First 48 hours with a newborn

The first 48 hours are a period of adaptation. Your newborn moves from life in the womb to breathing, feeding, staying warm and beginning to pass urine and stool.

What staff check

In hospital, the team watches:

• breathing and color;
• temperature;
• tone and responsiveness;
• weight;
• feeding;
• urine and meconium;
• jaundice;
• screening and newborn checks used by the maternity unit.

Ask for an explanation if a check is delayed or if you are unsure what follow-up is needed.

Feeds

In the first days, feeds may be frequent and irregular. Whether breastfeeding, formula feeding or mixed feeding, ask for help if your baby cannot latch, always falls asleep immediately, seems too weak or has few wet diapers.

Do not force supplements or milk changes without clinical advice, but do not wait if your baby cannot feed.

Diapers and jaundice

Meconium is dark and sticky. In the following days, stools gradually change. Urine should also appear and increase.

Jaundice is common, but it needs assessment especially if it appears very early, increases quickly, your baby is sleepy or feeds poorly. Follow the bilirubin check plan from the unit.

Skin-to-skin and temperature

Skin-to-skin contact, when mother and baby are stable, supports warmth, calm and early feeding. It must be done safely, with an alert adult and the baby's airway clear.

When to call right away

Tell staff immediately, or call the service you were given if you are already home, when your newborn:

• is working hard to breathe, grunting or pausing;
• has bluish, gray or very pale lips or skin;
• is very sleepy or hard to wake;
• cannot feed;
• has fever or low temperature;
• is not wetting diapers as advised;
• vomits green fluid or blood;
• looks jaundiced in the first 24 hours or jaundice worsens quickly.

Useful links

• Newborn hospital discharge
• Newborn skin-to-skin
• When to call the pediatrician
• First 48 hours checklist