Looking after you and your newborn

What happens after the birth

Once your baby is born, they're placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact. This is encouraged for at least the first hour after giving birth. Your midwife or doctor will check you're both well.

Medical checks for your baby

Your baby will have a few tests to check they're healthy. Your midwife or doctor will also talk to you about any recommended injections or medicines, such as vitamin K and the hepatitis B and RSV vaccination. If they’re preterm or need more care, they'll be looked after in a special care nursery or a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Learn more about your baby’s first 24 hours and neonatal intensive care units on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website. You can also find out about vaccinations for babies on the Vaccination Matters website.

Medical checks for you

It’s normal to lose up to half a litre of blood after birth. Your midwife or doctor will feel your uterus (near your belly button). This helps to check your bleeding and your recovery. They’ll also stitch your wound if there's a tear in your perineum, or you had an episiotomy.

You may also have an anti-D injection if your blood type is RhD negative and your baby's blood type is RhD positive. Read more about RhD negative blood in pregnancy on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Staying in hospital

If you have a vaginal birth with no problems and your baby is healthy, you may be able to go home a few hours later. This will depend on how you feel and what support your hospital offers. If you have a caesarean section, you'll usually stay in hospital for a few days while you heal.

You might stay longer if you or your baby are unwell or need more tests, or if you need more support with breastfeeding.

If you have a planned home birth, you'll only go to hospital if you or your baby needs more care.

If you have a free birth, you should see your GP in the first couple of days so they can make sure you and your baby are well.

Caring for your baby

Feeding and nappies

You can start breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby soon after birth.

They might only pee once in their first 24 hours. By the time they’re a week old they'll have about 4 to 6 wet nappies each day. Pink or orange pee is normal at first. It should turn clear after the first few days. If there's not much pee, they might not be having enough milk.

Your baby's first poo (meconium) will be dark black or green and sticky. During the first few days you'll see it get lighter and become more brown or yellow and soft.

Learn more about feeding and nappies on the Children's Health Queensland website.

Skin and body care

Be gentle with your new baby. You can wash them with warm water, but don't use any soaps, lotions or scented wipes. Their head will have several small soft patches where the bones haven’t joined yet (fontanelles). It can be normal for your baby's head to appear misshapen, but if you're concerned you should get medical advice.

If your baby’s skin or whites of their eyes look yellow, they may have jaundice. Let your midwife or doctor know if you notice this.

Read more about your newborn baby's body on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Umbilical cord care

Your baby's umbilical cord will start to dry up and go brown in the first few days. It'll heal and drop off in about 5 to 9 days. Always wash your hands before touching it. Folding down the top of your baby’s nappy will help it stay dry.

Read more about umbilical cord care on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Safe sleeping

Always put your baby to sleep in their cot to keep them safe. Sharing your bed with your baby can cause sleeping accidents and sudden infant death (SIDS). Learn more about safe sleeping on the Red Nose website.

Looking after yourself

Birth puts a lot of strain on your body and taking care of yourself afterwards will help you heal. It takes about 6 weeks for your body to recover after giving birth. If you have any pregnancy or complications during birth, it may take longer.

The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website explains how to look after your body after giving birth. You can also learn about caring for stitches on the healthdirect website.

How you might feel

Your mood might go up and down in the first week after birth. Changes to your hormones can leave you feeling down and teary. You should start feeling more like yourself again after a couple of weeks. If you don't, talk to your midwife or GP about getting more support.

Learn more about the baby blues on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.