Table of contents

    Days 4 to 8

    Baby

    Your baby will be more content after a feed and, after the 4th day, will grow a little every day until they reach their birth weight again. You will find that you understand your baby's signals better, which will bring you more peace of mind. Your days will also become more rhythmic because you will have learned a lot about caring for your baby, which will make things go a little more smoothly.

    Diapers

    Your baby's stomach is getting bigger, which means they can drink more at a time and go longer between feeds. Your baby's poo will change from transitional stool (green) to a lighter brown and then yellow. The poo will become much thinner, which we call 'spray nappies'. The number of wet nappies will also increase to about 6 times in 24 hours and they will become much fuller.

    Temperature

    As the baby grows, it will be able to regulate its temperature better, and you will need to use a hot water bottle and hat less and less often to keep the baby warm. If your baby has lost a lot of weight, make sure it is kept warm so that it does not lose energy trying to maintain its temperature.

    Skin colour

    The baby's skin colour will also become more pink as he/she is able to excrete more of the waste product bilirubin in their poo and wee because they can drink more milk at a time. Jaundice usually disappears within a week. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may still look a little yellow during the first few weeks. Have this checked by your health visitor.

    Navel

    The umbilical stump usually falls off on its own between days 5 and 14 as it continues to dry out. It may bleed regularly at first, but this is not a cause for concern as long as the baby does not have a fever, the umbilical stump is not swollen/red/pus-like and the bleeding stops on its own.

    The following points often require consultation with your midwife in order to make a plan:

    • your baby looks yellow, including in the eyes/torso/arms/legs, and is drowsy/sleepy and/or not feeding well
    • your baby has a temperature <36.5 or >37.5 despite your efforts
    • your baby does not want to feed properly
    • your baby has lost >7% of its body weight or is not growing

    Mother

    After day 4, the dip mentioned above will be over and you will notice a positive development! Once the engorgement is over and your milk production is up and running, you will notice that your day becomes more relaxed and rhythmic. Your baby will be more content after a feed, resulting in longer periods between feeds than during the first three days. On average, you will have around 8 feeds per day, but it could be more! 

    Physical

    Physically, you will notice that you are able to do more. You may have already left your bedroom a few times to sit somewhere else in the house. You may also have had breakfast or dinner somewhere other than in bed. You may now experience some discomfort from the stitches starting to pull. These stitches still have a function and are best left in place for at least 6 days. Feel free to use a cold pack or paracetamol for the discomfort. Continue to rinse the wound thoroughly and allow it to air dry as much as possible to promote the healing process.

    The blood loss feels like a normal period and will decrease slightly each day. You will often have had a bowel movement by day 5 and, as you do this more often, you will notice that it becomes easier. Consider using a stool under your feet and take your time when you feel the urge to defecate.

    If you are breastfeeding, it is especially important to drink 2.5 litres of fluid every day, as this contributes to your milk production as well as better bowel movements. If you are still unable to pass stool, use macrogol or metamucil, which you can buy at the chemist's. If this does not work, Microlax can help. Whereas in the first few days you went to the toilet on the clock to urinate before each feed, you will now notice that the urge to go is returning. You are well on your way to a good recovery!

    Mental

    Mentally, you notice that the birth is starting to fade a little, that you have already shed most of your baby blues and things are calming down a bit. The new family situation is becoming more familiar and you are both finding your way. However, sleep deprivation is always lurking around the corner, so try to sleep as much as possible when the baby is asleep. If this is not possible, discuss it! Together we will make a personal plan to help you sleep again.

    When to call:

    • fever in the mother (>38 degrees)
    • excessive blood loss 
    • mental health issues such as depression/anxiety/delusions/hallucinations

    Feeding

    After a week, breast milk production is often established and babies usually start to grow from day 4/5. You will notice that your breasts are full before a feed and that they feel softer after a feed. The engorgement is over. From this point on, you will have more freedom to experiment with feeding times. More on demand, or do you feel comfortable sticking to a schedule? A growing baby will not simply lose weight, so there is room to experiment.

    • You are now feeding around 8-10 times a day. 
    • Your baby will leave more time between feeds because they are becoming more satiated. 
    • However, you will often have a cluster feeding period in the evening when your baby frequently asks for milk, which is normal. With a bit of luck, this will result in a longer sleep period at the beginning of the night. 
    • After a week, milk production is controlled by supply and demand. You feed your baby on demand, which allows the baby to set the rhythm and maintain production. If it suits you better to stick to feeding times, that is also fine. 
    • Additional measures such as expressing milk and supplementary feeding can often be phased out.

    It is common to have to express milk on days 2-4 to stimulate production or increase it. This is more common if you have had a caesarean section or lost a lot of blood during delivery. Usually, it is necessary to express milk for an extra three days, after which your production will be established and your baby will start to grow again. You can then stop expressing and reduce supplementary feeding according to your baby's needs. When you offer supplementary feeding, you will notice that your baby drinks less and less. You can then start to trust that your breasts are producing enough milk for your baby. If you have any doubts about whether your baby is feeding effectively, contact your maternity nurse. She will consult with the midwife about the best course of action. She may also suggest consulting a lactation consultant.

    [[LIST][19][FAQ: Everything you need to know > Days 4 to 8 > Feeding]]

    Breastfeeding challenges:

    Other

    Because you have registered your baby, a district nurse will visit you between days 4 and 8 to perform the heel prick test. This will be combined with the hearing test. The heel prick test is used to check whether your baby has a rare but serious disease.