After your baby is born and the health care provider makes sure that she is breathing properly, she will be placed on your chest for bonding and the all-important skin-to-skin contact. You will be able to marvel at the amazing little bundle that you have wondered about for the last nine months.
The most profound change at birth is your baby’s first breath. At this point, your baby’s lungs, which were filled with fluid during pregnancy, must suddenly fill with oxygen from the air. The fluid in the lungs is removed through the blood and lymph system, and is replaced by air. Your baby’s lungs must be able to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. At the same time, vigorous blood circulation in the lungs will begin. The first few breaths after birth may be the most difficult breaths your baby will take for the rest of her life.
In the few minutes after birth, your newborn baby is stimulated to breathe, the amniotic fluid is dried off so she doesn’t lose heat, and she is carefully observed during the transition process. At this point, if all is going well, your newborn baby should be placed on your chest, preferably skin-to-skin.
When your baby is born, she may not look exactly as you expected. If you have not spent much time around newborn babies up until this point, you may be downright surprised at her appearance. If your newborn baby was born vaginally, the shape of her head may be elongated. This is referred to as a “conehead.”
This section of the Pregnancy & Babies Resource Centre describes the changes your newborn baby’s body goes through at birth, what she looks like at birth, and her movements, senses and reflexes.