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Your baby's body after birth
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To help my son sleep in the day, I used to put him in a hammock hung from the door frame. The gentle swinging motion would help him to sleep and he'd often stay asleep for three hours. Charlotte Highman, 33, mum to Harry, 15 months
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When it's all going pear shaped, rebalance yourself with a move that's a bit yoga-ish. Sit comfortably; inhale for the count of 3, exhale for a count of 6, until you feel calm. You'll find you can't breathe and count and hold on to stressful thoughts!Woman Magazine
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My breastfeeding tip is to always keep your back straight by either sitting in a straight-backed chair if you've got one, otherwise by supporting it with cushions.Louise Drysdale, 28, mum to Rosie, Berks
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I thought I'd love breastfeeding, but I dreaded feeds. I'm much happier since I stopped. I'll have another go with my next baby, but I won't beat myself up if I still don't like it.By Annabel Harper, 26, mum to Rebecca, 22 months
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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.
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