You may have mastered the Lamaze breathing techniques and still feel anxious about the birth of your baby. Any parent, whether first-time or experienced, may find themselves worried for their child’s wellbeing once they are born. This is a normal emotion to have. To help lessen your uneasiness and help you focus more on the birthing process, here are some things that you can expect to happen immediately after your baby is born.
Clamping and Cutting the Cord
As you hear your baby’s cries, your doctor or midwife will clamp the umbilical cord in two places and cut between the two clasps. Traditionally, this process is done immediately after birth. But in recent years, doctors have recommended delaying cord clamping for at least 30 to 60 seconds. This allows extra blood to flow from the placenta to the baby, which may lower the risk of iron deficiency anemia in infancy.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Since newborn babies haven’t developed the ability to control their body temperature yet, they need to be kept warm and dry. In a normal delivery, your baby will be placed directly onto your abdomen and dried off there. This initiates skin-to-skin contact, helps the baby stay warm, and allows mother and child to bond. Moreover, this early contact may reduce your baby’s crying and help you to breastfeed successfully.
In case you have a C-section delivery, your baby may be placed under heat lamps. Once your baby is swaddled, your partner may carry them while you’re being stitched up. Your baby may briefly stay in a nursery
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