The First Few Weeks With Your Newborn

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Essentials
The much-anticipated arrival of your newest family member can bring excitement, joy and hormones. Now that the countdown is over and you’ve met the wriggly little resident in person, it’s time for life together to begin. Whilst the nursery is set up and the car seat is sorted, the reality of moment to moment contact with your baby can bring up many questions.
Reviewed by Genevieve Titov, Sleep Angel
5 min read |
18 January, 2024

Your baby’s appearance during newborn week

During your baby’s first weeks of life on earth, their physical appearance might change in a number of ways:

  1. Baby’s head

    Particularly if your baby was born via vaginal birth, their head may appear cone-shaped. Don’t be alarmed if there is some misshaping due to forceps, or vacuum-assisted birth (your baby’s head has been through quite an affair). Within the first few days, the shape of your baby’s head should settle into their natural shape.

    1. Umbilical cord

    For around 10 days your baby’s umbilical cord will gradually become dry, turn black and fall off. Keep the area clean and dry and let your GP or child health nurse know if you notice any redness or stickiness.

    1. Swelling

    After birth it’s common for babies to have some swelling around the face, eyes and genitals. This should go away within the first week.

    1. Birthmarks

    Birthmarks on babies are common and generally not a cause for concern. If you have concerns, raise them with your GP or child health nurse.

    Feeding your newborn in the first few weeks

    In the first few days and weeks, feeding will be frequent. Babies’ tummies are small and can become full easily, but it won’t be long until they need their next top-up. Typically, newborn babies feed every 2-3 hours and have around 8-12 feeds within a 24-hour period.

    During your newborn's first week, feeding times often aren’t as succinct as the averages. Ask for help if you’re unsure and follow your baby’s cues for feeding. When your baby is hungry they will most likely provide you with signals, such as moving their tongue, forming a sucking action with their mouth or simply being more alert.

    If your baby is underweight or suffering from jaundice they may require more frequent feeds.

    Sleeping patterns

    Newborns sleep in short periods and they don’t know the difference between day and night. A typical newborn sleep cycle is around 40 minutes, after which they will wake looking to be fed or changed. Newborn babies spend a great deal of time sleeping, normally between 14-17 hours per day.

    Newborn sleep cycles consist of different levels of sleep and each cycle contains both phases:

    • Active sleep where your baby may move around, make noises and is easily woken
    • Quiet sleep is more settled with steady, deeper breathing

    The first few weeks of baby development

    Your baby is doing a lot of development during the first weeks. They are getting to know you, their environment and how the world works. They are making associations with people, sights, sounds and their surroundings.

    A newborn’s growing brain is processing a lot of information, and the frequency of their sleeping and feeding pattern is helping them develop rapidly, both physically and mentally. Within the first week, your baby may learn to focus on objects around 20-30cm away and may be able to briefly lift their head when placed on their tummy.

    Bonding with your newborn

    Bonding with your baby starts the moment they arrive and is a critical part of their development. From cuddles and skin-to-skin contact, to reading or singing, bonding will help your baby feel safe, assist them with learning and give them a sense of wellbeing.

    There are number of important ways you can bond in the first days with newborn:

    • Cuddles
    • Skin to skin contact
    • Making baby feel secure by swaddling them or wrapping them
    • Responding to their crying
    • Talking and singing to your baby
    • Making eye contact and using facial expressions

    Bath time

    Bathing your tiny infant can be both beautiful and terrifying. But if you set yourself up with all the tools you need in advance, there’s no need to be nervous about this task. A bath can be an important bonding experience and help your little one to relax.

    Lay a towel out ready, perhaps a plastic cup for rinsing small amounts of water over your baby’s body, and if you want to use a gentle wash or flannel, have them nearby and ready to go. Baby baths don’t tend to take too long, after a simple wash and a little relax, wrap your baby in the waiting towel and carry on with dressing.

    Bath supports are very useful for full-sized baths and can help you manage holding and washing your baby at the same time.

    Common health concerns with your baby in their first few weeks

    It can be unsettling when you notice your baby has a health concern within the first few weeks. A few common concerns are explained below.

    Weight loss

    It’s very common for babies to lose between 7-10% of their body weight within days of being born. Typically, newborns regain this weight within the first two weeks after a milk supply has been established and they have settled into feeding. If you have concerns you should reach out to your child health nurse or GP.

    Sticky eye

    Babies occasionally develop sticky eyes with a yellow or white discharge, due to narrow or blocked tear ducts. This condition usually clears up by itself. Your GP or child health nurse can show you how to gently cleanse and/or massage your baby’s tear ducts to help unblock them.

    Crying in the first weeks of life

    Crying is your baby’s way of communicating in their new world. Responding to your baby’s cry will let them know you’re there and help develop the bond between you. You may not always know what the problem is, but it’s a good rule of thumb to start with the basics. Infant crying is often related to hunger, tiredness or needing a change. You will develop a way of interpreting your baby’s crying over time.

    Baby health check-ups

    Baby health check-ups are an important part of the first few weeks of your baby’s life. General checks ensure your baby is feeding and developing well. Making time for health check-ups are a good preventative measure, to help identify any issues with your baby’s first few weeks of development and provide you with any extra support you need.

    Common FAQ’s about a newborn’s first few weeks

    Is the first week with a newborn the hardest?
    Countless people find the first week with a newborn a challenge. Despite being high on love for your new baby, there are many factors at play which dictate how you cope with the first week. Hormones can play a part. The lack of a baby manual certainly doesn’t help, but mostly it is a time when both you and baby are getting to know each other, and figuring out your new life together. The duality of joy and confusion can make you feel unsettled and so can an overwhelming amount of information and advice. Try to have your own experience and be ok with each moment as it comes. Perhaps you might have a great first week, there’s nothing to say you won’t, but also be kind to yourself if you’re finding it tough because you’re certainly not alone.
    How do I get through the first week of my newborn?
    Getting through the first week with a newborn is very much the ‘one foot in front of the other’ approach.Respond to what you see in front of you. Your baby is hardwired to provide you with cues when they want to be fed and will likely sleep a lot during the first few days. Things like cluster feeding can be physically demanding. Try to take rest when you can and always reach out to trusted family and friends if you’re feeling unsure about something or unable to cope. If you need additional support, connect with a trusted service such as Tresillian, your GP or child health nurse.
    What is second night syndrome?
    Second night syndrome is your baby’s way of acclimatising to their new life outside the womb (and they may not be too happy about it yet). After the warmth and tenderness of the womb, they are now adjusting to bright lights, temperature changes and unfamiliar noises. Second night syndrome is characterised by cluster feeding, falling asleep during feeding, and waking as soon as you put baby down. If you can anticipate second night syndrome, it may help ease any confusion or stress. To help your baby with second night syndrome, make them feel secure and keep them close to you. Swaddle them, cuddle them and consider limiting the number of visitors or external stimulation.
    How long should a newborn stay at home after birth?
    There’s no specific set period you need to stay at home with your baby before you can venture out for a well-deserved coffee or treat. You can take your newborn out as soon as you are ready. Ensure you dress them appropriately for the weather and take extra precautions to protect them from germs and viruses.
    When can family and friends visit my newborn?
    You can invite visitors to meet your newborn as soon as you’re ready, the most obvious concern in the early days is germs. Ensure your visitors are in good health.  You could also consider asking them to wear a mask when holding your baby. It’s recommended that family and friends be vaccinated against whooping cough at least 2 weeks before they visit your newborn. If that’s not a possibility, it’s best to wait until your baby has had a chance to have their vaccinations.

    At Love To Dream™, we know that every child is different, and we’re committed to helping you to find the right solution for your family. With you at every step, Love To Dream™ believes today’s little dreamers are the shapers of tomorrow. For further advice from our experts, visit our Blog.

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