Your cribsheet for once you get home from hospital

(When everything suddenly feels very real!)

Your baby will want to feed really regularly, remember their stomach is the size of a marble and breastmilk is absorbed quickly. In the first 24 hours they are still tired from being born (but still feed 4-8 times) but once the second night of their life comes around, they will suddenly start feeding more.

This should be 8+ times in a 24 hour period and likely more at night as they know your prolactin levels are higher then! Look for their hunger cues, check the list of these earlier on in the handout but also make sure you wake baby to feed within 4 hours of a previous feed if they're still asleep.

Babies like to be really close to you. This is really normal and to be expected - don't think they're abnormal if they want to sleep on you all the time! If you want to put them down however after they're fast asleep on you, try putting them down on their side, keeping your hands on them and then slowly rolling them onto their back (a safe sleep position) and slowly taking your hands off of them. You could also make sure the area where you're putting them down smells like you and isn't cold to touch when you put them down!

Check their nappy and change it when it needs changing. Keep track somewhere of how many wet/dirty nappies they've done as this can come in handy and also check against the chart in the handout as this is a good marker of how well feeding is going. Keep a track as well of how the colour of their poo is changing - the quicker it changes the better! It changes from black, meconium poo through to green poo as milk starts to get digested and then turns yellow!

If you're breastfeeding and it's sore - get someone to check the attachment. If they say it looks fine but it's still painful, ask someone else as we can't always see what 's going on internally. For soreness, nipple cream or silver nipple caps are also helpful! Remember the ‘3 keeps’ - keep your baby fed, keep your milk flowing and keep baby close. Basically, express if you can’t feed, make sure baby is fed and keep baby close to you so that you can respond to them quickly.

As your milk changes/comes in on day 3 (or 2-4!) you have a hormonal shift and feeling weepy and tearful is very normal. You're also tired from the birth and recovering - think about visitors carefully around this time and only have people around you who will support you/help facilitate a nap!

It's okay if you both feel all sorts of emotions during this time. Early parenthood is a rollercoaster and however amazing your new baby is, your life has shifted in a huge way. You don't have to love every second. Ask for help if you need it, getting support is important and you're not alone! Please try not to feel guilt/shame about any challenging emotions that may crop up. Emotions are just emotions, they come and they go and they are not a reflection on how much you love your baby. This is one of the most intense things you will ever do!

Prioritise rest/sleep! If you can’t sleep, REST! Don’t feel like you ‘should’ be doing lots of things. The only thing you should be doing is resting and caring for yourself and baby. One week in bed then one week on the sofa ideally!

Don't feel you need to put baby in day/night specific clothes - choose whatever outfit is easiest and change their clothes when they're dirty. Remember - no bulky clothes in car seats or when they're in a sling! Also when using a stretchy sling in the early days (a lifesaver) remember TICKS guidelines and get support if needed.

It can be anxiety inducing when you’re figuring out what to dress them in and how many layers etc. Remember - one layer more than you and feel their chest to check their temperature and then go from there.

Take all advice with a pinch of salt - you will get lots of advice from different people and even healthcare professionals will tell you different things when it comes to feeding/postnatal care of yourself and baby. Pick what rings true for you and sits well with you and leave the rest.

A midwife will come and check you at home the day after you get home from hospital and then you'll be asked to go to a clinic for a day 5 and another check around day 8-12 at a clinic. On day 5 they will check baby's weight and offer a blood test on baby called the heel prick test. Make sure they have warm socks on before this appointment and it'll help this go smoothly!

Remember - you've got this!

Trust your instincts, you know your baby best. You're doing an amazing job, even when it doesn't feel like it - I promise!

All the oxytocin,

Sophie x