Well, here we are! You did it! You're a mom!!! You know, newborns are wonderful! They are full of personality! You may not notice it right away, but it's there, and when that little one is at home, even in just a few days, you'll know more about that little person than anyone! You will be able to distingush hungry cries from fussy ones, to content ones. Their unique personality will unfold before your eyes. They will change daily, right before your eyes. So have your camera ready! And remember, YOU know best! (Please read pgs 66, 67, 68, 69 + 101 in your book) What book?
Sure, some lack of confidence and anxiety as a new parent will be present, but that is very, very normal! I remember dreams I had of giving birth to a dinosaur! Pure anxiety seeping into my uncounsciousness at its best, and my son is now 3. So, relax......take one day at a time. But, let's look at some physical characteristics your newborn will display at first sight, and later when the nursery nurse brings your baby to your room.
At the time of birth, your baby will be covered with body fluid: amniotic fluid and blood. The baby will also be covered with a white - creamy looking substance, called vernix
( which protects the baby's skin from the amniotic fluid in the uterus). Some babies are born with more vernix, than others. If your baby was born with a lot of vernix, the baby looks almost white. Usually, the more vernix, the earlier the gestational age, and the less vexnix, the closer to term.
Depending on the birth "route", vaginal or by Cesarean, baby's head may look either: molded in a "cone" shape from a vaginal delivery (called "molding"), or have a smooth, rounded appearance from a Cesarean birth. Baby's color is often grayish-pink, with a blue hue in the hands and feet. This is normal. As the blood circulates in the newborn, within minutes their color changes to pink. Sometimes the nurse will pass tiny whisps of oxygen under the baby's nose, and mouth, and this will also help the baby to turn pink.
Certainly, at the time of birth, either a vaginal or Cesearean birth, baby can be placed gently on your belly, and you can begin to breastfeed. The Apgar score will be done by a nurse, midwife, or your doctor. Eventually, the nurse ( if you are in a hospital ) will take the baby to the nursery to be admitted, weighed, temperature monitored, and given its first bath to remove the body fluids, and then your "rooming-in" experience will begin until you go home.
When your newborn is brought to you for the first time after delivery, you will be very curious and inqusitive. You will inspect every inch of that baby! Yes! Count those toes and fingers! Get to know him or her! Take a peek under that tiny tee-shirt! Look at those tiny little fingernails, and don't cringe at the thought of trimming them! Babies are very resilient too. So, you can pick them up with calm knowing that they won't fall apart!
However, here are some physical characteristics that are normal, which you may be interested in when you notice them:
*Newborn tremors - Normal. Why? Lets think about it. Baby has been in the fetal position in tight quaters for a while. Now, in its new environment, baby has room to move its arms in. But more important is, baby's muscle movements are not coordinated at birth. This is because neuromuscular development is progressive from the head down to the toes, called cephalocaudal development. It takes several months to develop coordinated muscular movements as you will notice in the next few months. You will notice your newborn over the next few days and weeks trying to lift its head to look around, strengthening the neck musles first. Everyday, muscle coordination will get better, stronger and stronger, and baby will hold its head longer and longer. This development will progress systematically down the spinal cord. And as it does, you will notice more purposeful movements in the hands, pushing up with hands, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and eventually walking. The first year for a baby is a miraculous one in neuromuscular development.
* Cross-eyed appearance - Normal, again because of immature neuromuscular development. It will correct itself.
* Sneezing -Normal. Baby is removing fluid from the delivery. They are not sick with the "flu".
* Hiccups-Normal
* Swollen Genitalia - Normal and caused by mothers hormones still in baby's system. This will resolve itself.
* Milia - Little white bumps on the nose and face of baby. These are clogged pores. Don't squeeze, or wipe to get rid of it. It will go away on its own.
* Peeling Skin - Normal. You may see this on the hands and feet. Baby has been in fluid for nine months, now baby is in a dry environment, and the skin may appear dry. Just gently rub some lotion onto the skin and that should take care of it.
* Tiny and Skinny - Normal. They are newborns! It's up to you now to start fattening them up with nourishment from breastfeeding or formula feeding, and soon before you know it, you'll see that nice plump little baby!
N o u r i s h m e n t
Your choice in nourishment for your baby is a personal decision. Of course, breastfeeding is the best choice, but it is not for everyone. So, you must decide what will work best for you. Breastfeeding is a learned skill for Mom AND baby. so take heart. You know the saying, practice makes perfect, and so it is with breast feeding.
(Please read pgs. 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 + 100 in your book) What book?
Whether you decide to breastfeed OR bottle feed, keep the following in mind:
* Babies can dehydrate easily if they are not getting enough fluid. It is important to feed them every 2 - 3 hours during the day, and less at night (to hopefully get the baby to sleep at night) and ALWAYS on demand. Signs of dehydration are:
- Sunken fontanels located on baby's head
- Sticky mucous membranes in the mouth
- Lack of response to stimuli
* Do not be afraid to feed them on demand. You may think, oh baby is eating too much and is going to get fat. For the first six months formula and breast milk is ALL they are getting. Babies need the fat provided in formula and breast milk for neuromuscular development, and their weight will balance out as they get older.
* Babies use different facial muscles when breastfeeding than when bottle feeding. It is for this reason that "nipple confusion" happens. Babies have to "work" harder to breastfeed. The mother's nipple AND as much of the areola has to be in baby's mouth for successful sucking and nursing. Bottle feeding however, is effortless and easy for baby because the formula or breast milk (if in a bottle) just about "pours" into baby's mouth, and down its throat. Baby doesn't "work" at it. Because of this, and depending if a bottle has been introduced early, there may be a challenge in breastfeeding. Hang in there.. With patience, determination, and persistence you can overcome this.
* Breastfeeding operates on the infamous law of "supply and demand". Simply, the the more your breast feed, the more milk your body will KNOW to make, which is stimulated by baby sucking, and /or pumping with a breast pump. So, if you are formula feeding, do not stimulate the breasts to produce milk (no nursing, pumping, warm showers) and what ever milk you do have, will diminish.
When you are in the hospital, or home, your nurse, Midwife, Pediatrician, and Lactation Consultant will guide you in whatever choices you make or problems you have, and remember, your choice in nourishment for your baby will be the best for you and your personal circumstances.
Take me to:
