Baby is finally here! After the emotional encounter and a few days in the maternity ward, it's time to take your marks at home. You will see, the gestures are repeated and you will quickly feel like you've been doing it all your life!
All moms get this panicky feeling when they leave the maternity ward with their first newborn. Will I know how to handle it? How do I know what it needs? To reassure you, keep in mind that for the first few months, your role is to meet Baby's physiological needs. In other words, feed him, make sure he rests, that his diaper is clean and most importantly, give him love!
If the first few days can be a little stressful, be sure that you will quickly get the hang of it! After changing about ten diapers, finding the right position to breastfeed or bottle-feed... everything will seem very natural and simple. Here are a few gestures that you will repeat every day in Baby's first few months.
Feed him
Whether you have opted for breastfeeding or artificial milk, you will live to the rhythm of Baby's feedings. In the first weeks, a newborn baby eats every 3-4 hours. If you count the time to burp him, to change his diaper, to admire his bliss when he is full and to wash the bottle, it will already be almost time to set the table again!
Burping him
After each meal, and especially if you bottle-feed him (because he swallows air with the teat), Baby must burp to relieve himself. The best is to take the child against you, with his head on your shoulder, and gently massage (or pat) his back to allow air to rise up into the esophagus. You can also sit Baby on your lap and keep his chest straight, while massaging his back.
Changing your diaper
Even if you've never changed a diaper in your life before having your baby, you'll do it so often (7-10 times a day at first) that you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed after 2 days! After each bottle, in case of stool or baby discomfort, there are plenty of opportunities!
Dress him (and undress him)
Infants spend most of the time in pyjamas, (there will be a few occasions when you will want to put him on) but he changes daily and you will quickly learn that a newborn often regurgitates, even (especially) when you don't expect it! You will curse all these snaps: 3 on the bodysuits (start with the middle one), and an infinity on the pajamas! To avoid having to reattach them all in the middle of the night, opt for pants, easy to take off and put back on after changing the diaper.
Grooming
If bathing is given every other day (sufficient for Baby's fragile skin), daily cleansing is as follows: cleaning of the eyes with sterile compresses and saline (1 compress per eye and only one pass from the inside to the outside), of the nose with a cotton pad soaked in saline, and of the ears with a dry cotton pad just in the external pavilion.
You can take the opportunity to give him vitamin D in the form of drops (Adrigyl, Sterogyl or ZymaD). It is important because it contributes to the solidity of the human skeleton by ensuring the mineralization of bones and teeth, allows the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus by the intestines and the body and prevents osteoporosis.
Prepare the diaper bag
At each outing, you will have to prepare the baby's changing bag with everything you need if necessary: diapers, liniment, cotton, bottle, milk pod, diaper change, change of clothes. The best thing is to have the bag ready so you can leave quickly, without always having to anticipate.
Folding/unfolding the stroller
If the first tests are sometimes laborious, in a few days you will master the folding / unfolding to perfection. For baby-wearing enthusiasts, if you choose a wrap, you may also need a few days (and training) to master the different positions, the different knots and to install baby correctly and safely.
Bedtime
During the first weeks, your baby sleeps as much during the day as at night (16 to 20 hours of sleep per day), alternating short naps and longer naps. He will have 30 to 45 minutes of maximum wakefulness between 2 sleep periods. You will thus often have the occasion to put him in bed! This is also how you will learn to recognize his signs of fatigue.
Cuddle him, comfort him
Sometimes, even though he has just eaten, his diaper is clean and he has slept well, Baby cries. Don't panic, it's just the only way he can express himself. It's time to cuddle him, to reassure him thanks to your arms and your smells. Better, no need to wait until he cries to give him affection!
Look at him and smile
In a few months, you'll wonder how you could have been overwhelmed with a newborn baby who was doing little else than sleeping! But you certainly spend long hours looking at him with love, telling him that you love him and smiling at him. Yes, you are gaga. And we understand you.
