Preparing For the First Day Home with Your Baby

Finally, after waiting so many months in anticipation, you would be ready to meet your baby for the first time. A lot of pregnant women often spend so much time anticipating their baby’s birth that they do not think about or even know what to expect in the first few hours after delivery. If you are one of those moms, then you are at the right place. Continue reading to get ready to bond well with your newborn baby.

Your new-born:

Your newborn’s appearance upon his/her birth may surprise you a lot. You should be expecting this look. Your kid has entered this world through a quite small and boney path if you have had a vaginal delivery. All newborns are normally born pale, bruised, and even with a malformed head. It is even possible to have a fold on its ear. Your child may be one to have a full head of hair or the one to be completely bald. Your baby’s skin will also be covered by a thick, pasty, whitish layer while it is in the mother’s womb. It is to protect the baby’s skin and during the first bath, this will be quickly washed away.

Imagine that beautiful moment when your eyes meet your baby’s. Your gaze will be drawn to your baby boy/girl’s eyes as soon as he or she is placed in your arms for the first time after the delivery. Soon after birth, many babies tend to open their eyes. At the initial stage, you may notice that their eyes might be brown or bluish-gray. You may notice that your baby’s face is a bit puffy when you examine him or her. Small white pimples may appear to be visible within your baby’s mouth or on his or her tongue. Your baby’s skin may be wrinkled too. Some babies, especially those born prematurely, usually have soft, fine hair that will fall out in just a few weeks. Your baby’s skin may have a variety of colors, spots, or rashes, and his or her fingernails may be lengthy. You may also notice that your baby’s breasts, penis, and vulva are swollen.

What you need to know is that your baby’s appearance will alter from day to day, and many of the early signs of birthing will eventually fade away with time. Speak to your doctor if you have any worries about something that you may have noticed. Your newborn will slowly begin to resemble the baby you imagined in your dreams within a few weeks.

It is a rare opportunity to get to spend some time with your newborn in his or her initial hours of existence. Despite your exhaustion, you may want to be with your baby, and your newborn may be surprisingly awake after birth. Skin-to-skin cuddling is one of the best ways to create a great bond with your child. Allow your baby to become familiar with your voice and examine your face. Your newborn has a vision range of two feet. When someone switches on a light or makes an abrupt noise, your baby may thrust his or her arms out. This is known as the startle reaction. Babies also have grab and sucking reflexes when they are born. Place your finger in the palm of your baby’s hand and see how she or he knows to squeeze it. When your infant exhibits signs of hunger, feed him or her. You may find a better understanding of your baby; it is the first day and what you should do to make these first feedings and other things go smoothly soon.

The First Day of Your Baby’s Life

Many parents are quite taken aback by how aware their newborns may be. A newborn’s eyes are expected to be open a bit right after delivery, and babies spend a lot of time examining faces, especially the ones of their parents. You may notice that the sound of your voices may cause your infant to turn or react in some way. This means that your kid has started to now identify you and become attached to you through all his or her senses, including smell and touch. Your newborn will cry, sleep, and occasionally gaze you in the eyes. Despite the fuzzy eyesight it has, your baby can best see something (such as your face) that is around 8 to 15 inches away.

Most infants tend to get drowsy after being quite alert throughout the first 24 hours of their birth. It is critical that you wake them every 2 to 3 hours to feed them so that they become accustomed to the feeding practice and start to begin eating properly. This is also the best approach to stimulate a mother’s milk to come in if she is breastfeeding.

What are the basics of Baby Care?

Of course, every parent’s first day with their child is going to be a completely different experience. Getting to know the wide range of experiences you may have ahead of time can only give you a better notion of what you need to expect and make you feel more confident, in charge, and open to whatever comes your way.

Feeding your baby

As soon as your baby is placed in your arms, as a mother who is breastfeeding, you can begin to feed as soon as possible. Your milk may not fully come in for another day or two, especially if you are a first-time mom, but colostrum- a forerunner to true breast milk, provides nutrients to your babies. Colostrum is thin and watery for some women and thick and yellowish for others. When your infant starts to suckle on your breasts, hormones have released that start to signal to your body that it is time to produce more milk.

Some babies (especially premature and young babies) have certain difficulties in latching on or sucking enough milk from the breast. A lactation consultant, breastfeeding counselor, or nurse can assist you and your baby in overcoming any of these obstacles. Even if breastfeeding goes successfully right away, it still is a good idea to learn and collect as much information as you can from a nursing expert.

You will be needing to feed your infant every 2 to 3 hours for the first several weeks. You can normally start bottle-feeding your infant during the first few hours of life.

Diapering

New-borns go through a surprising amount of dirty and wet diapers each and every day, often ten or even more. Even if you are diapering your baby correctly, their excrement can be explosive, and it does not always stay contained inside the diaper. Their poop can be of different colors. But, bright red and a return to black after changing to yellow, white, grey, or colorless poop are all causes for concern in the first few days.

Bathing

While the diaper region needs to be cleaned by you on a frequent basis with wipes or water and a soft cloth, infants rarely require a daily bath. Typically, babies are bathed shortly after their birth and will not require another bath for a few days. In fact, the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends only 3 baths each week for babies. You do not need to bathe them more often, as bathing your baby more frequently will only dry up his or her fragile skin. You can do the bathing procedure by putting your baby in the bathtub or giving them a sponge bath whenever you feel is necessary. The umbilical cord might take up to two weeks to fall off, and it can very smell awful while doing so. This is all very normal. Only if you notice apparent pus or if the skin around the chord seems red, heated, hard, or hurts the infant when handled should you be concerned about the umbilical stump.

Caretaking and Bonding with your baby

Babies enjoy being held in their arms a lot. Going from carrying your baby in your womb to holding one in your arms can be a tremendous change for everybody. A lot of your moms may have some tasks that you want or need to get done on your first day back home. It can be doing your laundry, getting your baby’s room or supplies ready, cooking, or even cleaning up. Baby carriers, also known as slings, are a terrific way to hold your baby while also freeing up your arms a while.

While some parents worry that holding their infant too much might be a way of spoiling them, experts believe that cuddling your baby and listening to their cries will result in a calmer, more confident baby who will cry less frequently.

Allow yourself enough and plenty of time to become accustomed to your kid and their care. Each baby’s bonding experience can be different and unique. Their indications, cries, and requirements are radically different.

As they grow, you will also want to outfit your infant so that he or she is warm, but make sure they are not overheated. This usually entails putting on one extra layer than they require to be comfortable. Caring for your infant is time-consuming and a repetitive effort. Over time, you will become an expert on your baby and its needs.

Many parents may be astonished to learn that their infant does not sleep much. They may think it is not enough. Some newborns sleep well from the beginning and do not cry too much. Others may cry even though all their needs are addressed. It may take some time for your baby’s sleep schedule to settle down and for them to become accustomed to sleeping in their cribs alone.

It is crucial to remember that your new-born should always be put to sleep on their back in their own secure sleep environment, such as a crib or playpen with a firm mattress devoid of any blankets, pillows, or other items, to avoid the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

It is a special day when you bring your baby home for the first time. Taking care of your infant has a high learning curve, and it is natural to worry that you are not doing it correctly. It is also perfectly natural if you are having a difficult time adjusting or if you are feeling overwhelmed, unhappy, distant, or unsure.

Whatever your physical and emotions are, recognize them and know that you are not alone, and it does not make you a bad parent to be exhausted or unhappy.