Your
Baby's First Year ~ Week 1
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. 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. Baby
massage is also a great way to bond with your baby.
If
you are breastfeeding,
be patient while you and your baby are getting the hang of it!
It may take several weeks until you both feel comfortable, and
get a feeding schedule down.
What
you may be feeling and experiencing now:
