Caring for your newborn

Feeding - breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the method of feeding recommended by most doctors and midwives, it provides your baby with the right milk from the very start and passes important antibodies to your baby. If you decide to bottle feed your baby she will still receive all of the care and nutrition she needs to grow and some women find that this is the right choice for them. A breastfed baby should normally be fed on a “supply and demand” basis, this helps to increase your milk supply to meet their needs. The first milk your baby will drink is called colostrum and contains a concentrated amount of antibodies, it will last for a few days until your milk comes in. It may not seem like there is a lot to offer your baby in these first few days but colostrum is precisely what your baby needs. It can take practice to comfortably breastfeed your baby but there are a number of things that you can do to help. Firstly have plenty of skin to skin contact with her and feed her as quickly as possible after the birth, secondly seek advice from a midwife or lactation consultant, thirdly do not offer extra feeds of formula or water as this will interfere with your supply. If your baby is correctly attached and happily feeding she should have her mouth wide open with her bottom lip turned out rounded and plump cheeks and should begin to change from short sucks to longer slower ones.

Feeding - bottle feeding

To formula feed your baby you will need between six and eight bottles and a steriliser. Babies differ on the rate of flow they want from a teat and so experiment with different flows, too slow and you will notice that you baby seems frustrated but too large and the milk will flow too fast into your baby's mouth. It is important to keep your baby's bottles clean and free of bacteria by carefully washing them (using a bottlebrush) after each use and sterilising them regularly. Baby milk comes in both ready made and powdered form, readymade is less hassle but gets very expensive as your baby grows bigger and demands more milk. Always follow the instructions for making up a feed carefully and be sure to mix the right amount of formula and water and if you warm the feeds be sure to test the temperature on your hand before giving the feed to your baby. When you feed your baby ensure that the teat of the bottle is always full of milk to minimize the amount of air swallowed.

Changing

There are a number of types of nappy that you can use each with advantages and disadvantages, what is right for one family may be completely impractical for another. Reusable nappies are more environmentally friendly than disposables they are also a lot cheaper in the long run, but they do need more work and if you are pushed for time or space this can be difficult. One way of resolving this is to use a local nappy laundry service, the service will take away your dirty nappies and clean them for you although this service is not available in all areas. Two part nappy systems are a good way to reduce the amount of cleaning required and are also less bulky than terry towelling nappies. Two part nappy systems have a liner on the inside which is thrown away, saving the outer covering from being badly soiled. If you can easily wash and dry your nappies you will need between 18 and 24 to start if drying is a problem then you will need more. When you are changing your baby put a sheet or towel underneath her as a lot of babies react to the cooler air when you take of their nappy by peeing, a towel will soak it up and save you having to change her clothes. Remember never to leave your baby unattended on a high surface such as a changing table as they could roll off very quickly.

Bathing

Some midwives and doctors recommend waiting until you baby's cord stump has dropped off before giving him his first bath, others bath from the very start. At first bathing your baby can be a little daunting but within a week or two both you and your baby will be used to it and will probably start to enjoy bath time !. Before you begin bathing your baby have everything that you need on hand NEVER LEAVE A BABY UNATTENDED IN A BATH, if you forget something or are called away take your baby out of the bath and put him somewhere safe. Always put cold water in the bath first and then add the right amount of hot water, if you are using a bath thermometer it should read no more than 36 °C ( 96 °F). The water should be about 10 cms or 4 inches deep. Use a jug of warm water to wash your baby's hair and if you baby has a problem with dry skin limit the amount of soap that you use in his bath. If you don't want o bath your baby everyday you can top and tail him just washing his head and neck and his bottom. To make things easier you can use a bath support in your baby's bath, this might help you relax more and will allow you to have both hands free. In general there is no need to do anything special to your babies cord stump during his bath time.

Sleeping

The amount of time that your newborn will sleep could vary greatly depending on your baby, some will wake for only an hour or two a day while others will be awake for much longer periods of time. Most babies will wake every 2-4 hours for a feed at both day and night time as their stomachs are too small to hold larger quantities of milk. During the day there is no need to be quiet when your baby sleeps in fact by acting normally in the day and then quietening down at night you will help your baby start to differentiate between day and night time , which will be a big help as your baby grows older. Sharing a bed with your baby can be rewarding especially if you are breastfeeding, however, there are a number of safety guidelines to follow. 

 

 

• Don't share a bed if you smoke, have been drinking or if you have taken medicine which could make you sleep more deeply than normal.
• Do not put her underneath your duvet as she could get too hot, instead use sheets or blankets to cover her.
• Do not use a pillow.
• Don't cover her head or use a baby sleeping bag as well as blankets.
• Make sure that your mattress is firm and flat
• Make sure that your baby cannot fall out of bed or get trapped between the wall and bed. If your baby will be sleeping in her own cot you should
• Place your baby in the feet to foot position and tuck in blankets to prevent your baby from wriggling under the covers.
• Don't smoke or allow anyone else to smoke in the same room as your baby.
• Don't let her get too hot.
• Make sure that your baby cannot get tangled in any cot toys.
•   If your baby seems unwell seek medical advice as soon as possibleThe right temperature for your babies room is between 16-18°C or 60-64°F.If your baby seems sweaty then remove a blanket. Don?t worry of your babies hands and feet seem cold this is normal and does not necessarily mean that your baby is too cold. Instead feel her tummy to see if she feels cold to touch, if so add an extra layer. The amount of time that your newborn will sleep could vary greatly depending on your baby, some will wake for only an hour or two a day while others will be awake for much longer periods of time. Most babies will wake every 2-4 hours for a feed at both day and night time as their stomachs are too small to hold larger quantities of milk. During the day there is no need to be quiet when your baby sleeps in fact by acting normally in the day and then quietening down at night you will help your baby start to differentiate between day and night time , which will be a big help as your baby grows older. Sharing a bed with your baby can be rewarding especially if you are breastfeeding, however, there are a number of safety guidelines to follow. If your baby will be sleeping in her own cot you shouldThe right temperature for your babies room is between 16-18°C or 60-64°F. If your baby seems sweaty then remove a blanket. Don?t worry of your babies hands and feet seem cold this is normal and does not necessarily mean that your baby is too cold. Instead feel her tummy to see if she feels cold to touch, if so add an extra layer. .