Your wait for the past 9 months is over and your bundle of joy is quietly sleeping in front of you. As new parents you must be too happy to take into account the many things that have changed in your life completely. It must have been a long wait, day after day of anticipation, too much of internet researches and a lot of guides from your real life too.
Well, now that all has come and gone, you must begin learning the whats and hows of newborn care. Well, first things first ? have you got your child immunized. There are vaccinations to be done within the first few weeks and your physician must have given you the chart which you should stick to with utmost sincerity.
The First Week
Soon after the delivery your doctor would have thoroughly checked your baby and then on it is you who would be watching your baby closely hence take care to make sure that your baby is healthy.
Handling Your Baby
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling your baby ? even if it were to feed him/her. Babies have been nurtured in utmost safe environment in your womb hence during the first few weeks you have to be careful so that the baby gains certain amount of resistance to face the world.
- Support the Head and Neck ? well take training from your parents for this, cradle your baby gently.
- Do not panic if your baby loses a few kgs, the birth weight of the baby would reduce by 10% after delivery and it takes a few weeks for the weight to be regained, just make sure you do not waste the first few days? colostrum.
- Your baby does not know to suckle yet and hence he/she might be taking very less milk, this is normal. If you check your body also must be producing exactly the same amount of milk as the child needs.
- DO NOT SHAKE the child ? no playing with the child now. The bones and muscles and every other organ of your baby would be too soft to handle shaking. Hence whether out of playfulness or frustration ? never shake the baby. Too much shaking would cause internal bleeding which might go unnoticed.
- If you want to wake your sleeping child do so by gently tickling his/her foot or by blowing near the cheeks.
Immunization
You would be given an immunization chart during your discharge from the hospital. Make sure to check the exact dates when you have to immunize your child and write it down on the chart. You could set a reminder of the date on your mobile so that even you may not forget.
Here is an Immunization schedule for your use, which you can download and print if needed.
So, with all the joy and happiness surrounding you, do not forget to take care of what to do and when for your baby?
Here are some things you might need for your new born
