Postpartum: What to Expect with Baby..
After your baby is born, it's time for both you and your little one to recover from the birthing process. The majority of mothers know about the importance of skin to skin, but they don’t know what to expect moving forward with their little one. Lets discuss the stages of postpartum with a baby.
The first stage of postpartum is immediately after birth lasting 30-50 minutes. At this point your infant is alert and active. You can expect your little one to be very alert to your voice (mother). If you place your baby on your abdomen without interfering they are actually capable of finding your breast if they are able to self crawl, which leads to an easier FIRST latch. Oftentimes, a first latch can take up to 90 minutes.
The Second Stage of postpartum lasts from about 30 minutes to two hours postpartum. During this time, your baby is most likely going to be less interested in feeding and more drawn to want to sleep to recover. However, if you are actively working on breastfeeding during this stage you may need to assist your little one with positions a little more due to the baby's energy levels.
The Third Stage of Postpartum Lasts from 2 hours postpartum to 8-10 hours postpartum. You can expect your baby to be able to go into a deep sleep and it may be hard to wake the baby to feed. Don't be surprised if your little one falls asleep when feeding though. If your baby's glucose tests indicate a level over 35, it is perfectly fine to let your baby continue to sleep. It is important to note that your baby may have more mucus which may sound like they are gagging or vomiting. This is common because this is your baby's way of clearing their lungs. When a baby awakes from recovery, they will show signs of wanting to breastfeed.
24-48 hours post birth includes windows of wakefulness after long periods of sleep which leads to cluster feeding. Your baby will feed more than eight times a day + several times at night.
48-72 hours post birth Your baby will have different sleeping patterns, some deep and some light sleep. They will most likely feed more than eight times a day and continue to wake to feed at night.
Resources : Jones and Green, 2004, from on-line breastfeeding course: a clinical introduction..
Want more info on pregnancy and labor prep? look no further. I enjoy helping pregnant mamas navigate the challenges of the the unknown of pregnancy and labor. You deserve to know the labor process and feel confident navigating the intensity of labor. God made YOU to enter motherhood he doesn’t want you to fear childbirth.
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Xo, Kayla Sue
