The First Chaotic Month of a Newborn
Being a parent isn’t easy.
Whether it’s a boy or a girl, your newborn will change your life forever. It is said that the arrival of a baby is the most enchanting moment of one’s life, but that moment lasts only for a minute. Taking care of a newborn is extremely challenging.
Life Turned Upside Down
My baby girl was born by a cesarean. She was a tiny fragile thing and I was an inexperienced first-time mom. I thought breastfeeding will be easy but no, with a newborn you have to learn and everything. The worst part is constantly trying not to hurt the baby because trust me it’s so easy for the baby to get hurt out of nowhere at that stage. I used to have a problem with the diaper as well even though it seems like such an easy thing to do now. My newborn used to shiver with cold and it used to make me panic all the time. Making the baby go to sleep was a difficult task because she used to sleep all day and then constant wailing at night. It seemed cruel not to let her sleep during the day. Sleep deprivation makes people annoying and cranky, that’s a fact.
Sleep Little One
Moreover, the life of a newborn is very simple. All she does is eat, poop, sleep and cry. Even if it seems simple a parent always tends to get worried because their baby is very feeble and can easily get sick. I used to read articles related to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) all the time. From birth till six months a baby can get SIDS from overheat or cold or by letting the baby sleep on a pillow. It is best to let the baby sleep on a firm clean mattress. There should be no pillows, blankets, or toys around her. It is recommended to cover her in a sleeping bag instead of a blanket. Apart from that, in the first month, it is crucial that the baby listens to white noise at night. It helps them sleep well, makes them feel like they are still in the womb. There is no need to buy a white noise device because a lot of videos are available on YouTube.
Which Milk to Choose?
If breastfeeding is difficult and trusts me it is, then one should opt for formula milk. Formula milk provides all the basic nutrients that are important for a baby’s growth. There is no need to feel guilty and cut contact with people who makes you feel like a culprit. The pediatrician recommended us the best formula milk and the baby started from 30 ml per feed and it used to keep her full for a couple of hours so she never cried of hunger because there was always a bottle by her side.
Colic Hell
However, formula milk can cause colic pain and that is one of the main things to worry about in the first month. It makes the baby squirm with pain, her face turns red and her stomach hurts as she is unable to pass gas. There is a solution for everything and for colic pain, the baby should get probiotics which will make the pain go away.
Digestion Problems
During the first month, everything a baby does seems like a big deal because parents are not used to the baby. When the first time my baby vomited I spent hours crying. There is no need to worry because babies can vomit now and then, however, if the baby vomits after every meal then there is a need to see the pediatrician. Apart from vomits, another thing to look out for is diarrhea. Newborns get diarrhea and it is such a sad sight to see your fragile baby suffer. There is no medicine for diarrhea, just don’t let the baby get dehydrated because that will cause a problem.
Tummy Time is Important
Apart from that, there is no need to distress yourself if the baby’s skin feels dry, if she coughs occasionally or if she doesn’t poop for a day or two. The thing to focus on is giving the baby tummy time. Tummy time is very important for making the baby’s muscles strong. Don’t let the baby sleep straight on the back all the time, let her sleep on sides too so her head becomes proportionate.
Cut your Nails
Last but not the least, always cut your nails while handling newborns because unintentionally you can hurt them, also it’s necessary to cut the baby’s nails too. It is quite an arduous task though, I accidentally cut a bit of her skin while cutting her nails and weird it may seem but I’ve preserved that cotton wipe with which I had cleaned the cut.
Babies are such cute and delicate beings and they deserve pure love and care. Even though I sometimes miss my life before pregnancy but I can never imagine life without my baby now. I’m always thankful to her, for she made me a mother and that I believe is the highest rank of love in this world.
