Nine months of waiting to hold your little bundle of joy in your arms has finally come to a joyous end. You have become a mother and like all first time mothers you are feeling on top of the world with excitement. You must be feeling a lot of stress and tiredness too from months of pregnancy followed by labor and delivery. And with the usual formalities at the hospital discharge desk done, you are ready to take your lovely baby home.
But once you are home, you may suddenly wonder about the things you will have to do to provide the best care for your newborn. A few baby care basics will guide you and make you more confident about caring for your baby.
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Seeking help after your baby is born
After child birth you are bound to feel tired and stressed out. Under these conditions do not hesitate to seek the help of friends and/or relatives. Their help and experience, especially those of the elderly ladies, can go a long way in helping you take care of your baby. At the hospital, seek the help of doctors and nurses to learn how to breast feed your baby.
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It is important for you to know how to hold your baby while breastfeeding and to Burp it after feeding. While at home, you may want to employ a nurse to take care of your baby, especially if you do not have family members other than your husband living with you.
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How to safely handle your baby
Newborn babies are fragile and need to be handled with care. You may feel a bit scared in the beginning but with a little bit of practice you will soon learn the skills: - Support your baby’s head and neck: When you are carrying your baby, take care to support his or her neck and head with the palm of your hand. This also applies when you are trying to lay the baby on the bed or cradle.
- Do not shake your baby vigorously: Never shake your baby vigorously, whether you are doing it playfully or maybe in irritation. It can sometimes lead to bleeding in the brain and even death. While trying to wake up your sleeping baby, pat it awake gently or awaken it by tickling the soles of its feet. Similarly, do not take your baby on rough or bumpy rides whether in its carrier or your car. While playing with your baby, do not throw it up in the air—your baby is too fragile for such activity.
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Connecting with your baby
Soon after birth and in the days following birth is the time you will feel a physical and emotional bonding with your baby. This is one of the most fascinating moments of motherhood, when you and your newborn will develop an emotional connection with each other. This connection is vital for your baby’s overall growth—physical, psychological and emotional. Show lots of love and affection to your baby. Maintain as much skin contact with your baby as possible—your baby needs your warm and affectionate touch.
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Comforting your baby
If your baby is crying or is restless, pacify him or her by singing a Lullaby or by rocking back and forth gently. Your baby may also like to listen to musical sounds or other vocal sounds like cooing or singing. But keep noise levels low or you may end up alarming your baby. Swaddling is another way of keeping your baby comfortable.
Swaddling is a very old practice of wrapping newborns cozily in warm clothes or blankets so that movement of the hands and legs is limited. This keeps your baby warm and gives it a sense of security.
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Changing diapers
Your baby will dirty its diapersmany times in a day—be ready for that. Whether you use cloth ordisposable diapers, it is absolutely important that you change yourbaby’s diapers regularly and keep your baby’s genital and buttocks areaclean and dry. Here are the things that you will have to keep ready athand while changing your baby’s diapers:
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- Warm water, cotton and clean diapers.
- A clip or clasp, in case you use cloth.
- An anti-rash ointment in case your baby has developed skin rash.
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How to change your baby’s diapers- Lay your baby on its back and remove the dirty diaper.
- Wipe your baby’s genital and buttocks area clean.
- If your baby is a girl, wipe her bottom from front to back to avoid a urinary tract infection.
- If your baby has got rash, apply ointment.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water each time you change a diaper.
Why do babies develop diaper rash?
Babies’ skin is very sensitive and hence prone to rashes. It is a common problem among many babies. With regular warm baths and application of diaper cream, the rash usually disappears after a few days. A few tips to prevent rash: |
- Change your baby’s diaper regularly after each time it gets dirty.
- Wash the genital area with mild soap and warm water. Apply an anti-rash cream.
- Cloth diapers need to be washed well with mild detergents.
- Keep your baby diaper free for sometime every day. This will expose the skin to fresh air.
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Circumcision care
If your baby’s Penis has been circumcised, you need to take extra care to prevent the wound from sticking on to the diaper and causing infections. This can be done by gently wiping the tip of the Penis clean with warm water after a diaper change and by applying petroleum jelly to the tip so that it does not stick to the diaper. Circumcision wounds usually heal in a few days, but if you feel the wound has worsened, inform the doctor immediately. Your baby could have got an infection.
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Umbilical cord care
There is differing opinion as far as Umbilical Cord care is concerned. Some doctors suggest wiping and rubbing the area until the cord withers away, while others advice to leave the area alone. Whatever the case, your baby’s navel area should not be submerged in water until the cord falls off and the area heals. The Umbilical Cord will change color from yellow to brown to black, which is quite natural. Ask your doctor what kind of Umbilical Cord care will be best for your baby.
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Bathing your babyYour baby will need to be given a warm sponge bath until the Umbilical Cord shrivels and drops off. Wait for the navel to heal. If it is a male baby and has been circumcised, wait until the wound has healed. Do not bathe your baby very often as this may result in dry skin or the risk of catching a cold. Bathing your baby two or three times in a week, at least in the first year, will do. Keep the following things in hand while preparing to bathe your baby: - Soft, clean towel.
- Mild baby soap and baby shampoo.
- Warm water in a baby bathing tub.
- Clean diapers and clothes to dress the baby.
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Tips to give sponge baths - Place your baby on a flat surface.
- Remove your baby’s clothes.
- Wipe your baby’s eyes with a soft cloth moistened with plain water. Do not use soap as it can irritate your baby’s eyes.
- Clean the nose and ears.
- Add a little mild soap to the water, wash the face and wipe it dry gently.
- Shampoo and rinse the head gently.
- Using a wet cloth and mild soap, gently wash the other areas. Focus on the creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck, and the genital area.
- Wipe dry and dress up your baby.
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| Tips to give tub baths |
- Undress your baby and gently place her or him in warm water.
- Ensure that the water in the tub is not more than 2–3 inches deep.
- Ensure that the water is not running in the tub.
- Gently guide the baby in feet-first. Slowly lower your baby up to the chest into the tub.
- Use a washcloth to wash face and hair. Gently massage your baby's scalp with the pads of your fingers or a soft baby hairbrush.
- When you rinse the soap or shampoo from your baby's head make sure the soap does not get into your baby’s eyes.
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Feeding your baby
You may not be sure how often you need to feed your baby, be it breastfeeding or formula-feeding. You may feed your baby when he or she displays signs of hunger or thirst. Your baby may give you a clue by crying, sucking the fingers or making other noises to draw your attention. Your baby needs to be fed every 2–3 h. If you are breastfeeding, allow your baby to suckle at each breast for about 10 min. If you are formula-feeding, ask your doctor how much to give your baby at each feeding. If your baby displays poor appetite, inform your doctor. It is easy to know how much your baby is eating when you are formula-feeding. But it is not the case with breastfeeding.
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Nevertheless, if your baby seems quite content, sleeps well, wets the diaper regularly and gains weight, it probably means the nourishment is quite sufficient. If you are still in doubt, consult your doctor.
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Burping your baby
You may find that your baby often sucks in little quantities of air during feedings. This is quite natural with babies. But it needs prevention as it can put your baby to a lot of discomfort. Try burping your baby at short intervals between feeds or when you switch breasts while breastfeeding.
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Tips to Burp your baby- Hold your baby upright against your shoulder. Support your baby's head and neck and gently tap the baby’s back with your hand.
- Sit your baby on your lap. Support your baby's chest and head with one hand by holding your baby's chin (not the throat) in the palm of your hand and placing the heel of your hand on your baby's chest. Use the other hand to gently pat your baby's back.
- Lay your baby face-down on your lap. Make sure the head is higher than the chest. Cradle your baby's head and gently pat the back.
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Helping your baby sleep well
Babies need plenty of sleep and tend to sleep for long hours. But many babies may not sleep well through the night. They need nourishment often and need to be awakened every few hours if they have not been fed for 5 h or more at a stretch. Many babies begin sleeping through the night at 3 months of age. But some babies may not do so—this is quite natural. Just like you, babies too need to develop their own sleep patterns. If your baby is gaining weight and appears healthy, there is no cause for concern. Always make your baby sleep on its back. Remove hazardous materials from the cradle or bed which can suffocate your baby such as stuffed toys or pillows.
Handling a newborn may seem like a laborious task initially. But good motherhood skills are acquired—you are not born with it. So just follow these simple steps, listen to your doctor’s advice and before long handling your newborn baby will be child’s play—pun unintended. |