For many families, the first two days after birth are a blur of exhaustion, elation, and adjustment. While pregnancy and labour command much attention, the immediate postnatal period is just as critical. The first 48 hours set the stage for recovery, attachment, and infant wellbeing. Midwives are central to this transition—offering clinical expertise, reassurance, and advocacy when parents are most vulnerable.

Birth, regardless of mode, places immense physical demands on the body. In these initial hours, midwives monitor vital signs, bleeding, and uterine involution to guard against complications such as postpartum haemorrhage and infection. They also assist emotionally—recognising the so-called “baby blues” and normalising the wave of emotions, while also remaining alert for early signs of postnatal depression.

Feeding is another key focus. A midwife’s guidance on latch, positioning, and feeding cues in those first hours has been strongly linked to sustained breastfeeding success. The NSW Postnatal Education Booklet emphasises uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and early attachment to support natural feeding behaviours. When breastfeeding isn’t possible or chosen, midwives ensure families have accurate, stigma-free information on safe formula preparation and newborn nutrition. Support also extends to the mother’s recovery, with advice on hydration, diet, and rest.

For the baby, the first 48 hours are a time of dramatic adjustment. Midwives conduct full newborn assessments—checking breathing, heart rate, temperature, feeding, and elimination—while also arranging or performing screening tests such as the heel-prick for metabolic disorders and hearing checks. They explain these procedures to worried parents, ensuring informed consent and reducing anxiety. Skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and responsive caregiving are encouraged, fostering bonding while stabilising the baby’s physiology.

New parents often operate on instinct, but a midwife’s presence can help turn instinct into confidence. From safe sleeping and bathing to soothing and nappy changes, just-in-time demonstrations provide reassurance at a moment when it is most needed.

“Those first days aren’t about perfection—they’re about reassurance,” says Sarah, a Sydney-based midwife. “I tell parents: you already know your baby better than anyone. My role is to back you up and give you the confidence to trust yourselves.”

Partners also benefit from this guidance, learning practical skills that help them share responsibility and strengthen their bond with both the baby and the birthing parent.

Perhaps the most important contribution midwives make in the first 48 hours is preparing families for what comes next. They discuss follow-up appointments, connect families with community health services, and highlight red flags such as heavy bleeding, fever, or poor feeding. The Australian Postnatal Care Guidelines recommend follow-up contact within 6 to 48 hours to support breastfeeding and postpartum wellbeing, underscoring the importance of continuity of care beyond the hospital walls.

The first two days are about more than just clinical checklists. They are about creating a compassionate, safe environment where parents feel seen, listened to, and capable. In those crucial hours, midwives combine evidence-based practice with human connection—helping families take their first breaths of parenthood with confidence and care.

For some, those first days are filled with joy and relief; for others, they can be marked by uncertainty, exhaustion, or lingering fears from labour. Midwives are often the steady presence that helps families navigate those emotions, reassuring them that what they are experiencing is normal and that support is close at hand. This blend of technical skill and empathy is what shapes the early parenting journey, turning a potentially overwhelming time into one of connection and trust.

“Every family leaves those first 48 hours with a story,” reflects midwife Sarah. “Our job is to make sure that story begins with safety, support, and the feeling that they are not alone.”