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Postnatal care - the time after birth

After the birth

The time after birth is called the postnatal period. These first days are important for bonding between mother and baby.

The baby needs close contact with both parents, and you will begin to learn how your baby expresses needs and feelings.

About two hours after birth, you will be moved from the delivery room to a postnatal room. The delivery and postnatal rooms are in the same ward. We have four family rooms, as well as single and shared rooms.

The postnatal ward is staffed by midwives, nurses, gynaecologists, assistants and nursery nurses.

The length of your stay depends on your needs. After a normal birth, most people stay for 1–3 days, but it may be longer if the mother or baby needs extra care. After a caesarean section, the usual stay is 2–4 days.

If your baby needs observation or treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit, the mother will usually stay in the postnatal ward for 1–3 days, then move to a room near the neonatal unit.

We offer help, support, guidance and information about baby care, breastfeeding, your health, and everything related to the time after birth.

Mobile phone use

We kindly ask that all mobile phones are set to silent. Peace and rest are important for a good postnatal experience.

Our experience shows that frequent phone calls – your own and others’ – can be disturbing.

Your newborn baby – daily care

Bathing and hygiene

A newborn baby does not need a bath every day. If the baby is not bathed, we recommend a gentle body wash and a change of clothes once a day.

Soap is not necessary, as it can dry out the skin.

Make sure to dry the baby well, especially in skin folds.

For girls, clean the genital area from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria to the urinary tract.

For boys, do not pull back the foreskin when washing.

Important: Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table.

Skin care

Your baby’s skin is usually pink, but hands and feet may sometimes look pale or slightly blue – especially if the baby is cold.

Skin care products are usually not needed. If your baby needs extra care, there are products available – ask your pharmacy for advice.

Common skin conditions in newborns

  • Newborn rash: Small red bumps with white centres, mostly on the face, neck, chest and arms. Caused by hormones from the mother. No treatment needed – it disappears quickly.
  • Heat rash: Red rash that appears when the baby is too warm. It goes away when the baby cools down.
  • Green or pus-filled rash: Contact your health visitor if this occurs.
  • Stork bites: Red marks on the neck, eyelids or forehead. These usually fade or disappear during the first year.
  • Milia: Small white spots (blocked oil glands), mostly on the nose. These go away after a few weeks.
  • Jaundice: Common in newborns. Yellow skin and yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Appears a few days after birth. In some cases, treatment may be needed.

Umbilical cord care

  • The umbilical stump should be kept clean and dry so it can dry out properly.
  • If needed, you can clean around the base of the cord with NaCl 0.9% (saline solution) – available at pharmacies. Let it air dry after cleaning.
  • Avoid rubbing the stump with the nappy.
  • If the skin around the stump becomes red or oozes yellow fluid, clean with chlorhexidine (available at pharmacies).
  • If it doesn’t improve or other problems occur, contact your health visitor.
  • The stump usually falls off within 5–10 days.

Remember: Always wash your hands before cord care!

Stool (poo)

  • Newborns pass black, sticky stool after birth. This gradually changes to brown and then yellow as feeding increases.
  • Breastfed babies may poo several times a day, or go several days or even a week between stools once breastfeeding is well established.
  • In the first few weeks, daily stool and wet nappies are signs that the baby is getting enough milk.

How do I know if breastfeeding is going well?

If your baby has regular wet nappies and gains weight, it’s a good sign that breastfeeding is working.

  • Red urine
  • Red-coloured urine is caused by minerals being passed from the kidneys. This is common in the first few days and disappears as the baby drinks more milk and the kidneys flush out.
  • Mini-period (minimens)
  • Some baby girls may have a small amount of bloody discharge from the vagina around day 5–6. This is caused by hormones and is harmless.

Witch’s milk

Some babies (both boys and girls) may have swollen breast glands that leak a little fluid. This is due to hormones from pregnancy and usually disappears within a few weeks.

Nails

  • Newborn nails can be long and sharp, and may scratch the baby’s face.
    Gently tear the nails – do not use scissors.

Eyes

  • Clean from the outer corner inward toward the nose.
  • If the eyes are watery, use saline drops.
  • If there is yellow pus, contact a doctor.
  • A small bleed in the white of the eye may occur after birth – this is harmless and disappears in a few days.
  • Newborns are nearsighted and see best at about 20 cm distance.

Ears

  • Do not use cotton buds/Q-tips inside the ears.
    Only clean the outer, visible part of the ear.

Clothing

  • Dress your baby according to the temperature.
  • Wool is recommended – it helps regulate body temperature well.

When can the baby go outside?

  • There are no fixed rules for the first trip outdoors. Adjust according to the weather and wind conditions.
  • The baby should not sleep outside if the temperature feels colder than minus 10 degrees Celsius.
  • Always use a net over the pram to protect against animals like cats and insects.
  • Do not cover the pram opening with blankets – the baby needs fresh air.
  • Avoid overheating. Dress the baby according to their body temperature – check the back of their neck to feel if they are too warm.

Sleeping room

  • Let the baby sleep with the window slightly open, but do not place the cot directly in a draught under the window.
  • Keep the room temperature between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. Use the temperature you normally have in the bedroom.

Sleeping position

  • Always place the baby on their back to sleep!
  • Avoid placing the baby on their stomach or side. Sleeping on the back reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Other important advice to prevent SIDS:

  • Do not expose the baby to tobacco smoke.
  • Avoid overheating.
  • Make sure the baby is not tightly packed in a pram, carrycot or bed – the baby must be able to move freely.

Can I sleep with my baby?

  • Co-sleeping means having the baby in bed with you at night.
  • It can support breastfeeding and bonding between mother and baby, and may lead to a calmer night.

Some precautions to make co-sleeping as safe as possible:

  • Avoid co-sleeping if you smoked during pregnancy, if you or your partner smoke, or if you have consumed alcohol, drugs or sedative medication.
  • Avoid overheating or covering the baby’s head.
  • Let the baby sleep with their own light duvet.
  • Always place the baby on their back.
  • Do not co-sleep when the baby is ill or has a fever.
  • Avoid soft mattresses – use a firm one.
  • Make sure the bed is wide enough to give the baby space and prevent falls.
  • Do not co-sleep on a sofa or armchair.
  • Ensure fresh air in the room and keep the temperature between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Safety for newborns and young children - Helsenorge

Sibling jealousy

  • Older siblings need a lot of attention, especially in the beginning.
  • Let them take part in things like nappy changes, bath time and cuddles.

Cuddles

  • Stay close and connected to your baby.
  • A baby cannot be spoiled.
  • Touch and closeness are important.

Sounds

  • Live life as normal with moderate noise.
  • Play music, use the vacuum cleaner, and so on.

Routine checks for the baby

After birth, we carry out several routine checks on the newborn.

Paediatrician check

The baby can be examined by a paediatrician no earlier than six hours after birth.

Newborn screening

  • A blood sample is taken 48 hours after birth.
  • If you go home before the sample can be taken, you’ll be given an appointment to return to the hospital for an outpatient test.
  • For the baby’s comfort, we encourage the mother to be present during the blood test.
  • Breastfeeding afterwards provides comfort and pain relief.
  • Make sure the baby’s feet are warm before the test.
  • We give a small amount of sugar water for distraction during the test. Breast milk can also be used.

Weighing the baby

  • The baby is weighed before going home.
  • The baby is weighed without clothes.
  • It is normal for the baby to lose weight after birth.
  • Is breastfeeding going well and is the baby getting enough milk?

Hearing test

All newborns are offered a hearing test.

Oxygen saturation

We measure the oxygen level in the baby’s blood when they are about 2–6 hours old.

RS virus and jaundice – important conditions to be aware of

Jaundice and RS virus (in Norwegian)

Gulsott hos nyfødte - Helse Fonna HF

Respiratorisk syncytial-virus (RS-virus) - Helse Fonna HF

Before you go home

Before discharge, we offer:

Baby care and bathing

We show you how to care for your baby, and then offer individual guidance. You may also be offered help with bathing your baby if needed.
Watch video on baby bathing.

Midwife conversation

A talk and review of the birth, preferably with the midwife who was present during labour. If she is unavailable, another midwife will carry out the conversation.

Discharge conversation

A general talk about the birth and postnatal period before you go home.

Doctor consultation

If you had a caesarean section, another surgical procedure, or complications during birth or the postnatal period, you will have a conversation with a doctor. Preferably with the doctor who was present, but it may be another doctor.

Contact after going home

You can contact the maternity outpatient clinic during the first week after discharge.

Phone: 52 73 23 20 / 52 73 23 25

After one week, you can contact your local health centre.

If your baby has jaundice (bilirubin), you can contact the maternity outpatient clinic for up to two weeks after discharge.

Follow-up from health centre, public health nurse and midwife

  • You will be visited by a midwife or public health nurse a few days after birth.
  • The health centre will call you to arrange the visit.
  • Follow-up routines vary between municipalities.
  • Let the health centre know if you are not going home to your registered address.
  • Always inform them of any change in address or phone number.
  • If you do not hear from the health centre within a few days after birth, please contact them directly.
  • Before discharge, you will be told which health centre you belong to.
  • We send an electronic birth notification to the health centre.
  • If you have special needs or wish for an early home visit, we can contact the health centre by phone in agreement with you.
  • Everyone is welcome to call the health centre for guidance.
  • Each centre has an open clinic once a week.
  • Please call your health centre for more information.

Breastfeeding

The best thing your baby can get is breast milk. Milk usually starts flowing around the third day after birth, but for some it may take longer.

It’s best to let your baby breastfeed as often as they want. Even just a few drops are enough in the beginning.

Feeding rhythm

  • During the first day, your baby may sleep a lot and feed less often.
  • Then they wake up and want to feed more frequently – up to 14 times a day is normal.
  • Eventually, your baby will find their own rhythm, usually with 6–8 feeds per day.
  • Newborns often want to feed at night, but this varies.

Important things to support breastfeeding

  • Spend as much time as possible with your baby.
  • Make sure you get rest and peace. Avoid too many visitors.
  • Use proper breastfeeding technique and a comfortable position.
  • The staff are there to guide you.

Early signs of hunger

  • Smacking lips, opening mouth, licking lips with tongue
  • Drooling, searching
  • Bringing hand to mouth
  • When you see these signs, offer the breast.
  • Crying can be a late sign of hunger and may be harder to soothe.

Benefits of breastfeeding

  • Your baby gets the valuable colostrum produced in the early days.
  • It helps stimulate and start milk production.
  • It reduces problems with breast engorgement.
  • It helps the uterus contract.

How to breastfeed your baby

  • Once you’ve found a comfortable position for you and your baby:
  • Stroke your nipple against the baby’s lips to encourage them to open their mouth.
  • Wait until the baby opens wide.
  • Bring the baby close to your body so they get a good mouthful of breast.

Signs of good breastfeeding technique

  • The baby opens their mouth wide.
  • The mouth is full of breast.
  • The lips are turned outwards.
  • The chin rests against your breast.
  • The baby’s head is slightly tilted back (this keeps the nose free).
  • The baby sucks effectively and you can hear swallowing.
  • Jaw muscles work rhythmically, all the way back to the ears.
  • Apart from the first few sucks, it should not feel painful for you.

Signs of poor breastfeeding technique

  • “Dimpling” in the baby’s cheeks.
  • Clicking sounds.

When the baby has a good latch, let them feed until they release the breast themselves. Express a little milk and let your breast air dry to help prevent soreness.

Let-down reflex

When the baby sucks on the nipple, a nerve signal is sent to the brain.
This releases a hormone that causes the milk glands to contract.
Milk flows through the milk ducts to the nipple, and the baby receives milk.
This is called the let-down reflex.

This reflex can be affected by stress and tiredness, so it’s important to find time to rest. A calm environment during breastfeeding is also important.

Night feeding

Night feeding is important from the very first night. Prolactin, the hormone that helps produce milk, is highest at night. That’s why night feeding helps milk come in faster.
Prolactin also makes you feel sleepy, so you may fall asleep more easily after feeding.

Hygiene

Good hygiene before breastfeeding and baby care helps prevent infections.
The most important thing you can do is wash your hands thoroughly.

Smoking and breastfeeding

You should not smoke or use snus (smokeless tobacco). Nicotine passes into breast milk and is harmful to your baby. The concentration of nicotine in breast milk is three times higher than in your blood. 

Babies should never be exposed to passive smoking. It increases the risk of colds and lung infections. 

The long-term effects are less well known.

Using a dummy (pacifier)

Using a dummy can interfere with optimal stimulation of the breast. This may lead to delayed and reduced milk production. That’s why you should wait to introduce a dummy until breastfeeding is well established and your baby is gaining weight satisfactorily. This can take several weeks.

Sucking on a dummy or bottle requires a different technique than breastfeeding.
This can cause nipple confusion and lead to problems with breastfeeding.

Medication

Medication can pass into breast milk. If you’re unsure, ask us, your pharmacist, your doctor, or check tryggmammamedisin.no. Sleeping medication should be used as little as possible.

Breastfeeding and medication - Helsenorge

Last updated 10/7/2025