What to Expect After Delivery

Babies can be born vaginally or by C-section. Both ways are safe for baby and mom, but there may be some differences in your baby’s care after delivery.

Newborn Care after a Vaginal Delivery

After a vaginal delivery, a healthy baby receives brief health assessments and then can begin bonding with you skin-to-skin. Being close to your skin will help your baby feel secure and warm.

Your baby will likely be alert right after birth and may turn toward you at the sound of your voice. A newborn’s vision is blurry at first, but your baby can see best at a distance of about 8 to 12 inches and will be able to focus on your face.

Your baby may naturally find your breast and try to latch on, so you may begin breastfeeding your baby right away. If you had anesthesia or medication during labor and delivery, it may take a short time for your baby to begin sucking. Most healthy babies can breastfeed within a few hours after birth.

In addition to promoting bonding between mother and baby, breastfeeding soon after birth will help stimulate milk production. It will also help your uterus shrink back to its normal size and slow bleeding.

Newborn Care after a C-Section

If you have a cesarean section (C-section) to deliver your baby, you will likely have regional anesthesia and be awake when your baby is born.

Right after delivery, we will assess your baby to ensure they are breathing well. Some newborns need extra help clearing fluid and mucus from their lungs after a C-section. A doctor or nurse will carefully suction your baby’s nose, mouth and throat and perform brief health assessments.

You will be able to hold your baby skin-to-skin and begin bonding. Some babies may need to be observed in the nursery after a C-section, but your baby will be brought to you in the recovery room as soon as possible. You can begin breastfeeding your baby at this time. Anesthesia may affect a baby’s sucking reflex for a short time, but most babies can start to breastfeed within a few hours after delivery.

Common Newborn Conditions

Your baby will be wet and easily chilled immediately after birth, so skin-to-skin contact with you will help keep your baby warm. A nurse may put a knit hat on your baby’s head or gently wrap your baby in blankets.

Newborns can develop some health conditions after birth. Some of these conditions include:

Distensión abdominal

Es común que a los bebés se les hinche la barriga, pero por lo general está suave, sobre todo entre las tomas. Si la barriga de un recién nacido se siente dura o hinchada entre las tomas, podría deberse a gases, estreñimiento o una afección intestinal que requiera tratamiento.

Bluish Skin

Newborns often have bluish fingers and toes after birth, but this should go away when the baby warms up and blood starts circulating efficiently. If the bluish color doesn’t resolve, it may indicate a problem with the baby’s heart or lungs, which needs immediate medical attention.

Problemas intestinales

Los recién nacidos deben tener su primera evacuación intestinal dentro de las 48 horas posteriores al parto. Si un recién nacido no ha defecado o presenta sangre en las heces, un pediatra debe examinarlo para descartar un posible problema intestinal.

Huesos rotos

En ocasiones, un bebé puede sufrir una fractura de clavícula durante el parto. Esto es más común entre los bebés más grandes. Esta lesión suele sanar rápidamente. Un profesional de la salud podrá diagnosticar cualquier fractura inmediatamente después del parto.

Diaper Rash

All babies get diaper rash at some point, causing red and painful skin under the baby’s diaper. To prevent diaper rash, change wet and dirty diapers promptly using fragrance-free and alcohol-free wipes or a soft wet washcloth.

Treat diaper rash with a thick layer of zinc oxide diaper cream. If any sign of infection occurs, call a pediatrician for advice.

Llanto excesivo

Es normal que los bebés lloren –a veces, mucho. Asegúrate de que tu bebé haya comido, de que le hayan cambiado el pañal y de que haya eructado, de que tenga el pañal limpio y de que esté abrigado. Llama a tu pediatra si tu bebé presenta algún cambio en su forma de llorar, como por ejemplo, si empieza a chillar.

Escaso aumento de peso

Muchos recién nacidos tienen ictericia, que es una acumulación de bilirrubina en la sangre del bebé que provoca que la piel y la parte blanca de los ojos se pongan amarillas. La ictericia no siempre requiere tratamiento, pero en ocasiones un recién nacido puede necesitar fototerapia durante uno o dos días.

En algunos casos, la ictericia es causada por una afección médica subyacente, como la hepatitis, los cálculos biliares o un tumor, lo que puede requerir tratamiento adicional.

Lethargy

It’s normal for newborns to sleep much of the day. But if a baby doesn’t wake up to feed or is not interested in feeding, he or she should be evaluated by a pediatrician.

Respiratory Distress

Extremely fast breathing, sucking in the torso muscles, nostril flaring or grunting are abnormal in a baby. These can indicate respiratory distress and need immediate medical attention.

Problemas con el cordón umbilical

Cualquier problema relacionado con el cordón umbilical, como secreciones malolientes, sangrado, sensibilidad o cualquier signo de infección, debe ser evaluado por un médico. Si el cordón umbilical no se ha caído ni ha sanado en un plazo de una a tres semanas, consulta con un pediatra.

Contáctenos

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con el Servicio de Atención al Recién Nacido al 210-358-5437.