Skin to Skin contact
The first few hours of a baby’s life are very important for starting to form an attachment with their parents. Skin to skin contact is one of the ways to help you comfort your baby, make them feel safe and secure, and helps start breastfeeding and relationship building.
After your baby is born, where possible, your baby will be dried and placed onto your chest to be held in skin to skin contact.
See the UNICEF video on Skin to Skin Contact for more information
Read the First Magical Hour poster to find out about how the first few hours after your baby is born and breastfeeding.
Cord clamping
Once your baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. This will not cause pain to you or your baby.
Vitamin K
All babies normally receive a vitamin K injection shortly after birth to remove the small risk that they may start bleeding.
Pulse Oximetry
All babies born in NHS Lothian will have a routine pulse oximetry test within the first 24 hours after birth. To find out more about how this is done in hospital, read this leaflet. To find out more about how this is done at home, read this leaflet.
