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Leave the mother, partner and baby to spend some time together with skin to skin contact and plenty of warm bunny rugs covering the baby (or allow the baby to spend some time in the warm bath with the parents if it was a water birth). |
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Wrap the baby in some clean, warm bunny rugs when the parents are ready. |
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Suggest the mother offer the baby breastfeed without help, when the baby is interested. |
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Check the baby's attachment after latching on the breast and ask the mother if this feels comfortable. |
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Assist the baby to latch if the mother requests this. |
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Visually check the baby's colour, behaviour and breathing intermittently, while the baby is being held by the mother or partner. |
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Leave the parents to spend time with their baby, make phone calls, have visitors or introduce siblings (if they want this). |
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Perform an initial general check of the baby's overall physical appearance when the parents are ready (perhaps 1 to 2 hours later, unless busy). |
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Weigh the baby and measure their head circumference and length. |
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Ask the parents if they wish to give their baby Vitamin K and if so how would they like this administered (orally or as an injection). |
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Check the baby's temperature. |
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Not bath the baby unless the parents request this (or do a quick 'top and tail' wash if the baby is quite soiled.) |
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Dress the baby in hospital clothes or clothes the parents have brought in, if they want this or are going home within a few hours on early release. |
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Ask the partner or support person to hold the baby while the mother has a shower and something to eat. |
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Organise a bottle of formula for the baby if not breastfeeding (the mother may need to supply this). |
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Organise for early release if the mother intends to go home in the next 4 to 12 hours. |
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Facilitate the partner staying with the mother (or sleeping overnight in the birth centre) if the centre is not busy. |
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Attach 2 identification bracelets on the baby's wrists or ankles, if the mother and baby will be transferring to the postnatal ward. This shows the baby's name as 'baby of the mother's name' for example, "Baby of Jane Smith". These will also state the baby's date of birth, sex, and sometimes time of birth and medical record number. (You may be asked to read and verify these details as being correct, before they are placed on your baby.) |
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Transfer the baby with the mother to the postnatal ward if they are staying for more than 12 hours or so or if the birth centre is busy. |