For nine months, your baby has been warm and snug inside you. But then birth happens, and everything changes for your little one. What actually happens in those first minutes of life? Here's a quick rundown.
Sight
In the womb, your baby could barely see anything - just muted light. But right after birth, suddenly there's bright, white light. Your baby's vision is still blurry, and they can only make out things up to about 20 centimetres away.
Sound
Sound changes a lot too. Where noises were once muffled and distant - the amniotic fluid dampened everything - sound is now suddenly loud and close. This can genuinely startle your baby. So create a calm environment, allowing them to gradually get used to the sounds of the world outside the womb.
Breathing
Before birth, your baby has never taken a breath. On average, breathing starts within 10 to 20 seconds: the chest muscles and diaphragm start moving, the lungs fill with air, and there's the very first breath. A beautiful moment.
Circulation
During pregnancy, your baby received blood via the umbilical cord; now their circulation switches over, since they're breathing independently. Circulation is fully activated.