Fourth Trimester (After Delivery)

Your baby is here! As you and your family care for your baby, you may have quite a lot of questions. The You and Your Baby Book offers a guide on all these questions — starting in the hospital and going through the first few weeks and even longer.   

Caring for Baby

• The First Hour - Golden Hour (p.6)
• Skin-to-Skin Contact (p. 6 & 7) and Continue Skin-to-Skin Contact (p.7)
• Coping Behaviors and Stress Signals (p.7)
• Infant Feeding
  • Breastfeeding - Strong Beginnings (p. 7-10)
  • The Father’s/Partner’s Role (p.13)
  • Breastfeeding a Strong Foundation (p. 19, 21)
  • Breastfeeding - Keep Going! (p. 27-31).
• Infant Bathing
  • No Rush to Bathe! (p. 11)
  • How to Bath your Baby (p. 18)
• Use of a Pacifier (p. 13)
• Screening Tests (p. 13-15)
• Bowel Movements (p. 16)
• Diaper Changes (p. 16)
• Cord Care (p. 16)
• Circumcision and Care for the Penis (p. 16-17)
• Baby Massage (p. 33)
• Sleepy or Fussy Baby 
  • Sleepy-Fussy Baby (p. 10)
  • Baby’s Second Night (p. 20)
  • What to Do When Your Baby Cries- Never Shake a Baby! Ever! (p. 32) 
• Sleep Safety
  • Positioning Your Baby for Sleep - “Safe to Sleep” (formally called “Back to Sleep”) (p. 15-16)

• Taking your Baby’s Temperature in the Axilla (Armpit). (p. 34) 
• Florida Department of Health vision handout (in development)
• Car Seat Safety
  • Car Seats/Traveling Safely with Your Baby (p. 15)
• Infant and Child CPR (p. 33)
• Infant Safety 
  • Home Safety Checklist (p. 40-41)
• Activities Before Discharge (birth notice and baby pictures) (p. 22)
• Birth Certificate and Social Security Number information
  • Spanish version 
• When to call Your Baby’s Health Care Provider (p. 35)

Caring for You

• Pain 
  • Relief & Medications (p. 11)
  • After-Birth Pains (p. 11)
  • Medications (p. 22) 
• You General Hygiene Needs (p.12)
• Taking Care of your Bottom & Bleeding
  • Taking Care of Your Bottom (p.12)
  • Taking Care of Your Bottom (p. 23)
  • Your Vaginal Discharge /Bleeding Lochia (p. 23)
  • Menstruation (Your Period). (p. 23)
• Trouble Urinating (p.12)
• Hemorrhoids (p. 23)
• Constipation (p. 23).
• Caring for Your Breasts and Nipples (p.12)
• Rest (p.12)