first few hours after birth Things You Should Know About the First Few Hours After Birth

first few hours after birth things about the first few hours after birth first few hours after birth When your baby is born, her first cry will kick-start her lungs. The obstetrician will suction her mouth and nose to clear away any mucus or amniotic fluid and make sure both nostrils are fully open. Your newborn will be put onto your body, cord int, and covered with a blanket. If you have a C-section, the doctor will lift your baby up so you can see her; then shell be cleaned up and given to your spouse to hold. If your baby is born prematurely or is in respiratory distress, she will be taken immediately to the neonatal intensive care unit for examination. Large babies (those weighing more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces) may need to be taken for a heel-stick blood test, since they are at risk of having low blood-sugar levels during the first few hours of life.\r
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Cutting the cord. The cord is usually cut within the first few minutes. After the doctor clamps it in two places, the babys father is often given the honor of snipping it. Your doctor may also take a blood sample from the cord for later screening. If youve elected to donate cord blood to a blood bank, it will be collected now.