Here Comes Baby
Are You Ready?
Table of Contents
Counting Your Baby’s Movements
2
Signs of Labor
3
Do you have a car seat yet? 4
Have you chosen your baby’s doctor yet?
4
Safe Sleep
5
What is Skin to Skin?
6
Why is breastfeeding Important?
7
Can I breastfeed and smoke cigarettes?
8
What to bring to the hospital
9 - 10
Counting Your Baby’s Movements
(also known as kick counts)
Purpose: To check to make sure baby is getting enough nutrition
and oxygen
How to: Choose a time when baby is usually active, like after a good meal.
Count how long it takes baby to move 10 times. Movements can be kicking,
thumping, rolling over, pushing outward, punching or just swishing. You
should feel 10 movements in two hours or less.
What now? If baby does not move 10 times in two hours: Wait a few hours,
eat a good meal, drink a large glass of water and try again.
When to call your doctor: Call if baby does not move 10 times in two hours
after the second try or if there is a big decrease in movements noticed over
three to four days.
Remember: Each baby has its own normal pattern of movements and sleep
cycles. Babies can sleep from 20 minutes to 1 ½ hours. Get to know your
baby’s normal level of activity and notify us if you feel your baby is not
moving like usual.
2
Signs of Labor
Contractions
Contractions usually feel like very severe menstrual cramps or a bad
backache. Real labor contractions get stronger over time and keep coming
no matter how you change your position or vary your activity.
Time your contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the
next one. When you notice that your contractions are starting every three
to five minutes for more than one hour, you may be in labor.
Water Breaks
Sometimes when your water breaks, there is a big gush of fluid from your
vagina. This fluid is usually clear with white specks, but it may be yellowgreen or green-brown in color.
Sometimes your water just leaks and you may not be sure what it is. When
it is the amniotic fluid around your baby that is leaking, you will have no
control over it. You cannot just wipe it away. It will keep coming. You should
go to the bathroom and empty your bladder. If your water is leaking, it will
continue to leak even after you have wiped dry.
When to Call the Doctor
1)When your contractions are three to five minutes apart for more
than one hour
2) If your water breaks
3) If you have constant, severe abdominal pain that does not ease up
4) If you are bleeding as heavy as a period
5) If your baby is not moving like usual
3
Do you have your baby’s car seat yet?
You will need a baby car seat and you will need to know how to use it
before you go to the hospital to have your baby.
Your baby can not leave the hospital without a car seat.
Visit www.carseat.org for information about car seats.
Have you chosen your baby’s doctor yet?
The hospital will want to know who your baby’s doctor is when you arrive.
This is because newborn screen results and hearing screen reports will need
to be sent to the health care provider who will be doing your baby’s first
physical.
You may choose a pediatrician or a family doctor for your baby, and you will
want to make sure the doctor’s office accepts your insurance. If you choose
a family doctor, you will need to find out if he or she can see your baby
in the hospital. The Maternal Child Health Center can only see babies of
parents who live in Warren or Butler counties. To locate the right physician,
call CareFinders toll free at (866) 608-FIND (3463).
4
Safe Sleep
Ten ways to reduce the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) 1
1. A
lways place your baby on his
or her back to sleep, for naps and
at night.
2. P
lace your baby on a firm sleep
surface, such as on a safety
approved* crib mattress, covered
by a fitted sheet. No pillows,
quilts, sheepskins or blankets.
3. K
eep soft objects, toys and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area.
No pillow-like bumper pads.
4. Do not allow smoking around your baby.
5. K
eep your baby’s sleep area close to you but separate from where
you sleep.
6. Think about offering a clean, dry pacifier when placing your baby down
to sleep. If you are breastfeeding, wait until your child is one month old
or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.
7. D
o not let your baby overheat during sleep. Keep baby in light sleepwear
and a room temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS.
9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS.
10. T
o reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on baby’s head,
provide “Tummy Time.” When the baby is awake and someone can
watch him, place the baby on his or her stomach and allow him to
exercise his head, neck and shoulder muscles.
*For crib safety guidelines, contact the Consumer Product Safety
Commissioner toll free at (800) 638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov.
5
Infants Benefit From Skin-to-Skin
What is Skin-to-Skin? 2,3
If your baby is doing well, your doctor may place your newborn baby on
your abdomen immediately after delivery. While there, the nursery nurse
will dry and diaper your baby and place a cap on his/her head. The baby
will then be placed under your gown so he/she will be skin-to-skin. Right
after birth, skin-to-skin keeps the baby’s blood sugar more stable, keeps
the baby’s temperature more normal and increases the oxygen level in the
baby’s blood.
When infants are skin-to-skin shortly after birth, moms seem to bond
more quickly to their babies and tend to be more confident in their own
mothering abilities. Babies tend to have less crying in the initial weeks after
delivery. Skin-to-skin also promotes breastfeeding and these babies tend to
gain weight quicker, as well. You can still do skin-to-skin even if you are not
planning to breastfeed.
Skin-to-skin will also lessen the amount of bleeding that you have after birth.
Babies can also be placed skin-to-skin with their dads after birth. This can
help dads to feel a part of the birth process and improve bonding with
their babies.
6
Why is Breastfeeding Important?
Breastfeeding is described as “gold standard” or best form of nutrition
for infants.
Breastfeeding helps develop the immune system so infants have:
• less ear infections
• less severe infections of the intestines
• less urinary tract infections
• less respiratory tract infections
• fewer allergies
• fewer episodes of diarrhea
Breastfeeding leads to decreased risk later in life:
• less childhood obesity
• less diabetes (type 1 and type2)
• less asthma
For mothers who breastfeed, benefits include faster recovery
(uterus shrinks faster) and:
• less post-birth bleeding
• less anemia
• quicker postpartum weight loss
• lower rates of osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and breast cancer
7
Can I Breastfeed if I Smoke Cigarettes?
YES! Although we encourage you to stop smoking, the American Academy
of Pediatrics realizes that some women have difficulty quitting. Pregnancy
and breastfeeding are very good reasons to stop smoking!
Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease respiratory illnesses in babies.
Smoking has been shown to increase respiratory illnesses in babies.
Therefore, it may be that breastfeeding and smoking may be less harmful to
the baby than bottle feeding and smoking.
However, it is not acceptable to breastfeed while using any illegal or illicit
drugs, including marijuana.
8
What to Bring to the Hospital
Picture ID and insurance card
Robe and slippers
Favorite music with portable player
Sour candy on a stick, mints or breath strips
Lotion or oil for massage
Lip balm
Mouthwash and or toothbrush and toothpaste
Deck of cards, magazine or book
Snack for partner
Contact lens case and eyeglasses
Warm socks
List of phone numbers and people to notify of the birth
Change for vending machine
Band for long hair
Paper and pencil
Hand mirror to view pushing
Camera and/or video recorder
Extra pillows with colored or printed pillow cases
One or more items for back massage
9
For Postpartum
Infant car seat
Nursing bras (you will probably need a full cup larger than before you
were pregnant)
Nursing pads (cloth or paper)
Nursing gowns or pajamas (an opening in front of the gown makes it easier
to breastfeed)
Good breastfeeding book
Toilet articles
Hair care items
Cosmetics
Going home outfit for mom (try an early pregnancy size)
Going home outfit and blanket for baby
A good book
Baby book
Enjoy and Good Luck!
10
Learn More Online
You can find additional information online about the topics
covered in this guide. For a listing of helpful links to web sites,
visit AtriumMedCenter.org/birth.
Sources
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (11/2005). Safe Sleep For
Your Baby.
2. Cadwell, Karin & Maffei-Turner, Cindy. (2006-2007) The Lactation
Counselor. Certificate Training Program Manual.: Reservoir Printing
Company
E. Sandwich, MA, 02563
3. Ferber, SW.G. & Imad, M.R. (2004) The Effect of Skin-to-Skin (contact
Kangaroo Care) Shortly After Birth on the Neurobehavioral Responses of
the Term Newborn: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Pedatrics. Vol. 113. No4.
4. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – www. acog.org
One Medical Center Dr.
Middletown, Ohio 45005
AtriumMedCenter.org
A-MAT10454-7/11
5. AAP Parenting Corner – www.healthychildren.org