When your long-awaited baby is finally born and begins their journey in life outside the womb, you naturally feel relief and happiness. You look forward to returning home, holding your baby in your arms, and presenting this precious gift to the father who is eagerly waiting to experience fatherhood just as you have been waiting to experience motherhood.
However, during the period between giving birth and leaving the hospital, some mothers may unintentionally make mistakes that can affect both the baby’s health and their own recovery. Specialists warn that awareness during these first hours is very important.
According to obstetrics and gynecology consultant Dr. Maha Abdel Aziz, there are several mistakes mothers should avoid before leaving the maternity hospital, especially those related to newborn care and breastfeeding.
Mistakes Mothers May Make With Their Newborn Before Leaving the Hospital
1. Leaving the Baby in the Nursery for Too Long
One common mistake is allowing the newborn to remain in the hospital nursery for long periods without a medical reason.
After birth, babies need skin-to-skin contact with their mother. They recognize their mother through her scent, warmth, and voice. Leaving the baby away from the mother for too long can be stressful for the newborn, who has just moved from a warm, dark, and quiet environment in the womb to a bright and noisy world.
Doctors recommend that the baby should stay close to the mother unless there is a medical necessity, such as breathing difficulties, fluid in the lungs, or premature birth. If the baby must stay in the nursery, the mother should visit frequently, speak softly to the baby, and maintain contact as much as possible.
2. Giving Formula Milk Without a Medical Reason
Another common mistake is giving the baby formula milk immediately after birth simply because the mother feels tired and wants to rest.
Although it may seem like an easy solution, introducing formula early can interfere with successful breastfeeding. Babies may become accustomed to bottle nipples and refuse the mother’s breast, a situation often called “nipple confusion.”
Since milk flows faster from a bottle than from the breast, the baby may prefer the bottle and stop breastfeeding properly.
3. Delaying the First Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour after birth, often called the “golden hour.”
Doctors sometimes encourage the mother to breastfeed even before the placenta is delivered because breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions. This helps the placenta come out faster, reduces the risk of postpartum bleeding, and helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly.
Even if the mother is lying down, a caregiver can help position the baby near her chest to start breastfeeding.
Mistakes That Affect the Mother’s Health After Delivery
1. Staying in Bed for Too Long
Remaining in bed for many hours after childbirth is not recommended. Mothers should try to move gradually and walk when possible, even after a cesarean section.
Staying in bed too long can slow blood circulation and increase the risk of blood clots in the legs, which can become a serious health issue.
2. Eating a Large Amount of Food at Once
After childbirth, especially after a cesarean section, digestion may slow down and gas may accumulate in the intestines.
Doctors recommend waiting until the body begins to pass gas or until bowel movement resumes before eating heavy meals. Once digestion improves, it is better to start with light foods such as warm herbal tea or soups and avoid heavy foods that could cause constipation.
Constipation can put pressure on surgical stitches or perineal stitches after delivery.
3. Not Taking Long-Acting Pain Relief
Some mothers avoid taking pain medication after delivery, but this can make recovery more difficult.
Untreated pain from cesarean incisions or stitches after natural birth can prevent the mother from moving comfortably, holding her baby, or breastfeeding successfully. Doctors usually prescribe safe, long-acting pain relievers that do not affect breast milk production and help mothers recover more comfortably.
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