Your Baby and You: Week Six
YOUR BABY
Weight & Appearance: Inverted nipples
You may notice that your baby has inverted nipples, this is quite common and nothing to worry about. They will most likely change across the course of their childhood or when they reach puberty.
Physical Development: Holding hands
Have you noticed that when you stroke or touch the palm of your baby's hand that their fingers close around yours? This is known as the Palmar hand grasp and is one of the Primitive Reflexes that babies are born with. This reflex lasts for a few months after birth.
Behavioural Development: Noticing reactions
You may notice that your baby is reacting more noticeably now to your voice, by calming or even smiling! This reaction is a welcome reward for tired parents after all these weeks of hard work!
Feeding: The colour of breastmilk
If you are expressing breast milk then you may have noticed that it has a range of colours and consistencies. In the early days it was very yellow - when you were producing colostrum. Now that your milk supply is established, you will probably notice that the early stage of the feed/pumping session gives you a thinner, watery and bluish looking milk. As the feed progresses the milk becomes thicker and more creamy in colour. It is important that your baby gets both the hydrating thinner milk and the more nutrient dense fatty milk towards the end of a feed. This is why many experts recommend starting each feed on the breast that you finished on, to make sure that you get the end stages of the milk in that breast.
You may be considering introducing infant formula now to your baby in place of breast milk. Make sure that you are prepared before you begin:
- Make sure you have appropriate bottles, teats and sterilising equipment
- Plan which feed you will be substituting with breast milk first - it is advisable to change from breast milk to formula gradually, even if you intend to give up feeding all together.
- Find out more about making the transition from breastfeeding to formula feeding here.
Care Advice: Back sleeping
Remember to continue sleeping your baby on her back, tummy sleeping increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (cot death). It can be easy to slip out of good night time habits, particularly when it comes to co-sleeping, so read here for a reminder of safe sleeping for you and your baby.
Limiting Car Seat Use
Babies often fall asleep on car journeys and with the increasing number of car seats that are easy to carry and which also fit into a buggy chassis, many babies are left in their seats for hours and hours on end. There is some debate over the actual health risks associated with long periods of time spent in car seats:
- Some fear that the 'scrunched up' position that babies (particularly younger or premature babies) end up in can restrict their airways.
- There is also a suggestion that babies are more at risk of developing flat head syndrome without the opportunity to change their sleeping position regularly.
- It is easier for babies to overheat
There isn't conclusive evidence for all these concerns but to be on the safe side it is advisable not to use them as a place for your baby to sleep when not travelling in the car. When you are at home, transfer them to a crib or moses basket instead.
Safety Advice: Kicking off surfaces and leaving babies in cars
Parents often think about their baby rolling sideways, but babies also travel backwards when lying down when they kick their legs. A baby left lying with their feet against a surface can quite easily kick themselves backwards quite suddenly, for example a baby lying on a sofa with their feet against the back can suddenly kick out and propel themselves towards the edge. So make sure that if your baby can kick one surface, that they cannot then bang their head on something behind them or fall off a raised surface.
As tempting as it seems, you should never leave your baby in the car whilst nipping into a shop. Once the engine has been turned off the temperature of the car can change rapidly and babies are at risk of overheating. There is also the risk of child abduction - even unintentional child abduction should someone attempt to steal your car.
Common illnesses and ailments: Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is usually nothing to worry about providing it clears up quickly. Typically it is characterised by red and/or watery eyes and sometimes a sticky discharge. In mild cases it can usually be treated by wiping the eyes from the inside corner to the outside corner with a clean piece of cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water but make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out the need for medication.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Losing weight
Weight loss is a much talked about subject amongst new mums. If you are trying to lose weight now then be realistic with your targets and remember that a big part of getting your post-baby body back will be about changing your shape rather than the number on the scales. Exercise is as important as calorie counting when it comes to shedding your baby weight and it also helps to lift your mood.
Post natal exercise needs to start gently and many experts recommend attending specially designed post natal pilates classes in order to gradually recover your strength in your lower tummy and pelvic floor muscles. Even if you don't attend classes, pelvic floor exercises ought to be part of your every-day routine after having a baby.
Your Emotions
Are you struggling to cope with your baby's (seemingly continuous) crying? You are not alone, some babies do cry a lot more than others and the effect on their parents can be exhausting and emotionally draining. Seek advice from other mothers - either friends or from online communities - as to different methods they use for settling or calming their babies. Reassess your own approach from time to time too, you may have been fiercely against the idea of using a dummy prior to having a baby, but if you think it might help you to both relax then it really is OK to change your mind.
If you are concerned that your emotions might be more than just the result of tiredness and the usual baby blues, then talk to your health visitor. Post natal depression usually begins to develop around 4-6 weeks after giving birth and it is important to get advice and support if you think you are affected.
Your Relationships: Sex
Resuming your sex life after having a baby can be tricky. Women's approach to sex after pregnancy is much akin to that of teenagers and the loss of their virginity. People talk about it a lot and even boast about how quickly they were back between the sheets, and as with teenagers, some women are also prone to exaggerating their sex lives or omitting the important facts. Of course some couples have sex very quickly after having a baby, but very often it is too quickly and it can be uncomfortable or even painful for the woman. It is really important that you don't rush this part of your relationship, having penetrative intercourse before you are ready could delay your recovery from a vaginal birth and may mean that you then go even longer before having sex again.
Talk openly with your partner and be patient. Find other ways to be intimate with one another until you are confident that you are ready to have sex again and don't compare yourself to other women. Many women wait months, sometimes years, before resuming a normal sex life. Everyone is different and nobody knows your body better than you do.
Tips for body confidence in the bedroom
- Your partner has seen your body change shape continuously for many months, remember that they aren't expecting a bikini body when you've only just had a baby!
- Get the lights down low, nobody feels sexy under harsh lighting, a bedside lamp or some candles are more flattering on all of us!
- If you're concerned about milk leaking from your breasts during sex then keep your bra on and tell your partner that your chest is a 'no-go' area for a while
- There's no speedier way to make yourself feel pretty than a quick bit of beauty work - paint your nails and shave your legs (and get your partner to watch the baby in the mean time!)
Time for yourself: Go for a trim
The chances are you haven't had a hair cut in a while. Make an appointment and find a babysitter if your partner can't cover the child care. Not only will you leave the salon with better hair, you will have a good hour to yourself to read magazines and chat about holidays!
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
(Helping to keep you organised!)
Routine medical appointments: Your 6 week check
You should have your 6 week check this week with your GP. They will conduct a general health check, including your urine and blood pressure. They will discuss contraception with you and also cervical screening based on your records for previous conditions and tests. If you have had stitches after a vaginal birth then you may be offered an examination to ensure that they are healing properly. This appointment is a key opportunity for you to discuss any physical or mental health concerns and it is a good idea to take a written list of questions with you so that you don't forget anything.
Baby Health: Their 6 week check
Your baby is due another check from the health visitor (or possibly your GP) at around 6 weeks of age. If you haven't been given an appointment then contact them to make one. They will give them a thorough health check, looking for key indicators of any health problems. They will weigh your baby and examine their hips and eyes and listen to their heart. They will also ask you questions about their routine, their behaviour and their sleeping and feeding patterns. As with your own 6-week check, it is advisable to prepare a list of questions or things that you would like to talk about before the appointment. It is very easy to forget to mention something otherwise!
Admin: Name registration and immunisations
Remember that your baby needs to be registered by 6 weeks!
Your baby will start their first round of immunisations at 8 weeks of age. You should have received a letter by now asking you to make an appointment at your surgery.
