Day 3 with your newborn
Learning each other 🫶
Your baby is not the only one learning. You are learning too — their noises, their face, their needs, and how life feels now they are here.
Confidence does not arrive all at once. It is built in small moments: one feed, one nappy, one cuddle, one time you realise you understood what your baby needed.
How you might feel
How you might feel
You may feel sore, bruised, swollen, or tender. If pain feels severe, worsening, one-sided, or worrying, contact your midwife or maternity unit for advice.
Today's tip
Today's tip
Write down questions as they come up. Postnatal visits can feel rushed, and a notes list helps you remember what matters.
Coming up
Coming up
The next few days are often about basics: feeding, nappies, jaundice checks, sleep, and keeping you recovering as well as possible.
Checks and key dates around now
- Newborn physical examinationWithin 72 hours of birth
- Register the birthWithin 42 days in England and Wales
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby has a high temperature, isn't feeding or is unusually sleepy, or you're worried about your own bleeding, pain or mood, get advice straight away from NHS 111 or your GP. In an emergency, call 999.