Your baby's body after birth

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After the birth

His head may be misshapen, because the bones of his skull are soft and move across each other to protect his brain as he travels through the birth canal. He'll also have a soft spot on the top of his head (the fontanelle), where the skull bones haven't yet fused.
His eyes may look puffy due to the pressure they've been under during contractions. Your baby's eyes will be dark blue, the true eye colour will develop over the next months.
The skin may be covered in vernix, a white coating that protected them in the womb.
The hands and feet will be curled up and the legs tightly flexed, but they'll straighten out over the next few days.

Special care babies

If your baby has to be taken to the special care baby unit (SCBU or neonatal unit), it can be upsetting and confusing.

Within the SCBU there will be an intensive care section for very sick babies, and a high-dependency part for newborns needing intravenous feeding or help with their breathing. The rest of the unit will be devoted to babies whose needs are less serious.

Skin-to-skin

If your baby is in SCBU, you may miss out on having skin-to-skin contact with them. Don't be worried that this will affect bonding with your baby - even tiny, premature little ones are now encouraged to have close physical contact with their parents. Robin Bishop, spokesperson for BLISS, the premature baby charity, has this advice for parents with children in SCBUs:
Talk: Your baby will know your voice and find it reassuring.
Touch: This has been shown to benefit premature/sick babies.If your newborn is very tiny or ill, you may only be able to do 'containment holding' putting your hand gently on your baby's body for a few seconds. If they're stronger, many SCBUs encourage 'kangaroo care', where newborns are snuggled against their parents' skin.
Feed: Breastmilk is easily digested and has antibodies to help your baby fight infection. He may be too weak to suckle, but expressed milk can be given via a feeding tube.
Get support: Ring the BLISS Parent Support Helpline on 0500 618 140 or visit their website at www.bliss.org.uk.

By Yvonne Faulkner, midwife

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Kerri, 9 months

I fell pregnant at 17 which was a shock enough i had a rough pregnancy and a horrific labour due to my daughter being 7 weeks early. I also do not know the cause of her being premature but she has bad seperation anxiety and has done from around 4 months old i know all babies go through this and iv been told she will grow out of it however she is now 13 months and it seems to be getting worse could this be because she was taken straight from me at birth. She is doing great other than that though she is a good weight and has caught up in every way she has needed to im just curious as to why she is so attatched and has been for so long?

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natz&bump, about 1 year

I'v had 3 babys thats all been born early but all doing really well now!!! i'v found out today that i'm now pregnant again and i'm worried this baby could be born early 2.....my first little girl was born 11 weeks early my second was born 7 weeks early and my third was born 6 weeks early... i dont know the reason for why i go in to early labour but i'd love to know what courses me to.....when is the best time for me to stop working???

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