BIRTH AND THE FIRST MOMENTS AFTER

Giving birth is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a woman's life. Yet after all the months of careful preparation and anticipation, the moment of birth is almost never what you had expected. Labor may be easier or more physically demanding than you had imagined. You may end up in a delivery room instead of the birthing room you'd wanted, or you could have a Caesarean section instead of a vaginal delivery. Your health, the condition of the fetus and the policies of the hospital will all help determine what actually happens. But fortunately, despite what you may have thought when you were pregnant, these are not the issues that will make your child's birth a "success." What counts is the baby, here at last and healthy.

Leaving the Delivery Area

If you've given birth in a birthing room or alternative birth center, you probably won't be moved right away. But if you delivered in a conventional delivery room, you'll be taken to a recovery area where you can be watched for problems such as excessive bleeding. Your baby may be taken to the nursery at that time, or he may receive his first physical examination by your side.

This exam will measure his vital signs: temperature, respiration and pulse rate. The pediatrician or nurse will check his color, activity level and breathing pattern. If he didn't receive his vitamin K and eyedrops earlier, they will be administered now. And once he's warm, he'll be given his first bath and the stump of his cord may be painted with a blue antibacterial dye or other medication to prevent infection. Then he'll be wrapped in a blanket and, if you wish, returned to you.

After all this activity during his first couple of hours, your baby will probably fall into a deep sleep, giving you time to rest and think back over the exciting things that have happened since labor began. If you have your baby with you, you may stare at him in wonder that you could possibly have produced such a miracle. Such emotions may wipe away your physical exhaustion temporarily, but don't fool yourself. You need to relax, sleep and gather your strength. You have a very big job ahead of you, you're a parent now!

Rooming-In Arrangements

Quite often, women are so excited about their new arrival that they don't even notice how tired and sore they are. In spite of the fatigue, it may still be difficult to relax enough to fall asleep. If you're not careful, your rooming-in arrangements can add to the problem. However, having your baby sleep in the nursery may not give you the peace you thought if you then imagine that every crying baby you hear is your own. You can solve these problems by letting him sleep in his hospital-supplied bassinet next to you, so you can sleep when he does and hold him when he awakens.

On the other hand, particularly if you had a long, hard labor or a Caesarean section, you simply may not have the strength to keep the baby with you full-time. After having a C-section, you may find it uncomfortable to lift your baby for a few weeks; you may have to try different positions for holding and nursing him that put less strain on your stitches. These obstacles may make you feel that you're not bonding with your baby as you imagined you would; and you may feel especially disappointed if you had planned for a problem-free, natural delivery. Fortunately, your child's major preoccupation during these first few days also will be sleeping and recuperating, and he won't care where he does it as long as he's warm, dry and fed when he's hungry. So for the moment, the hospital nursery will suit him fine. You both will have plenty of time to form a secure bond with each other after your physical recoveries are complete.

Short Hospital Stay vs. Long Hospital Stay

From an emotional and physical standpoint, there are arguments for both the short and the long stay. Many women simply dislike being in the hospital; these women tend to feel more comfortable and relaxed at home. As soon as mother and baby are proclaimed healthy and able to travel, they're eager to leave. By keeping the hospital stay short, they'll certainly save themselves, or their insurance company, money. However, new mothers often cannot get as much rest at home as in the hospital, especially if there are older children clamoring for attention. Nor is there the support of the hospital nurses during the first days of breastfeeding and baby care. You should weigh these advantages and disadvantages carefully prior to making your decision about when to go home.

Going Home after Delivery

If your baby was born in an alternative birthing center, you probably will go home within 24 hours. By contrast, you might spend up to three days in a hospital if yours was a routine delivery, and up to a week if you had a C-section or an especially difficult delivery. Recently, however, even full-term babies who are well are going home within 48 hours after delivery.

Before you do leave the hospital, your home and car should be equipped with at least the bare essentials. At home you'll need a safe place for the baby to sleep, some diapers, and enough clothing and blankets to keep her warm and protected. If you're bottle-feeding, you'll also need a supply of formula. Finally, make sure you have a federally approved car seat in which your baby can ride on her trip home. The car seat should be in the back seat, securely attached by the car seat belt. Follow installation instructions carefully.