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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, or if the room is cool. |
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Suggest the mother offer the baby a 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, partner or other support person. |
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Give the parents space to spend time with their baby, make phone calls, have visitors or introduce siblings. |
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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). |
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When the parents are ready, weigh the baby and measure their head circumference and length or perhaps perform this several hours later when they return to check the mother and baby (with 12 to 24 hours). |
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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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Perhaps feel the baby's forehead and only check the baby's temperature if they feel cool. |
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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 (or get the parents to dress) the baby in clothes and a nappy. |
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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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Facilitate a bottle of formula for the baby if not breastfeeding. |
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Delay leaving if the baby is well but has some possible 'risk factors' of becoming unwell, or is breathing a little rapidly. |
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Educate the parents about what to look for in their baby if they are at risk of becoming unwell in the next 24 hours or so. |
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Possibly perform a temperature check and observe the baby's breathing and heart rate and record this if the baby is 'at risk'. Transfer the baby to the hospital for observations if the baby is becoming unwell. |
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Give the parents contact numbers for themselves (or another caregiver if they are tired or too busy to come back at short notice) as well as the hospital's contact number, in case the baby becomes unwell. |
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Give the parents information on what they can expect for their baby's behaviour, feeding, bowels and urine in the next 12 to 24 hours until they return. |
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Leave the mother and baby once the baby has fed, is settled and appears well and the mother's needs have been attended to (usually after 2 to 3 hours). |