Congratulations, you're a parent! Now what?
You have been discharged from the hospital and are heading home with your newborn baby. You'll remember that car ride home from the hospital forever. You'll drive under the speed limit, you'll be aware of every other vehicle on the road, and you'll check the rearview mirror about a thousand times. And then your family will arrive safely back at your home. What happens next?
The First Five Minutes
You'll want to remove the baby from the carseat and place the child in a safe location. A crib, blanket on the floor, or on your chest or lap are ideal locations. Be sure your newborn sleeps on the back and not the tummy. A good way to remember is always put your baby - Back to Sleep! And be sure to not fall asleep with your baby no matter how tired you are. You could accientally drop or roll over on your newborn. Avoid placing the baby on the couch, table, or other surface that could create conditions for an accidental fall. Remove objects that could cover the mouth and nose or get tangled around the neck while sleeping. Stuffed animals, pillows, decorative crib bows, etc., should all be removed. Double-check that you have the correct size diapers and are well stocked on wipes, cream, and onesies. Get out the camera because you'll want to remember these moments for a lifetime!
The First Hour
You likely fed your baby during the first hour after birth in the hospital. You may even be starting to recognize the cues that your baby is hungry. Don't worry if you aren't there yet - you will be! The American Association of Pediatrics reports that newborns will feed up to 12 times in a 24 hour period. If your baby has been sleeping for three or four hours without feeding, gently wake him or her up and try to feed. Check out more information on feeding from the American Association of Pediatrics. And a quick note about feeding and weight - expect your baby to lose a little bit of weight in the first week, and begin gaining again in the second week. Don't worry - this is normal!
The First Afternoon
Decide ahead of time if you want visitors or if you want to enjoy the first day home with just your family. If you deicde to host visitors, kindly ask them to wash their hands before holding the baby. Instruct them on how to support the head and neck before they pick up your child. Don't move or pick up a sleeping baby just because a visitor wants to hold it. When the baby is sleeping peacefully, you get some rest, too! Be prepared to change wet diapers many times a day. In fact, it could be up to 20.
The First Evening
Your baby will sleep a lot during the first few weeks (up to 20 hours a day) so don't be surprised if you spend much of the first day with your baby asleep. Cuddle with your sleeping baby to promote bonding. When your newborn is awake, look into your child's eyes, talk or sing to your child, and smile and make facial expressions. Your baby is learning, changing, and growing every mintue, and it's a great idea to fill those waking minutes bonding and letting your baby get to know you.
The First Night
Even though your baby will sleep more hours than wake during these first few weeks, the sleep won't be continuous. Expect your baby to sleep for roughly 1-2 hours at a time. Be prepraed to wake during the night to feed and change diapers. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends against sleeping with your child at any age. The risks to the baby are high: a parent could fall asleep and roll over on top of the baby, or the baby could be pushed off the bed by a sleeping parent who rolls over. Start out your child's life with healthy sleeping behaviors to avoid unhealthy sleeping behaviors down the road.
The Next Morning
Your first visit to see our pediatricians is toward the end of the first week; days four to six after birth. Call to make the appointment. Congratulate yourself on making it through the first 24 hours. Get ready for another full day of cuddling, smiling, talking, feedings, and diapers!