We all know that having a baby is a life-changer. Being a parent means having to deal with a lot of unexpected situations, unending chores, and responsibilities. But what will it really be like after you bring your little angel home from the hospital? Well, your newborn baby might have several blows for you.
To help you be ready, here are ten things to know during the first three months with baby.
1. Baby May Look A Bit Funny
Your expectations may be far from reality. Unlike those cute baby photos you see on the internet or advertisements, your newborn's looks may come as a surprise. He'll be quite puffy-faced and wrinkly and may even wear a delicate covering of hair over his body called "lanugo" - which will only go away over time. And if you had a vaginal birth, his face may look a little smooshed. He'll ease out soon enough, though. I mean, he just spent nine whole months in your womb.
2. Babies Cry A Lot
Crying is your baby's only means of interacting with you, so expect tons of it. At first, it will be a bit terrifying, mainly as he'll cry when he's hungry, hot or cold, tired, have a dirty diaper, or want to be held, and more. These first communications can be frustrating, but after some time, you'll figure out how to respond to every kind of cry and you'll get a better understanding of what he needs. For now, though, it's cut and try.
3. Babies Eat Constantly
Newborn babies have little tiny bellies that fill out fast but also empty quickly. Your little angel needs to nurse or take a bottle every two to three hours, and more often during rapid growth. And that's plenty of time spent feeding. It will immediately feel like all you do is nursing or feeding your baby all day every day. And that's precisely how it should be since your baby is trying to double her birth weight by nearly five months old. All good, shortly, your baby will be ready to go longer between feedings.
4. Dry Skin Is Normal For Newborns
At first, he may be delicate and silky, but that changes. After swimming around in a puddle of "water" for quite a while, your baby's exposure to dry air can cause harm with his delicate skin. At about his second or third day, you may notice his skin becomes flaky and peels off as it adapts to life out of the womb. Tiny pink lumps, diaper rashes, and even newborn acne may also appear. But no worries, it will settle in no time.
5. Newborns Also Sleep A Lot
In the first few months after birth, your new baby will snooze a lot. But he'll also wake up a lot. Newborns will wake at nighttime as much as they do during the day for nutritional purposes. Baby needs to feed every two to three hours, so you're not getting enough sleep either. Many newborn babies get their days and nights confused too. Though they will figure it out eventually, you'll want to help him get there sooner by keeping your little one awake more often during the daylight hours.
6. Babies Can't See Very Far
For the early weeks of his life, your new baby can only focus on things 8 to 12 inches in front of him. This actually strengthens your bonding as it's just nearly the exact gap between his face and yours while you feed him.
7. The First Poos Will Shock You
For the first couple of days, your baby's poop consists of meconium, a gluey greenish-black substance that delineated your baby's intestines during your pregnancy. To tidy it up, wipe your baby's butt with a wool-cotton ball soaked in water and smear your baby's bum in petroleum jelly to help make it easier to clean the next time.
8. No Need To Bathe Him Every Day
For the fact that your baby won't be doing much in these early days (and because that newborn skin is so sensitive), you won't necessarily need to do a complete bath every day. A quick wipe down of the essential bits is all you need to keep him neat. If you choose to bathe your baby, be sure to use scent-free baby products. That newborn skin isn't used to living out in the world yet, and you wouldn't want to irritate it.
9. He Won't Make A Poo Everyday
It's normal for newborn babies to skip stool as frequently as seven times a day, or as seldom as once in seven days. And he'll grunt and moan as he's making that poo. This is natural and doesn't indicate that your baby is constipated or has diarrhea. So long as your baby is feeding thoroughly and wetting his nappy often, there's nothing to worry about.
10. It Will Never Be Like This Again
Although it is the most challenging thing you've ever done in your life, this short course in parenting is a wonderful time. Soon you'll be taking more sleep and feel yourself more. But you won't have these first few days with your kid again, so try to enjoy it somehow.
