Infant Generalizations

## Pregnancy

* A pregnancy will start to show around 12 weeks (earlier for "veterans" as their abdominal muscles already know what to do)
* Humans gestate for 41 weeks. A 'late' pregnancy is 42 weeks, and if it goes beyond that, the baby runs the risk of 'pooping' in the amniotic sac and 'breathing' it back in which can lead to health problems.
* A person will no longer have their own gravity well once the baby is a separate organism, but they will have a 'baby pouch' for 8-12 weeks as the uterus returns to its original size and the skin's elasticity kicks in ([1]).

## Giving Birth

* [[2]], "JESUS FUCKING CHRIST WHY DIDN’T ANYONE LET THESE PEOPLE GIVE BIRTH SQUATTING (new paragraph) IF YOU’RE NOT IN A HOSPITAL WHY THE ACTUAL FUCK WOULD YOU GIVE BIRTH SUPINE"
* A person's 'water breaking', the amniotic sac rupturing, very rarely happens on its own (though it did for my mom and she was asked to be part of a study to see whether it made a difference which it didn't.). Usually the "rupture of membranes" will occur during contractions, or the nurse or obstetrician "artificially ruptures the membranes" with a stick thingy (amnicot) or their finger. [3]
* This wonderful PDF has examples of dialogues between patients and nurses, what questions to ask when, what to do when, etc, but it also has diagrams: [4]

## Neonates

### Babies

* Babies born vaginally will be "moulded" and bruised.
* Their eyes will be puffy from excess fluid
* Their ears will be scrunched and noses flat for protection against amniotic fluid and the cramped quarters of the uterus.
* Neonates should always wear hats as they can't regulate their temperature very well, though they know how to (a too-warm baby under a blanket will stick out an arm or leg). Breasts are /very good thermoregularors and will do the work for baby
* Babies are born covered in their parent's bacteria and thus shouldnt be washed for 24 hours as they have yet to get their own.
* Babies are born with eleven innate reflexes, though only a few show up actively: Moro (when startled, baby will throw out their arms and legs and then tuck them back in again), sucking, rooting (warm skin against cheek will trigger a search for food), walking (a baby who isn't carrying their own weight will make stepping motions. At six weeks, baby doesn't have the muscle:leg weight to continue unless in water), palmar grasp (baby will grip whatever touches their palm).
* a "baby baby" (a month or two old) will sort of 'ooze' against the person holding them, sort of sinking into that person's arms and chest and molding against them.

### Everything Else

* Birth matter is gunky and slimey, not drippy.
* With regards to kangaroo care, babies shouldn't be moved once settled against the parent for at least an hour (the duration of a sleep cycle).
* (At RoryKurago's mom's hospital...) The umbilical cord isn't cut until it stops pulsing and doesn't mind being smooshed between baby and parent in the first hour of life.
* The placenta typically detaches and is delivered 10-12 minutes after the baby; in hospitals, they wait up to 30 minutes, at home, they don't consider it a problem for two hours. (The risk here is a hemorrhage may occur.)
* A step-by-step guide of what to expect shortly after birth: [5]
	+ This source gives baby a sponge bath once baby's temperature has remained stable for a few hours; I don't know how that reconciles with not washing for the first 24 hours after birth
		- The sponge bath removes blood and amniotic fluid from baby, but it can be delayed. Vernix, however, shouldn't be removed. It's this goopy white stuff that covers the neonate's skin at birth and acts a bacteria barrier and lubricant, and waterproof, so unless one actively rubs it off, it won't come off with just water. [6]
	+ This source states babies are very alert after birth; I read another thing which I will find that describes them as woozy for a few days if their birth parent's given painkillers.
* Information about baby poop

## Breastfeeding

* absolutely fascinating addition about breastmilk (scroll down)
* http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy\_newborn/breastfeed/breastfeed\_concerns.html#