During the first few days after the birth of a baby, every mother is usually very excited to hold her blessing in her arms. But those days can also be very tiring and strenuous on the new mum.
There are a lot of changes that take place from the moment your child is born and with each passing day, your baby records different milestones. As a new mum you can expect that your hands will be full as a lot is equally expected from you. This may sound rather overwhelming knowing you too need time to recover, but with a few tips, you should be able to sail through the first few days.
Feeding and Sleeping Patterns
Most newborn babies sleep for less than 4 hours at a time and about 16 out of every 24 hours. At first, your baby makes no difference of day and night so you may need to work around their time, scheduling naps when they nap to enable you to both recover from the strain you went through during delivery. Plan and get your baby into a routine to help them adjust to the day and night that fits them.
Bathing
For any new mum, bathing your baby can be a real pleasure, though it can also be a little bit scary. That is why it is important to get training at the hospital and in prenatal classes. While home, an experienced relative can help you learn, as they also allow you time to recover your strength. Choose the time of the day to give your baby a bath, depending also on the climatic conditions in your place. Bathing is one way to help calm your baby and make them relax. While some mothers choose to give their babies a bath every day, others may choose to skip a day or even two. It’s all about your preferences. The important thing to note is that the baby’s nappy area needs to be kept clean and dry to avoid nappy rash and the umbilical cord area also must be kept clean and dry to prevent infections. Read more on bathing here.
Soothing Your Baby
New born babies love to be cuddled and soothed to make them feel warm. This is because while inside the womb they were used to a warm, and cosy environment. They therefore need to feel the same in the outside world. Soothing them gives them that reassuring feeling that they are safe and also helps them to relax. You can soothe your baby by gently rocking him/her and singing to them. Soothing will also help them fall asleep.
Checking Baby’s Weight and General Health
After the birth of your baby, you will need to take her to the clinic for regular health checks and also have their weight and growth monitored. This is to ensure that the baby is growing well and reaching all the milestones. If your health care provider notices that the baby is not well, or he or she is not adding weight, they will always recommend a course of action to be taken to see to it that they grow into a healthy baby.
Relax and take it a day at a time. In the end, your instincts are your defenders and as a mum you will always know when something is not right.
Disclaimers:
#Please note that development differs from one child to another
# Content intended for educational purposes only, and should not be substituted for medical advice from your doctor.
Last reviewed January 2019
Sources: pregnancybirthbaby, babycenter, thebump, verywellfamily
