My friend’s baby slept almost continuously for the first day or so. Is this normal?

This can be normal – the birth process is tiring for Mum and baby. It is not unusual for the first 24 hours to be fairly quiet, as your baby rests after the birth. They are often very alert and ready for a feed immediately after the birth, but then have a long sleep. Also any medications e.g. Pethidine or Diamorphine taken during the labour can linger in the baby system contributing to this drowsiness until the effects of the drugs wear off. Make the most of this opportunity to rest but offer regular feeds to your baby. Your midwife will advise you.

After the first 24 hours, you may still find that your baby is feeding erratically; maybe every hour for five hours, and then a four-hour sleep. But there is no pattern, no rights and wrongs, apart from letting your baby feed when he wants to. Don’t expect any routine to be emerging at this stage, and just rest when you can.