does all this happen? What should I expect?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MiniMarmite · 31/10/2010 20:45

I was induced so baby was delivered onto my chest but then taken to the recuss table for a very quick check by the paediatrician (in same room, only a couple of minutes). Then brought straight back over to me for skin to skin, breastfeed. Delivery and placenta and stitching took place in parallel.

DS then passed his meconium all over me so was put in a nappy but we spent 4 hours in the delivery room getting to know one another and have tea and toast. Towards the end of that time he was weighed and then given to DH to hold while I was given a bed bath (still on drip so not possible to shower). DS and I were then taken to the ward and DH had to go home (because it was 6 a.m. so considered night time).

marriednotdead · 31/10/2010 20:48

Don't worry. Most babies get the hang of it eventually.

I hated the thought of skin to skin and seem to go into shock immediately post birth so dad did the cuddles with LO wrapped in a towel for the first hour both times.

Fed after that and was fine.

usernamechanged345 · 31/10/2010 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvilAllenPoe · 31/10/2010 20:50

..and you've got Mumsnet if you get into bother.

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 20:51

I wondered also ... if I do manage to get a waterbirth (am in MLU with birthing pools) how long can I hang around in there with the baby? Will I be able to birth the placenta in the pool or will I have to get out?

OP posts:

stinkypants · 31/10/2010 20:52

oh gosh, dont be - it is fine and they are naturals, its the one thing they do by instinct.
just to prepare you for the event of an emergency section (about 1 in 4 births are i think), it can still be just as wonderful - my son screamed immediately and was sorted out, wrapped up etc then my DH held him becuase i was being sick etc, by the time i held him he was still screaming and desperate to find my nipple!! he got it straightaway and fed for an hour. i had to hold my boob up a bit for him but he sure knew how to suck. the latch wasnt exactly rightfor a while but we got there in the end. just look at the diagrams in the books, they really help - but dont worry about this for the first feed too much, let him/her do it their was rather than trying to make a big deal of it - they are just veryhappy to be meeting you and your boob!!! good luck

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 20:54

thank you EvilAllenPoe thank you for the support RE the breastfeeding. I have read a load about it and have been following loads of threads here so hope that I know enough to make it as smooth as possible.

Tha k you for sharing your stories MrsPickle

OP posts:

KenDoddsDadsZombieDogsNotDead · 31/10/2010 20:54

DF my DD found it so hard at first and the midwife was a cow. We worked it out ourselves in the middle of the night just the two of us! Don't worry you will get plenty of support.

NothereisnobodylurkingbehindU · 31/10/2010 20:57

Dueling - for lots of people breastfeeding is very simple and just requires a bit of persistence. For some people it is a bit tricky to get going and for a few it's a real struggle but they manage it with good support. Chances are you will be fine and it certainly isn't the case that if baby is a bit slow to latch on the whole thing will be a disaster.Get your support networks sorted out beforehand - line up your phone numbers for laleche league etc and think about any of your friends who have breastfed and that you could chat through things with. I'm sure you will be fine

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 20:59

"they are just very happy to be meeting you and your boob"

that's such a lovely thing to say

OP posts:

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 21:00

I am a bit worried about the support as I am due on 11th Dec and so if I am late there may be less support around during Christmas, but I do have friends who can help and a useful SIL who knows loads and I think might be training as a breastfeeding consultant/support person.

OP posts:

onimolap · 31/10/2010 21:05

Unless an urgent medical is needed (like resuscitation), then the staff need your consent for whatever happens as you are the mother! (Scary thought?)

Other posters have given the typical range of what actually happens.

I'd suggest that if you need to be stitched, you don't try to hold her whilst it's being done (good time to have gunk cleaned off and get her weighed).

Some babies latch more or less straightaway (eg DD), others are sleepy and don't (eg DS - much longer labour with him: he was probably as tired as me). It doesn't matter at all in the long run, they can still work it out when they're ready.

BTW, If you need a medical intervention, there's no reason why she couldn't have skin-to-skin with her father as that would bring comfort, if not milk.

usernamechanged345 · 31/10/2010 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 31/10/2010 21:06

Having women around who have breastfed themselves is v useful (but professional support is important too if you need it). Some of the best support that I had was from my mum who has bf three babies, she was able to tell me what seemed normal and what she thought I should get help with. And she told me that it would get better... (and it did)

DH was good too, but his support was more of the thinking I was wonderful and providing chocolate variety than anything about latch or positioning...

jacobsmummy1 · 31/10/2010 21:08

Don't be scared its an amazing i loved it and was sad when i had to stop when my DS was 9months old to return to work, we took about two weeks to get our act together, i got disheartened at 1st and was tempted to switch to a bottle but im very glad i stuck to it, my DS didnt have colic, has always slept well and while i fed him was very content, my MW was brilliant and showed me lots of ways to hold him while feeding and even to feed lying on my side, very comfy and relaxing!

tiokiko · 31/10/2010 21:09

With DD the cord was really short so when she was out she only made it as far as my tummy button, I was v confused about where she'd gone...

So DH cut the cord before she could latch on, don't really remember much to be honest but I know we had skin to skin for a while, she latched on OK and it was overwhelming, confusing and generally lovely.

Had a physiological 3rd stage, had thought I wouldn't mind having the injection but having had only G&A, MW thought I should try without and see how it went. She/we forgot to take off TENS though and I think that delayed things, once it was off it just all happened and was fine. Not really particularly aware of that though as I was so amazed to have my wee girl with me!

Don't stress about getting BF right from the start, I think it takes a while to sort. DD was born 9 Dec so I know what you mean about the Christmas gap.

We had no support from MW in hosp and I just wanted to get home and practice! I remember day 4 being really tough as that was when she was most hungry but my milk wasn't quite in and it was a bit crap.

If you have friends around then use them as much as poss, you will also get brilliant advice and support on here. If BF is what you want to do then don't beat yourself up if it doesn't seem to go to plan right away. I think it was 6 weeks before it was properly established and longer before it felt 'easy' - but I BF DD to 15m then she self-weaned so it did get easy in the end.

Good luck with everything!

Horton · 31/10/2010 21:17

If you are doing NCT classes or similar, you may find that you get a session specifically on breastfeeding. We did, and although I felt like an absolute loon pretending to breastfeed a large plastic doll, I think it really did help. There are also tons of videos etc out there showing positioning etc. And all the tips like 'tummy to tummy' seemed to really work well for us.

When DD was born, I had already asked in my birth plan for her to be passed to me immediately (I specifically said that she should be placed on my chest asap after delivery) and she wasn't actually even washed for about four days. I had a good long cuddle with her, she yowled and shouted, then DH held her while I was stitched up. Then I sat on the edge of the bed I'd delivered her on and fed her. She knew exactly what to do. It was lovely.

Original poster

DuelingFanjo · 31/10/2010 21:22

thank you horton my NCT classes start this Wednesday :) I didn't realise they used pretend babies!

OP posts:

Horton · 31/10/2010 21:53

I don't know if they all do, but ours did! We were all highly embarrassed but all of us gave BF a really good go and I think 6 out of 7 mothers were still breastfeeding a month or so later which is actually v good compared to the general population. So I think it may have helped.

systemsaddict · 31/10/2010 21:55

Ds, forceps delivery after distress, straight off to resusc table though he cried on the way, then I was too poorly to hold him so dp wandered around the room in shock with a baby in his arms while I was stitched etc - he had so little experience of babies and was so tense his arms seized up! but as soon as I was a bit easier in myself MW arranged me on my side and tucked ds in next to me for his first feed. They did all the clamping etc early on (obviously) but didn't weigh him until a few hours in.

Dd, short easy delivery, cried as soon as her head was out, was handed to me as soon as she was delivered, we sat in a chair for a cuddle then the MW helped us onto the bed and she lay on my chest gazing up at me in complete calm for hours, 'twas lovely. She pooed meconium all over me though . Again didn't weigh or anything until a couple of hours later.

ClimberChick · 31/10/2010 22:13

dueling took 36 hrs to get DD to latch, 8months on and we're still going strong.

umf · 31/10/2010 22:23

dueling I'd say don't stress too much about these first few mins. Being informed is absolutely the best way to do it, but births are very unpredictable.

My DS1's birth was not at all how I planned, and I ended up with v few choices about things like how to deliver placenta or immediate skin-to-skin. Then he was in a ghastly NICU where they prevented me breastfeeding and discouraged up from holding him.

But it was all ok anyway. We got home, and soon I was feeding fine and completely dottily bonded with him. Mothers have amazing strength - they don't need everything to be exactly as planned.

It's good to know what the ideals are, so that you can aim somewhere. But please please don't be worrying that it all has to be perfect.

RadoxBabyBel · 31/10/2010 22:39

Duelling - don't worry! I think there are many, many people for whom breastfeeding goes very easily from the start - I was one of them (well, once I got used to the eenong cluster feeding!) as my dd seemed to know exactly what she was doing when it came to bf! Assume it will be ok, feed as often as possible, don't schedule feeds, cuddle, hold, and enjoy your little one. All the best :)

MiasmARGGG · 01/11/2010 00:23

With dd who was 8 weeks early I was lucky to have a cuddle before she was whisked away, no skin to skin, no physiological 3rd stage, no biological nursing just my cleaned and wrapped baby given to me for 5 minutes then taken to nicu while I was left on my own.

With ds who was born at 27 weeks by emcs I didn't even get to see him, let alone smell him or feed him. He was taken straight to nicu.

I didn't manage to breast feed my ds till he was 8 weeks old and managed to feed him for 17 months. He was an expert.

None of it was ideal but I don't feel bad about either of their births and I'm as close to my children as any parent could be :)

StarkAndWitchesWillFindYou · 01/11/2010 09:23

Dueling I've come across many of your posts now and you must be by now a very well informed woman indeed. Very admirable.

You actually remind me of myself at a similar stage. I was very informed. Some of this was because I'm just someone who likes to have all the information, but some of it stemmed from anxiety about the birth and it's unpredictability.

I don't know how long you have left, but would recommend hugely that (if I'm right) you look into nataltherapy and learn breathing techniques.

The first time round I kind of left this on a back burner as some kind of airy fairy nonsense, I mean, after all I knew how to breath, I'd been doing it all my life right.

However, with my second birth it gave me SO much control over my own behaviour and ability to deal with what was happening. And having something to engage with and DO, made the whole thing a lot more managable than the first time when I felt vulnerable and with no focus.

Hope that helps.

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