You’ve waited nine long months and now your baby has finally arrived. Here’s what to expect in those first few weeks, and how you might be feeling.
Feeding
In those first few weeks, your baby is going to be feeding a lot – probably about every two hours. But don’t panic, as their tummies get bigger and are able to hold more milk, you should be able to start spreading out the feeds a bit. If you’re breastfeeding, it can take some time to get the best position for you and your baby. If you are struggling, don’t suffer in silence. Ask your midwife for advice, as there are lots of different things you can try. Expressing some breast milk might be a good idea so that you can let your husband do some of the feeds – they can bond and it will give you a break too.
Sleeping
Newborn babies sleep a lot – although it might not always be when you want them to. For the first month, your little sleeping beauty is likely to be dozing for around 14-17 hours a day, only waking for feeds and diaper changes. Make the most of these sleepy days by trying to rest as much as you can during the day – you’ll need to keep your energy up for all the night feeds.
Diapers
With all that feeding comes plenty of diaper changes – around 12 times a day for the first week or so. Your baby’s first bowel movement will probably happen while you are in hospital and will be black and sticky. As you establish a good breastfeeding routine this will transition to a mustard yellow color. Although it can be tiring to constantly be wiping and cleaning your baby’s bottom, it’s a sign that they are getting enough milk, so well done!
Crying
Those newborn cries are unlike any other and, although at first it can be hard to know what’s wrong, you’ll soon learn to distinguish between different sounds. Remember, crying is your baby’s only way of communicating, so whether they’re hungry, tired, wet, uncomfortable or scared, you’ll know about it. It can help to look for other signs to work out what’s wrong – rooting movements are a signal your little one is hungry; yawning or rubbing their eyes means a nap is in order and if they draw their knees up to their chest they could have wind or be suffering from colic.
What about you?
With most of the attention on your bundle of joy, how you’re feeling can sometimes be overlooked. From physical symptoms like soreness and painful breasts to sleep deprivation it can be a tough time. Throw in surging hormones and it’s not surprising many women find themselves overwhelmed. The good news is that these feelings are normal and will usually subside within a few weeks. Look after yourself by eating healthily and getting as much rest as you can. Accept offers of help from and make use of your husband when he’s there so you get a break. If these feelings continue don’t bottle it up – seek help from your midwife or health visitor as soon as you can, as it could be a sign of postnatal depression.
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