The first 14 days or 2 weeks of giving birth to the child is like unfolding a new world of parenthood both for the mother and the father. There are doubts, confusions, happiness, pain, joy, responsibilities, love and care surrounded around your baby.
The doctors and nurses at the hospitals make the most to extend comfort and care to the mother and the baby, but as soon as the baby comes home it’s a different world! Here is what to expect in the first 14 days of giving birth to your child!
Feeding the baby
A newborn should be fed within an hour of being born. Starting from mother’s first milk to learning to feed them every 2 hours, the mothers go through a learning phase to connect to the child. The skin-to-skin touch, latching of the baby, breastfeeding and making the baby burp are all joyous experience that comes as learning. The baby too learns to bond with the mother and take the feed. It gets easier by the hour.
Pooping and peeing
Like a baby needs to be fed every 2 hours, they are prone to peeing and pooping multiple times too. One can expect a newborn to wet 6-8 diapers a day. This includes a few sessions of soft bowel movements because the baby is still growing and building a strong digestive system. The routine builds up as the regular feeding continues.
Baby sleeps
Newborns sleep for 18-20 hours a day. They wake up to take breastfeed and this is the time when they cry and express their hunger. The babies generally wake up every 3 hours to get fed. For a healthy growth, it is important for the baby to sleep 18-20 hours a day and take regular feeds at intervals. During the wake hours parents can expect the baby to smile, wink, turn their head, look around or cry.
Monitoring and screening
The doctors at the hospital do a physical examination of the baby at the instance they are born. And it is done on a daily basis for the time the baby stays at the hospital with the mother. The discharge usually happens within 3 days for a normal delivery and 6 days for a c-section. Post the 6th day, the parents need to take assistance from nurse or make sure that themselves that the baby eats and sleeps in a healthy pattern.
Baby bath and hygiene
Newborns are sensitive. For the first 14 days touching them with bare hands can be sensitive too. It is important to cover them in clean soft clothes and take care of their hygiene. Newborns are generally wipes to clean their body and given oil massage only after a week of birth. Keeping them warm and comfortable is important!
A strong routine and love is essential to take the best care of your baby in their initial birth days! Doctor’s guidance goes a long way!
