Newborn: the first few weeks with him

Newborn: the first few weeks with him

The first days andand the first few weeks with a newborn frugoletto they are full of joy and love. But they can also be filled with dirty nappies, naps, sleepless nights and many, many questions about what is right and what is wrong.
As time passes you will learn to know each other and you will know what he prefers and what what is it trying to communicate to you.

Switching between diapers to change, baby food and sleep, here you can expect from a newborn.

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In this article

• The first days in the hospital 
• The return home with the baby 
• Breastfeeding 
• The diaper 
• The care of the umbilical cord 
• Safe nanny 
• Crying 
• The game 

Read also: The first week with the newborn

1. The first days in the hospital

After giving birth, the first two to three days of life together are mom and baby take place inside the hospital, in which the moments of control of mom and baby by doctors or midwives.

Many hospitals organize group meetings with new mothers to illustrate how to take care of of your baby, from the bath to the sleeping positions. Also there are times for visits from relatives and friends.

The ideal situation for mother and baby is the rooming in, which requires the baby to stay in the room with the mother and not in the nursery. 

2. Returning home with the baby

From the very first drive home, the baby must travel safe, correctly positioned inside a special baby carrier or carrycot - which must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Caution: the law provides for it and there are no exceptions.

Once home, the new life together finally begins. The first few days are very busy: the child continues his  adaptation out of the womb, and the mother adapts to the new rhythms and learns to "interpret" the baby's signals.

Between continuous feedings and nocturnal awakenings, the first few weeks can be very tiring: if there are grandparents, uncles, friends who can help, it's the right time to ask him.

3. Breastfeeding

Most babies eat every hour and a half to three and a half hours. It also depends on whether they are breastfed o with formula milk: babies who feed on mother's milk usually eat more often, because their tummies digest it sooner.

 prevent back pain pay attention to the position: at the beginning the most comfortable could be that belly to belly. Against the fissures, instead, the attachment is essential: the baby should take the whole areola and not just the nipple.

Also read: 10 things to know about breastfeeding

Your baby can tell you in many ways that he is hungry:

• can mimic sucking with his mouth,
• put your hands and fingers in your mouth
• or you may notice that he turns his face to your side and opens his mouth if you gently touch his cheek.

The babies cry when they are hungry, but usually it is the last signal they give you to communicate this message to you.

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4. The diaper

How often do you have to change a baby's diaper??
Babies can get wet from six or more times a day and can drain from four times upwards.

For the first week, stools may be dark black-green and sticky. And the meconium, a substance that fills the intestines of babies before birth. After it is completely out of their little body, the stools will be softer. Also if you are breastfeeding, they may be more yellowish and creamy. In bottle-fed babies, they are more compact. After a few weeks, you will need to change it less often.

In fact i Breastfed babies can evacuate even just every 2-3 days.

5. The care of the umbilical cord

To carry out the cord care , the abutment must be maintained as dry as possible, to facilitate the fall.

In this way, the bead residue will fall off on its own within 7-15 days. During this period, whenever possible, the stump should be in the air, in order to dry more quickly, or protected with one dry gauze, to be changed about three times a day, without wetting it with water.

No to antibacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant solutions which not only are useless but could be harmful, because they could favor the selection of virulent bacterial strains and because they seem to delay the moment of detachment.
E not even alcohol, which could cause chemical burns.

Read also: Post childbirth, how to best deal with it in the time of Covid19

6. Safe nanny

Infants often get tired after being awake for one to two hours. In the first few weeks, your baby will sleep around 16 hours a day, usually in blocks of 2-4 hours, at any time of the day or night. Many fall asleep while eating or sucking. Don't worry, it's normal.

Yawning, eyelids that are struggling to stay open and rubbing the eyes are some signs that mean fatigue. Always put your baby to sleep on your back, with nothing around him: just the mattress and the blanket.

At the end of the first month, infants start sleeping for longer periods. But it will still take months before there is a real rhythm between morning, early afternoon, and rest in the late afternoon. Until bedtime at night.

7. The crying

The baby communicates by crying, especially in the early days. It can be difficult, especially at first, to try to decipher what it is trying to tell us, but it can help think about his routine or what is around him that may be bothering him. If it's been two hours since the baby food, it may be that he is still hungry. If he's been up for an hour and a half, he might be tired. Babies can also be bored or overly stimulated.

If you have just breastfed him and his diaper is dry, you can try to comfort him like this:

• swaddle it and wrap it to give it the impression of still being in the mother's womb;
• place him on his chest and lightly pat him on the back;
• swing him, walk with him in your arms;
• go to a quieter place and turn on a "white noise", such as a fan or dishwasher;
• you could try giving him the pacifier.

8. The game

Between bedtime, baby food and diaper changes, there are times when babies are awake and alert. It is the perfect time to play with them. Your baby is learning the sound of your voice, the look of your face, your touch. So touch him, sing, read and talk to him. Listen to music together, make funny faces and offer him interesting objects to "study".

At this age, newborns they don't need toys: Your face and eyes, his little feet and little hands and simple items like shockproof mirrors, colorful scarves and rattles are perfect for entertaining him.

This is also the right time for your baby to be on his tummy. A couple of minutes of play each day, with him resting on his belly, help strengthen his neck and head muscles and help him in the coordination he needs to roll over and then crawl. One of his next big goals.

Read also: Growth spurt: what it is and how to deal with it serenely

TAG:

• breastfeeding
• remove the diaper
• to cry
• sleep
• newborn 0-3 months