The First 24 Hours With Your Newborn: A Doula’s Guide

Bringing a baby into the world is unlike anything else. It’s magical, overwhelming, beautiful, exhausting, and life-changing—all at the same time. As a doula, I’ve been with many families in those first precious hours, and one thing I want every parent to hear is this: the first 24 hours are not about perfection. They’re about settling in, adjusting, and learning to know each other.

Let me walk you through what those first hours often look like and what you can focus on as you navigate them.

Settling In: The Big Picture

Your baby just experienced a huge event—their entrance into the world! Some babies will be calm and sleepy, some will be alert and eager to feed, and many will swing back and forth between the two. All of the above is completely normal.

These hours aren’t about checking boxes or doing everything “right.” They’re about connection. Skin-to-skin contact is incredible in this time—it helps regulate your baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It also signals your milk to come in, tells baby's natural cues to begin, and it's that beautiful time where you both start bonding.

I often remind parents: take a deep breath. This is your soft landing after birth. Take time to marvel at your baby, to touch their tiny hands, to watch their little yawns. The world can wait.

Feeding in the First Day

Feeding is one of the biggest concerns for new parents, but it’s really about tuning into your baby’s cues. Some babies will latch right away, as if they’ve been waiting for this moment their whole lives. Others might be sleepy, needing time to wake up and find their rhythm.

Here’s what’s most important: don’t force it. Let your baby guide you. I remember being quite stressed with my first two babies (before I became a doula), but when I had my third, it was wildly different. I nursed her soon after delivery, then she and I both slept for the next 6 hours! Crazy right!

The difference was that I understood how small her tummy was on day 1, I knew that we had both been through a very exhausting thing and needed time to recover, and I also trusted that my body was going to produce the milk she needed. Now don't get me wrong, we didn't just lay in our separate beds and sleep 6 hours straight without checking in. But for a majority of that time, that's what we did. She was not interested in waking to feed, so I'd express some milk into her mouth and then settle in to sleep again while she was doing the same. Taking this approach caused her to wake up after those six hours very eager to draw milk before going into a rest period again.

So many stress about getting amazing latches on the first day, but honestly, you need to get amazing sleep! Tomorrow you'll need that strength to get the good latches and routines going.

NOTE: It's important to keep in mind that no more than 4–6 hours should pass without putting milk in their mouth (during the first 24 hours). But like I mentioned above, even some drops of colostrum—the nutrient-packed, golden first milk, go a long way. It's nutrient dense for a reason!

I’ve worked with babies who fell asleep mid-feed, and parents worried they weren’t eating enough. A gentle wake-up, some skin-to-skin, and another try usually does the trick; but if not, let them rest and try again later. Feeding patterns will settle into a rhythm over the next few days. Both eager feeders and sleepy babies are perfectly normal.

Sleep + Day/Night

One thing I tell every parent: your baby doesn’t come out knowing night from day. Their little bodies are just figuring out how to exist in the outside world. In these first hours, your baby may sleep for long stretches or want to cluster feed.

For now, focus on short naps and skin-to-skin contact. You’re helping your baby feel safe and loved, which is the foundation for sleep routines later. I often reassure parents that it’s completely normal if the first night feels like a blur—they’re learning, and so are you.

The first 24 hours don't need routines, this time is reserved for appreciating all that you've just been through.

But once day 2 begins.... routines need to begin. Here's what a solid routine looks like:

1) Choose a consistent wake-up time – even if that’s 9 a.m. (I promise, it counts!). Take note of when you and your baby naturally wake up in the morning, and try to stick to that time as best as you can. Consistency helps their little bodies start recognizing daytime.

2) Feed your baby every 2 hours during the day. Yes, it can feel intense—being needed this much can be shocking! But helping your baby wake every 2 hours teaches them that daytime is for eating and being alert. Quick tip: start the 2-hour count from the beginning of a feed, not the end. That keeps your timing consistent.

3) Include a bit of wake time between naps. Feeds count as wake time, which is great, but after a nap, try to gently rouse your baby before the next one. Even a few minutes of stirring and opening those tiny eyes helps their internal clock learn the difference between day and night. This is a perfect time for diaper changes, tummy time, and simply enjoying those little moments together.

4) Nighttime feeding: when should you wake your baby? This depends on your baby’s needs. Some babies require regular night feeds—like those who aren’t gaining weight, are having trouble latching, have jaundice, or if you have low milk supply. In these cases, waking every 3–5 hours (depending on how much milk they need) may be necessary.

If there’s no medical reason to wake them, let them sleep until they naturally wake. Even so, safe sleep guidelines show that occasional checks or waking for a feed around 6 hours can reduce SIDS risk and give you peace of mind.

Remember: it’s normal for babies to wake during the night, even if they’re feeding well during the day. They shouldn’t be staying up long or wide awake, though—those early night wake-ups are usually short and for comfort or a quick feed.

Diapers + Newborn Skin

Diapers and skin can be a little surprising in those first 24 hours. The first poop—called meconium—is sticky, black, and tar-like. Don’t be alarmed; it’s a completely normal part of your baby’s digestive adjustment. After that, the color and texture will change as feeding gets established. Typically, it will turn a mustard color and may have a “seedy” texture. This transition can start on the first day or take a couple of days.

More milk intake will help their digestive system adjust, and you’ll notice their peeing increases as well. A helpful guide: 1 day old = 1 pee, 2 days = 2 pees, 3 days = 3 pees, and so on, until about 6 pees a day becomes the norm.

When it comes to pooping, fully breastfed babies may not poop every day, and that can be normal. Formula-fed babies usually poop daily. The main thing to watch for in any baby is whether they seem uncomfortable or have an upset tummy—that’s a good indicator of how well their digestive system is functioning.

You’ll also notice vernix, the creamy white coating on your baby’s skin. It might look unusual, but it’s protective and totally normal. You don’t need to rub it off; think of it as nature’s little lotion, keeping your baby’s skin healthy and protected.

Many hospitals bathe babies around the 24-hour mark, but this is entirely your choice. I recommend waiting a couple of days. Here’s why: your baby isn’t dirty. Even though your baby was just born and may have some blood on them, birth is a normal process, and everything that comes with it is normal too. Leaving the vernix on helps your baby’s skin adjust to the world gradually.

Another benefit of waiting to bathe is that the umbilical cord dries and falls off more quickly. Bathing too early—or submerging your baby in water—can prolong the process, cause odors, or even increase the risk of infection. At the very least, consider sponge bathing rather than full submersion until the umbilical cord has completely healed.

What I Want You to Remember

The first 24 hours are your time to settle in. There’s no rush, no checklist to finish, no perfect way to do it. Every baby is different. Every family is different. Some babies will eat immediately, some will sleep for long stretches. Some parents will feel like they have it all together, others will feel like they’re figuring it out minute by minute. And that’s okay.

Focus on connection. Focus on love. Focus on slowing your breath, relaxing your shoulders, and taking it all in. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be present.

These first hours set the tone for your early days together, and they are truly precious. Trust yourself, trust your baby, and let the first day be about them—and about you as a new parent settling into this incredible journey.

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