After premature birth: your emotions
Mixed and powerful emotions are common after premature birth. All emotions are OK. Accepting and talking about emotions can help you cope.
Mixed and powerful emotions are common after premature birth. All emotions are OK. Accepting and talking about emotions can help you cope.
Premature labour, birth and babies
A premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The earlier babies are born, the less developed they will be at birth. Most premature babies develop well with no serious long-term problems.
A premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The earlier babies are born, the less developed they will be at birth. Most premature babies develop well with no serious long-term problems.
Premature birth: questions to ask
Before a premature birth, it’s natural to worry about your baby and yourself. It can help to get information about premature birth from your doctor or midwife. You can ask about where your baby will be born and what happens during and after premature birth.
Before a premature birth, it’s natural to worry about your baby and yourself. It can help to get information about premature birth from your doctor or midwife. You can ask about where your baby will be born and what happens during and after premature birth.
Sick or premature babies: practical preparation
If you know you’re having a premature or sick baby, it can help to prepare for a hospital stay. If you can, stock your freezer, organise household help, and plan care for other children. Plan who’ll take you to the hospital and stay to support you.
If you know you’re having a premature or sick baby, it can help to prepare for a hospital stay. If you can, stock your freezer, organise household help, and plan care for other children. Plan who’ll take you to the hospital and stay to support you.
Premature birth: mental and emotional preparation
If you know you’re having a premature birth, you might have many mixed emotions. Get information from midwives and doctors and speak to other parents who’ve had premature births. Relaxation exercises and positive thinking can help you feel more ready for premature birth.
If you know you’re having a premature birth, you might have many mixed emotions. Get information from midwives and doctors and speak to other parents who’ve had premature births. Relaxation exercises and positive thinking can help you feel more ready for premature birth.
Your newborn’s first weeks: what to expect
Newborns spend their first weeks feeding, sleeping and bonding with caregivers. You can bond with your newborn baby by cuddling, talking and smiling.
Newborns spend their first weeks feeding, sleeping and bonding with caregivers. You can bond with your newborn baby by cuddling, talking and smiling.
After baby is born: what to expect in the first hours
What happens after birth depends on pregnancy, labour, birth and the way your baby adapts to life outside the womb. You can have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after birth if you and your baby are both well.
What happens after birth depends on pregnancy, labour, birth and the way your baby adapts to life outside the womb. You can have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after birth if you and your baby are both well.
Birthing mothers: the first weeks
In the early weeks, rest whenever you can and give yourself time to get to know your baby. It helps to know where and how to get support in the first weeks with your baby. A midwife or child and family health nurse will usually visit you at home.
In the early weeks, rest whenever you can and give yourself time to get to know your baby. It helps to know where and how to get support in the first weeks with your baby. A midwife or child and family health nurse will usually visit you at home.
Birthing mothers: your body after birth
The first week after birth is a time for getting to know your new baby, resting and recovering. Vaginal bleeding, soreness and afterpains are normal. But talk to a midwife, child and family health nurse or doctor if you’re in pain. You might have urinary and bowel incontinence, hair loss and stretch marks in the months after birth.
The first week after birth is a time for getting to know your new baby, resting and recovering. Vaginal bleeding, soreness and afterpains are normal. But talk to a midwife, child and family health nurse or doctor if you’re in pain. You might have urinary and bowel incontinence, hair loss and stretch marks in the months after birth.
Recovery after birth: in pictures
Rest and recovery after birth
Healing after birth takes time. Balance rest and activity. If you do too much, you might feel aches, pains, throbbing or heaviness in your pelvic area.