5 min read
BY LAUREN BRENTON | ENDORSED MIDWIFE & CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR
(From a Midwife... and a Mum of Four)
There’s a lot of focus on the birth, the labour playlist, the hospital bag, the “what if my waters breaks?” moment. But what happens once your baby is actually here?
What about the first 48 hours—those wild, emotional, magical, exhausting, surreal hours when you realise, "Oh... it’s not just about the birth. It’s about what comes after, too."
As a midwife (and a mum who’s lived it four times), let me give it to you straight - the first 48 hours are beautiful, emotional, messy, overwhelming, and completely unforgettable. Something that is almost impossible to describe if you haven’t had a baby before (yes, even midwives get a shock!). Here’s what you can really expect.
Your body is healing
No matter how you gave birth, vaginally, caesarean, epidural, no epidural, your body is immediately shifting into recovery mode.
And it’s not exactly a gentle process.
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Afterbirth pain – Your uterus has to contract back down after birth to it’s pre-pregnancy size, meaning that you will experience cramping especially when breastfeeding (thanks to oxytocin).
Fun fact: the more babies you’ve had, the stronger these afterpains usually are. Sorry. -
Bleeding – Bleeding after birth starts out like a heavy period and then gradually gets lighter over the next 4-6 weeks (regardless of vaginal birth or caesarean birth). This is normal and expected (and why those glamorous mesh undies and maternity pads exist).
If you pass large clots or the bleeding is soaking a pad an hour, let your midwife know. -
Swelling & Soreness - Whether it’s vaginal swelling, a tender caesarean scar, or just an overall "I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck"... it's all normal.
Ice packs, rest, comforter compression socks and gentle movement are your friends.
Your baby is learning too
Newborns don’t follow schedules. They follow "I’ve just spent 9 months being snuggled and now I’m confused" schedules. You’re all that they’ve known for the last 40 weeks (give or take) and it is normal for them to want to be close to you at all times while they adjust to this brand new world.
Expect a lot of:
- Skin-to-skin cuddles (this helps regulate their temperature and heart rate as well as encourage breastfeeding and bonding)
- Cluster feeding (feeding a lot, often in short bursts) – this is important in helping create a good milk supply.
- Meconium poos (those tarry, sticky first nappies that no one can prepare you for) – these are like vegemite to get off. Make sure to use lots of baby wipes!
- Grunting, squirming, noisy newborn sounds (normal, but loud enough to make you stare at them all night) – I honestly had no idea how noisy little babies were!
Don’t panic if they seem unsettled, sleepy, clingy, or cluster feeding non-stop. They’re adjusting to the world. And you’re adjusting too.
It’s hard
The hormonal rollercoaster after birth is next level. It is the biggest hormonal change that women will go through in their whole lives as the hormones of pregnancy turn off, and the hormones of breastfeeding turn on.
You might feel:
- Overjoyed one minute
- Terrified the next
- Teary or Crying for absolutely no reason by day 2 or 3 (hello, baby blues)
- Overwhelmed by love in ways you didn’t even know were possible
This is normal. You are not broken.
Let yourself feel it all. Let yourself cry if you need to. And if you feel like something’s not right emotionally after the first week, reach out. Postnatal support is not a luxury—it's essential.
You need to rest (but it’s going to be broken)
Everyone says, “sleep when the baby sleeps.”
And while that’s great advice... it’s also really hard advice to follow.
The truth?
Your sleep will be weird. You’ll nap for 20 minutes. You’ll wake up staring at the bassinet.You’ll feel half-asleep and half-alert all the time. Its often a good idea to alternate naps with your partner, so one of you holds the baby while the other sleeps and then swap. Your sleep is no longer during the night, it’s now a 24 hour thing – so get as many naps in as you can.
The first 48 hours are about surviving, bonding, and getting to know your baby.
How to set yourself up for a better 48 hours
Here’s what I wish someone had whispered in my ear after my first baby:
- Ask for help. Don’t do it all. Don’t even try.
- Accept the food, the support, the nappy changes someone offers.
- Prioritise skin-to-skin over visitors. Your baby wants you, not a line-up of aunties.
- Drink SO much water (especially if you’re breastfeeding).
- Keep snacks by the bed—one-handed Franjos Kitchen cookies are a new mum essential.
- Trust yourself. You already know more than you think.
The first 48 hours after birth are like nothing else you’ll ever experience.
Messy. Raw. Sacred.
You will never be more exhausted—and you will never be more powerful.
You grew a human. You birthed them. And now, you are their world.
Take it slow. Take it gently.
The rest of the world can wait.
You’re doing an incredible job.
Written by Endorsed Midwife & Mum of 4, Lauren Brenton