The first night with your newborn

The first night with your newborn is a special experience full of emotions and new impressions. While the stars shine in the sky and the world around you is in deep slumber, you cherish those intimate moments with your little one. The sound of his or her soft breathing and the warm, tiny body lying close to you make you feel surrounded by an unprecedented love. Every moan and little sound catches your attention as you wonder what is going through that tiny head. This night marks not only the beginning of a new life but also the start of a beautiful journey full of discoveries and unforgettable memories. It is a time of connection and wonder as you explore this new world together.

What you might encounter

Day 1 in the postpartum period

The first night with your baby is special, but it can also take some getting used to. There is a lot to take in, and all kinds of questions may arise. Below you will find handy basic tips for the first hours together. If you can't figure something out, are unsure about something, or if something doesn't feel right, please feel free to call, even in the middle of the night.



Measuring the temperature of mother and newborn:

- Measure the temperature of mother and baby at the agreed times.

-Measure the baby's temperature preferably rectally.

- For the mother, a temperature lower than 37.6 °C is usually normal, as long as she feels well.

- Contact the midwife if the temperature is 37.5 °C or higher, or if the mother feels unwell, has chills, abdominal pain, foul-smelling blood loss, or painful red spots on the breast.

- For a newborn, the normal temperature is usually between 36.5 °C and 37.5 °C.

- Call the midwife if the baby is colder than 36.5 °C, warmer than 37.5 °C, or if the temperature does not improve within 45 minutes after measures have been taken.

Going to the toilet:

- Try to urinate within a few hours after giving birth.

- Afterwards, preferably go to the toilet every three hours, or link the toilet time to your baby's feeding time.

It is normal not to always feel a clear urge in the first few days.

Therefore, do not just wait until you feel the urge, but try to urinate regularly.

If peeing on the toilet is difficult, stressful, or painful, you can try peeing in the shower.

- Warm running water can help to relax, reduce the burning sensation, keep any stitches clean, and make clots come loose more easily.

- Indicate if you are unable to urinate, if it remains painful, or if you feel that your bladder is not emptying properly.

Getting out of bed, showering and going to the toilet:

- Get out of bed slowly and allow yourself to be guided as long as you feel unstable, dizzy, or weak.

- Always ask for help if in doubt, even in the middle of the night.

- A shower can be refreshing, but take your time.

- Sit down or call for help if you do not feel steady.

- Preferably do not use soap during the first shower, or only a mild soap.

- Do not use soap on your pubic area; rinsing with lukewarm water is sufficient.

Monitor discharge and clots during the first 24 hours:

- Monitor the amount of blood loss.

In the first few hours, the flow may be somewhat heavier, but it must not continue to increase.

- Large clots up to approximately the size of a tennis ball may occur.

- Call the midwife if more than three large clots occur in a row.

Also contact the midwife if you notice that you have to change your pad unusually often, for example twice within an hour.

- Contact us in case of an unpleasant odor, increasing pain, fever, or extreme cramps around the uterus.

- These symptoms may indicate excessive blood loss, an infection, or insufficient contraction of the uterus.

Recognizing nausea and vomiting in the newborn:

- A newborn may vomit some mucus or amniotic fluid on the first day.

- Gently check if your baby continues to breathe well, maintains a healthy color, and then becomes relaxed again.

If your baby cannot cough up the mucus properly, gently lay your baby on their side with their head slightly down, so that the mucus can drain from their mouth more easily.

- You can gently rub or tap the back and wipe away visible mucus from the corner of the mouth with a clean cloth.

- Stay calm with your baby and contact the midwife if your baby remains short of breath, looks blue or gray, becomes limp, has difficulty breathing, or if you are worried.

- Warn in case of shortness of breath, repeated forceful spitting, or doubt.

Safe sleep for the newborn:

- Lay your baby on their back to sleep.

- Let your baby sleep in their own bed or cradle with a firm mattress.

- Make sure the head remains unobstructed.

- Do not use pillows, loose blankets, or stuffed animals in bed.

Observe breathing:

- Check regularly if your baby is breathing calmly and has a normal color.

- Newborns sometimes breathe irregularly; that can be normal.

- Ask for immediate help in case of prolonged pauses, groaning, retractions, or cyanosis.

Keeping track of wet and soiled diapers:

- Note when your baby pees and poops.

- This provides information about your baby's nutrition and well-being.

- The first stool is usually dark and sticky.

- Then the color gradually changes.

Check navel:

- Check that the umbilical stump remains dry and clean.

- A little drying out is to be expected.

- Report redness around the navel, swelling, pus, a foul odor, or post-operative bleeding.

Monitoring your baby's temperature:

- The normal temperature of a newborn baby is between 36.5 °C and 37.5 °C.

- Preferably measure rectally, as this is most reliable in young babies.

- Is your baby colder than 36.5 °C? Place him or her skin-to-skin with mother or partner, put on a hat, and ensure sufficient warmth.

- Is your baby warmer than 37.5 °C? Then remove a hat, hot water bottle, or extra blanket and check if your baby is not dressed too warmly.

- Measure again after 45 minutes.

- Call the midwife if the temperature remains below 36.5 °C, stays above 37.5 °C, or if your baby is lethargic, feeding poorly, looks grey or blue, is moaning, or if you are worried.

Breastfeeding first 24 hours:

- Breastfeed your baby as often as possible in the first 24 hours, preferably at the first feeding cues such as waking up, searching, smacking, sucking on their hands, or turning their head.

It is normal for a newborn to sometimes still be sleepy and drink small amounts on the first day. The stomach is still small, and the first milk, colostrum, is concentrated and perfectly tailored to your baby.

Plenty of skin-to-skin contact helps your baby wake up, find the breast, and keep their temperature and breathing stable. Take your time and make sure you are lying or sitting comfortably, with sufficient support for your back, arms, and baby.

Pay close attention to your baby's position when latching on. Place your baby tummy-to-tummy against you, or with their tummy turned completely towards your body. Ensure that the hips are also turned along with the tummy, so that your baby does not have to turn their head to reach the breast. Your baby lies flat against you, close to the breast, with their nose level with the nipple and the nipple between the nose and the upper lip. Wait until your baby opens their mouth wide, and then gently bring your baby to the breast. Do not put the nipple in your baby's mouth. This prevents your baby from taking a good, big gulp and they may start pulling on the nipple instead of massaging it properly. A big gulp helps to take the breast properly into the mouth and supports an effective sucking technique.

Ask for help with latching if finding the breast is difficult, if latching remains painful, or if you doubt whether your baby is feeding well. A good latch usually does not feel sharply painful. You will see your baby sucking; during the first three days, you often won't hear swallowing yet, because your baby is mainly ingesting small amounts of colostrum at that time.

Feel free to keep a muslin cloth within reach while feeding. This is handy if your baby spits up a little milk, if milk runs down their mouth, or if your other breast suddenly starts leaking. You can also use the cloth to gently pat their chin dry, protect your clothes, or hold your baby quietly against you for a moment after feeding. This way, you don't have to get up during feeding, and the moment remains as relaxed as possible for you and your baby.

In the first 24 hours, breastfeeding is mainly about practicing, getting acquainted, and drinking small amounts frequently. Your baby does not need to consume large quantities yet. By keeping your baby close often and breastfeeding regularly, you help get milk production off to a good start.

Pay close attention to early feeding cues: waking up, searching with the mouth, smacking, sucking on hands, or turning the head. Try to latch your baby on right then; crying is often a later signal, which can sometimes make getting them to latch on more difficult.

Is your baby sleepy? Then place him or her skin-to-skin with you or your partner, change the diaper if necessary, or talk softly to your baby. Sometimes it helps to first express a few drops of colostrum by hand and place them on the lips, so that your baby becomes more alert and wants to search again.

A feeding may be sensitive at first, but it should not remain sharply painful. If it persists, gently remove your baby from the breast by placing your little finger in the corner of their mouth to break the vacuum, and try latching on again. A calm, wide latch helps your baby drink better and prevents pulling on the nipple.

Switch between breasts if your baby keeps searching or becomes restless, but above all, let your baby set the pace. Sometimes a baby feeds briefly and often, sometimes he or she falls back asleep quickly. That can be normal on the first day. Feel free to ask for help with latching, even if you just want someone to take a look to see if the position is right.

Contact the midwife or maternity care provider if your baby cannot be woken up for a feeding, refuses to latch on, sucks weakly, remains drowsy, develops an abnormal color, or if you are worried.

The first 24 hours of bottle feeding:

- In the first 24 hours, your baby usually only needs small amounts of food. The stomach is still small, and your baby needs to get used to drinking, swallowing, and digesting outside the womb.

Offer the bottle calmly at early feeding cues, such as waking up, searching, smacking, sucking on hands, or restless movements. Crying is often a late feeding cue.

Hold your baby close to you and ensure a calm posture. Hold your baby slightly more upright, with the head well supported and the chin off the chest, so that feeding and breathing are easy.

Let your baby drink at a calm pace. Hold the bottle so that the nipple is filled with milk, but also give your baby short pauses if he or she lets go, looks away, spills milk, or becomes restless. This gives your baby time to swallow, breathe, and indicate satiety.

It is normal for your baby to drink small amounts or sometimes spit up some food in the beginning. Let your baby burp quietly between and after feedings, especially if he or she becomes restless, seems to swallow a lot of air, or has difficulty finishing the food.

Feel free to keep a muslin cloth within reach while feeding. It comes in handy if your baby spits up some milk, if milk runs down their mouth, or if you just want to dab them dry in between. The cloth is also useful after feeding when you are burping your baby or holding them upright against you for a moment. This way, you can easily catch small amounts of milk, keeping feeding calm and comfortable.