Topics
- Mother’s recovery & care
- Postpartum changes
- The first days with the baby
- Newborn care & bathing
- Umbilical cord care
- Nappy changes
- Sleep & a safe environment
- Bowel movements & urination
- Jaundice
- Colic
- Recognising the baby’s needs & cues
- When to contact the paediatrician
What you need to know
WHO describes the first six weeks after birth as a critical postnatal period. Care for mother and baby continues after leaving the maternity unit through the follow-up recommended by the healthcare team.
A. Care for the mother
The postnatal period is a time of recovery and adjustment after birth. Vaginal discharge known as lochia gradually changes in amount and colour. Recovery also includes managing pain, caring for a perineal wound or caesarean incision, feeding the baby, maintaining adequate hydration and nutrition, and getting as much rest as possible.
Substantial hormonal and practical changes may affect mood, sleep and a couple’s relationship. Speak with your care team whenever something causes concern or makes everyday functioning difficult.
B. Care for the newborn
Essential care includes maintaining warmth, skin-to-skin contact, feeding support, hand hygiene and recognising danger signs. The umbilical cord should be kept clean and dry, with nothing applied unless a healthcare professional has given different advice. WHO recommends delaying the first bath for at least 24 hours where possible.
For safer sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing babies on their backs for every sleep, on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface without pillows, loose blankets or soft objects. Room-sharing on a separate sleep surface is recommended, preferably for at least the first six months.
Crying is a form of communication. Colic describes repeated periods of intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby, but needs or symptoms requiring paediatric assessment should be excluded before crying is attributed to colic.
What this means in practice
Organise the day around essentials: feeding, rest, hygiene, gentle movement in line with your care team’s advice, and a simple system for nappies and baby clothes. After a caesarean, follow wound-care instructions and avoid activities that cause pain or strain until recovery has been reviewed.
For nappy changes, keep everything within reach, never leave the baby alone on a raised surface, and clean the area gently. Crying and unsettled periods are common, but persistent or unusual crying should be assessed when accompanied by poor feeding, lethargy, fever or another change.
- Keep contact details for your paediatrician, midwife, obstetrician and maternity unit where they are easy to find.
- Ask your support network for specific help with meals, household tasks and protected time for sleep.
- Wash your hands before cord care and after changing a nappy.
- Arrange and attend the maternal and newborn checks recommended by your healthcare team.
How I can support you
I can provide practical support with postnatal organisation, breastfeeding or other feeding, newborn care and bathing, nappy changing, umbilical cord care, creating a safer sleep environment and understanding common newborn needs. Practical parent education also includes recognising when to contact the paediatrician. We can also discuss recovery and a realistic division of care at home.
This support complements, but does not replace, scheduled check-ups or medical assessment of mother or baby.