Priceless information for your first week as a new parent

Skin to skin contact right after the delivery
The most important thing after the delivery is for your baby and you or your partner to have skin to skin contact (make sure your baby has a blanket over her*). Your baby will love feeling her bare skin against yours. A great bonding experience. She will calm down, because it is a pleasant way of getting to the right temperature, because she smells your scent and because she loves cuddling, caressing and hearing your voice. Your baby has a greater chance of finding the breast herself. (Within the first hour after birth, this causes higher oxytocin levels, which makes the placenta easier to detach (Breastfeeding Guidelines, 2011)).

• Your baby has a greater chance of latching on the breast (having a good grip again ensures a good milk intake and also ensures that you do not get sore nipples).
• Your baby can keep her temperature normal and stable. This works better than in the incubator.
• Your baby can better keep the heart rate, breathing and blood pressure normal and stable
• Her  blood sugars remain normal
• Your baby cries less
• Greater chance of an exclusive, longer breastfeeding period
• Your baby can better indicate when it is time for (breast) feeding
• Your baby is immediately colonized with the bacteria of the mother, which is important for a good intestinal flora of the child and the development of immunity (the child also receives appropriate antibodies through breastfeeding). (Breastfeeding guideline, 2011).

Breastfeeding the first day after birth
The baby will want to drink often, up to 12 times a day. But nausea and/or fatigue may reduce the need during the first 24 hours and she may sleep a lot. Nothing to worry about. You can put her to your breast when she wakes up from her deep sleep or makes some noise or starts to stick her tongue out of her mouth and make movements with her tongue.

Do not worry if you think she is not getting very much food. Colostrum (the first milk) is highly concentrated and nutritious. A small dose is enough to fill your baby's tiny stomach. If latching on does not work immediately, express some milk manually and let your baby lick it off your breast or off your finger.
In the first 24 hours, do not give your baby any formula food or fluids, unless the hospital or the midwife have instructed you otherwise. 

Important:

• do not wash your breasts with soap, do not use body lotion or parfum, because the baby is very attached to your own smell
• go pee and wash your hands before you start the feeding
• after your baby disconnects itself from the first breast you put some breast milk on your nipple. This is good for the recovery and care of your nipple. After your baby disconnects itself from the second breast you do the same with that breast. Let it dry before you put on your bra or shirt.
   

*the use of the word “her” also refers to “him” in the text of the entire website. This choice is made for readability