What to Expect During Hospital Stay

Immediately After Birth

Baby is here. Now what?

First Hour (If Everything is Normal)

• Baby placed on your chest: Skin-to-skin if you requested it
• Delayed cord clamping: Usually 1-3 minutes, then cord is cut
• APGAR scores: At 1 minute and 5 minutes (scoring baby's health)
• You're being stitched up: If you tore or had episiotomy (you won't feel it if you had epidural)
• Delivering placenta: Happens shortly after baby, you barely notice
• Fundal massage: Nurse presses on your abdomen (it hurts) to help uterus contract

Baby's First Procedures

While you're holding baby or shortly after:

• Wiped down: Usually not a full bath right away anymore
• Weighed and measured
• Footprints taken
• ID bands: Matching bands on you, baby, and partner
• Vitamin K shot: In baby's thigh
• Eye ointment: Antibiotic ointment (required by law in most states)

Moving to Recovery Room

After about 1-2 hours in delivery room, you move to postpartum room.

What to Expect

• You'll be wheeled (not walking yet)
• Baby comes with you, usually in rolling bassinet
• Partner/support person carries your stuff
• This is where you'll stay until discharge

The Checks

Get used to people coming in your room constantly. Privacy is not a thing.

What They Check on You

• Vital signs: Every 4 hours (blood pressure, temperature, pulse)
• Bleeding: They check your pad. Frequently. It's invasive and necessary.
• Fundal massage: Pressing on your uterus to make sure it's contracting. Hurts every single time.
• Perineum: Checking stitches, swelling, healing
• Urination: Making sure you're peeing (if not, catheter might be necessary)
• Pain level: They ask constantly. Be honest.

What They Check on Baby

• Vital signs: Temperature, heart rate, breathing
• Diapers: Counting wet and dirty diapers (they track everything)
• Feeding: How often, how long, any issues
• Weight: Daily checks (weight loss up to 10% is normal)
• Jaundice: Checking skin and eye color, sometimes blood test
• Umbilical cord: Making sure it's drying properly

Feeding Support

If you're breastfeeding, expect a lot of "help" that may or may not actually be helpful.

Lactation Consultants

• Usually visit at least once, often multiple times
• Help with positioning and latch
• Some are amazing. Some are... less amazing.
• You can decline the visit if you want

What They Track

• Time and duration of each feeding
• Which breast baby nursed from
• Any supplementation
• Your milk coming in (usually day 2-5)

Supplementation

If baby's blood sugar is low or weight loss is concerning, they might recommend supplementing with formula.

This is not failure. This is keeping your baby healthy. You can supplement and still breastfeed.

Tests and Procedures

For Baby

• Newborn screening: Heel prick blood test (screens for genetic/metabolic disorders)
• Hearing test: Before discharge
• Car seat test: If baby is premature or small, they test breathing in car seat
• Hepatitis B vaccine: First dose usually given before discharge
• Circumcision: If you're having one done, usually happens day 1 or 2

For You

• Blood work: If you lost a lot of blood or had complications
• Blood pressure monitoring: Especially important if you had preeclampsia
• Rhogam shot: If you're Rh negative and baby is Rh positive

Visitors

Set boundaries before baby arrives. Hospital will enforce them for you.

My Visitor Policy

• Day of birth: Immediate family only, short visits
• Day 2: Extended family if we felt up to it
• Visiting hours: 10am-8pm only, no exceptions
• We could say "no visitors today" and nurses would enforce it

Don't feel guilty about limiting visitors. You just gave birth. You're exhausted. You're bleeding. You're learning to feed your baby. You don't owe anyone access to you.

What the Hospital Provides

Take everything that's not nailed down. You paid for it.

For Baby

• Diapers (take the whole pack when you leave)
• Wipes
• Receiving blankets
• Hat and shirt
• Pacifiers (if you want them)
• Formula (if you're using it)

For You

• Giant mesh underwear (surprisingly comfortable)
• Giant pads
• Peri bottle
• Ice packs
• Witch hazel pads
• Stool softener
• Pain medication
• Dermoplast spray (if you ask)

What to Actually Pack

For Labor

• Phone charger (long cord)
• Hair ties
• Lip balm
• Socks (hospital is cold)
• Your own pillow (hospital pillows are terrible)

For Recovery Stay

• Going home outfit for you (loose, comfortable, high-waisted)
• Going home outfit for baby (newborn AND 0-3 month size - you don't know how big baby will be)
• Car seat (installed before you go to hospital)
• Toiletries (toothbrush, face wash, dry shampoo)
• Nipple cream if breastfeeding
• Your own pads if you prefer them to hospital ones
• Snacks (hospital food is hit or miss)

What You Don't Need

• Cute outfits for baby (they stay in hospital shirt/diaper/hat)
• Multiple outfit changes for you (you wear hospital gown)
• Makeup (you won't care)
• Fancy pajamas
• Most of what's on those elaborate hospital bag lists

Meals

Hospital food is... hospital food. But you can order it whenever you want (within reason).

What I did: Ordered whatever sounded good. Ate a lot. You're recovering from major physical exertion. Eat.

Partner food: Hospital might not provide meals for partner. Have them bring snacks or order delivery.

The Pediatrician Visit

Your baby's pediatrician (or hospital pediatrician if you haven't chosen one yet) will examine baby before discharge.

They check:

• Overall health and development
• Heart, lungs, reflexes
• Jaundice levels
• Feeding and output
• Any concerns you have

This is a good time to ask questions. Write them down beforehand because you'll be exhausted and forget.

Discharge

You can't leave until both you and baby are cleared.

What Needs to Happen

• Pediatrician clears baby
• OB clears you
• Birth certificate paperwork completed
• Car seat inspection (they watch you put baby in it)
• Newborn screening completed
• Follow-up appointments scheduled
• Prescriptions filled (stool softener, pain meds if needed)

Going Home Instructions

You'll get a lot of paperwork. Read it. It covers:

• Warning signs for you (when to call doctor)
• Warning signs for baby
• Incision/stitches care
• Activity restrictions
• Feeding guidelines
• When to schedule follow-up appointments

What I Wish I'd Known

• You won't sleep: Not really. Accept this.
• It's okay to send baby to nursery: If your hospital has one and you need rest, use it. You're not a bad parent.
• Take all the supplies: Seriously. All of them.
• Ask for help: Need more ice packs? Ask. Need help walking to bathroom? Ask. That's what nurses are there for.
• The first poop is terrifying: See Vaginal Birth Recovery.
• Photos will be terrible: You just gave birth. You look like you gave birth. That's okay.
• You might not feel instant connection to baby: That's normal. Love grows.