The first hour after birth

The first hour after birth

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Your baby has been born! The moment you've all been looking forward to so much!

Of course, it's important for your child to get off to a good start.

The midwife keeps an eye on 5 different aspects
 For the baby:

Breathing, heart rate, color, muscle tone, and the extent to which the baby responds to stimuli.

We call this the Apgar score. For each component, the baby receives 0–2 points.

The baby is scored after 1 minute, after 5 minutes, and after 10 minutes. The score determines whether your baby needs assistance after birth.

As parents, you often don't notice when the Apgar score is assigned: it's primarily a tool used by healthcare professionals to describe how the baby's birth went. 

A score of 7 to 10 points 1 minute after birth is normal.

Not all babies cry a lot after birth. If the baby is breathing well, has a healthy pink complexion, isn't limp, and responds to stimuli, then there's absolutely no cause for concern.

While the Apgar score is being assessed, the baby can stay lying on your chest! This is actually very important for the baby!

Often, a baby is very awake and alert during the first hour after birth, and it’s often possible to get the baby to nurse right away. We also refer to this first hour as ‘the golden hour’.

If, due to circumstances, the baby can't be with his mother, it's wonderful for both the partner and the baby that the little one can have skin-to-skin contact with Dad on his bare chest until Mom is back!

After birth, the baby is still connected to the umbilical cord. Somewhere between a few minutes and half an hour, the umbilical cord stops pulsating: blood no longer flows through it. If there is minimal blood loss after birth, it is possible to wait before cutting or clamping the umbilical cord.

There may be medical reasons to cut the umbilical cord sooner or to administer medication to speed up the delivery of the placenta.

The placenta must be delivered within an hour. If it isn't, there is a greater chance that the placenta will need to be removed surgically. The midwife will monitor this, as well as the amount of blood loss after the birth.

A small amount of bleeding after childbirth is normal.

After the ‘golden hour,’ the midwife examines the baby. In addition to weighing the baby, the midwife examines the baby from head to toe and tests a number of reflexes.

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What Our Clients Say

Jannieke

Jannieke

During the first few weeks of my pregnancy, we ended up at Aan de Laak. Our first thought was, “That’s the place for us!“ And we were right! The first phone call, asking if we could…

Jannieke

During the first few weeks of the pregnancy, we ended up at Aan de Laak. Our first instinct was: “That’s where we need to be!“ And we were right! The very first phone call, when we asked if we could sign up, immediately put us at ease. We were heading into an unfamiliar period, with all the questions we had, the anxiety, and the first little discomforts! They put us at ease right away. The intimate, small-scale setting made us feel right at home. Everyone hears you and knows you. They’re available 24/7. You can call them even for the smallest things—to discuss something or just to share your story. And if necessary, they’ll be at your door as soon as possible, or they’ll schedule appointments at the hospital for you. They’re not just there for the baby and the mother—they’re also a listening ear for you as a (soon-to-be) family. We’re so grateful to the ladies at Aan de Laak and look back on a special time they were a part of.
Esmee

Esmee

The ladies at Aandelaak were my midwives during three pregnancies. During the first two, I also attended the Centering Pregnancy sessions, which I highly recommend, by the way! The ladies are personable, warm, decisive, friendly, well-informed, and genuine…

Esmee

The ladies at Aandelaak were my midwives during three pregnancies. During the first two, I also participated in the Centering Pregnancy sessions, which I highly recommend, by the way! The ladies are personable, warm, decisive, friendly, well-informed, and genuinely interested. During my last pregnancy with our twins, I had my checkups at the hospital, but Aandelaak still called me every so often to check in and see how I was doing. Even after the (premature) birth, we stayed in close contact, and I felt incredibly supported. They make sure that both during and after your pregnancy, you feel seen and that they can support you wherever needed. – Esmee Blom-Gommans
Marjolein

Marjolein

I’m so happy with the ladies at Aan de Laak. I had a challenging high-risk pregnancy, and they supported us incredibly well, both during and after the birth. I also really enjoyed the centering sessions, and we’re still in touch…

Marjolein

I’m so happy with the ladies at Aan de Laak. I had a challenging high-risk pregnancy, and they supported us incredibly well, both during and after the birth. I also really enjoyed the Centering classes, and we’re still in touch with some of the girls. I highly recommend them if you’re looking for warm and caring midwives.