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What to expect after your baby's birth

Photo by Justin Paget/Corbis

Treatments/tests
Shortly after birth, a nurse or your midwife will usually give your baby an application of eye medication to stave off infection, and a vitamin K shot in the thigh to prevent bleeding problems. A day or two later, a few drops of blood are taken from baby’s heel to test for various conditions (primarily inherited metabolic disorders) by a nurse, your midwife or, sometimes, a public health nurse if you’ve left the hospital soon after the birth. Your baby will also get a hearing test, and a test for jaundice is recommended. A baby who tests positive for jaundice (meaning bilirubin levels are higher than normal) will need to lie under special lights to help break down the bilirubin. You can obtain the lights for home use if needed, or your midwife or doctor may have advice on safely exposing your baby to sunlight, and you’ll be encouraged to increase your baby’s breastmilk or formula intake.

Sleeping 
Every baby is different, but most sleep quite a bit on day one, says midwife Helen McDonald. “By day two, babies are usually more awake and may behave as though they can’t bear to be put down,” she says.

Feeding 
At first, your baby may have little interest in feeding. But by 24 hours, most babies want to eat very frequently — 10 to 12 times a day, for an average of 10 to 40 minutes per feeding. Breastfeeding doesn’t always “take” right away and can be painful. Reach out for as much help as you can find (lactation consultant, public health nurse, breastfeeding clinic) and don’t feel bad if it’s a struggle. Babies on formula should get about 15 millilitres per feeding.

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Crying
At this age, most crying can be difficult to interpret, but usually means your baby is hungry or uncomfortable. The dreaded colic (long periods of unexplained crying) wouldn’t set in until day 10 to 14. If you keep your baby skin to skin most of the time and you feed on demand, he’ll cry less than if left in a bassinet.

Diapers
Your baby is likely to have one or two wet diapers and one or two dirty ones in the first 24 hours, and two or three of each the second day. Don’t be alarmed by the black, sticky consistency of the first few bowel movements; this is meconium and is perfectly normal. A little Vaseline or oil on baby’s bottom makes cleanup easier, advises McDonald.

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