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After the birthWeeks 37–42

What Can You Expect in the First Days at Home With Your Baby?

Expect feeds every 1 to 3 hours, diapers that show feeding is going well, lots of sleep in short stretches, and checks from your baby's doctor or midwife.

  • MyPregnancy editorial
  • Updated
  • 2 min read
  • 13 sources

Not yet medically reviewed. This article sums up published guidance from the sources at the end. It is not medical advice: follow your own midwife or doctor.

On this page
  1. Feeding
  2. Diapers
  3. Sleep
  4. Who will see you
A newborn asleep with a hand curled by their face.
Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

The first few days are a time for you and your baby to get to know each other. This is what to expect with feeding, sleep and checks.

Most families go home from the hospital 1 to 2 days after the birth. The stay may be longer after a cesarean.

Feeding

Let your baby set the schedule. Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, as often as every 1 to 3 hours, including at night. Early signs of hunger include looking alert, bending the arms, closing the fists and putting fingers to the mouth. Crying comes later, and a crying baby finds it harder to latch.

Nurses, doctors and lactation consultants can help with breastfeeding. If you cannot breastfeed or decide not to, there are other ways to feed your baby.

Diapers

In the first week, your baby's poop changes from black or dark green to yellow. Signs that your baby is getting enough milk include enough wet and dirty diapers through the day, swallowing you can see and hear, seeming content after feeds and gaining weight steadily. Breastfed babies lose some weight in the first week and should be back to their birth weight by day 10 to 14.

Sleep

For every sleep, naps and at night:

  • Place your baby on their back
  • Use a firm, flat surface, such as a crib mattress with a fitted sheet
  • Keep blankets, pillows, bumper pads and soft toys out of the sleep area
  • Keep the crib or bassinet in your room, ideally until your baby is at least 6 months old

Who will see you

Your baby will have regular well-child visits with their health care provider. Before you leave the hospital, ask when the first checkup should be. Your own first postpartum checkup should be within 3 weeks of the birth.

Call your baby's health care provider right away if you are worried about your baby's health or think they are not getting enough to eat.

MyBaby, the sister app to this one, can track feeds, sleep and diapers.

Sources

  1. NHSEarly days
  2. NHSYour newborn baby
  3. NHSBreastfeeding: the first few days
  4. NHSBreastfeeding: is my baby getting enough milk?
  5. NHSHow to change your baby's nappy
  6. NHSSudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  7. NHSHelping your baby to sleep
  8. ACOGBreastfeeding Your Baby
  9. ACOGA Partner's Guide to Pregnancy
  10. ACOGWhat to Expect at a Postpartum Checkup—And Why the Visit Matters
  11. CDCNewborn Breastfeeding Basics
  12. CDCHow Much and How Often to Breastfeed
  13. CDCProviding Care for Babies to Sleep Safely

Last checked .

Written by the MyPregnancy editorial team from the sources above.

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