Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your baby
home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhaps you don't even
mind the fact that getting a good night's sleep is getting tougher by
the day.
Getting into a routineThis is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. By the end
of the first month, new parents discover that their baby lets them slip
into a comfortable (but exhausting) routine. If this is your first
baby, you probably feel totally amateurish. Relax, let your baby's cues
guide you and very soon you will be a seasoned pro!
Rock-a-bye babyYour baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day between regular
feedings. If you are lucky, your baby will sleep for longer stretches
at night. Do not let your one-month old baby sleep through the night.
At this age, infants need to feed at least every 2-3 hours for healthy
development. Regular feeds are also important in stimulating your milk
supply, which will get established during the first month.
Baby is growing
By the end of one month, your baby should be able to focus on
faces, lift his head briefly when on stomach, and probably startle in
response to a loud noise. All babies reach developmental milestones at
a genetically set time, which differs with every baby. Do not expect
your baby to go by the book. Your baby's weight might decrease in the
first few days as he loses fluids postdelivery. Most newborns stop
losing weight by the fifth day and surpass their birthweights in about
fifteen days.
Cause for concern?
More than fifty percent of babies develop newborn jaundice
because their immature livers cannot handle the extra bilirubin (the
yellow pigment) they produce. Mild to moderate physiological jaundice
requires no treatment. Others might require medical attention in the
form of bili light therapy.
Babies born by normal deliveries usually have misshapen heads.
Your baby's head will gradually attain a regular shape; you can prevent
flattening by giving her a little 'tummy time' everyday.
Colic and continuous crying are things that most parents
dread. Hours of dealing with a crying baby coupled with lack of sleep
and exhaustion can drive anyone crazy. It is vital to seek help and
give both your baby and yourself a break during spells of colic. Time
tested methods such as rocking, "the colic carry", swaddling and
soothing music can work wonders on a baby who seems to be screaming his
lungs out.
Ouch! It hurts
Your baby will receive a Hepatitis B shot in the first month of
life. This shot is not known to cause fever. Your baby will probably
cry for a few minutes and that will be all.
Allergic to milk?
Milk allergy is the most common form of food allergy in infants.
Frequent throwing up, loose watery stools and wheezing might be signs
of a milk allergy. If your baby is intolerant to milk, try another
formula before switching to soy substitutes.
Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing of gas are
common in infants and will disappear once the kinks in his bowel get
straightened out.
All new parents have numerous questions lurking in their minds,
especially first time parents. No book or article can explain
everything about your baby, who like all babies is different from the
rest. Write down the specific questions you have about your baby to ask
your health-care provider.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and make the best out
of your first month together. The first month is the perfect time to
forge a bond with baby, a bond for life.
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your baby
home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhaps you don't even
mind the fact that getting a good night's sleep is getting tougher by
the day.
Getting into a routine
This is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. By the end
of the first month, new parents discover that their baby lets them slip
into a comfortable (but exhausting) routine. If this is your first
baby, you probably feel totally amateurish. Relax, let your baby's cues
guide you and very soon you will be a seasoned pro!
Rock-a-bye baby
Your baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day between regular
feedings. If you are lucky, your baby will sleep for longer stretches
at night. Do not let your one-month old baby sleep through the night.
At this age, infants need to feed at least every 2-3 hours for healthy
development. Regular feeds are also important in stimulating your milk
supply, which will get established during the first month.
Baby is growing
By the end of one month, your baby should be able to focus on
faces, lift his head briefly when on stomach, and probably startle in
response to a loud noise. All babies reach developmental milestones at
a genetically set time, which differs with every baby. Do not expect
your baby to go by the book. Your baby's weight might decrease in the
first few days as he loses fluids postdelivery. Most newborns stop
losing weight by the fifth day and surpass their birthweights in about
fifteen days.
Cause for concern?
More than fifty percent of babies develop newborn jaundice
because their immature livers cannot handle the extra bilirubin (the
yellow pigment) they produce. Mild to moderate physiological jaundice
requires no treatment. Others might require medical attention in the
form of bili light therapy.
Babies born by normal deliveries usually have misshapen heads.
Your baby's head will gradually attain a regular shape; you can prevent
flattening by giving her a little 'tummy time' everyday.
Colic and continuous crying are things that most parents
dread. Hours of dealing with a crying baby coupled with lack of sleep
and exhaustion can drive anyone crazy. It is vital to seek help and
give both your baby and yourself a break during spells of colic. Time
tested methods such as rocking, "the colic carry", swaddling and
soothing music can work wonders on a baby who seems to be screaming his
lungs out.
Ouch! It hurts
Your baby will receive a Hepatitis B shot in the first month of
life. This shot is not known to cause fever. Your baby will probably
cry for a few minutes and that will be all.
Allergic to milk?
Milk allergy is the most common form of food allergy in infants.
Frequent throwing up, loose watery stools and wheezing might be signs
of a milk allergy. If your baby is intolerant to milk, try another
formula before switching to soy substitutes.
Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing of gas are
common in infants and will disappear once the kinks in his bowel get
straightened out.
All new parents have numerous questions lurking in their minds,
especially first time parents. No book or article can explain
everything about your baby, who like all babies is different from the
rest. Write down the specific questions you have about your baby to ask
your health-care provider.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and make the best out
of your first month together. The first month is the perfect time to
forge a bond with baby, a bond for life.
