Newborns do not come with instruction manuals. Whether it is your first baby or not, being mom to a newborn comes with questions. Here are the top ten things that every mom needs to know when she has a newborn.
Breastfeeding is hard. There I said it. It seems like it should be the most natural and intuitive thing that you have ever done in your life. But it’s not.
It can be very difficult for some women. Is it worth even trying? Yes. It is absolutely worth it. We will talk about the reasons why another day.
Newborns change. The baby you get to know in the first 24 hours of life is not the same baby that you will take home. Birth is hard. It is hard for mom. It is hard for baby. Your baby’s body has to recover from the stress of birth and learn how to function in this new world.
Babies typically are sleepy and don’t feed well the first day. Don’t let this worry you. Your baby will make up for it in the coming days and will start to show you his or her true personality.
Routine newborn care is important. Your baby needs all of the routine preventative procedures that your hospital nurse and doctor are recommending. They have been studied and are proven to be beneficial to your baby. These are the recommendations and links to read more about them: Vitamin K, Eye ointment, Hepatitis B vaccine, Congenital heart screening, and Newborn screening.
Back to sleep. Your baby should always sleep on their back. Yes, always. Many moms worry what will happen if their baby is on it’s back and spits up. If a healthy full term newborn spits up while they are on their back, it generally rolls out the side of their mouth.
In the first day or two of life, sometimes their secretions are thick and the baby will gag on them. This is one of the reasons that it is recommended that babies sleep in their parent’s room so that you can hear the baby.
Own bed. Your baby should sleep in his or her own crib or bassinet. Their separate sleep surface should have a tight fitting sheet and have no loose blankets or stuffed animals. And I know that crib bumpers can be so cute, but they are not a safe addition to your baby’s bed.
Close follow up. You need to have your new baby seen by their pediatrician in 1-3 days especially if you are breastfeeding or were discharged from the hospital before 48 hours of age. A lot can change in those first few days at home. 127 Pediatrics can see your baby quickly and help with breastfeeding. We love new babies!
Fever is bad. You need to call your baby’s doctor if he or she has fever. Fever in a baby < 1 month of age is an emergency. Fever in a newborn is defined as a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher. Only take your baby’s temperature if he feels hot or cold to the touch.
Babies can overheat. Your baby does not need to be bundled in so many layers that he or she looks like Ralphie from the movie A Christmas Story. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in the amount of clothing that you (or your partner, who is not experiencing postpartum hormones) is comfortable in and then add a blanket for a cold room.
Advice is everywhere. Be careful with well meaning advice. Many people in your life will offer lots of suggestions. While some advice is good and helpful, some is not and can even make you feel bad. If you have a question about whether something is good advice or not, ask your pediatrician. Dr. Wadley is available 24 hours a day as part of your membership with 127 Pediatrics.
Ask for help. You will need help. Your body is trying to heal from delivery. You are trying to take care of a small human who only wants to eat, sleep and poop at odd times. You may also be chasing your older kids around. Let people help you. Ask people to do dishes, fold laundry or bring you dinner. Don’t try to do it all yourself.
** This post is not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. Please direct all of your questions to your child’s doctor.
Dr. Wadley is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has extensive knowledge in newborn care and breastfeeding.
