After the birth (postnatal)

We hope you have enjoyed your experience with us at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and wish you every success on your journey into parenthood.

These webpages aim to give you information about what to do and what to expect now that you are going home. We hope this helps you in the first few weeks with your new baby.

The first few days with your baby can be rewarding yet it can also be very emotional as you adjust to being a parent. You may even find the thought of being responsible for a baby quite daunting. This is completely normal and something almost every parent experiences. Your confidence will grow in time. There is lots of support available in hospital and at home.

Please do not hesitate to ask your midwife any questions you and your family may have.

Care for your baby immediately after birth

Cord care

Shortly after birth, the midwife will clamp the umbilical cord close to your baby’s navel with a plastic clip. The midwife or your partner then cuts the cord with the clamp attached. The cord takes about a week to dry out and drop off. Keep the navel clean and dry until this happens. If you notice any bleeding or discharge from the navel tell your midwife, health visitor or doctor.
Vitamin K

After your baby is born, your midwife will ask for your permission to give vitamin K to the infant via an injection. This vitamin will prevent a serious bleeding condition called Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn which, although rare, can be life-threatening.
The fontanelle

This is a diamond-shaped area on the top of your baby’s head where the skull bones haven’t yet fused together. The fontanelle may take about a year before the bones close over.
Bumps and bruises

It is quite common for a newborn to have some swelling and bruises on their head, or to have bloodshot eyes. This is usually due to the pushing and squeezing of childbirth and they will disappear in time. If you are worried about any bumps or bruises talk to the midwives looking after you.
Birthmarks and spots

Most babies have little marks and spots, mainly around the head and face. Most common are the little pink ‘stork marks’ on the forehead and upper eyelids or marks on the nape of the neck. Most of them will go away eventually. Strawberry marks, with their dark red and slightly raised appearance, can appear a few days after the birth. They may take a while to disappear but are generally nothing to worry about. Spots and rashes are not unusual but you should tell your midwife or doctor if there is marked change in your baby’s behaviour, such as an unwillingness to feed, sleeplessness or irritability. If you are concerned about a birthmark, please consult your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Skin

The top layer of a newborn’s skin is very thin and easily damaged but over the first month, as it matures, it will develop its own natural protective barrier. We would advise against the use of moisturisers or other products initially which can be quite harsh for a newborn’s sensitive skin.

It is also normal for newborns' skin to peel in the first two weeks after they are born. Your newborn is shedding their top layers of skin as they transition from the uterus into the outside world. Their skin is developing its own natural barrier.
Jaundice

At three days old, many babies develop mild jaundice with their skin and whites of their eyes taking on a yellow tinge. This usually fades within 10 days, though more serious jaundice may need treatment. If this is the case your midwife will discuss it with you.