After your baby is born, there will be a lot of changes in your life. Take a look at this overview so you’ll have an idea of what to anticipate as you begin your life as a new mother.

In the Hospital

• Muscles are sore from the effort of childbirth and labor.

• Your bottom is sore and swollen. If you had an episiotomy, it also hurts.

• Your incision may be uncomfortable, if you had a C-section or tubal ligation.

• Use the nurse-call button whenever necessary!

• Try different ways for you and your partner to bond with baby.

• Feeding (breast or bottle) the new miracle in your arms may be a little scary, but you’ll soon be doing it like a pro!

• Heavy bleeding or passing blood clots larger than an egg can indicate a problem.

• High or low blood pressure may be a cause for further testing.

• Pain should be relieved by medication. If it isn’t, tell the nurse.

• Fever over 101.5F (25.25C) may be a cause for concern.

• It’s normal to cry or feel emotional.

• Ask for the paperwork so you can get baby a social security number. Fill it out, and be sure to send it in.

• Try to rest. Ask to turn off your phone and to restrict visitors.

• Even though you just lost 10 to 15 pounds with baby’s birth, it’ll take awhile for the rest of your weight to come off.

• Eat nutritiously to keep up energy and to produce milk, if you breastfeed.

• Write down thoughts and feelings about labor, delivery and the first hours with your new baby. Encourage your partner to do the same.

• Watch hospital videos about baby care. Ask staff for clarification or help.

• Get the name, address and telephone number of your pediatrician.

• Ask questions, and get help from the nurses and staff in the hospital.

• Ask your partner to take you for a walk outside your hospital room.

• Take time for you, your partner and your baby to bond as a family.

1st Week Home

• You’ll still have painful uterine contractions, especially during nursing.

• It’s normal for your breasts to be full of milk, engorged and leaking.

• The area of your episiotomy or tear is probably still sore.

• Muscles may also be sore.

• Maternity clothes may be the most comfortable clothes to wear.

• Your legs may be still swollen.

• You may leak urine or stool and can’t control it.

• If bleeding gets heavier, or you pass blood clots, call your doctor.

• It may indicate a problem if you get red streaks or hard spots in your breasts.

• Call your doctor if you develop a fever.

• Take it easy; don’t worry about the housework.

• It’s normal to cry, sigh or laugh for no reason.

• Be sure to ask for help from friends and family.

• You may still look a little pregnant from the side.

• You still carry some of the extra weight you gained during pregnancy.

• Make baby’s first appointment with the doctor.

• Have baby added to your insurance policy. There may be a time limit, so don’t delay.

• Keep important “baby” documents together, such as the birth certificate, immunization record (when you get it at baby’s first pediatrician’s visit) and baby’s social security card.

• Make your 6-week postpartum checkup appointment.

• Begin making plans for day-care arrangements, if you haven’t started already.

• Give your partner a job or assignment to help you and to make him feel useful.

• Contact La Leche League, if you have any problems breastfeeding.

Excerpt from Your Pregnancy™ Week by Week, 6th edition

 

Your baby has just been through one of the hardest battles he will ever face. It’s a tough job to be pushed down the birth canal and out into the world. Often baby needs help and must be delivered with a vacuum extractor or forceps, or by Cesarean section. No matter how your baby arrives, it is wonderful to meet him.

Your newborn is amazing. When he enters the world, all his major organs are functioning. He can see, hear, smell, taste and feel. He may look like he has no awareness of what’s going on, but he is very sensitive to events taking place around him.

Baby’s Birth Weight

“How much does he weigh?” is one of the first questions new parents ask. What a baby weighs at birth is influenced by many factors, including your health during pregnancy, medications, smoking, nutrition, diet, length of the pregnancy (early or late) and the size of your partner.

The average weight at term is 7 pounds, 2 ounces, but this can vary widely. In addition to weight, other measurements are taken, including length (average is between 18 and 22 inches), head circumference and abdomen circumference.

Your baby’s weight may fall a little in the days following delivery. Most babies lose a few ounces after birth because they are born with extra body fluid that they lose during the first 5 days. They generally regain the weight in the next week, so before 2 weeks of age, they are back to their original birth weight. From birth to 1 month old, most babies gain ⅔ to 1 ounce of weight every day! By the end of 3 months, baby will have gained an average of 1½ to 2 pounds each month! On average, babies double their weight by 6 months and triple their weight by a year. You’ll really see changes in him over the next few months.

When baby is born, he is measured for length. Many babies lose a little length measurement in the days following birth if the birth was vaginal and his head was pointed. Over the next 3 months, baby will grow about 1 to 1½ inches a month. By age 1 year, your baby will have grown from 9 to 11 inches, compared with his length at birth.

If you’re like most new parents, the first thing you do when you meet your baby is to examine him from head to foot. What does he look like? Does he have hair? Does he have 10 fingers and 10 toes? Is he normal? These concerns are universal—we felt the same way when our children were born. If your baby is average size, he’ll weigh between 7 and 8 pounds, and be between 18 and 22 inches long.

His Head and His Face

As you check him out, you may notice that his face is puffy and his head is slightly misshapen and has a “mashed” or “conehead” look. It’s common for a baby’s head to look like this because the skull, which is actually made up of several bones, changes shape (molds) to move through the birth canal. You may think his head looks enormous—it is! At this time, his head is ¼ of his body, which is one reason it’s hard for his skull to fit through the birth canal.

Your baby’s face might look a little askew, as if he’d been in a fight or slid down a slippery slide on his face. His nose may be flat and his chin a little out of place. He may have some bruises on his face. The skin over his brow may be wrinkled and loose, and his eyes may be swollen and bloodshot. As with his misshapen head, this is due to the exertion of birth. His eyes will appear blue or be dark; however his true eye color won’t be evident until he’s about 6 months old.

The two soft spots on the top of his head are called fontanelles. One is close to the crown; you’ll be able to see and to feel his pulse there. The other is above his brow on his forehead. These spots decrease in size as his bones grow together. It’s OK to touch them gently; they’re covered with a thick, protective membrane.

You may also notice the crown of baby’s head is lumpy, swollen and discolored. This is called a caput and results from his head pushing against the mother’s cervix and the birth canal. The caput quickly disappears; it will look better every hour and often appears normal by the time you go home in a few days. It may take as long as 10 days for a misshapen head to look normal. A pea-sized bump on the back of baby’s head is probably a lymph node. Don’t worry about it. If baby has a bump near the top of his head, it might be caused by overlapping bones in baby’s skull. Bumps will disappear as baby’s bones fuse together.

If he has hair, you may be surprised by the color. However, this hair is usually temporary, so don’t worry if you don’t like it. His real hair (the permanent kind) will begin to grow soon, although some babies don’t get permanent hair until they’re close to a year old (or older!).

You may notice a few blisters in your baby’s mouth. Check his thumbs and fingers for any thickened or callused areas. Most babies suck their thumbs or fingers in the uterus; your baby may have. He may have a nursing tubercle on his upper lip, which stiffens the lip and makes grasping your nipple or a bottle nipple easier for him.

If his chin quivers and/or his legs and arms seem shaky, it just means that more electrical impulses are being sent to muscles than are necessary, which results in these movements. This is normal, and they will decrease over the next few months.

Baby’s Skin

Next you may look at the skin on his body. Most babies are covered with a thick, white, waxy coating when they’re born, called vernix; it protected his skin while he was in the uterus. When he’s cleaned up, you may be able to see the veins through his skin, which is still thin. His hands and feet may peel. He may have birthmarks. See the discussion of birthmarks below. A Caucasian baby’s skin color can range from purplish to pinkish gray. The pigmentation of babies of color may not be evident for hours or even a few days after birth. Many are born with light skin that darkens. If baby’s a little blue in color, it may be caused by mucus in his air passages. Most is suctioned out, and he coughs out the rest.

His skin may appear yellow or orange-tinged by the second or third day—about half of all newborns experience jaundice. The color is caused by the inability of baby’s liver to remove breakdown products of blood cells, and the buildup causes the skin to look yellow or orange. A mild case of jaundice resolves in about a week or 10 days; it may last slightly longer if your baby breastfeeds.

It’s interesting to note as you examine him that your baby’s skin is the most developed sensory organ he has right now. He’ll love it when you gently rub and stroke him.

Delivery Marks

Delivery marks occur in almost every delivery. They can occur while the baby is in the uterus, during the descent through the birth canal and during delivery. The use of forceps or a vacuum extractor to assist with delivery may increase the chance of delivery marks. Marks can vary from a misshapen head (it’s nothing to worry about and will change rapidly after birth) or a flattened ear or nose, to bumps and bruises.

Forceps may leave marks on the side of the head, in front of the ears. A vacuum extractor may leave a mark on the back or crown of the head. These marks fade and go away within a few hours to a few days. Lotion may be helpful in some situations.

Call the doctor if any of the marks get bigger or if they don’t fade after the first few days. If they become warm to the touch or hard, let your doctor know.

Birthmarks

Many different types of marks may be seen on a baby after birth. These include salmon patches or stork bites, hemangiomas or strawberry marks, Mongolian spots, café au lait spots, port-wine stains, spider veins (nevi) and pigmented nevi (beauty marks). All are discolorations or marks on the skin. Salmon patches, also called stork bites, are pinkish areas usually found on the back of the neck, the forehead, the face or eyelids. They are caused by blood vessels in the skin. Some are temporary and should disappear within a year. Some are permanent.

Hemangiomas, also called strawberry marks, are fairly common birthmarks. About one in 10 babies has them. They are caused by an overabundance of blood-vessel cells. They are often red or pinkish, as well as being raised and spongy. They may not appear until a few weeks after birth and may continue to grow somewhat during the next 6 to 12 months. Most disappear by age 10 and leave no scar.

Mongolian spots are flat, blue- or gray-colored marks, which look like bruises, found on the back and buttocks. They are seen most often in darkskinned and Asian babies. They are caused by a high concentration of pigment cells in the skin. These spots are not a sign of disease and should fade during childhood, but they may never disappear completely.

Café au lait spots are flat spots, usually tan to light brown in color. They can be found anywhere on the body and are usually permanent. There is no treatment for these spots, but if baby has more than six spots that are larger than 1/5 inch in diameter, have them checked out by the doctor. Café au lait spots are sometimes found in conjunction with a rare neurological disorder.

Port-wine stains are pink to purple to red in color and usually flat. They are usually permanent. They may fade somewhat, and/or they may be removed by laser surgery when baby is older. If port-wine stains appear on any part of the face, they should be checked regularly.

Spider nevi are dilated blood vessels that look like the legs of a spider; they usually fade by 1 or 2 years of age. Moles or pigmented nevi come in several colors from light brown to black. They are caused by an increase in the number of pigment cells in the skin. Moles present at birth should be watched for any change in size and color. Large moles (over 3 inches wide) may be removed to avoid risk of melanoma.

Keep an eye on any birthmarks your child has. Call the doctor if a birthmark grows or changes color. If a mark is close to the eye or on baby’s face, your pediatrician will check it. In most instances, birthmarks are checked to see if they fade or go away on their own. Laser surgery is being used in many instances to remove birthmarks and moles. Other treatments may be possible in specific cases.

Examining Other Parts of His Body

Baby’s hands and feet are so small they may amaze you. He’ll probably hold his hands in tight fists. His fingernails may be paper thin; don’t be surprised if they already need trimming!

A newborn’s legs are bowed, and his feet turn in. Often his legs are drawn up against his tummy—this is called the fetal position. If you gently pull them out, his legs may appear short. And when you let them go, it’s almost as if they were on rubber bands—they pull right up against his body! His feet have only a heel bone at this time. The cartilage that makes up the rest of his foot will become bone later. His peanut-shaped feet may turn inward. Your baby’s heel is usually pricked for a blood sample, so it may look sore or inflamed. His hips may seem loose-jointed and crack when they move. This is normal and caused by hormones from his mother. Your pediatrician will examine your baby for signs of a dislocated hip, which can be treated.

His tummy may be prominent; this isn’t fat, it’s caused by a lack of muscle tone. This disappears as he becomes more mobile in the next few months.

Your baby’s genitals may appear swollen and enlarged; this can happen with either sex. A girl may have a vaginal discharge. Don’t worry—this is normal and will clear up in a few days. These symptoms are caused by the mother’s hormones crossing the placenta. In a few cases, a baby may experience a bone break or fracture or a dislocation during delivery. These conditions heal well with no lasting result and are usually treated by bandaging them. You must use great care when lifting your baby. Dressing must be done carefully; bathing may have to wait awhile.

If you notice a hard lump between baby’s ribs, it’s a bone called the xiphoid process. Soon it will be covered with muscle and fat as baby develops, so don’t be concerned about it. Your baby may also have a hollow vertical area running down his tummy. This is caused by the two muscle bundles on either side of the abdomen—they haven’t grown together yet but will as baby grows older.

Baby’s Bowels

Even though you probably never imagined it, now that baby is here, you’ll probably find yourself concerned about his bowels. It doesn’t only mean changing diapers; your baby’s stools can be an indication of his health.

Your baby’s first bowel movement is called meconium. It consists of cellular material and other substances from his digestive tract as he developed in the womb; it looks yellow-green, brown or like black tar. Your baby must get rid of this material in the 48 hours after birth before normal digestion can begin. If he doesn’t, your doctor may be concerned about intestinal obstruction.

Once your baby passes the meconium, his stools will be yellow-green and look like small seeds. If you breastfeed your baby, his stools will look different than a baby’s who is fed formula.

Baby’s Senses

It may seem incredible, but soon after birth, a baby can recognize his mother’s voice and her scent. Before your baby is born, he is already sensitive to sounds, light and temperature. His senses develop quickly once outside the womb. As we’ve already mentioned, he can hear, see, feel and taste when he is born. Let’s examine what his senses are like at this time.

Taste

Your baby is born with a desire for sweet things, which is suited to the flavor of formula or breast milk. His taste for bitter, salty and sour develop later. At this time, he can distinguish bitter and sour tastes.

Hearing

Baby’s hearing is not fully developed at birth. Parts of the ear are immature, so your baby can’t hear the range of sounds you can. Low-frequency sounds can be heard by baby at birth; this includes the human voice. Baby knows your voice because he heard it inside the womb!

Studies have shown that babies prefer the sound of the human voice to any other sound. To help baby develop his hearing, speak to him often in a slow, exaggerated voice. You’ll both enjoy the interaction, and you’ll help him develop his hearing.

Sense of Smell

Researchers believe that your baby’s sense of smell is well developed at birth. It’s been found that within hours of birth, a breastfeeding baby will use his nose to find his mother’s nipple. Amazingly, it has been demonstrated that your baby’s sense of smell may be developed in the uterus—certain food flavors and odors, such as garlic, cross the placenta to the baby. If you love garlic and onion, baby may already be familiar with them! If you breastfeed, this continues because flavors pass into your breast milk.

Your baby will learn about some smells as he grows. He will learn which smells are “good,” such as those associated with foods, and which smells are unpleasant.

Touch

From birth, a baby is sensitive to touch; as we’ve already said, his skin is the largest organ of his body. It doesn’t take long for him to become familiar with the touch of those close to him. Your touch will soothe him or stimulate him.

It’s important to know how to touch your baby. A baby likes a firm touch. It makes him feel secure. He also likes to be stroked and massaged—that’s why we include different massage techniques in the first 6 weeks of discussions. Massaging your baby has benefits for him and for you. Studies show that babies who are massaged for 10 to 15 minutes before bedtime or napping may sleep better and be less irritable.

Sight

Eyes may be quite developed by birth and capable of seeing many things. However, the baby’s brain isn’t as fully developed, so he doesn’t see as well as an adult. That’s one reason you’ll have to hold an object very close to baby for him to see it, about 8 to 12 inches away. He can distinguish light from dark and prefers black-and-white patterns. If you move an object farther away from him, his eyes may cross; he can’t focus both eyes on the same thing just yet.

Vision and Hearing Tests

Today, many hospitals and physicians are testing a baby’s hearing and vision before he leaves the hospital. A baby’s eyes are usually tested shortly after birth for eye disease and proper function, especially if there is a family history of problems. Some doctors recommend babies be examined for many types of eye abnormalities, including congenital cataracts. When found early and treated, a baby may avoid long-term problems. If a problem is discovered, your baby may need to see an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) or an ophthalmologist.

About half of all states now test baby for hearing problems in the hospital. Without tests, problems may not be detected until a child is 2 or 3 years old. Hearing is tested by recording electrical brain activity in response to various sounds or by listening for an echo in the inner ear. If your baby has a hearing loss, it could affect the way his speech develops. Today, hearing aids can be fitted in a baby as young as 6 months old!

Excerpt from Your Baby’s First Year™ Week by Week, 2nd edition