Essential Advice For The First Few Weeks with Your Baby

 

What to expect in the first few weeks at home with your new baby

Postnatal Recovery What to Expect

The obvious change within your body is the emptiness within, absence of the weight of your baby and placenta and all the fluid that surrounds it while you were pregnant. Over the next few days you will lose more weight as extra fluid shed and blood volumes return to normal.
If you use your body well it will aid your process in recovery. Your uterus should remain to its normal size and within six weeks. Your need for rest is critical at this stage and resist the temptation in catching up with all household chores whenever your baby sleeps. Try and use the time for recuperation to keep your energy reserves up particularly if you have other children to look after. You will then be more accommodating if any sudden demands crop up.
Your daily routine before the birth of lying down and releasing tension may be impossible to reinstate due to the constant family demands. So fit your rest times around your baby’s needs and recharge your batteries and boost any healing needed by your body. In the first few weeks try and lie down for a few hours during the day. During cold weather cover up with a warm blanket so if you drift off to sleep you will stay warm. If you have toddlers try and persuade them to sleep with you or an older child to play near you. You will be surprised that the odd ten minutes during the day can really help you keep going.

While countless women have had babies, and it is fantastic to be able to draw on their experience and advice, each baby, each mom, each dad is unique and special.

Feeding your Newborn Baby

As a mother you may not necessarily know how long and how much to feed your baby. It will take a bit of time to establish a feeding routine so not worry too much about this at the start. Feeding little and too often is usually what new born babies do. It is important to hold your baby in the right position for feeding and that the baby is properly supported. Although breastfeeding is undoubtedly the best source of nutrients for a newborn baby, for whatever reason that you cannot breast feed your baby, don’t feel guilty about this. The most important priority is your baby so choose first stage formula milk.
Try not to implement a strict feeding schedule for your baby and leave your baby hungry for hours. If your baby is sleepy try and feed them every three hours and wake them up gently. After trying a few different ways you will soon establish what your baby’s needs are and when they are, as long as you make sure that your baby is taking enough milk required for their age and weight, do not worry and enjoy the moment.

Special Bonding Time for the Family

Limit your Visitors

Although it is great to have family and friends over to welcome your new baby, it can become overwhelming. Try and establish at an early stage that you and your partner have plenty of time to be alone with your new baby. This is a special time to bond with your baby for both of you and you should not feel guilty about limiting visitors as this is a precious time with your newborn will never come around again.

Crying Babies

All babies cry however it can be distressing for new parents who are unsure why their baby is crying. There are a number of reasons why newborn babies cry and to top that list is caused by hunger. Try and offer your baby a feed before you try anything else. Tiredness is also a reason why newborn babies cry. Usually if your newborn has been awake for an hour and they start crying, it is usually a sign that they are ready for a nap.
Another cause of crying can be wind as all babies take in a certain amount of air when feeding and most babies will bring it up again. Allow sufficient time in between feeds so your baby can digest their milk properly and you can also take the time to wind them properly after each feed

Nappy Changing

Most babies will have their first bowel movement in the first 48 hours of being born. As your baby gradually adjusts to life his soiled nappy will vary in color and this also depends if you are breastfeeding or using a milk formula to feed your newborn. There is no doubt that there will be a lot of nappy changing to come. Just remember to change your baby all the time and make sure that their nappy is not too wet at all times to reduce the development of red bottom and nappy rash.

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How often do you need to feed a newborn baby?

• Every time the baby is hungry
• Routine Feeding Time - Every two or three hours

Positioning your baby when breastfeeding after a caesarean birth

While you are in bed recovering from the operation, the usual advice is to flex and extend muscles and circle your feet from time to time to increase circulation. Do this several times a day so you do not lose general muscle tone in the short period you are confined in the hospital.
Your baby will be more comfortable and will feed more efficiently if they are positioned well. One position is put your belly against your baby’s belly or another position is place your baby on your side with their feet backwards and is usually very effective after having a caesarean operation. Always support your baby’s head in whatever position you choose. You can place a bulky cushion behind you to help support your back comfortably It can be a good idea to rest one foot on a stool at the side on which you are feeding.

When will you be ready to resume sex?

It is u to you as to when you want to start having sex after pregnancy and birth. Most doctors advice to wait for a few weeks especially if you had a difficult birth and had stitches. Having a baby can have a big effect on you and your partner’s libido so be sure not to put pressure on yourselves, keep the lines of communication open and do what feels right, when it feels right. Don’t forget to use contraception if you do not want to get pregnant again soon after the birth. Even if you are breastfeeding or your normal menstrual cycle has not occurred yet, a pregnancy can still occur.

The First Week After Birth

Summary

You have completed your journey to pregnancy and now you have a beautiful baby in your arms. These first few days can be such a joy as you rediscover the world through the eyes of your new baby. The journey will be rewarding as each milestone passes and your baby grows into a toddler, a child and an adult. Welcome to world of parenthood, it is an exciting and ever challenging place to be.