The First 24 Hours
Tips for the first 24 hours with your baby.
Temperature:
Always make sure your baby is kept at a comfortable temperature. You can check this by feeling the back of your baby’s neck — if it feels nice and warm, your baby is comfortable. Do not check the temperature by touching their hands or feet, as these can feel cool even when your baby is warm enough.
During the first few days, it’s advisable to check your baby’s temperature with a thermometer every three hours. A normal temperature is between 36.5°C and 37.5°C. With a good room temperature of 16 to 18°C, your baby will sleep comfortably and safely wearing: a romper, a sleepsuit, socks, and a hat.
Feeding:
From birth, offer your baby the breast as often as possible — this helps stimulate your milk production. During the first 24 hours, this may be 8 to 12 times. If you are bottle-feeding, your baby will need about 10 to 20 ml per feed during the first 24 hours after birth.
Just like with breastfeeding, feed your baby whenever they wake up and make smacking or rooting noises. If your baby sleeps longer than three hours, it’s best to gently wake them to see if they want to feed.
Changing diapers:
Check regularly whether your baby has a wet or dirty diaper. When changing, do not lift your baby by the legs — instead, gently roll them onto their side.
During the first day, your baby’s stool may be thick, sticky, and black (called meconium) — this is completely normal. Applying a protective ointment to your baby’s bottom after coming home will make cleaning easier.
Comforting:
When your baby cries and needs comfort, provide plenty of skin-to-skin contact. Remember, your baby has also experienced birth — close physical contact with both parents is very important.
Skin-to-skin contact helps regulate your baby’s temperature, heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, and also promotes healthy bonding and attachment.
