Breastfeeding is not always easy in the beginning. Talk to your partner so she feels supported and knows she is not alone. Show interest in breastfeeding and her feelings. It is nice to limit visits as much as possible in the beginning so you can adjust in peace. During breastfeeding itself you can't do anything but you can help change diapers, give a bath, play and cuddle with the baby to strengthen the bond. You may also definitely help be alert for hunger signals and watch to see if the baby is drinking properly. Be understanding to your partner and give compliments to boost her confidence. 

In the beginning it is only a few drops of milk but these give a bomb of energy. It is normal for your baby to lose weight in the first few days. His birth weight will be regained after an average of 14 days. If your baby drinks well you will hear him swallowing and sucking. He will be relaxed after feeding and fall asleep spontaneously. It is normal if your baby wants to drink more in the evening. Once home, he should have a minimum of six pee diapers a day. Your baby is satisfied when he is calm after feeding.

In local anesthesia, only the part of the body to be operated on is made pain-free by injecting local anesthetics around the nerves, disabling them. This means you remain awake during the procedure. However, something may be administered that will make you drowsy.

The anesthesia can be administered in several ways:

• lumbar puncture: numbs the lower part of the body. Depending on the surgery, you will feel this anesthesia from the chest or from the umbilical region to the toes. The anesthesiologist injects numbing fluid into the spinal canal through a thin needle.
• neck or armpit prick: numbs only the arm. The nerves are searched with a thin needle that emits small currents. Each time the needle hits a nerve, you feel a slight electric shock in your arm. This is how the anesthesiologist determines the right place to numb.
• regional intravenous anesthesia (RIVA): numbs only the arm. With RIVA anesthesia, the numbing fluid is injected into a vein in the forearm. After a few minutes, the arm is completely numb.

During general anaesthesia, your consciousness is temporarily disabled, making you insensitive to pain. Anaesthesia is usually administered through an IV but this can sometimes be done through a mask placed on your face. Upon arrival in the operating room, the necessary monitoring equipment is attached so the anaesthesiologist can monitor your blood pressure, breathing and heart function during surgery. To ensure that oxygen delivery is not compromised, a tube may be inserted into your trachea.

Parents and resident children are always welcome and may enter the room where the baby lays, provided the following guidelines:

• Children up to 12 years of age must always wear a mouth mask (avoid spread of chickenpox ).
• Do parents or children have cold symptoms? A mouth mask is required or ideally the visit is postponed. 
• Children are not allowed to hold the baby. 

Grandparents are welcome every day between: 16:00h - 16:30h or 19:00h - 19.30h and may enter the room where the baby lies if they respect the following guidelines:

• A maximum of 2 grandparents may visit per day, only on the day of birth an exception can be made and two grandparent pairs may visit (one pair at 16:00h  and another pair at 19:00h)
• Grandparents must always be accompanied by one or both parents of the baby.
• Grandparents are not allowed to hold the baby.
• Grandparents who have cold symptoms should postpone their visit to a later time.

When more than one baby is admitted in one room, arrangements will be made on the ward to ensure that no more than two visitors are present at the same time.

Further guidelines for everyone during the visit time at neonatology:

• Do not remove the baby from the heated crib or incubator unless in consultation with the midwife.
• Let the visit proceed calmly and as much as possible in silence so as not to disturb the baby's rest.
• Extra attention to general hygiene and hand hygiene is very important at the neonatology department.

With epidural anesthesia, a small tube (catheter) is inserted into the lower back through an epidural. The skin is first numbed locally. It is important that you sit as still as possible. The epidural creates a numb feeling in the lower part of your body, from the abdominal region to the legs, this requires you to stay in bed until delivery. You will still feel your belly getting hard and you will also feel when to push but you will not feel the pain of the contractions anymore. With a cesarean section, you can still feel the gynaecologist pulling on your abdomen but you won't feel any pain. The anesthesia does not affect breastfeeding.

The incision of the caesarean section needs time to heal. During your stay, the midwife checks the wound, cleans it and provides a bandage for you to shower with as soon as you are able. Depending on what type of sutures were used, you will be advised on how to remove them if necessary. Try to take short walks that do not overexert you. For the first six weeks after the caesarean section, it is recommended that you do not lift anything. You may, of course, carry your baby.