Care of the newborn

The arrival of the first baby is a great happiness for the couple, but also brings with it a series of doubts about their care, which the mother especially lives. The task of raising the baby is a concern for first-time mothers, especially those who have not been lucky enough to have another baby around to become familiar with the newborn's care.

However, there are always close relatives, doctors and pediatricians to turn to when there are doubts or do not know how to respond to small or large problems that arise every day in the baby's life. The lack of experience is resolved over time and soon, the mother will see that the fears dissipate and every day she enjoys more and more of her child. But, what are those doubts that generate concern in the first mother? Next, we address some of the most frequent.


Feeding. Will he be eating well?

As for the feeding of the baby, a new mother can be overwhelmed by the fact that her baby does not hold on tightly to the breast or that it does not seem to eat well or be satiated.

Like many other things in life, to feed the baby you learn, and it is normal if the first day you are not very good, you just have to be patient. With the help of other women who have gone through this experience, the pediatrician or the midwife, surely you will soon take the trick. One thing must be clear: the hungry baby does not stop eating, and he himself will indicate when he is satisfied: he will simply stop eating. It is not advisable to force him to finish the bottle or to continue sucking if he does not want to. But if you have doubts about the amount and periodicity of the shots, do not hesitate to go to the pediatrician.


On the other hand, it should be noted that all babies lose weight at birth, losing up to 10% of their birth weight. This is known as physiological loss, and it is because they are born with an excess of liquid that they lose later. Do not be scared if you see that this happens to your baby, since it is not due to breast milk not feeding him. The baby will begin to regain weight starting on the sixth day. If this is not the case and one or two weeks go by, then you should go to the pediatrician.

As the days go by, you will be able to verify that adapting to the baby's needs can sometimes be hard work, but you are perfectly capable of carrying it out. You will lose your fears and be more sure of your role as mother. In addition, little by little you will understand the way the baby communicates, which will make it easier for you to help you.

Crying. Will he be sick?

Another issue that concerns new parents is the baby's cries. There is always the question of whether he will be sick. Crying is the baby's way of communicating and expressing his needs and may be due to various causes: he is hungry, he is cold or hot, he is dirty and needs a change of diapers, he wants pampering and shows affection or he suffers from infant colic . In most cases, the cries can be easily placated as soon as the baby is satisfied in their demands, but in the case of colic the situation can be exasperating for many parents, who see how baby cries at full volume without obvious cause.


However, baby's cramps have no other treatment than patience. The cramps are characterized by the strong cry of the baby, which lasts for hours and has no apparent cause. In general, it has no medical importance and they disappear with time, but it is advisable to go to the pediatrician as soon as the first symptoms appear, to rule out any ailment.

The pacifier, the bottle, the toys ... Should we sterilize everything?

Another concern is that the baby's pacifier, bottle or some toys can become a focus of bacteria and diseases. Good hygiene of the objects used by the baby is essential, but neither is it necessary to obsess. After a proper cleaning of these, it is normal to have some bacteria, which however, are of great help for the baby to develop their own defenses, but without running the risk of suffering an infection. In case the baby is premature, if you must take extreme hygiene, especially in the first weeks of life.

Wash the baby. How do I do it?

You can bathe the newborn, even if the umbilical cord has not fallen, provided it dries well for proper healing. Pediatricians advise bathing the baby two or three times a week. Yes you can clean it with a wet sponge in the area of ​​the butt (where it has been stained with bowel movements) and hands, but it is not necessary to use the bathtub every day or use soap daily in your delicate skin, to unless the child relaxes in warm water before sleeping.

At the time of bathing, try that the water is hot, but that it does not burn (about 37 ºC they are well), besides that the room is warmed up so that it does not pass cold when leaving the water. To avoid cold drafts, close the windows and doors, and have the towel ready so you can wrap it up quickly as soon as you get out of the water. After the bath, you should try to dry your body well and hit the ears, to avoid taking an ear infection. And remember, never leave the child alone in the bathtub, not even for something as fast as opening the door or taking the phone for a moment.

Sudden death. What happens if my baby turns around?

Sudden death, or sudden death of the baby and inexplicably while sleeping, is another fear that terrifies parents. The origin of this disease is diffuse in the case of infants, but it is proven that there are a series of guidelines that help its prevention:
- It is important that the mother does not smoke during pregnancy, and that the parents do not smoke when the baby has already been born. The smoke of the tobacco and the amount of harmful components that they contain can cause great damages in the small and delicate lungs of the baby.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden death. The biological explanation is that, because breast milk is easier to digest than artificial milk, breastfed children wake up more easily from active sleep than children fed with milk formulas at 2 or 3 months of age (the highest peak of occurrence). of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome between 2 and 4 months).
- The baby should sleep on his back unless express medical indication.
- That the baby sleep as close as possible to his mother, since the respiratory rate and The child's cardiac balance stabilizes when he is next to her.
- You also have to avoid having too much and "overwhelm" the baby with layers and layers of clothes, blankets, sheets, bedspreads, etc. Loose clothes and mattresses that are too soft can cover your face or make it hard to breathe.

Cristina Murcia

Video: Caring For Your Newborn


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