The First Few Days with the Newborn
The first few days with your new baby are very exciting and wonderful. It is also very different having the baby on the outside, as opposed to the fetus on the “inside.” Now that the parents have their long anticipated bundle of joy, they need to care for the baby’s every need. Although parents and the newborn are going through an enormous learning experience, this need not be a time of unmanageable stress.
Sleep
Newborns sleep so much because they are so busy growing. Some sleep as
much as 23 hours a day while others seem to only take tiny naps. You never
know when your baby will sleep or wake up. Babies cannot tell time and
do not have the same internal clocks as their parents. They generally
wake about every two hours but usually have a four to five hour sleep
period daily. I have found it helpful to just feed and change baby’s
diaper in the middle of the night to help him learn that the night is
not a time to open his eyes and explore the environment. I turn on just
enough light so that I can see. It is best for the mother to take a few
naps during the day when the baby is sleeping so that she is not exhausted
when the baby needs her at night. Mothers should accept offers of help.
While the mother is sleeping, fathers, grandparents, friends, and hired
help can do everything, except breastfeeding, from changing diapers to
laundry to cooking.
Wet
Newborns wet their diapers often because they have very tiny bladders.
My newborns seemed to wet approximately every half hour. Generally, I
change the baby at each feeding. I nurse on one side, try to burp the
baby, change the diaper, and then nurse on the other side. Be sure to
change soiled diapers as soon as you notice them. Rather than cringing
at the thought of another wet diaper, find satisfaction in the fact that
dirty diapers indicate that the baby is getting enough milk.
During the first three days of life, the baby excretes meconium, a black, tar-like substance. If you put olive oil or grapeseed oil on the baby’s bottom with a cottonball, the meconium will not stick as much to the baby. The meconium is replaced by less solid, yellowish feces when the mother’s milk comes in, approximately 72 hours after the birth.
Eat
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed
for at least the first year. Medical research clearly indicates that breastfeeding
is best. Manufacturers do their best to improve formula to make it as
close to breastmilk as feasible, but it is impossible to precisely duplicate
breastmilk. It may seem that the baby nurses nonstop. Mothers should look
for signs of hunger, such as sucking motions, rather than waiting for
the baby to cry.
Cry
Babies will cry. It is their only way to communicate. They cry because
they are hungry, wet, cold, want to be picked up, want their positions
changed, or are uncomfortable. Sometimes, they just want dad or mom.
It is always best to comfort a crying baby. Trust is quickly established
when a newborn learns that her calls are quickly answered. Fruit spoils,
not babies.
Advice and Inquiries
You will receive parenting advice from families, friends, acquaintances,
and strangers. Who should you listen to? Parents must decide for themselves
what works best for them. Listen politely to advice and thank the giver
for the suggestions. Keep in mind that what worked for one family may
or may not be right for your family. It’s up to you to decide.
The most common questions asked of new parents are, “Is she a good baby?” and “Does he sleep through the night?” Of course your baby is good! She’s the world’s greatest baby! Does he sleep through the night? Most likely he does not. He is just a tiny person, new to the world. His little stomach needs frequent filling and his diaper needs changing. Many adults get up in the night to get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, or just adjust their covers. It’s certainly not unusual to have a baby who wakes during the night.
All babies are special. Yours will be the most special of all. She will look at you with complete trust and confidence that you will take care of her. As parents, we must do our best to rise to the joys and challenges of caring for our children.