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Congratulations! You’ve finally become a mom. Those grueling months are over, and you can heave a sigh of relief. But now, you need to learn how to care for your infant. And, if you’re a first-time mom, you do need help. So, read this post and learn some need-to-know tips for your first week with the baby.
1. You Won’t Get To Sleep Well
If you thought that sleepless nights were a part of the maternity period, and you can finally enjoy a good night’s rest, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. While infants are known to sleep for up to 20 hours in a day, they like to do so in 2-4 hour spurts. Inconvenient isn’t it?
Overcoming sleep deprivation can be quite a chore, especially if you aren’t one of those who sleep well. If you can fall asleep at the red light, then try to snooze when the baby does.
2. Calming Your Baby
This one’s for the first-time moms. Soothing a baby is one thing that most women have to learn. While some women are naturals at it, others need help. Remember that newborns still crave for the womb, and as such, enjoy being swaddled or held. Moreover, your baby is too little right now to turn into a spoiled brat. So, go ahead, enjoy the cuddles.
See what the baby responds to, and use that technique. According to a new mom, “my newborn enjoyed the cold air of the table fan, so I would wrap him up and set the fan 5 feet away from him’.
3. Nursing Your Baby
Breastfeeding a baby is something that you’d think is quite natural, and rather straight-forward. We hate to burst that bubble, but it isn’t. In fact, many women struggle with nursing their babies, and consult lactation experts to learn the right technique.
Just like your pregnancy, there are no one-way-fits-all for nursing a baby. So, you need to work on a technique that is comfortable for both you and your little one. Moreover, you will mostly need to feed your baby round-the-clock. According to Dr. Laura Jana, “you should expect your child to feed once every one to four hours.”
4. Bathing Your Baby
Infants, with their smooth skin and playful nature, tend to become rather slippery when they are wet. So, it’s rather understandable that most new parents are nervous about bathing their baby.
The hint is to take it slow and relax. You need to ensure that you don’t hurt your little one or dampen the umbilical cord. If you have had your baby circumcised, you might need to wait until the area is healed before you give the baby his first bath.
5. Labor Recovery
You’re probably thinking… “my baby’s here in my arms, and all that pain and discomfort of pregnancy is a distant memory”. We’d like for it to be that way, but it isn’t. Recovering from the process of childbirth is going to take time, and you need to be prepared to accept the fact.
The best option for you is to look for a support group. Ask your friends or family members to help you out with the chores, and remember to take it easy. You’ve just gone through a sapping and emotionally draining pregnancy. Kick your feet up and relax.
So, there you have it. Five must-know tips for your first week after childbirth. Do you have any other tips for our readers? Tell us here.
