What should your baby’s first week be like?

One of the most anticipated moments while pregnant is postpartum, when, finally, the mother will be able to hold the child in her arms. But then a new stage begins, which is usually permeated by a lot of anxiety. Although you’ve probably already read a lot about the subject during the nine months, you may be lost, not knowing very well what to do with that small and helpless being that came without an instruction manual. Also, many other changes are going to happen in your life and that of your family from now on.

THE breast-feeding

In the first week, when the newborn and the mother are adapting to their new life, the ideal is for the little one to eat every three hours, on average. “During the night, you must wait for the baby to express itself before breastfeeding, but with a few days to live, it is not prudent to leave him without feeding for a long time”, explains pediatrician Raquel Quiles, who works at Santa Catarina and 9 hospitals. of July, in São Paulo. “After the first consultation, if he is gaining weight, it is possible to change this behavior, according to the pediatrician’s guidance.”

As giving the breast is a process that can generate a lot of anxiety in the mother, it is important that she is in a calm place, sitting in a very comfortable position. The baby should not be wearing clothes that could make him uncomfortable and should have his body facing the mother, with his head aligned and arms and legs free.

“It is important that the mother encourages the newborn to breastfeed by talking to him, touching his little feet or ears, taking off some of his clothes, etc. to prevent him from sleeping during the process and then being hungry again”, says Raquel. “If the baby is urinating frequently, it is a sign that he is well fed”, explains pediatrician Maria Cristina Duarte, from Rio de Janeiro. “But if there are still doubts, talk to the pediatrician or look for a breastfeeding center, which exists in many hospitals”, suggests Natalia.

THE diaper change

“It should happen whenever the baby urinates or has a bowel movement, which happens at least eight times every 24 hours”, clarifies Raquel.

“At this stage, it is normal for the stool to be pasty or almost liquid, with a color that varies between yellow and green”, says the pediatrician. “And it may happen that the little one poops less often a day, but the pee must always be present.” If this does not happen, talk to the pediatrician, as the newborn may be having difficulty breastfeeding.

In everyday life, it is indicated to use only a cotton soaked in warm water to clean the baby. The wet wipes should only come into play on special occasions. If it’s a girl, make the moves from top to bottom, going from the vagina towards the anus. “In boys, don’t forget to lower the penis before closing the diaper, as this prevents him from peeing in his own belly”, teaches Natalia.

Sleep

Contrary to the guidelines given in the past, nowadays it is recommended that babies be placed to sleep on their backs, which, according to studies, prevents sudden death. “And don’t worry about the risk of him choking, because the little one is already born with a reflex that makes him turn to the side if he vomits or regurgitates”, assures Natalia Turano.

“Early in life, children don’t have a regular rhythm for sleeping. They breastfeed and fall asleep several times a day and spend a good part of their time like that”, says Maria Cristina. “Therefore, it is important that the mother respects the child’s time, without creating expectations that he will sleep all night, for example.” It is recommended to wrap him well before putting him in the crib, but be careful not to overdo it and make him feel hot during the night. Check that the clothes are very comfortable and that no part of the baby’s body is tight.

THE Bath time

In general, newborns only need one bath a day, preferably at the hottest time of day. “The second can happen if it’s too hot, to help alleviate the colic or to make the little one relax, but in that case, you should only use water”, says Natalia.

THE first trip to the pediatrician

The ideal is to make a prenatal consultation to meet the doctor and clear up some doubts. “Then, ask the professional to visit the maternity ward so that he can see the baby, meet the family and guide breastfeeding”, recommends Raquel.

If everything went as expected at delivery, and there were no special recommendations after the newborn was examined for the first time, the visit to the pediatrician’s office should be around the seventh day of life. Prepare a list of observations and doubts during the week so you don’t forget something at the time of the appointment. “Take the entire birth history, as well as the exams that have already been carried out, such as the foot, the little ear and the little eye”, says Maria Cristina. During the conversation, tell the doctor how the bowel movements are going, how and how much the baby urinates, if there are any color changes when he

Can the little one receive visitors now?

If the guest is healthy, that is, without flu, colds or any other type of infectious condition, there is no formal contraindication. But the ideal is that, in the first days of life, visits are controlled, especially those with which the parents are not very familiar. “It is a delicate phase, very tired, recovering from childbirth, establishing breastfeeding and adapting the family to the new situation”, ponders Maria Cristina. “It is imperative that everyone wash their hands well before touching the baby and that they do not pass from lap to lap, which could end up stressing them out”, recommends Raquel. “By the way, care regarding the contact of the little one with other people should happen up to 3 months, a period in which the immune system is still immature and he is more susceptible to diseases”, adds the pediatrician.