Baby's First week home

Umbilical Cord Care

Try to keep the top of the diaper under the baby's cord to allow air to the cord.
The cord will become black/brown as it dries, and will fall off 7 to 14 days after delivery.
A small amount of dried blood is normal to see on the cord, it's usually caused by rubbing from clothes or a diaper.
It is safe to bath your baby in an infant tub with the cord still attached. Dry the cord off well after, and do not use cream on the cord.
If your baby's cord has yellow/green discharge, or has swelling or redness at the base of the cord, see a healthcar e provider.

Pees and Poops

It's best if you record all pees and bowel movements from your baby as soon as baby is born, and continue until your babies first visit to the doctor.

Urine: for the first week of life, baby should have the same number of wet diapers as days old he/she is.

Day 1 = 1 wet diaper
Day 2 = 2 wet diapers
Day 3 = 3 wet diapers
Day 4 = 4 wet diapers
Day 5 = 5+ wet diapers

And orange/pink stain in your baby's diaper is normal and should stop after day four of baby's life. It's mom's changing hormones that make a little blood appear.

Stool: baby's bowel movements will appear different colours

For the first 2–3 days baby's bowel movements will be black/green and sticky(tar poops), then green/yellow
Day 5 breast-fed baby's bowel movements will be yellow/mustard colour
If your baby has not had a bowel movement in 24 to 48 hours in the first week, contact your healthcare provider

Skin to skin

Placing baby on my mother's bare chest immediately after the birth, help the baby to stay calm, and decrease stress after birth. The baby can recognize the smell of the mother and hear her heartbeat, which is soothing and calming.

Benefits of skin to skin:

In the babies first hours of life skin to skin is soothing for baby, and helps the mother-baby bond. Skin to skin is the healthiest place to begin.

Benefits for baby:

Helps with breast-feeding/ mat feed sooner and longer
Stay warm
Cry less and are calmer
Have study blood sugar levels
Are protected by some of mothers good bacteria

Benefits for mothers:

More likely to have a successful 1st breast-feed
Will make more breastmilk
Learn when the baby is getting hungry
Bond more with baby
Gain confidence and satisfaction, caring for baby
Helps baby feed it when sleepy
Husbands/partners can enjoy these benefits too!!

How to do skin to skin:

Take off all of babies blankets and clothing, leave on a diaper and hat
Move clothing away from mother's chest
Have baby facing mothers chest

Place a blanket over both mother and baby for warmth

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