|
|
oh baby!
Bringing Home
Baby
Everyone
who has had a child knows they are never fully prepared when they
bring their new bundle of joy home from the hospital. This month Dr.
Debbie Flomenhoft, M.D. helps give an idea of what to expect as well
as the answer to some common questions for new parents.
New Bundle of Joy
You have brought a new person into your household with his own needs,
wants and personality. He is not a living doll. The
first few months living with any new person can be difficult, even
more so when he is entirely dependent on you and doesn't speak your
language (yet). Your baby tries different things to get what
he needs (many of them involve crying). The other family
members try different things to meet his needs: feeding him,
changing him, talking to him. It takes a few weeks for your
family to begin to understand his cries and cues.
Postpartum
Problems for Mom
Many women have "postpartum blues" often about 3-5 days after
delivery. Unfortunately, this phenomenon coincides with you bringing
your baby home. If you feel depressed you can talk to your baby's
pediatrician at the 1 or 2 week visit. She sees a lot of new
moms and knows how much of the real work of establishing a new
family you are doing right now.
Communication
With Baby
There are a few common infant cues that new parents may want to look
for. An infant who is calm, making eye contact and waving his arms
is inviting you to talk to him, smile at him and coo. He is
ready to play. When he becomes rigid or turns his head away or
begins to cry he is letting you know that he is over-stimulated and
needs to be left alone. Remember that your baby came from a
dark, warm, snug place where the noise level was constant. Even
light, uneven sounds, or the disconcerting movements of his own body
may be too stimulating for some babies. If he is easily
over-stimulated it doesn't mean that he doesn't like you or that he
is angry, just that the world is altogether a little overwhelming.
(It is especially common for babies to become over-stimulated when
parents come home from work: the new faces and voices and the sudden
activity can be too much. It does not mean that baby doesn't like
Daddy.)
Caring For Baby
Some other common concerns include the physical care of this new
person. Babies come home from the hospital with an umbilical cord. It
is important to keep this area dry and clean. Many pediatricians
recommend cleaning the cord with rubbing alcohol three times a day. If
the area is red, warm, or has any drainage you should call your
pediatrician. If you have a little girl you may notice some bloody mucusy
discharge in her diaper, this is a normal response to your hormones. Both
boys and girls are born with breasts which is also a normal response to
maternal hormones.
Every new family needs a thermometer. The best way to take your
baby's temperature is rectally. Just put the lubricated thermometer in
about 1 inch (babies actually prefer this to having their arm held down for
an auxiliary temperature). Vaseline is a fine lubricant. Take your
baby's temperature if he feels warm, is fussy or not eating well or in some
way just doesn't seem "right." Your doctor will want to hear from you
if his temperature is 100.5 or higher. NEVER give a baby less than 2
months old Tylenol or Advil.
You should change about 8 wet diapers a day. If you are
breastfeeding your baby should have at least 4 loose yellow stools a day for
the first four weeks. If your breastfed baby has small green stools
and is not peeing well you should call your pediatrician. Formula fed
babies may poop less often and may have any colored stool.
Thanks to Dr. Deborah Flomenhoft for her article this month.
|
|
