Are you giving birth soon and wonder how to deal with your newborn baby? Read this article to know everything on this. In the beginning, all the baby actually does is sleeping and eating, and it also needs to get its diapers changed a lot. It could also make strange sounds. Here are some of the sounds that your baby will make:
- Crying, which is the baby’s way of communication. Crying could mean many things; such as hunger, tiredness or the need to get its diapers changed or to be carried. Do not worry. You will understand over time the meaning of your baby’s crying and how to deal with it.
- Burping, which happens when the baby swallows air while being breastfed. The baby could also sneeze, get hiccup or make gurgling noises.
- The baby may briefly stop breathing. Do not worry, this is normal.
The baby may also do some movements that may seem strange to you. Here are some of the normal movements that your baby could do:
- It could lie in a position like that of the fetus in the uterus.
- It could suddenly move its arms and legs.
- It could curl up its toes/fingers when you tickle its feet.
You may stay in the hospital for a few days after giving birth. Use this time to recover and rest before going home. While in the hospital, the pediatrician will examine your baby and make sure it is in good health. If you notice anything abnormal, you can consult the doctor before leaving the hospital. Here are some things that you will notice after returning home:
- Newborn babies need to be breastfed 8-12 times a day.
- A newborn baby loses one tenth of its weight in the first five days, and then regains that weight by the tenth day. The weight loss could be more significant if the baby sleeps during breastfeeding, or if it rejects your breast (or the feeding bottle) repeatedly. Therefore, you have to consult the doctor if this happens before the baby regains its birthweight. After the baby regains its weight, it rejects breastfeeding when it feels full.
- You will need to change the wet diapers at least four times daily, and at least twice daily because of stool.
- If you breastfeed your baby, the stool will be mustard yellow, and of solid consistency. But if you rely on bottle feeding, the stool will be yellowish brown, and of grainy consistency.
- Your baby will sleep 16-17 hours a day, but will sleep uninterruptedly only for an hour or two at a time.
Here are some advice that could be helpful in the first week:
- Taking care of your baby requires great effort. You can therefore ask a family member or a friend to help because you will need to get some sleep.
- If you had a cesarean section, ask someone else to carry your baby and change its diapers.
- Your baby misses the comfort and warmth of the uterus after birth. To make it feel warm and safe, cover it in a blanket and carry it in your arms.
- In the beginning, the baby cannot control its body temperature. Therefore, cover it with an extra layer to the ones you are wearing..
- If your baby is born preterm, ask the doctor whether it is possible to put the baby in direct contact with your skin to create a bond with your baby.
- Help your baby burp after every 60-90 millimeters of bottle-feeding, or when it switches from one breast to the other.
- The baby’s umbilical cord stump will fall off on its own within 10-14 days. All you should do is clean the area, fold the diaper, and make sure this area stay always dry.