First 24 hours – Day 1
Your breasts will still feel soft. The milk you produce will usually be small in volume but high
in calories and protein. Is thick, may be clear or yellow in colour. The average amount a baby receives in the first 24 – 48 hours
is 5 – 15 ml per feed. It is perfectly suited to meet baby’s needs.
After the birth of your baby, skin to skin contact with you
is very important. It helps with bonding, and keeps your baby warm. It also provides comfort for your baby after the trauma of birth.
Your baby will usually look for a feed within an hour of birth. Baby is initially alert and likely to feed well and then may have
a long sleep. Some babies are sleepy and may only want a few feeds in the first 24 hours others are more wakeful and want to feed
frequently. Baby may feed for a short time 5 – 10 minutes or longer 20 – 30 minutes on one or both sides. Correct positioning and
attachment are very important. Check the shape of your nipples each time the baby comes off the breast. Your nipples should look round
and should not look squashed, pinched, flattened, ridged or distorted in shape.
Within the first 24 hours expect one or two wet
nappies. You may need to pull disposable nappies apart to see weather it is wet. Your baby will pass thick, sticky black/green stools.
At least one in 24 hours but may be more.