Newborn Family Life
Strategies for Baby’s First Weeks
The first few weeks at home with your newborn can be both joyful and overwhelming. Knowing a few things about newborn family life will help everyone heal, rest and enjoy this most precious time. Here are some practical strategies for getting through those first few days with a little grace and a lot of peace.
Everybody Needs Sleep
Newborn parents require at least 8 hours of sleep per day. Newborn babies sleep an average of 14 hours per day. So, why is every newborn parent so tired? The answer is because newborn babies only sleep in 2 -3 hour stretches for the first few weeks.
Strategy
Parents need to sleep almost every time baby sleeps in order to get enough rest. Select one or two of baby’s naptimes to get something done, like taking a shower, returning some phone calls or entertaining visitors. Lie down and rest when baby is sleeping even if you cannot fall asleep.
Eat Well to Be Well
Newborn parents need to eat 3 nutritious meals a day. The breastfeeding mom needs to take in 2500 calories and at least 2.5 quarts of water a day. A breastfeeding mom will make between 24 to 27 ounces of milk a day. Newborn babies eat approximately every 2 to 3 hours. Yes, that is about 10-12 feedings in a 24-hour period.
Strategy
Prepare single serving meals in advance and store in freezer. Ask family and friends to give the gift of a meal by dropping off prepared meals each day for the first few weeks. Request that one close friend do your grocery shopping for the first few weeks.
Is Baby Getting Enough Milk/Sleep?
The best way to figure out if your baby is getting enough to eat is to count the number of wet/poopy diapers per day. Baby may only have one wet diaper per day old until mom’s milk comes in on or about day 5 after birth. You can expectant your baby to have 5 to 8 wet/poopy diapers per day once mom’s milk is in. Baby is sleeping enough if she or he is averaging 14 hours in a 24-hour period.
Strategy
Keep a diaper and sleep log. Just jot down the things you want to keep track of in a notebook. Parents report feeling reassured when they can look back over a few days and see how well baby is doing. Due to lack of sleep and all of the newness of having a baby, it is unrealistic to think you can remember every diaper change, feeding and naptime.
Soothe the Moro Reflex
The Moro Reflex or Startle Reflex is a primitive reflex that helps baby adjust to situations. You can expect your newborn to “startle” frequently over the next 6 months. The Moro Reflex can wake a sleeping baby if he or she is not swaddled snuggly.
Strategy
Swaddle your baby for longer more restful sleep periods. There are several swaddle techniques to watch on YouTube. Watching someone swaddle is typically easier than reading about how to swaddle.
Stock Up in Advance
Newborn moms can expect to use the bathroom every 2 - 3 hours because of the postpartum bleeding and the intake of 2.5 quarts of water a day. Newborn parents can expect to change about 8 to 10 diapers a day!
Strategy
Buy plenty of toilet paper, pads & diapers in advance. Mom will need at least 1 package of long, heavy flow pads to get through the first week. Baby will go through at least 56 diapers during the first week.
Wear Ear Plugs
Most newborns are noisy sleepers. Babies are still working the fluid out of their bodies from their first watery home. The grunts, snorts and coughs can be very unsettling for new parents. Breastfeeding mothers benefit from having baby in the same room for nighttime feedings for the first few weeks.
Strategy
Ear plugs, seriously! Some parents can only sleep with a newborn in their room if they wear earplugs. You will be able to hear baby if he or she cries, but you will be able to sleep through the other “normal” baby noises.
Spend Time Outside
Everyone benefits from a little fresh air, even your newborn baby. Newborn family life can be stressful, stepping outside into the brisk winter air or warm summer sun can radically improve your mood.
Strategy
Take 10 minutes to step outside every day from the first day home with your newborn. Bundle up in the winter and step outside, stand on your porch or walk in your yard. Take baby with you! Just dress baby with the same amount of clothing you have on plus a hat and venture outside. Enjoy the soft breeze or biting cold for just a few minutes. Breathe deep and listen to world outside your door!
The first few days at home with your newborn are but a glimpse in time. Everything changes from moment to moment. Time seems to both creep and fly. Remember to take good care of your self so can be the best parent for your baby. Don’t be afraid to accept help from friends and family as it truly takes a village to gracefully navigate newborn family life