Table of contents:

1. Crying
2. Colic
3. Drooling
4. Carrying in the arms
5. Frequent feeding and sleepless nights
6. navel
7. Patient visits
8. Feeding problems
9. Diet
10. Asking for help
11. First bath and care
12. Walking
13. Laying on the tummy

Crying

Crying is the baby's only way of communicating with the outside world. It is a sign of hunger or a wet nappy, but also of overheating or cold. Various painful conditions, such as tummy troubles or nappy rash, also make a newborn cry. Sometimes, however, the baby just needs to feel the presence of the mother.

2. colic

The digestive system of the newborn baby is immature at the time of birth. Natural childbirth and breastfeeding promote the colonisation of the digestive system with beneficial bacteria, but it takes time for the baby's tummy to start working at full capacity. Any digestive discomfort, soreness and tension in the tummy, as well as the accompanying restlessness or crying, is a typical situation in the first weeks of a newborn baby's life. It is important to remember that this is a temporary condition and that the discomfort will diminish over time.

Advice on the management of the newborn baby, photo: panthermedia

3. leaking

Withdrawalof food and vol atilisation are related to the immaturity of the digestive system. As long as the baby is gaining weight normally (which should be monitored by the midwife and the doctor), regurgitation or havoc should not be a cause for concern. Any abnormal volatilisation (e.g. with an admixture of blood or intense slurping vomiting), especially when associated with poor weight gain or deterioration in general condition, should prompt a medical diagnosis.

4. carrying on the arms

Throughout the pregnancy, the baby was carried under the mother's heart. It was naturally wrapped and rocked. It heard the heartbeat and became familiar with its mother's voice and smell. It is no wonder that at the moment of birth, the baby feels safest in its mother's arms. The baby is already accustomed to being carried and rocked at birth, so it is natural to give the baby lots of affection and love.

5. frequent feedings and sleepless nights

Every newborn baby needs to eat at least eight times a day in order to grow healthily, resulting in meals every three hours on average. Breastfed babies report to eat on demand, which in practice often means feeding much more frequently than every 3 hours. Frequent reporting to the breast means faster and more effective stimulation of lactation, but it also means sleepless nights and physical fatigue for the mother.

Nutrition of the breastfeeding mother, photo: panthermedia

6 The navel

It is very important to maintain good navel hygiene by washing the area around the umbilical stump with water and drying it thoroughly to facilitate navel healing. Do not be afraid to touch the dry stump - the more thoroughly it is cleaned, the quicker the stump will fall off. Moreover, even after the umbilical stump has fallen off, dried droplets of blood can be seen on the baby's skin or clothing. Purulent discharge, reddening or swelling of the umbilical region or an unpleasant odour should also be cause for concern.

7 Patronage visits

Shortly after the birth, the baby should be brought to the PC clinic of your choice for a visit. You should not postpone this, because at these visits midwives can provide you with a lot of information that can be useful, especially with your first baby, such as instructions on bathing the baby and basic baby care. Vaccinations are also discussed at these visits, with the midwife explaining the specifics of the individual vaccinations and giving organisational tips.

Newborn care: useful information, photo: panthermedia

8 Feeding problems

Breastfeeding is the most appropriate way to feed your baby. Although it is a natural process, sometimes mothers find it difficult. This is where, once again, community midwives come to the rescue - they help to solve problems and provide lactation advice. Despite any difficulties, it is important not to give up, bearing in mind the welfare of the baby and the benefits for the mother.

9 Diet

Adequate nutrition plays a key role during the postpartum period - a well-balanced diet makes it easier for the body to recover from childbirth and return to full function. It is also very important during lactation, but it is important to emphasise that there is no one diet for a breast feeding mother - meals are to be healthy and wholesome to prevent nutritional deficiencies in the mother, as milk for the baby always has the same composition regardless of what the mother eats.

10. asking for help

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Sometimes a newborn baby is so absorbing that there is no time to do anything else. In such cases it is advisable to enlist the help of family or friends. The help can take many forms: cooking and delivering a meal, doing the shopping, ironing the laundry or taking the older children for a walk.

Patronage visits, photo: panthermedia

11. first bath and care

Until recently, every newborn baby was bathed in the neonatal unit of the hospital. It has been noticed that the foetal ointment left on the baby's skin has a protective and nourishing function - so it is worth leaving it for a few days. As a rule, therefore, the first bath is when mother and baby return home from hospital, and each subsequent bath can take place every 2-3 days.

12. walks

It used to be thought that the first walk should take place a minimum of 2 weeks after returning from hospital, after the baby had been verandahing for 5-10 minutes at a time. It is now known that there is no rational explanation for this. A newborn baby is ready for a walk immediately after birth, and it is only up to the mother to decide when it will take place and how long it will last.

13. laying on the tummy

A very important part of the daily care of the baby is frequent lying on the tummy. This position makes it easier to digest and pass gas, and it is also a great opportunity to exercise the trunk muscles and to lift the head - in this position the baby can lift his head as high as he wants and as high as he can, and will gradually develop other skills as well, such as lying with support, crawling, turning and crawling.