The First Week with Your Baby
The first week of your baby's life brings big adjustments for both of you. You are adjusting to being a mother and caring for your baby and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. It is a time of great joy -- and possibly immense fear! Although you've been preparing for the birth of your baby for months, now he is here and depending on you for everything which can seem overwhelming. Don't expect too much of yourself during these first days! If anyone offers you help -- take it!
During your baby's first few weeks of life, he will be concentrating on getting to know you and his surroundings. Your baby needs to be handled so that life outside the womb seems as little different as possible to life inside the womb. Your baby's needs, while they may seem overwhelming to you, are really simple: food, warmth and comfort from cuddling. Wrap him snugly and warmly, hold him closely, handle him slowly, and feed him when he's hungry. Your baby will have the routing and sucking reflexes as well as tongue thrust. These are needed to get nourishment from the breast or bottle. You can also use this time to bond with your baby with lots of skin to skin contact.
Whether you decide to breast or bottle feed, feeding in the first few weeks is not an effortless process. Try to have early feeding sessions in a quiet setting with as few distractions as possible. Make sure you are in a comfortable position as it takes new babies a while to eat and you don't want to end up stiff and sore. Cuddle and caress your baby as feeding time is a wonderful opportunity to show your baby how much he is loved.
If you are breastfeeding, be patient while you and your baby are getting the hang of it! The benefits of breastfeeding are many and in order for it to be successful, it is important to start out right. Keep in mind though it may take several weeks until you both feel comfortable and get a feeding schedule down.
Most new moms feel and experience:
- Exhaustion!
- Bloody vaginal discharge for the first week or so
- Discomfort or pain in the perineal area if you had a vaginal delivery
- Incision pain or numbness if you had a cesarean delivery
- Abdominal cramping (afterpains) as the uterus contracts
- Elation or depression or swings between both
- Breast discomfort or engorgement
- Fears about your adequacy as a mother
- Profuse sweating after the first couple of days
Although it may be tempting to try to be a 'supermom', now is not the time. The best advice that I received as an new mom was to accept the help of others, eat regular meals and sleep when the baby sleeps. Now it's my turn to pass that advice on to you.
About The Author
Anne Cavicchi is a Canadian wife and mother of one boy and two step-daughters. She also owns Annie's Maternity Corner where you'll find everything you need for pregnancy and baby! Great products, articles, information and more to see you through pregnancy and baby's first years at Annie's. http://www.maternitycorner.com
MORE RESOURCES:
 WWAY NewsChannel 3 | 'Miracle baby' back home in Brunswick County WWAY NewsChannel 3 BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- He's being called the miracle baby. Jessiah Jackson is back home in Brunswick County after a risky surgery to remove a metal ... |
15 Phrases Guaranteed to Annoy Second-Time Moms (Like Me!) The Stir (blog) Be careful what you say to her! It's not earth-shattering to find out there are things you don't want to hear when you're pregnant. ... |
When Parents Disagree — On Everything New York Times (blog) A reader, who has asked that I not use her name, hometown or even her childrens' ages, for reasons she explains at the end, wrote asking me ... |
Baby Girl Fights Fatal Ageing Disorder Sky News A toddler in the US is thought to be the youngest person in the world to be diagnosed with a rare and fatal disorder that causes her to age rapidly. ... |
The Mother of All parentcentral.ca (blog) ... The Mother of All Parenting Books, Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler, Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler, ... |
Plenty of contests offered for Phillips County Fair theme Holyoke Enterprise To vote for choice of sweetest baby-toddler, place spare change or dollars in jars on display in local banks and credit unions. ... |
Autopsy: Baby Who Died Last Week Had Skull Fracture WISN Milwaukee There may be a new twist in the investigation of the death of 9-month-old Makyla Johnson. The medical examiner found a skull fracture, which may be the ... |
Wardle Village Church Rochdale Online Mother and Baby/Toddler Group continue throughout the Summer Holidays on a Monday and Wednesday 9.30am-Noon with Surestart invited for music and activities. ... |
Shaken Baby Legislation Signed WSIL TV The bill was drafted by southern Illinois lawmakers in response to the death of Brynden Gibson. The 22 month old Herrin toddler died in 2006 after being ... |
The Mother of All parentcentral.ca (blog) Bradford was asked to deliver 10 money-saving tips for parents for each of the baby, toddler, and school-aged parenting stages. Most of the tips fell into ... |
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