Most mothers are awake during delivery and work hard to help the baby come into the world.
You hear the first cries, see the baby's first breath, and hold your son or daughter in your arms and at you breast. These first few minutes when you feel the warmth of your baby's body, and when the baby hears your heartbeat, feels your touch, and hears your voice are some of the most important in both your lives. Long before birth many mothers and fathers think about what the baby will look like. Many have never seen a newborn baby and are unprepared for this little red, wrinkled baby with a big head and a body covered with a white creamy substance. Parents must keep in mind that the baby has lived in a bag of water for 9 months, has just made a long, difficult trip through the birth canal, and is probably yelling as hard as possible to get air in and out of the lungs.