See here for Parent Education – Labour & Delivery
Feeding Your Baby
NHS Lothian has it’s own website with information about feeding your baby. We have also listed some other resources that you may find helpful.
Best Beginnings (https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk) is a great website that has lots and lots of resources about breast feeding.
https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/feeding?age=2
https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/breastfeeding-resources/
Skin to skin after birth
https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/watch-from-bump-to-breastfeeding-online
How to tell if baby is hungry
https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/watch-from-bump-to-breastfeeding-online
What will my baby be like when they are born?
- I like to eat a lot! Roughly 2-3 hourly
- Sometimes I like to cluster feed and will be on and off your boob/or the bottle for an extended period and drive you crazy!
- I like to sleep a lot! between 16-18 hours in 24 hours
- I will have periods of alertness/wakefulness in-between sleeps
- I will pee and poo a lot too! I will wet my nappy roughly 6-7 times in 24 hours sometimes more!
- My eyesight is a bit blurry. I like faces as can only see about 8-10 inches so when you hold me looking at your face makes me happy!
- My digestive system/gut is very immature and just beginning to get used to digesting the delicious milk you are providing. Therefore I may be very gassy, hiccup a lot and love to poo explosively when you expose me in front of others!
- I am also very sensitive to my new environment having been incubated in water for the past nine months. Irritants and pollutants in the air make me sneeze a lot and my skin may break out in a rash, which isn’t usually anything serious and goes away on its own. However, always ask the midwife to have a look just in case
How nappies should look in the early days
Safer Sleeping
Please read this leaflet for advice about safer sleeping for babies. Versions in other languages can be accessed here.
There is also a useful video about safe sleeping.
Recovery tips
- Regular analgesia (set an alarm!)
- Regular naps where possible (sleep when baby sleeps – it’s completely acceptable to live in your pjs for the first week and longer if you need!)
- Eating well/keeping well hydrated
- Changing sanitary pads regularly
- Washing hands before/after toilet
- Showers/short baths daily
- Cook meals and freeze them in advance so you don’t need to worry when baby is here (if you’re the organised type!)
- Accept help/support!
- Do not wear tight fitting nursing bra/tops (shouldn’t leave marks, indents on skin when removed)
- Don’t make plans for the first week. Don’t ‘entertain’ visitors – if they want to pop over to do chores, feed you or give you a chance to grab a nap then great!
- Don’t feel guilty about having takeaways!
- Don’t worry about housework/chores (NOT important!)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/being-a-parent/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/your-baby-after-birth/
