After a baby is born, the placenta, amniotic sac, and membranes (collectively called the afterbirth) come out in the third stage of labor, usually within 30 minutes, followed by postpartum bodily changes like heavy bleeding (lochia), breast changes (engorgement), increased sweating, and potentially constipation. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut shortly after birth, and the newborn undergoes checks, weigh-in, and initial care.
How long should I let vernix stay on my baby? Vernix caseosa usually absorbs into the skin on its own within 24 to 48 hours after birth, which is one reason the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting a full day before giving your baby a bath.
The amniotic sac comes out with the placenta in the afterbirth, typically within 30 minutes after delivery. Once it comes out, your provider throws it away as medical waste or sends it to the lab for evaluation if indicated.
You'll Deliver the Placenta
Most placentas deliver spontaneously within the first few minutes after birth, Worth says. You may not even notice it happening! But if it takes longer than 30 minutes, or if you're bleeding heavily, your doctor will remove it manually.
Your baby may be taken to another part of the room to have some oxygen. They'll be brought back to you as soon as possible. Your baby will be examined by a midwife, neonatal nurse or paediatrician, then weighed and possibly measured, and given a wrist or ankle band with your name on.
The English language has several terms for children between the ages of birth and 4 years, including "newborn," "infant," "baby," and "toddler." These words are often used interchangeably, and they may mean different things to different people.
The 7 Cardinal Movements of Labor
After delivery, a mix of blood, mucus and tissue from the uterus comes out of the vagina. This is called discharge. The discharge changes color and lessens over 4 to 6 weeks after a baby is born. It starts bright red, then turns darker red.
It involves four stages of labour: the shortening and opening of the cervix during the first stage, descent and birth of the baby during the second, the delivery of the placenta during the third, and the recovery of the mother and infant during the fourth stage, which is referred to as the postpartum.
While every child grows at their own pace, there are five main stages of childhood development that they'll go through: newborn, infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age.
Lochia usually has a fishy odor similar to menstruation. However, if the lochia has an unusual odor or strange odor, it may be due to an infection in the uterus or an infection due to a tear in the perineum during childbirth.
Your placenta will come away, and the blood vessels that were holding on to it will close off as your womb gets smaller. This helps to prevent too much bleeding – although it's normal to bleed a little. You may feel the placenta slide down and out between your legs.
The 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for the first 15 days of recovery, emphasizing rest to help the new parent heal and bond with the baby, by spending 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, gradually increasing activity while prioritizing rest, nourishment, and self-care over chores or visitors. It's a framework for creating boundaries and slowing down to prevent overexertion, though individual recovery needs should guide the pace.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
This scent, often described as “sweet,” “powdery,” or “milky,” comes from a combination of vernix caseosa (the white coating on newborn skin), amniotic fluid, and the unique skin microbiome of the baby. While the smell naturally fades within the first few weeks, its emotional impact can last far longer.
Conclusion. Delayed first bath for at least 24 hours may reduce infant mortality and hypothermia. Delayed bath for at least 6 hours may prevent hypothermia and hypoglycaemia and improve EBF rates at discharge.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
Yes, it seems like you're "4 weeks pregnant" when you're actually only 2 weeks past conception because pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last period, not when the egg is fertilized (which happens around week 2). So, if you feel like you just conceived, you're likely at the medical "4-week" mark, meaning your body is preparing for ovulation or just ovulating, and you'll get a positive test soon if pregnant, with conception happening around week 3 or 4.
Transition to the second stage of labor
This can be the toughest and most painful part of labor. It can last 15 minutes to an hour. During the transition: Contractions come closer together and can last 60 to 90 seconds.
Cramping: Afterpains are usually strongest on the second and third days following birth, after nursing, or after you take a prescribed uterus-contracting medication. The intensity will gradually decrease but may last up to 10 days postpartum.
If your uterus isn't involuting as expected or is squishy, you're at increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage. Your provider will likely do a fundal massage to help your uterus contract. They may also give you manufactured oxytocin (Pitocin®) to help stimulate contractions.
This could be yourself, your birth partner, or your midwife.
If you have a caesarean birth, the obstetrician who delivers your baby will clamp and cut the umbilical cord to prevent any sources of infection entering the operative field.
The embryo is approximately 1.3mm from the crown of the head to the rump but is very difficult to see and measure at this stage using ultrasound. Week 5 can feel a little strange. You've registered with the doctor, your care is planned, yet there's not really much to do at this stage.
These aspects can be remembered using the mnemonic called the 5 P's of Labor that include Power, Passageway, Passenger, Positioning, and Psyche. Being knowledgeable about the 5 P's of labor helps nurses understand the factors that must work together for a successful and safe vaginal birth.
Yes, childbirth is painful. But it's manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother's Day.