ComputerHunter.org

 

The First Week with Your Baby


The first week of your baby's life brings big adjustments for both of you. You are adjusting to being a mother and caring for your baby and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. It is a time of great joy -- and possibly immense fear! Although you've been preparing for the birth of your baby for months, now he is here and depending on you for everything which can seem overwhelming. Don't expect too much of yourself during these first days! If anyone offers you help -- take it!

During your baby's first few weeks of life, he will be concentrating on getting to know you and his surroundings. Your baby needs to be handled so that life outside the womb seems as little different as possible to life inside the womb. Your baby's needs, while they may seem overwhelming to you, are really simple: food, warmth and comfort from cuddling. Wrap him snugly and warmly, hold him closely, handle him slowly, and feed him when he's hungry. Your baby will have the routing and sucking reflexes as well as tongue thrust. These are needed to get nourishment from the breast or bottle. You can also use this time to bond with your baby with lots of skin to skin contact.

Whether you decide to breast or bottle feed, feeding in the first few weeks is not an effortless process. Try to have early feeding sessions in a quiet setting with as few distractions as possible. Make sure you are in a comfortable position as it takes new babies a while to eat and you don't want to end up stiff and sore. Cuddle and caress your baby as feeding time is a wonderful opportunity to show your baby how much he is loved.

If you are breastfeeding, be patient while you and your baby are getting the hang of it! The benefits of breastfeeding are many and in order for it to be successful, it is important to start out right. Keep in mind though it may take several weeks until you both feel comfortable and get a feeding schedule down.

Most new moms feel and experience:

  • Exhaustion!

  • Bloody vaginal discharge for the first week or so

  • Discomfort or pain in the perineal area if you had a vaginal delivery

  • Incision pain or numbness if you had a cesarean delivery

  • Abdominal cramping (afterpains) as the uterus contracts

  • Elation or depression or swings between both

  • Breast discomfort or engorgement

  • Fears about your adequacy as a mother

  • Profuse sweating after the first couple of days

Although it may be tempting to try to be a 'supermom', now is not the time. The best advice that I received as an new mom was to accept the help of others, eat regular meals and sleep when the baby sleeps. Now it's my turn to pass that advice on to you.

About The Author

Anne Cavicchi is a Canadian wife and mother of one boy and two step-daughters. She also owns Annie's Maternity Corner where you'll find everything you need for pregnancy and baby! Great products, articles, information and more to see you through pregnancy and baby's first years at Annie's. http://www.maternitycorner.com







Google News - Top Stories

BBC News

News Analysis The Party in Power, Running as if It Weren’t
New York Times - 1 hour ago
Senator John McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, after his speech Thursday night. Their spouses and other family members stood behind them.
Dems say McCain admonished "do-nothing" group that he is a part of CNN
Don't Change That Channel, Folks Washington Post
Chicago Sun-Times - San Jose Mercury News - Salt Lake Tribune - San Francisco Chronicle
all 1,578 news articles


Meteoric rise ends in dramatic crash for Kilpatrick
DetNews.com - 1 hour ago
DETROIT -- His reputation in tatters, Kwame Kilpatrick leaves the mayor's office with an uncertain future and an inescapable legacy.
Video: A Timeline of Detroit Mayor's Text Scandal AssociatedPress
Detroit’s Mayor Will Leave Office and Go to Jail New York Times
Wall Street Journal - CNN International - Macomb Daily - Washington Post
all 5,808 news articles


ABC News

Evacuations Are Advised as Storm Nears the Southeast
New York Times - 5 hours ago
By ROBBIE BROWN ATLANTA - As Tropical Storm Hanna surged toward the Atlantic Coast on Thursday, the authorities declared states of emergency in Virginia and North Carolina and recommended evacuation from some coastal regions of South Carolina.
Video: NC Residents, Businesses Brace for Hanna AssociatedPress
Forecasters: Hanna not to be taken lightly Greenville News
Winston-Salem Journal - N.C. State University Technician Online - Durham Herald Sun - University of North Carolina The Daily Tar Heel
all 2,153 news articles


BBC News

Abramoff Sentenced To Four More Years
CBS News - 47 minutes ago
By John Bresnahan (The Politico) Former GOP super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced Thursday to an additional 48 months in prison for conspiring to corrupt public officials and tax evasion.
Abramoff gets reduced sentence San Jose Mercury News
Abramoff Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Corruption Washington Post
New York Times - KTEN - BBC News - NewsOK.com
all 751 news articles


The Age

Australia Should Cut Carbon Emissions 10% by 2020 (Update3)
Bloomberg - 26 minutes ago
By Gemma Daley Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Australia needs to reduce carbon emissions by 10 percent from the 2000 level by 2020 to tackle climate change and protect its $1 trillion economy, government adviser Ross Garnaut said.
'Weak' Garnaut carbon target under fire ABC Online
Australia adviser urges cautious carbon targets Reuters
Radio Australia - Monsters and Critics.com - Carbon Positive - Stock and Land
all 232 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base