Newborn Babies

Despite all the anticipatory parenting done about your newborn babies,that is, before conception and during pregnancy, despite weeks of feeling movement within and wondering about your baby, despite months of having strange dreams, worrisome thoughts,  about what kind of parent you will be, when you have  your newborn baby in your arms and call yourself mother or father, mama or papa, mum or dad, you know that life will never be the same again. Another human being is now dependent upon you for survival. More than anything else, you want to be the best parent possible.

Becoming a good parent means much more than knowing a lot about babies. Ask pediatric doctors or nurses what it was like for them to be new parents. They will tell you that all their knowledge about  newborn babies was not enough to keep them from being overwhelmed by their own babies. All new parents feel the same way. All new parents work at knowing, understanding, and loving their babies. Your baby will work just as hard at learning to know, understand, and love you. This is the process of bonding work that parents and babies do together to form a deep and ever lasting love. It is what becoming a family is all about.

Some tips for YOU MUM after your newborn baby is born.

When you are in hospital the day after birth, you may ache all over from the work you did in labor. Your arms and legs may be sore from pulling back on your legs while pushing out your newborn baby.

Although achy legs are normal, tenderness, pain, or warmth in your calves and swollen or reddened veins are warning signs that you should report to your doctor or midwife immediately.  The affected leg should not be massaged.

Joints that relaxed in pregnancy to allow for the newborn baby's growth and birth will return to their pre-pregnancy condition within several weeks of birth. Many mums, however, feel that the rib cage and pelvis remain slightly expanded for the rest of their lives.

Abdominal muscles are relaxed after birth, so the abdomen is soft and still rounded. All mums have some degree of separation of the abdominal muscles, which lessens with exercise.

Any stretch marks you have will seem more obvious after your newborn babyis born than before. Although stretch marks never completely disappear, they fade to silvery white lines in the months after childbirth. Darkened areas of the skin, such as the areola and the linea nigra, a dark line from the belly button to pubic bone, may tighten but may not completely fade.

Many mums note changes in their hair after birth-most commonly,  hair loss. This is because pregnancy hormones stimulate hair growth. With the drop in these hormones, the extra hair that grew in pregnancy will fall out. This begins around three months after birth and usually ends within a couple of months.

Perhaps the most common feeling of new mums after your newborn baby is born is that of being bone-tired. This seems especially true of mums who have just had their first newborn babies. Often, fatigue is combined with such excitement in the first days that sleep is difficult. The usual aches and pains of the early postpartum period can make it even harder to sleep. But beyond the first few days after birth, most mums find daily naps are essential to their well-being.

Some tips for mums with a newborn baby and a cesarean.

Each mum recovers in her own unique way after cesarean birth, just as after vaginal birth. Pain medications can help during the first few days (the medications given are considered safe during breastfeeding). The nurses will assist you in getting up the first time, learning to cough or huff to keep your chest clear, dealing with the gas that can follow surgery, and learning to hold your baby in ways that are comfortable for you. If assistance is not available when you need it, press your call button and ask for help.

All new parents can benefit from assistance at home after newborn babies birth, but for a mum who has had a cesarean birth such help is essential for at least the first week. Not only are you undergoing a transformation to a nonpregnant state and learning to care for your new baby, you are recovering from major surgery. Adequate help, allowing you to rest often during the day, can make a great difference in how quickly you feel strong and well. Taking care of yourself and your newborn baby should be your only duties until you feel ready to take on more.

See more about newborn babies tips or go to Newborn Babies Links