A new beginning
When bringing an infant home for the first time, you are faced with numerous questions and concerns. Here are a few tips on what to expect and what to do in the everyday care of your new baby.
Usually, your baby’s doctor will examine your baby within 24 hours of birth. During this visit, the doctor will make sure your baby is healthy and instruct you on how to care for your baby at home. Normally, the doctor will also schedule a follow-up appointment over the next few weeks.
In the meantime, there are a few basic things to keep in mind. When holding your baby, be sure to support the head and neck. Be mindful that as a newborn, your baby is not yet developed enough to sustain rough play, such as bouncing on the knee or throwing in the air. Never shake the baby, as that may cause bleeding in the brain or even death.
Your baby will need to be fed every two to three hours because its digestive system is so small. This means that your baby will probably not sleep for more than four hours at a time. Following feeding, be sure to burp your baby by gently patting its back while holding it against your shoulder. Your baby will have swallowed air while feeding and without burping, this air will cause discomfort. You should also sit your baby upright for 10 to 15 minutes after feeding to help prevent spitting up.
Inevitably, shortly after feeding, you will need to change your baby’s diaper. Be sure to change your baby’s diaper as soon as possible after a bowel movement. Your baby will likely need to be changed 10 times a day. The moisture of the diaper and the baby’s sensitive skin can sometimes result in a diaper rash. This will likely clear up within three days with application of a diaper rash cream. If the rash does not clear up or gets worse, be sure to call your doctor.
There are a few other occasions where it may be necessary to call your doctor. While newborns do sleep on average 16 hours per day, if you find that your baby is sleeping more than what seems normal, you should call your doctor. If your baby develops redness, swelling, or sticky or flaky discharge from the eye, you should call your doctor. During the first six to eight weeks of life, if your baby’s rectal temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), your doctor must be contacted immediately.
If your baby seems to be extremely “loose” or “floppy,” or seems abnormally jittery or irritable and can’t be consoled by feeding, changing the diaper or holding it, then you should call your doctor. Call your doctor if your baby seems to be developing a cold, which can have dangerous implications for newborns. Bowel movements (stool) are often loose and yellow or green in newborns, but if your baby’s stool is almost like water, or if it has fewer than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period, call your doctor, as there is danger of dehydration.
In the first few months of your baby’s life, it is important to be in contact with your baby’s doctor whenever you have questions about your baby’s health. No question is too small, and your doctor will be happy to make sure your baby is healthy.
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