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excessive bleeding. don't expect you or your
baby
to get the hang of breastfeeding right away. instead, be patient, it will take time for mom and
baby
to get comfortable. your breast milk won't come in right away, but don't worry. the colostrum that your breasts produce is usually enough for your newborn. dr. thomas adds, ?mothers may secrete colostrum until three to five days a?er birth when full breast milk lets down. colostrum is the
first
milk that mothers secrete a?er giving birth. it is concentrated with nutrients and immune (infection- fighting) chemicals that are essential for a newborn.? a?er the
first
feeding, you and your
baby
will be tired and ready to sleep. newborns typically sleep anywhere from 16-20 hours per day and may need to be woken up when it?s time to eat.
baby
will also pass her
first
stool called meconium, which will be sticky and either dark green or black in color.
first
4 to 12 hours these days, most hospitals keep babies with their mothers rather than moving them to a nursery. the time together promotes mother-
baby
bonding, relaxation, and healing. you will begin to learn your
baby
's cries and recognize feeding cues like hand sucking. while some hospitals will bathe the
baby
soon a?er delivery, others wait until 4 to 12 hours a?er birth. ?newborns may be bathed (with parental consent) within the
first
couple of hours a?er birth if the body temperature is at least 98 degrees fahrenheit,? says dr. thomas. you may also notice your
baby
sneezing, but that doesn't mean she's sick. she?s simply clearing her nasal and respiratory passages of congestion and airborne particles. you may experience physical
pain
from the delivery and mixed emotions. ?every mother experiences different levels of
pain
depending on individual
pain
tolerance, the type of delivery, and the type of
pain
relief that she receives during labor and childbirth. many different forms of
pain
control are offered including oral
pain
medication, intravenous
pain
medication, and epidural anesthesia,? shares dr. thomas. up to 24 hours your pediatrician or family physician will conduct a complete physical assessment of your newborn, including blood type, bilirubin level, screening for rare genetic disorders, and a hearing screen. labor and delivery nurses, lactation consultants, and other healthcare providers will continue to provide you with support. a financial counselor, social worker and wic nutrition consultant may also visit to provide resources that you might need before heading home. of course, friends and family will be anxious to drop in too. ?at woman?s hospital, many mechanisms exist to ?protect? a new mother?s privacy. the labor and delivery nurse may, at the patient?s request, ask family members and other visitors to wait in the family waiting area until the mother requests their return a?er birth. mothers may also request that the new
baby
?s siblings get a ?
first
glimpse? at the new arrival before all other visitors come into the delivery room. expectant mothers may also request ?confidential? status upon admission. with confidential status, the only way a visitor or family member will know of the mother?s presence in the hospital is if the mother herself notifies the individuals,? says dr. thomas. if you'd prefer to wait to see visitors, ask them to visit a?er the
first
24 hours or ask your nurses to advocate for you. guests should refrain from visiting if they are sick since babies don't have well-developed immune systems and are more susceptible to infection. be aware that different hospitals have different security measures in place to ensure the privacy and safety of their patients. if possible, advise your friends ahead of time of your hospital's visitor policies. the
first
couple of days are strange yet magical for most mothers. now you can be more prepared for the experience, though nothing can prepare you for the flood of love you will feel. words of wisdom ? be gentle with yourself. listen to your body and your
baby
. also, give yourself grace, you just delivered a
baby
! ? rest. when the
baby
sleeps, try to get some sleep for yourself. ? lean on your nurses. they are there to help, answer questions, and provide education that you need before you go home. ? toiletries ? comfortable, loose-fitting clothing (including maternity clothes) ? warm socks ? nursing bra or tank top ? car seat ? stocked diaper bag and going home outfit for
baby
? hospital admission forms ? physician contact information ? insurance card, driver's license, social security card ? paperwork for
baby
's birth certificate, social security number and insurance ? phone and phone charger ? ? ? a few essentials for your hospital stay 3 4 p i n k ? b l u e | s p r i n g 2 018
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