The fourth stage of labour is often overlooked and rarely gets talked about. It's the time immediately following birth, typically lasting for the first two hours.

As a midwife, maternal and child health nurse, and mother of four myself, I understand the significance of these precious moments. It's a time of transition, where the focus shifts from the intense sensations of labour to the overwhelming joy of meeting your newborn for the first time.

Firstly, skin-to-skin contact is encouraged.

Additionally, breastfeeding within the first hour is highly recommended.

If you are choosing to bottle feed, there is no rush to get started this early unless your baby is very unsettled and crying.

While the focus is primarily on bonding, medical assessments are also conducted during this time.

It's a delicate balance between nurturing the mother-baby bond and ensuring both are safe and in good health. And we try to do this vey quietly while we let you have this special time with your new baby.

We will also be checking that your baby is transitioning to life outside your uterus and breathing well, that their heart rate is normal and they are staying warm.

If you can hold off on announcing the birth for these few hours it will give you this time as your own little family unit. This is precious time to get to know each other and enjoy this before being inundated with phone calls and text messages. It also gives your baby a chance to feed before we weigh & measure them – and you know that every will want to know their important measurements!

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• Checklists for baby equipment, hospital bag, nappy bag, travel & childcare bag

• Newborn Sleep Flowchart-what to do next

• Baby Feed & Sleep Tracker

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