As a new mom, what should I expect when I bring my baby home from the hospital? скачать в хорошем качестве

As a new mom, what should I expect when I bring my baby home from the hospital?

I think there are a few things expectant mothers should know when they get close to their delivery date, like "What's going to happen when you bring your baby home from the hospital?" I think, first and foremost, it's helpful to go into it understanding that sleep is relative, it's not as important as you thought it was in the past. And if you go into it with that attitude, you'll do much better, because it's a fact that newborns sleep 16 or 17 hours out of a 24 hour period, but it's never when we want them to sleep. And their sleep patterns are largely governed by their eating patterns. And a newborn needs to eat every 2 to 3 hours, and on occasion, they might even want to eat more frequently than that, like every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. And they need to be fed on demand. And the reason why they want to eat so frequently is because, number 1, their tummies are so small. So they have to eat small amounts very frequently throughout each day to get the nutrition they need. And number 2, they're growing rapidly, so this is going to require almost constant nourishment. Then there's diapers. So the frequency of diapers usually depends on the frequency of feedings. When a baby eats, it stimulates their bowels, so they very frequently eat, and then they poop. So then you always wonder, "Do I change them before I feed them, or do I change after?", because after you feed them, then they fall asleep, and you don't want to wake them up and change their diaper, but you can't let them sit in a dirty diaper, because the stool is very acidic, and it will eat at their skin and cause diaper rash. So an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Definitely change your baby's diaper before you put them down if it's very wet or if it's soiled. And it is normal to go through 8 to 12 diapers each day, so stock up on those for sure. It's very typical to see the pediatrician for the first time a week or 2 weeks after the baby is born. This is a very important appointment. The doctor is going to spend time with you, as a new parent, talking about what you can expect. It's also a time for you to ask what's normal and what's not, especially if this is your first. Everything is going to seem abnormal to you, and there are no stupid questions. If you have concerns about anything, don't hesitate to bring them up at this appointment. And also call in between appointments if you feel like it's urgent. You can speak to a nurse from the doctor's office, who can then talk to the doctor if they need to, and decide if your baby needs to be brought in so the doctor can examine them if something is going on. Growth is a very very important thing to pay attention to at this point. So a baby is going to go home from the hospital weighing less than they did when they were born simply because a mother's milk doesn't come in right after the baby is born. It usually takes anywhere from 2 days to 6 days, and that's a large range, so 2 would be on the quick end, 6 would be on the long end. But because the baby is not getting milk, they're getting colostrum. And colostrum is like liquid gold, it's so good for babies, but they're not getting much of it. It's packed with a punch though, and so it's full of fat, antibodies - which are disease-fighting properties, protein, and so every little bit the baby is getting is so valuable to them. But they will go home from the hospital weighing less than they did at birth, and the pediatrician will want to see your baby up to birth weight by 2 weeks. So if you feel like your baby isn't growing well, your milk isn't coming in, or they're not nursing well, then those are definitely urgent issues that you need to talk with your pediatrician about. If nursing isn't going well, a lactation consultant can sit with you and your baby, watch you nurse, and decide if adjustments need to be made so it can be successful for you and them. And if you don't know about one in your area, talk with your pediatrician, and they can point you in the right direction. I hope the very best for you and your new baby, and if you have any other questions for me in the future, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at   / intermountainmoms  , and recommend us to your friends and family too.