After your baby is born
It’s natural to focus on your baby’s birth while you are pregnant. But it’s a good idea to also know what to expect after labour.
Skin-to-skin contact really helps with bonding. It’s a good idea to have your baby lifted onto you as soon as they are born and before the cord is cut, so that you can be close to each other straight away. Skin to skin contact also helps get breastfeeding off to a good start.
Postnatal care is offered both in the hospital setting and in the community.
You will experience changes to your physical and emotional wellbeing following the birth of your baby. This is normal but if you are concerned about any aspects of labour, birth or post-birth, speak to your midwife.
If you would like any further information, please visit the NHS website.
Feeding Your Baby
Breastfeeding your baby is healthiest for baby; not only does it provide perfect nutrition, it also helps protect your baby from diarrhoea and vomiting, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), childhood leukaemia, obesity and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. For more information on getting breastfeeding off to a good start visit the NHS website.
You and your newborn
As a new parent you’re bound to have questions on everything from getting breastfeeding started, to washing and bathing your baby and changing their nappy.
Your midwife or health visitor will be able to help you with all of these aspects of being a parent. The NHS website also offers a lot of help and advice.
More information is available in our postnatal leaflets section.