After waiting nine long months, you have finally delivered a beautiful baby. If you are a normal mom, especially a single mom, concerns begin to creep in – will I be a good mom, will my baby sleep okay, what if I need help…and so on. Being a new parent is a little unnerving but you can be sure that the natural instincts will kick in. Remember, the first month after having a baby is a little rough for any mom and it will get better.
During this time, your baby will go through a number of phases and experience many new things. For instance, expect to hear your baby hiccupping, often after eating, which is normal. You will also find the skin goes through mottling after removing his or her clothes, which is also expected. Then, you will probably notice slight mucus around the baby’s eyes and in the nose. All you need to do is use a damp, soft cloth to wipe this away.
New babies also experience what is known as cradle cap. I remember my son had this and it did go away. At this time, the baby’s scalp will become crusty. All you need to do is keep the hair washed, and clean and then after the bath, apply a small amount of baby oil. With a fine-toothed comb, run it through the hair or on the scalp, which will remove the dead skin. In most cases, this goes away in a few weeks to months. Sometimes, a new baby will also cry often. If the baby has trouble sleeping and pulls his/her knees up, the crying could be associated with colic. For this, talk to your doctor for helpful tips.
The bottom line is that during the first month, you will need some assistance in that having a new baby in the home is exhausting and it takes a lot of time. Although it is normal to worry some, you should not be hard on yourself expecting perfection. For instance, if you typically keep an immaculate home, stop worrying about everything being in place. At first, you will be giving all your time to the new baby so the last thing you want to do is wear yourself out.
In addition, it is common for new mothers to feel as if they need to watch the baby 100% of the time. The truth is, while you can certainly check in on your baby whenever you like, babies will sleep most of the time and when there is a dirty diaper, a hungry diaper, or some other need, you can be sure the baby will let you know. Just remind yourself that you need to tend to your own fatigue. For this reason, do not waste your time and efforts on things that are not that important.
Some great tips – use paper plates to avoid having dishes to wash. Allow the answering machine to pick up phone calls, taking only those you really need. Nap when your baby naps – every time. Order dinner in from the local restaurant or stock up on freezer foods. Most importantly, let people help.
Your Baby’s First Hours of Life