Newborn Procedures After Birth
What happens to the baby in the first hour and how you can help
labor
Standard Procedures
Right after birth, the baby is dried, placed on your partner's chest for skin-to-skin, and evaluated. The Apgar score (a quick assessment of heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and color) is done at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. Most newborns score 8 or 9.
Routine Procedures That Can Often Wait
Unless the baby needs immediate medical attention, these procedures can be delayed to protect the first hour of skin-to-skin contact: