what to expect with my newborn baby?

Question

im 36 weeks so im almost there, what can i expect the first couple of weeks she is home with me, will she sleep alot at first cry alot..past experiences are welcome of course

Answer 1

You'll be feeding her every 3 to 4 hours, maybe more if you are breastfeeding. She will not sleep for long periods of time, since she'll need to eat often, but she will sleep most of the time that she's not eating, so you will have time to get snippets of rest in between.

You may be tired, but upon looking down at her perfect little body, you will be filled with a joy that will make it all worth it. Whether she cries a lot depends on the baby. Both of my babies only cried when hungry and stopped when that need was fulfilled.

You can expect to fall in love with the delicate, fresh scent of her fuzzy little head (or smooth little head if she's bald). You can expect to kiss her little fingers and toes with utter adoration. All of these things makes the lack of sleep and poopy diapers worth it! Congratulations!

Answer 2

If everything goes well with the delivery, most families go home in 2 days. Most newborn babies split their time between sleeping and eating. Usually they only cry when they are really hungry, though they can develop more persistent crying behaviors and colic around 4-6 weeks. Typically they should be fed around 10-12 times per day (usually every 2-3 hours) either breast or bottle, whichever you have decided on.

Newborns often will develop some jaundice during the first few days of life, but it does not usually become so severe that they need therapy for it.

The umbilical cord will shrivel up over the first week and usually falls off within the first 2 weeks. You don't need to do anything special for it to keep it clean. It may get a little stinky and goopy when it's about ready to fall of, but as long as it's not red and swollen, it shouldn't cause much concern.

Most physicians like to check in with infants a few days after leaving the hospital to monitor for jaundice and check how feeding is going, and again at 2 weeks. She will have have her second metabolic screen (otherwise known as the "PKU") at this second visit.

Breast feeding can be difficult, especially if it's your first child, but the hospital should have lactation specialists available for you to meet with if you are having difficulties.

Those are some of the basics. Every baby can be different in some way, and the physician who examines your baby before he/she leaves the hospital can discuss any specific concerns with you before you go home.

Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 3

I just brought my baby home 2 weeks ago. She was 9 lbs 2 oz at birth, and I am breastfeeding. My poor daughter was sooo fussy while we were in the hospital, we thought she was going to be colicky. But the truth was, she was not getting enough to eat from my collostrum, she was left hungry after feedings. I felt terrible! A nurse suggested supplementing her with a little formula until my milk came in-- I didn't like the idea at first but I certainly didn't want her to be hungry, so we did, and it worked. I could finally rest, and so could she. If you have a larger baby and are breastfeeding, this could happen to you also...but at least you know ahead of time.
As for right now, my daughter wakes up every 3-4 hours for a feeding, we change her at that time also, and if she sleeps longer than 4 hours we wake her up for the feeding. Of course during the night we let her sleep as long as she will!
Sometimes it is hard to settle her down for sleep, she just likes to be held above all. Good luck to you and congratulations!

Answer 4

Ok I am a 21 year old mother of 3 little girls ages 2 1/2 ,1 1/2 and a 1 month old my first baby cried very little and slept through the night at a month old very good baby My second baby cried all the time and slept through the night at 7 months old very hard to deal with my 3rd baby seems to be a breeze only she liked to sleep in the day and be up at night because she had her days and nights mixed up that was how she was when she was in me up at night but she is getting better other then that she is good very baby is different and some advice sleep when she or he does and just keep calm when the baby is crying it also relaxes them if they feel your calm but good luck to you and your new baby they are great

Answer 5

It seems like the moment you get out of the hospital the baby gets confused about day and night. The baby generally sleeps all day and then wants to be up all night. This usually doesn't last but a week or two. It helps if you give the baby a bath right before bed to keep him/her up so that the baby will be more apt to sleep. I used to try to keep mine up a little while before bed and it helped alot. Just don't try to much to put the baby on your schedule, those first few weeks you will be on the baby's schedule so just adjust. Sleep when the baby sleeps. It really sounds stressful but you will be overjoyed and proud and will hardly notice.

Answer 6

The first night home is very hard. I never knew what exhausted meant until the first night, and the few days following. You'll start to develop your own groove and it will all work out though. At first babies tend to sleep during the day but not an night. This is because when you are pregnant you rocking them to sleep all day when you are up and walking around, and night when you just lay there sleeping they are awake. You can change their schedule though.

My best advice, and all my friends appreciated it after they had their babies, is don't let the baby sleep more than 2 hours at a time during the day. Wake him up and feed him. This way his long stretch of sleep, anywhere from 4-6 hours, will be at night. Good luck.

Answer 7

My baby is 5 weeks old today! My baby it's every 3 hours round the clock, we noticed she is eating now up to every four hours although not all the time. My baby doesn't cry alot she only cries when she's hungry or has a dirty diaper. She's a blessing and I am positive yours is a blessing as well! Getting used to sleeping for a few hours and waking up is hard but you will get used to it. I love feeding her and our eyes meeting and just her gazing up at me! All experiences are different enjoy your baby to the max! Good luck!

Answer 8

your baby will sleep all of the time, and yet youll feel like youre getting no sleep because he wakes up every 20 or 30 minutes to eat and go to the bathroom. Plus youre gonna wanna shower and eat during those times. That was the hardest for me. But the good times are better!

Answer 9

I have four children and every one of them was different. My first child was an angel. He slept thru the night and definately a very calm baby. I had my daughter and she wanted held every hour on the hour, or else she screamed. Most likely the first couple of weeks your baby is definately going to sleep alot, and hopefully you can nap with him/her. Just take it easy and enjoy your baby, It will be as easy as pie once you hold your little one. Congrats on your soon to be lil one!

Answer 10

a lot of sleeping in the first few days so try to sleep when she does and if you bottle feed try to make the bottles in advance and have then in the fridge and don't forget about the crying and diaper changing and getting to know your baby it's stressful at first but once you get used to it you'll want another lol oh and congratulations