Then, with the baby s head turned to one side, the shoulders are delivered and the rest of the baby s body slips out easily. Babies may appear blue at birth but quickly turn pink when they start to cry and take in oxygen. Their tiny hands and feet may retain a bluish tinge for a while, however. This is normal and shouldn t be a source of worry. At one and five minutes after birth, your baby will be assessed and given Apgar scores.
Most babies don t get the perfect score, which is ten.
After your baby is weighed and identified, you ll have an opportunity to hold him or her and marvel at the wondrous event that has just taken place. Following the hard work of labor, you ll feel exhilarated, energized and justifiably proud of the tiny new person nestled in your arms. Article by Bobbi Hill, RNC, MSN, Perinatal Educator at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut.