The birth of your baby can be delivered vaginally, also known as a natural birth, or by surgery known as a cesarean section . Once your baby leaves the birth canal or is removed from the uterus in a cesarean section, he will begin his process of adaptation to extrauterine life.

This consists of a few fundamental changes in your blood circulation and your breathing:

Initially you will see it in a purple color that will be normal, but quickly and progressively it will turn pink.

This will happen as he takes his first breaths and his lungs expand to be able to take in oxygen from the air and breathe on his own.

Subsequently, the clamping of the umbilical cord will be carried out, which will ideally be done between 3 to 5 minutes after the birth of your baby, when it no longer has pulsations.

 Once the umbilical cord is clamped, your baby's blood circulation will become independent from the mother, and therefore the placenta will no longer be necessary.

While all this is happening, your baby can be on the mother's abdomen and the health personnel who accompany the birth will verify that this adaptation process is adequate through a special test called APGAR , which will be observed in your baby:

The color of his skin.

Your breath.

Your muscle tone at 5 and 10 minutes after birth

If all is well, your baby can be placed skin-to-skin on the mother's bare chest and the breastfeeding process will begin.

Your baby will be endowed with some primitive reflexes that will allow him to support himself on the mother's body, seek the breast and thus suck the first drops of colostrum, this process is known as " dragging to the breast ".

After this first moment, your baby will receive a dose of vitamin K that, depending on the place of birth, can be injected into the thigh or given orally. This vitamin is very important for your baby as it will help prevent bleeding.

They will also apply a few drops of antibiotics to the eyes to prevent infection and they will put an identification bracelet with the name of the mother and the identity document.

Finally, they will take the measurements of weight, height or length and the perimeter of the head , in addition the pediatrician will perform a first physical examination of your baby.