After Delivery
Newborn assessments
You will hold your baby as soon as possible after delivery. Your coach or family member may be invited to cut the cord. The hospital also plays Brahm’s “Lullaby” over the public address system to let everyone know about the happy event. After a time of celebration and bonding, nurses will help clean you and your baby.
We follow researched best practices in keeping mothers and newborns together with skin-to-skin contact after birth. Benefits of this practice include a happier baby; healthier blood sugar levels; stronger allergy resistance; and a more stable temperature, heart rate and breathing rate.
Newborn assessments
To assess your baby’s health and potential need for additional medical help, your nurse will assess your baby at one minute and five minutes after birth to determine an Apgar score, which ranges from 0 to 10. Apgar checks for activity or muscle tone, pulse, reflex response, color and breathing. A score of 8 or 9 is considered normal and indicates that the baby is in good health. A score of 10 is very rare because nearly all newborns lose one point for blue hands or feet, which is normal after birth.
Your baby will receive three other health tests while in the hospital:
- Hearing
- Blood test to check for potentially treatable or manageable genetic disorders
- Noninvasive oxygen test to check heart
Breastfeeding
Your healthcare team urges breastfeeding for your baby’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Both babies and mothers gain many benefits from breastfeeding. Breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. A baby’s risk of becoming an overweight child goes down with each month of breastfeeding. Women who breastfeed may have lower rates of ovarian cancer and certain types of breast cancer.” Our nursing staff are happy to help you with breastfeeding.
Pediatricians
The hospital has excellent pediatricians on call to visit newborns. If you’ve selected a pediatrician, please let your care team know so they will be called to visit. If you haven’t chosen a doctor for your baby, we can help. Just let us know.
Going home
Most mothers who experienced a vaginal delivery leave for home after 24 hours. Mothers who had a C-section typically stay for about 48 hours. Your stay may be longer if medically necessary for your health.
You may have stitches that will need to continue to heal. Continue to use your perineal washing bottle when using the restroom.
We’re here for you
We understand babies don’t come with instructions. You’ll receive detailed discharge instructions before you leave for home. But please ask your nurse if you have any questions before you leave or after you get home. We’re honored to care for you and your growing family.
The Birth Center phone number is (559) 605-0980.