Navigating Your First Night With Your Newborn At The Hospital

ByRiddhi Roy
Updated:27 Feb 2025, 2:30 pm
Medically reviewed byDr Amit Gupta

The day is finally here and you are finally getting to meet your baby. It is completely normal to have mixed feelings at this stage. Learn how to navigate your first night with your newborn at the hospital, while also understanding your complex emotions with this guide.

Pregatips
The first night with your baby is the start of a wonderful new journey in your life. You are finally meeting the little person who was inside you for nine months. This time is filled with excitement and joy. Experiencing the first few moments like bonding, skin contact, holding your baby and even hearing your baby’s first cry can be extremely emotional.
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However, the first night with your baby comes with its own set of challenges. A newborn baby is adjusting to life outside of the womb. This often involves the baby crying, having irregular sleep patterns and needing constant care and attention. The unpredictability of the baby’s needs can overwhelm new parents, especially if it is their first child. Additionally, you are recovering from childbirth, which is exhausting, painful and comes with hormonal changes. All of these can be difficult to navigate. The first night with your baby will give you an idea of how demanding it is to care for a newborn.
The first night with your baby can bring a host of complex, overlapping emotions like:
  • Intense love: You will feel unconditional love like you have never imagined before. Every little action of your baby can fill you with love and awe. The fact that you carried them inside you for so long and that they are real can be an emotional acknowledgement.
  • Anxiety: You want to make sure no harm comes to this little being, and that nothing causes them discomfort. It is natural for you to feel anxious about whether the baby is comfortable or not.
  • Exhaustion: Childbirth is an overwhelming and exhausting experience, both physically and emotionally. Both labour and delivery are draining and come with a lot of pain. Along with this, sudden hormonal changes can trigger unexpected feelings of sadness and irritability, known as postpartum depression.
It is important to acknowledge every challenge, whether it is good or bad, and it is okay if everything does not go perfectly.

What You Can Expect During The First Night With Your Baby At The Hospital

The first night with your baby at the hospital can be challenging and joyful. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare better.Here’s what you can expect during your first night at the hospital with your baby:

For the baby:

  • Your baby will have regular checkups during the night for their vitals such as their heart rate, breathing and temperature.
  • Your baby’s weight will be monitored to check if they have lost any birth weight, which happens normally.
  • Blood tests will be conducted on the baby to check for jaundice and glucose levels. This is especially important if the baby is born preterm or if there are any complications during birth.
  • Some hospitals administer vaccines such as hepatitis B on the first night.

For the mother:

  • Your vitals will be monitored regularly
  • Your uterus will be checked for contractions and bleeding to assess your levels of recovery
  • In case you’ve had a C-section, your incision will be monitored.
  • You will be given pain medication for vaginal soreness and C-section incision pain.
  • If you choose to breastfeed, a nurse will help you with the process.

How To Adjust To The Hospital Environment: Room Setups

  • Private room v/s shared room: It might be easier for you to adjust if you have a private room, given the amount of flexibility and privacy you will have. However, it can be complicated if you end up in a shared room with another family. You will have to adjust to less privacy and different noise levels.
  • Noise and interruptions: Even at night, hospitals can be loud places. You can expect regular check-ins from nurses and other noises from equipment and staff that may interrupt your sleep.

Baby’s first few hours:

Your baby’s first few hours will be focused on you bonding with the baby while also caring for it.
  • Skin-to-skin contact is encouraged: Immediately after birth and throughout the night, skin-to-skin contact is encouraged to create and strengthen the bond between you and your baby. This action regulates the baby’s body temperature, promotes breastfeeding and helps with the emotional bond.
  • First feed: Soon after birth, the first feeding session takes place, regardless of whether or not the baby is breastfed or bottle-fed. Your nurse will assist you with the first feeding, as it can be challenging. You can expect frequent feedings, as babies tend to feed in clusters in the initial phases.

Understanding common newborn patterns:

It will take you some time to understand your newborn’s behavioural patterns. However, here are some things you can expect during the first night:
  • Erratic sleep patterns: A newborn baby’s sleep-wake cycle is not fully developed, which means they will sleep for a few hours at a time and keep waking up. Do not be alarmed if the baby does not sleep well, this is normal for newborns. Swaddling might help them sleep for longer, as the warmth mimics that of the womb.
  • Crying: Crying is just the baby’s way of communicating. They could be feeling hungry, tired or need comfort. It is normal for them to cry, as they are adjusting to life outside the womb. You can try swaddling, gently rocking the baby, white noise and holding the baby close to you to soothe them.
  • Latching issues: Some babies have trouble with feeding or latching. You can ask a nurse for help if this issue occurs.

Tips For Managing Postpartum Discomfort

Your body needs a lot of time to recover after childbirth, whether you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section. Postpartum discomfort can range from physical to emotional. Understanding how to manage this discomfort can make you feel more comfortable and better prepared for newborn care.
  • Perineal discomfort: Vaginal births can cause perineal discomfort and swelling. You can use a perineal spray, ice packs or painkillers provided by the hospital to ease your pain.
  • Urinary discomfort: Urinating for the first time after childbirth can cause pain. The hospital may offer a Peri bottle to help with this. Using the Peri bottle, you can squirt warm water over the area while urinating to make it more comfortable. Staying hydrated can also help keep the urine diluted and minimise irritation.
  • Contractions: After delivery, the uterus continues to contract to shrink back to its original size. This condition is known as afterpains and can feel like menstrual cramps. You can use a heating pad for relief, or use pain relief medications provided by the hospital.
  • Incision pain: For women who have given birth through the C-section method, pain medication is provided. To ease discomfort, you may hold a pillow against the incision while talking, coughing or sneezing. Avoid any abrupt movements.
  • Breast pain: Breastfeeding can make your breasts feel uncomfortable for a wide range of reasons such as the milk causing the breasts to swell up and feel tender, and nipple soreness from breastfeeding. Applying a warm compress to the area can offer some relief. You can also use a balm or cream to help with sore nipples.
  • Fatigue: Labour and delivery are exhausting and it is natural for you to experience fatigue. However, your sleep will be interrupted multiple times during the first night due to baby feeds and diaper changes. Try to take naps as often as you can, whenever the baby sleeps. Stay hydrated and eat small, frequent meals as fatigue gets worse if you are hungry or dehydrated.
  • Emotional discomfort: The sudden hormonal changes after childbirth can cause severe mental and emotional issues, like anxiety and postpartum depression. If you are feeling unexpectedly depressed, consult a therapist immediately.

Taking Care Of Yourself

While it is understandable that all your focus should be on your baby during the first night, it is extremely important for you to take care of yourself. Keep yourself hydrated and well-fed, as this can help you manage fatigue. For this, you can rely on snacks you have brought from home or snacks provided at the hospital. Rest whenever it is possible, especially when the baby is sleeping.

Preparing For Discharge

Before getting discharged, it is important to pack up all your belongings. Ask a nurse or your partner for help with this as your mobility will still be limited. Moreover, it is easy to miss out on things when you go through something as exhausting as childbirth. Before you leave, your doctor will conduct a final checkup to make sure that everything is fine and that you are okay to go back home. As you prepare yourself for the journey back home with your baby, it is important to remember that while parenthood can be challenging, the first night sets the tone in the right direction. Remember to cherish every moment and to ask for help should you need it.

FAQs On Navigating Your First Night With Your Newborn At The Hospital

  1. What are some newborn behaviours that I can expect on the first night?Newborns can be challenging since they are still adjusting to their lives outside of the womb. You can expect them to cry, be fussy and have irregular sleep patterns. With time, as the baby develops more, these patterns will settle down.
  2. What can I do for self-care during the first night?Getting rest and prioritising yourself can be difficult when you have just given birth. Taking care of yourself at this time is even more important for you to be able to take care of your baby properly. Make sure you rest when the baby is asleep, and that you get enough food and hydration.
Disclaimer: Medically approved by Dr Amit Gupta, Senior Consultant, Paediatrician & Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Noida