Guidebook for new parents www.ksshp.fi Contents Foreword 3 Newborn blood sugar screening 17 Pelvic floor muscles 29 First days with your newborn 4 Neonatal jaundice 18 Mood changes 30 First day 4 Newborn metabolic screening 18 Smoking and alcohol 30 Second day 5 Skin-to-skin contact and facilitated Relationship and sexuality Baby care basics 6 tucking during sample collection 18 after childbirth 30 Nappy changing 6 Breastfeeding tips 19 Frequently asked questions 32 Bathing 6 Breast massage 19 When to contact a medical professional 34 Eyes 6 Hand expression 20 Useful contact information 35 Umbilical stump care 7 Nipple shield 20 Helplines 35 Nails 7 Avoid pacifiers and baby bottles 21 Useful websites 35 Getting your newborn to sleep 7 Cup-feeding 21 Fresh air 7 Breast care 22 Physical examination 8 Neonatal ward 25 Hearing screening 9 Breastfeeding problems 27 Compiled by Midwife (IBCLC) and Breastfeeding Coordinator Breastfeeding 10 Storing and freezing breast milk 27 Jenna Muhonen, Midwife (IBCLC) Merja Nevalainen, Good latch 11 Recovering after childbirth 28 Midwife (IBCLC) Taina Palve, and Physiotherapist Pirkko Åkerman. Breastfeeding techniques 12 Vaginal birth 28 Approved by Chief Physician Jyrki Jalkanen. Is your newborn getting enough milk? 14 C-section 28 Photography by Mikko Laitinen, Ville Keto, Pieta Haatainen, and Taina Ristikivi. Increasing your milk production 16 Child health clinic 29 Layout: Mainostoimisto M1 Supplementary milk 17 Physical exercise 29 Print: Siirtopaino Oy, Jyväskylä Foreword Congratulations on your new family member! most importantly, give your baby a chance to new family member. New mothers should The first weeks with your baby is an important charm you! keep this in mind and give the other parent a and unforgettable period in your life. We have chance to spend time with the baby. Open and compiled this guidebook full of information Childbirth may leave new parents exhausted. clear communication is vital for the well-being and tips for you so that you could enjoy this It might be a good idea to lower your stand- of the whole family. A healthy, functioning re- special time to the fullest. ards for a while, and focus on taking care of lationship between the parents is good for the yourself and your baby. Learn how to rest with baby, as well. Spending time and doing things Having a baby is a major change in your life your baby, and postpone things that do not together with your partner is a great way to – especially if it’s your firstborn. Your baby is require your immediate attention. Hormones take care of your relationship. The partner has dependent on you, and that may evoke all help new mothers cope with sleep depriva- an important role in making sure the mother kinds of feelings: joy, love and affection may tion, but they can’t replace rest. is doing ok, and in supporting breastfeeding. If take turns with fear and even anxiety. Some the newborn has older siblings, it’s important parents feel immediate affection for their Sometimes the role of the family’s second to take them into consideration so that they child, but some need a little more time for the adult may transform into something you don’t feel left out. Taking part in babycare usu- feeling to grow. Mothers become sensitive haven’t exactly prepared for. The relationship ally helps them adapt to the new situation. to their babies’ messages instinctively, and between a mother and a baby may seem sometimes it may feel like you’ve become like a symbiosis that leaves the other parent a little too sensitive. If low spirits seem to feeling like a third wheel. However, there stick, it’s always a good idea to discuss it with are many things for the other parent to do: a medical professional. Give yourself time, bathing, soothing, and providing skin-to-skin and listen to yourself and your feelings. And contact all help in building a bond with your 3 First days with your newborn First day well. Your newborn hears and recognises your act according to their reflexes and gravitate heartbeat, and the baby’s temperature, pulse towards the mother’s breasts, preparing them Immediately after childbirth, and blood sugar levels stay normal, as no for feeding by rubbing, licking and pecking at babies tend to be lively and energy is wasted crying. Skin-to-skin contact them. Allowing babies to take their time will 1 ready to be fed after an hour. usually activates the baby to latch onto the help them grasp the breast and latch onto it. In day After the first breastfeeding, breast and suck. This is why we recommend the beginning, ask the staff of your maternity most babies fall asleep for you to enjoy as much skin-to-skin contact as hospital to make sure that breastfeeding has a long nap. It takes time to recover from the possible during the first few days. started well. During the first 24 hours, your birth and settle in to the new surroundings, so baby should be fed at least six times, but your babies need a lot of sleep. Feed your baby whenever you notice signs baby may want to eat even more often. If your of hunger: babies tend to start rooting for baby seems too sleepy to suck enough milk, Skin-to-skin contact feels safe and natural the breast, making sucking motions, licking, try expressing milk by hand and directing the for the baby. Babies can’t get enough of it, so moving their head around to find the breast, drops straight into your baby’s mouth or into a it’s good to spend as much time as possible or finding something to suck, usually their cup for cup feeding. This way your baby gets enjoying skin-to-skin contact. Forget every- fingers. These signals are called feeding cues. important drops of colostrum. thing else, take off your baby’s clothes apart Most babies tend to have their eyes closed from the nappy, and place the baby on your at this stage, as they are still half asleep and During the first 24 hours, there won’t be much bare chest. Raise the backrest of your bed and gradually waking up. Crying is the last sign of to see in your baby’s nappy, but you should make yourself comfortable. Let yourself enjoy hunger, and at that stage it may take some still check it every now and then. One wet and rest with your baby, and you’ll notice more effort to calm the baby to latch onto the nappy and one meconium (sticky baby poo) is how much pleasure your baby takes in this as breast. Skin-to-skin contact allows babies to enough. For the first couple of days after birth, 4 your baby will pass meconium which is black find the most comfortable feeding positions for in colour, and has a sticky, tar-like texture. you. Parents can take turns keeping the baby After a few days, your baby’s stools will have in skin-to-skin contact. After a long feeding a more yellow colour to them. Meconium may session, babies tend to also sleep longer, so be difficult to wipe off your baby’s bottom, and make sure you get some rest as well. From if washing your baby with water won’t seem to the second day onwards, babies should have do it, try using baby oil. at least 8 successful feeding sessions, wet the nappy twice, and pass stool once. Skin-to-skin contact should help keep your baby awake for enough feeding sessions. Don’t hesitate to ask Second day help and guidance from the staff. At certain stages, newborns go through phases of cluster feeding. The first one usually Skin-to-skin contact 2 takes place around the sec- day ond night after birth. The baby • Take off your baby’s clothes, leave seems to be suckling all the only the nappy on. time, and doesn’t seem to settle for anything. This is your baby’s way of ordering more • Lay your baby on your bare chest, milk – the more stimulation to the breasts, the stomach down. more milk they will produce. The first cluster • Find a comfortable position, either feeding phase will last for 12–48 hours. So half-sitting or laying down, and make don’t worry, it will pass! Keep the baby in sure you can see your baby easily. skin-to-skin contact, as it will both calm the baby and support milk production. Breastfeed • Cover the baby, but leave the head whenever your baby wants to be fed. Try to uncovered. 5 Baby care basics Newborns need feeding, contact, and cleaning. Looking after their needs makes them feel loved. Nappy changing a week. If your baby’s skin isn’t very dry, you can bathe even more regularly. Make sure to Nappies should be changed whenever it’s nec- dry your baby carefully, also between the skin essary. When you learn your baby’s rhythm folds. You should check your baby’s bends, in and temperament, you’ll find the best times for between the fingers, and behind the ears each nappy changing. If your baby is sleepy, chang- day. Plain water is all you need to wash your ing the nappy will act as a natural wake-up. If baby’s skin. If your baby’s skin seems dry, you your baby is temperamental and feels irritated can use baby lotion after bath. when you change the nappy before feeding, it’s better to do it afterwards.