Your Baby and You: Week Two
YOUR BABY
Weight & Appearance: What to expect
Babies tend to lose weight in the initial days after their birth, anything up to 10% is considered normal. Seek further advice if your baby has not regained weight and reached their original birth weight again by day 10.
Baby Fact!
Expect around 6 wet nappies and 2 soiled nappies a day (although breastfed poo is often quite irregular so this could vary significantly)
Physical Development: Eye & limb coordination and the umbilical stump
It can take some time for a baby's eyes to become fully coordinated. You may notice that they look a little cross-eyed sometimes. This is normal, but do mention it at your next health check if you are concerned. Poor coordination also affects your baby's limbs and you will probably see them making sporadic arm and leg movements, this jerky dancing is normal but it can make dressing tricky at times!
The umbilical stump will probably fall off this week, make sure you keep the base clean and dry whilst it heals.
Behavioural Development: The calming effect of skin-skin contact
Have you noticed that your baby calms with skin to skin contact? The reassurance of contact with one of their parents can help to keep you both calm when they're crying and you don't know why.
Speech & communication: Crying
Crying is a baby's first form of communication. In the early days their cries are hard to translate but as time goes on you will start to differentiate between a hungry cry and a tired cry.
Feeding: Breastfeeding in the early stages
Towards the end of this week you may find that your baby starts demanding very frequent feeds, this could be the sign of a growth spurt so persevere with the feeding whilst your body adjusts milk production to meet your baby's needs.
Breastfeeding Tip
- Make sure your baby is getting a good latch
- Find out about local breastfeeding clinics for advice and support
- Consider whether nipple shields may help you to feed your baby
- Ask a health professional to check that your baby does not have a tongue tie
Care Advice: Choosing clothes and cleaning the umbilical stump
Getting your baby's clothes right for the temperature of your house or outdoors can be tricky. They don't need to be any more wrapped up than we do and you do not need to leave your heating on all night long. To maintain a comfortable temperature at night it is safer to layer up your baby's clothes than to use blankets which can get pulled over their heads.
Until the umbilical stump has fallen off and completely healed it is best to wash your baby using a top-toe sponge bath.
Keep your baby's nails short or covered with baby mittens to prevent them from scratching their delicate skin.
If you are using a baby sling or carrier of any type then make sure it is definitely safe for newborns and that you are using it correctly so that the baby's body is correctly supported and they are not in danger of suffocating or falling out.
Remember that siblings' interest in a new baby can be dangerous. Never leave your baby in a room alone with other children.
Safety Tip - Bedtime temperature management
Overheating at night can be extremely dangerous for babies.- Never cover your baby with loose blankets or sheets that could cover their face and lead to suffocation
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Common illnesses and ailments: Sticky eyes
Conjunctivitis or sticky eyes are common in newborn babies, and can usually be settled by wiping them with clean cotton wool dipped in cool boiled water. Wipe from the inside corner of the lid to the outside and use fresh cotton wool for each time you wipe.If your baby's eyes show any sign of redness or inflammation then seek further medical advice.
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Activities: bonding through touch and sound
Give your baby every opportunity to learn to recognise your touch and your voice. Hold them and try to make lots of time to have skin to skin contact together (this applies to both parents). Talk to them or sing to them so that they become more familiar with your voice.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Recovering from the birth and breastfeeding
Most women experience bleeding (called lochia) after the birth of their baby for around 2-6 weeks. It isn't appropriate to use tampons, instead make sure that you are well stocked up with maternity pads or sanitary towels.
Continue to follow advice for caesarean section recovery. Rest is essential, it can be tempting to do too much. Accept help where ever you can get it and keep lifting to a minimum - avoid it altogether if you can. The guidelines for recovering from a caesarean may seem impractical with a newborn baby but if you don't follow them you could cause yourself an injury and make the recovery time significantly longer.
Treat sore or cracked nipples with nipple cream. Ask your chemist which brands are most suitable for you, and choose a cream that is safe for infants so that you don't need to wash your nipples before feeds (although you should still wipe off any excess).
Breastfeeding can make you hungry! Producing breast milk requires a lot of energy. Avoid indulging your hunger in foods with 'empty calories' (no nutrients) and keep nutritious snacks such as nuts and fruit handy at all times - even night time if you find you are hungry when you're up with the baby!
Do you still have swollen ankles? The side effects of pregnancy don't disappear overnight unfortunately but they should subside soon. Make sure you stay well hydrated and keep your feet raised when sitting down. If the swelling is uncomfortable then use a cold compress on the areas affected.
Your Emotions: What's normal
You would be hard pressed to find a woman who didn't go through emotional periods after the arrival of her baby. But where does the line get drawn between 'baby blues' and Postnatal Depression (PND)? It is unlikely to be diagnosed as PND this early but read more about the symptoms to look out for here.
It isn't unusual for women to feel somewhat shell shocked at this stage form the birth of their child, especially if you are still in pain whilst recovering. Don't be afraid to talk about it with your midwife, partner or friends. Sharing what's on your mind is likely to make you feel a lot better.
If you haven't felt that you have an immediate 'bond' with your baby, don't feel bad about it. Lots of women struggle to fall in love with their newborn quite the way they expect they should. Skin to skin contact is a great way of spending quiet time with your baby, and should help you begin to feel closer to them.
Your Relationships: The visitors
Everybody's family situation is different, but you need to make yours work for you. If you are lucky enough to have friends and family offering to come over and help, then take them at their word and let them help. But you define 'help'. Of course people want to see the baby, but if you need food preparing, the dog walking or some washing putting on then you must ask. Most close friends and family members will be all too happy to oblige, but people don't always think to offer so be bold and start giving out orders!
Strike a balance between showing off your baby to all the keen visitors and getting some time to yourselves. It is really important that you get a chance to enjoy just being a family together at home, particularly if your partner has only limited leave from work. Good friends will be understanding if you cancel at the last minute, don't let your schedule overwhelm you.
Visiting Hours Tips
- Politely request that guests bring you a meal rather than flowers
- Wear a dressing gown and don't offer to make the tea. People always assume that someone in a dressing gown in daylight hours needs looking after!
Things to do: Your routine
Start taking your shower in the evenings, especially if you can hand over baby responsibilities to your partner at that time of night. This way you can go to bed feeling refreshed (despite the fact that you may be up several times before morning) and it is one less thing to get done when you get up tomorrow!
Time for yourself: Sleep when you can
You will hear this from lots of people, and it is really important: rest whenever your baby sleeps. There will always be 101 other jobs and distractions, but nothing is as important as having a healthy happy mummy, which requires some sleep! Nobody will notice the dust when they come over, they're only coming to see the baby anyway!
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
(Helping to keep you organised!)
Routine medical appointments: 10 day check
You should have a 10 day postnatal check from a midwife, either at home or at the hospital. Call your hospital if you have not been given an appointment. During the check your baby will be weighed and you will be examined as necessary. All being well, you will then be discharged to health visitor or GP care in most cases.
Admin for this week: Registering their name
Remember that your baby needs to be legally registered by the age of 6 weeks. Call your local registry office now to make an appointment to get this done and see if you can arrange for someone to come with you to help you manage with the baby.
