As soon as your baby is born he will be placed by your midwifeonto your chest in skin to skin contact for you to spend time with your new little baby.

After the birth two clamps are placed on the baby’s umbilical cord, side by side, and the umbilical cord is then cut, between the clamps by the midwife or your birth partner in the presence of the midwife. The baby is dried and laid carefully on your chest in skin-to-skin contact. Holding your baby in skin to skin contact will help your baby keep warm, will help regulate your baby’s breathing and heartbeat, and the release of your breastmilk hormones will help your baby to start breastfeeding

The midwife will assess your baby using the Apgar Score at one minute after birth and again at five minutes. Your baby has its name tag applied and also in many maternity units your baby will have a security tag placed on its foot.  Your baby is also weighed and examined in the labour or delivery room in your presence.

You may notice your baby is born with noticeable downy body hair called ‘lanugo’ which kept them cosy during pregnancy. This will disappear as your baby gets a little older.

Most newborns are awake and alert shortly after the birth. Your newborn baby may open his eyes and start to look around. Your baby also quite soon after the birth may start showing signs of wanting to breastfeed, these ‘feeding cues’ include licking his fingers, mouthing and rooting for your breast. Crying is a late feeding cue so your midwife is there to help you position and attach your baby to your breast during the early feeding cues.